Brooklyn Nets Coach Steve Nash Enjoying ‘Golden Era’ In Canadian Men’s Tennis

Steve Nash was only 6 and 7 years old when John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg staged their epic Wimbledon finals in 1980 and ‘81.

Their two styles and personalities contrasted like fire and ice, as the 2011 film about them came to be called.

Just as they did with his fellow Canadian Wayne Gretzky, those matches made an indelible impact on Nash, who was especially drawn to the unique combination of McEnroe’s volcanic personality and his delicate touch at the net.

“With Johnny Mac, I think the personality, you couldn’t take your eyes off of him because you never knew what was going to happen,” Nash told Canada’s Vasek Pospisil for a WTA interview in May.

“He wore his emotions on his sleeve. But I just think the touch, the creativity, the feel at the net, those things were so beautiful. He’s an artist out there in many respects. It was this crazy mix of this big personality and you never knew where his emotions were going to go, and at the same time, he would a hit a drop volley, the depth of touch, leaning all the way tot he line. He was mesmerizing both with his play, his competitive fire and his personalty.”

While none of his country’s current crop of stars rushes the net quite like Johnny Mac, Nash is now enjoying a “Golden Era” of tennis in Canada.

Three Canadian men — Felix Auger-Aliassime, 20, Denis Shapovalov, 21, and Vasek Pospisil, 30 — are all into the fourth round of the U.S. Open for the first time. By contrast, only one American man, 22-year-old Frances Tiafoe, is in the round of 16.

Bianca Andreescu, who became the first Canadian to win a Grand Slam title last year when she beat Serena Williams in the final, opted out of this year’s women’s draw, where four American women remain.

Shapovalov rallied from the brink of defeat to knock out 19th-seeded American Taylor Fritz on Friday, while on Saturday Auger-Aliassime cruised against Corentin Moutet and Pospisil beat No. 8 Roberto Bautista Agut in five sets.

Nash, who was named head coach of the Brooklyn Nets this past week despite not having any head coaching experience, dribbled a tennis ball around the Santa Clara campus between classes. Now he’s a fan of the current Canadian stars.

“Both Denis and Felix have big, big games,” Nash told ATP.com last September. “[They’re] great athletes who have a lot of shots. Both I think have incredible futures. The best players are the ones that get on top of their game mentally. Those young players are showing great signs. They have all the tools, and if they just continue to develop that grit and understanding, they’re going to be Top 5, Top 10 players in the world, easy.

“Denis has got all the shots. Big, big groundstrokes. Big serve. When he’s on fire, he’s unbeatable. He’s one of those guys who’s an electric player. When he gets hot, he’s unstoppable. As he gets older I think he’s going to be one of those guys who’s so hard to beat even when he doesn’t have his best stuff.”

Pospisil, the eldest of the trio remaining at the Open, has essentially been the fourth Canadian behind Milos Raonic, Shapovalov and FAA, as he is known.

But Pospisil ousted the No. 25 Raonic in the second round in four sets after the big-serving Raonic had reached the final of the Western & Southern Open last week in New York.

“I think tennis is already booming now in Canada over the last few years with Genie [Bouchard], Milos and myself and now Felix, Denis and Bianca, so we are definitely in a bit of a golden era for tennis in Canada,” Pospisil said. “Tennis has obviously been a huge and incredible part of my life. It has given me so many amazing memories and opportunities for the rest of my life, so I am thrilled that it is doing so well right now in Canada and I do think now that a lot of kids are picking up racquets over hockey sticks. Maybe there is a little bit of a shift.”

Pospisil said he doesn’t begrudge Shapovalov and FAA the attention they receive as Canada’s young stars.

“Felix and Denis have come and done something that no other Canadians have done…,” he said. “They are already doing these amazing things. That is natural. That is normal. But, of course, Milos and I were obviously still here and playing at a really high level. Now we have four extremely capable players on the men’s side… definitely exciting times for tennis in Canada right now and it is nice to be a part of it.”

Nash, who will coach stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving beginning next season, has his introductory press conference with the Nets on Wednesday. Before then, he can continue to enjoy his fellow Canadians at the Open.

Shapovalov plays No. 7 David Goffin on Sunday night, while FAA gets No. 2 Dominic Thiem on Monday. Pospisil faces No. 21 Alex de Minaur on Monday.

The Canadians are not only inspiring Nash, but a younger generation of athletes in their own country.

“It is cool to be a part of and I think the sky is the limit for what we can do as a nation and obviously the more success we have, then success breeds success,” Pospisil said. “Hopefully we will have some other superstars coming up soon in the sport.”