Mansour Bahrami - well worth a watch!

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Not sure where to post this, but wanted to let people know that the match that the Beeb have as match of the day (ie on continuous loop on the red button) involving

SR. GENTS INVITATION DOUBLES
Jeremy Bates (GBR) /
Anders Jarryd (SWE)
vs
Mansour Bahrami (IRI) [2] /
Henri Leconte (FRA) [2]

is well worth watching, it's real fun, and Bahrami is extremely talented both as a player and an entertainer. I'm a great fan of his, and would like to introduce a few more of you to him.

He was unlucky that his country politically wouldn't let him play tennis, otherwise he would have been one of the greats.

RJA · Hall of fame

Well I would imagine that if Ratty reads this you might get an alternative view on the entertainment value of Mansour Bahrami. I of course regards Ratty as a total snob when it comes to this matter, Bahrami and Leconte are tremendous fun to watch and the crowds always seem to enjoy doing so.

steven · Tennis legend

If people like watching Bahrami, fair enough (it's one issue where I'm in the Ratty camp, but there you go - I like matches that matter and think other things are better suited to comedy) ... but the BBC have it on as their match of the day?! Surely not?

RJA · Hall of fame

steven wrote:
If people like watching Bahrami, fair enough (it's one issue where I'm in the Ratty camp, but there you go - I like matches that matter and think other things are better suited to comedy) ... but the BBC have it on as their match of the day?! Surely not?

And what match should they be showing instead? The only other matches that were on court were other invitation matches, mixed doubles and juniors. The majority of BBC viewers would have been far more entertained by watching Bahrami than anything else that they could have watched.

And yes, I like matches that matter, I am a serious tennis fan, I was at Manchester watching futures matches. You can enjoy "proper" tennis and the antics of Bahrami. It isn't a choice of one or the other.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

Hmmm, well I guess we're all different.. does that mean you hated the Rally against Cancer too, which I found hilarious.

I'm with RJA, I love both, and what better way to introduce the public to tennis.

steven · Tennis legend

No, the Rally against Cancer was pretty good, I must admit - it helped that in the first doubles match, Andy really, really wanted to win and he was very good at taking the mick out of Tim. I found the bit with all the celebs tiresome at times, but I can see why a lot of people would have enjoyed it - and at least the comedians were proper comedians.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I didn't think that Andy was that fussed about winning the doubles, more about hitting Ivan. I was disappointed Tim was so ropey.

I could have done without the celebs too, would much have preferred another set of the 'professional' doubles, but as you say, it would have bumped the viewing figures having them 'playing'.

Monsiour Bahrami is due on court again at 11.30, this time against Jonny Mac, and I must say I'm looking forward to it.

mariashawn · Newbie

The very top players could provide pretty interesting matches for me, but a lot of the lesser talented bashers competing against each other not so, and it was great when my tennis horizons broadened and I got to see much more generally proper tennis matches being played on other surfaces. yawn

Shhh · Challenger level

Hi Maria, welcome to the board.

steven · Tennis legend

I'd be happy to be proved wrong, but that post looks like a typical pre-spam bot effort to me ... we'll see (if not, then I echo Shhh's welcome to the board!

)

john · Top national player

Haha, I watched this match. The crowd are in hysterics every time the guy says anything or hits the ball, it does my head in!

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

Just been reading Mansour's autobiography, it's amazing, well worth a read. Unbelievable journey from hitting a tennis ball with a broom stick in an empty swimming pool to Roland Garros doubles final.

Jan · Hall of fame

Born2WinTennis wrote:
Just been reading Mansour's autobiography, it's amazing, well worth a read. Unbelievable journey from hitting a tennis ball with a broom stick in an empty swimming pool to Roland Garros doubles final.

Agreed - my son bought it for me a couple of years ago and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended!