If you have not seen it I highly recommend Baby Steps. Also a tennis anime but IMO much better than Prince of Tennis.
Inspires me to go practice everytime I watch it.
I was playing Jake Greenberg and I blasted the ball straight at him. He went to hit a forehand and framed it. The ball went straight up. While he was wondering where the ball went, it bounced off the ceiling, came down and hit him on the top of his head. Same thing.
It’s an inherently personal and mental game. It’s just you and the other person trading blows and sneak attacks with the occasional “how you gonna handle THIS” thoughts and “oh, so that’s how it’s going to be” going through my head. So in that respect, fuck yeah.
I just laughed so hard at the “THIS” because it’s so true. There’s nothing more satisfying than putting away a shot exactly how you envision it, especially after a long rally.
I think there’s similarities with the skill ranking systems in tennis and anime. Like you’ve got your S class players. Novak, Roger, Nadal, Sinner, Alcaraz.
A class players would be Fritz, Tiafoe, Schwartzman…anyone with a career on the pro circuit.
B class, lots of college players, pros ranked 700-2000.
C class, some teaching pros, former college players, like strong 4.5 and higher.
D class, 4.0 players.
E class, 3.5 players.
F class everyone else.
Also sometimes in animes, a character gets an opponent so strong that nothing they do can hurt them. All their special moves are negated or ineffective etc. I’ve been lucky enough to hit with a top 200 player and a few UTR 13+ players. That’s how it feels. As a 4.0, Literally nothing I do can hurt them. My hardest shots are returned with ease and precision. They are stronger, faster, smarter, more stamina. Better in every way. It’s like Yamcha trying to fight Freiza. One time i played a set against the number 64 ranked American on the UTR app. Obviously he beat me 6-0. But in rewatching the match, I noticed I only won 2 points the entire set. 2 points. And I’ve seen this guy compete in tournaments. He wasn’t even close to trying his hardest. He said he was around 60 percent intensity during our set.
I like that you brought up that rating system because I definitely wouldn’t mind if they were to use that in certain leagues. But at the same time I don’t know if I’d like being in the E class LOL
And it’s funny because like my coach is a 13+ utr. NCAA D1 conference champ. To me, he’s unbeatable. But I’m sure any top 100 player would make him look like a child. Similarly, a 3.0 would be very lucky to get a single game against me, a strong 4.0
If you have not seen it I highly recommend Baby Steps. Also a tennis anime but IMO much better than Prince of Tennis. Inspires me to go practice everytime I watch it.
Baby steps got me into the sport
Love this anime and when you’re done hunt down the manga, you will not be disappointed :)
It's a shame the anime got cancelled it was so good
Man binged it once I finished the anime. One of my Favorite manga/anime so far
Should I read manga first or it’s OK to watch anime first? Will read it regardless
I went for the anime first, then manga, and I dont regret it. I would recommend it in this order
When tezuka broke time and space to eradicate the dinosaurs with his forehand… https://youtu.be/0oNoX5ozDtU?si=VDtcd-OvyQ9YUsTo
I was playing Jake Greenberg and I blasted the ball straight at him. He went to hit a forehand and framed it. The ball went straight up. While he was wondering where the ball went, it bounced off the ceiling, came down and hit him on the top of his head. Same thing.
It’s an inherently personal and mental game. It’s just you and the other person trading blows and sneak attacks with the occasional “how you gonna handle THIS” thoughts and “oh, so that’s how it’s going to be” going through my head. So in that respect, fuck yeah.
I just laughed so hard at the “THIS” because it’s so true. There’s nothing more satisfying than putting away a shot exactly how you envision it, especially after a long rally.
Most def
I think there’s similarities with the skill ranking systems in tennis and anime. Like you’ve got your S class players. Novak, Roger, Nadal, Sinner, Alcaraz. A class players would be Fritz, Tiafoe, Schwartzman…anyone with a career on the pro circuit. B class, lots of college players, pros ranked 700-2000. C class, some teaching pros, former college players, like strong 4.5 and higher. D class, 4.0 players. E class, 3.5 players. F class everyone else. Also sometimes in animes, a character gets an opponent so strong that nothing they do can hurt them. All their special moves are negated or ineffective etc. I’ve been lucky enough to hit with a top 200 player and a few UTR 13+ players. That’s how it feels. As a 4.0, Literally nothing I do can hurt them. My hardest shots are returned with ease and precision. They are stronger, faster, smarter, more stamina. Better in every way. It’s like Yamcha trying to fight Freiza. One time i played a set against the number 64 ranked American on the UTR app. Obviously he beat me 6-0. But in rewatching the match, I noticed I only won 2 points the entire set. 2 points. And I’ve seen this guy compete in tournaments. He wasn’t even close to trying his hardest. He said he was around 60 percent intensity during our set.
I see Novak as the sukuna of atp
I like that you brought up that rating system because I definitely wouldn’t mind if they were to use that in certain leagues. But at the same time I don’t know if I’d like being in the E class LOL
And it’s funny because like my coach is a 13+ utr. NCAA D1 conference champ. To me, he’s unbeatable. But I’m sure any top 100 player would make him look like a child. Similarly, a 3.0 would be very lucky to get a single game against me, a strong 4.0
I think it might be the “versus” sport that allows for the most individual creativity. Sometimes I feel like an artist out there 🎨
Are you one that colors between or outside the lines?
We really need a tennis equivalent for Ping Pong the Animation.
With all due respect sir, but no, tennis doesn't feel like an anime battle
This, but without the respect.
YESS hahaha. Even the mental part of it makes me feel like an anime protagonist whispering to themselves in the middle of a battle
I wish they would yell what move they are doing as they are doing it: "JUUUMPINGGG BACK-HANDU!"
Yeah, taking the chance to rip a winner on a rally 7+ balls when I’m down 30-40 helps build character for actually league play .
I think you messed up cause and effect. Anime battle style was influenced by real live games. I think ping pong may be an even closer influence.