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Message: [QUOTE="VAMike23, post: 3258810, member: 150"] I agree that NO was better at absorbing but Coco in the first set did plenty of this as well - as Evert pointed out , she was hanging point for point early , and during this time she also was able to absorb and redirect , even on the forehand side but especially on the backhand. Of course there were many instances of purely defensive shots (sliced/blocked back) but I mean redirects that were offensive , like NO is so good at. Anyway, casual observers simply have *no* idea how hard these guys are hitting it! I remember once at the Open I was watching Courier vs. Agassi. I was up around mid-level but for a little while I snuck down near court level and hung out on a stairway to watch , until an usher moved me along and back up to my seat. These two guys obviously knew how to beat the ball, but the appreciation of their power and speed goes to a whooooole ‘nother level when you are down low around the court. I still remember the analogy that popped in my head then; that of two howitzers on wheels, firing across at each other and flying back and forth across the baseline. Simply incredible power. I’d venture to say that Osaka/Gauff was at a similar level at many points, which is saying a lot. (The top men now are at an even *crazier* level!) I learned that pace has to be seen from the players’ level to be truly appreciated. [/QUOTE]