Tennis League All Thread

[shogun47]

Who do you think is the best number one of all time?

Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal? (maybe another one?)

Sampras still has the impressive record of being the number one player for 6 continuous years.

I wasn't so much into tennis in Sampras time so I don't really remeber any big rivalries for him other than Agassi and he had quite good H2H with him in the end.

Murray would have made so much more in any other time than this. I don't think tennis ever had something similar to level of performaces the big four produced before becoming the big three. Any one of them would have had it so much easier if competition wasn't that good. That is why it is so difficult to compere player from different eras.

Exactly my words from a former post. Even Murray would have spent much more time as rank number 1 when he would have had less of the rivalries like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

Thinking about it from that perspective, even the three guys have been kept down somewhat in regards to their number of GS titles. Imagine we would have only had Federer and Nadal or only Nadal and Djokovic, they'd probably share +30 GS titles.

I think all of us who were lucky enough to become a witness to this fight between these three tennis players won't see such an era again in their lives. An era where three players dominate the tennis world for almost twenty years and over 60 GS titles shared between them. I mean, think about that! That is absolutely crazy!

We might see Zverev and Tsitsipas win five or seven titles. But three players dominating tennis sooooo hard at the same time? That's out of this world.

You can't even compare it to Formula 1 because there the technology counts so much. Federer can't just get a new racket and win a GS. Hamilton or some other driver can win for as long as the car is competitive. That is why tennis is quite a special sport. There really aren't many excuses. You either are the best because your body and your mind are the best, or you are not. In many other sports, team sports, there can always be arguments about who is the best and why or why not. But in tennis, difficult to argue. I like tennis although I never really played, but I love the conditions that are required for success. You either are the best, or you are not. Not your car, not your racket, just you. Amazing.

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[btc_angela]

Who do you think is the best number one of all time?

Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal? (maybe another one?)

Sampras still has the impressive record of being the number one player for 6 continuous years.

How are we gauging the above answer to your question?

There are only three possible answers:

The player with the most overall titles - John McEnroe with 156 combined singles and doubles titles

The player with the most singles titles - Jimmy Connors with 109 overall singles titles.

The player with the most grand slams - Rafael Nadal with 22.

This is a good gauge but it's the question of:

1, The era that they have been playing
2. Opposition and the quality of their opponents
3. It is the numbers or the impact that they have brought to tennis as a whole?

So again, this is going to be a long debate just like in any other sports, and so it's hard to see who will be the GOAT or who is on the Mt. Rushmore.

[babygun]

That is a question of definition. As aoluain already pointed out, it depends on what. The most titles, the most Grand Slams, the longest time at number 1 and so on. I find it difficult to give an answer to that. Every generation has its favourite player.

According to this list, Djokovic has been number 1 for the longest time.
https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=WeeksAtATPNo1
But it does not mean to me that he is my number one.

Boris Becker, for example, was number 1 for only 12 weeks, but he still left his mark on an entire generation. That is why he would be higher ranked in my personal list than, for example, Pete Sampras.

It is always a popular talk to determine the GOAT but as you say, how do you define it? For me, there is no doubt that Federer is the greatest of all time; his natural raw talent, his technique, overall game, ... are too me unmatched even if other people has won more titles or grand slams.

[aoluain]

That is a question of definition. As aoluain already pointed out, it depends on what. The most titles, the most Grand Slams, the longest time at number 1 and so on. I find it difficult to give an answer to that. Every generation has its favourite player.

According to this list, Djokovic has been number 1 for the longest time.
https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=WeeksAtATPNo1
But it does not mean to me that he is my number one.

Boris Becker, for example, was number 1 for only 12 weeks, but he still left his mark on an entire generation. That is why he would be higher ranked in my personal list than, for example, Pete Sampras.

It is always a popular talk to determine the GOAT but as you say, how do you define it? For me, there is no doubt that Federer is the greatest of all time; his natural raw talent, his technique, overall game, ... are too me unmatched even if other people has won more titles or grand slams.

Its hard to disagree with you but how are you basing this? Talent has to show results which
would put many others ahead of him IMO.

Here is another - Player who spent the longest at #1. Navak Djokovic with 373 weeks.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ATP_number_1_ranked_singles_tennis_players


Anyone following the tournament at Sofia Bulgaria?
Sonego is in attendance, I wonder how he will fair out after his recent win?

[nullama]

On the other side of things, I think Marcelo Rios must have been the person with the shortest amount of time as number one in the world, he retired very shortly after

[btc_angela]

On the other side of things, I think Marcelo Rios must have been the person with the shortest amount of time as number one in the world, he retired very shortly after

Yeah and I think he is the era of rising Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi so it might have been difficult for him to maintain that number one spot. And along the way there are great players in that era, and yet Sampras and Agassi are the two rivals that maintain their rivalry inside the tennis court until the arrival of Roger and then Rafa to continue what they have started. So it's really hard to debate as to who is the best or the greatest.

[nullama]

~snip~
Yeah and I think he is the era of rising Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi so it might have been difficult for him to maintain that number one spot. And along the way there are great players in that era, and yet Sampras and Agassi are the two rivals that maintain their rivalry inside the tennis court until the arrival of Roger and then Rafa to continue what they have started. So it's really hard to debate as to who is the best or the greatest.

Absolutely right, Marcelo Rios actually took the number one spot from Pete Sampras who otherwise would have continued to celebrate his 7th consecutive year as number one.

[Naficopa]

Who do you think is the best number one of all time?

Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal? (maybe another one?)

Sampras still has the impressive record of being the number one player for 6 continuous years.

I wasn't so much into tennis in Sampras time so I don't really remeber any big rivalries for him other than Agassi and he had quite good H2H with him in the end.

Murray would have made so much more in any other time than this. I don't think tennis ever had something similar to level of performaces the big four produced before becoming the big three. Any one of them would have had it so much easier if competition wasn't that good. That is why it is so difficult to compere player from different eras.

Can we give a little appreciation to the woman players as well.
Maria and Sefty Graff
What an amazing woman they were too

[Jating]

Who do you think is the best number one of all time?

Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal? (maybe another one?)

Sampras still has the impressive record of being the number one player for 6 continuous years.

I wasn't so much into tennis in Sampras time so I don't really remeber any big rivalries for him other than Agassi and he had quite good H2H with him in the end.

Murray would have made so much more in any other time than this. I don't think tennis ever had something similar to level of performaces the big four produced before becoming the big three. Any one of them would have had it so much easier if competition wasn't that good. That is why it is so difficult to compere player from different eras.

Can we give a little appreciation to the woman players as well.
Maria and Sefty Graff
What an amazing woman they were too

Of course, we appreciate women too, Serena and Venus Williams had a great battle with Swiss Miss Martina Hingis and then Maria Sharapova. Those are the times that the women side can rival the mens are far as intensity and the number of fans watching their battle in the court.

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, who would forget the stabbing incident on her?

And along the line there are a lot of women like Lindsay Davenport, Justin Henin, Kim Clijsters, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce.

[Joca97]

That is a question of definition. As aoluain already pointed out, it depends on what. The most titles, the most Grand Slams, the longest time at number 1 and so on. I find it difficult to give an answer to that. Every generation has its favourite player.

According to this list, Djokovic has been number 1 for the longest time.
https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/record?recordId=WeeksAtATPNo1
But it does not mean to me that he is my number one.

Boris Becker, for example, was number 1 for only 12 weeks, but he still left his mark on an entire generation. That is why he would be higher ranked in my personal list than, for example, Pete Sampras.

It is always a popular talk to determine the GOAT but as you say, how do you define it? For me, there is no doubt that Federer is the greatest of all time; his natural raw talent, his technique, overall game, ... are too me unmatched even if other people has won more titles or grand slams.

Its hard to disagree with you but how are you basing this? Talent has to show results which
would put many others ahead of him IMO.

Here is another - Player who spent the longest at #1. Navak Djokovic with 373 weeks.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ATP_number_1_ranked_singles_tennis_players


Anyone following the tournament at Sofia Bulgaria?
Sonego is in attendance, I wonder how he will fair out after his recent win?

With how Djokovic is playing if he overtakes Nadal in grandslams there will be no doubt that he is the best in history but no body is taking into advantage that djokovic was all of this years first in the world in the prime of nadal and federer and i think Djokovic is infront of them

[Kemarit]

Who do you think is the best number one of all time?

Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal? (maybe another one?)

Sampras still has the impressive record of being the number one player for 6 continuous years.

I wasn't so much into tennis in Sampras time so I don't really remeber any big rivalries for him other than Agassi and he had quite good H2H with him in the end.

Murray would have made so much more in any other time than this. I don't think tennis ever had something similar to level of performaces the big four produced before becoming the big three. Any one of them would have had it so much easier if competition wasn't that good. That is why it is so difficult to compere player from different eras.

Can we give a little appreciation to the woman players as well.
Maria and Sefty Graff
What an amazing woman they were too

Of course, we appreciate women too, Serena and Venus Williams had a great battle with Swiss Miss Martina Hingis and then Maria Sharapova. Those are the times that the women side can rival the mens are far as intensity and the number of fans watching their battle in the court.

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, who would forget the stabbing incident on her?

And along the line there are a lot of women like Lindsay Davenport, Justin Henin, Kim Clijsters, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce.

But if you look at the last 5 years, there's no single women who dominated the game such as those names. We have Osaka, but after her triumph in the grand slams, she lost traction already.

And last year we have Raducanu, same thing happen, changes coaches and now nowhere to be found in the top 5. But we could have Swiatek already, that might take the ladies division for then next coming years as I don't see anyone getting close to her at this point.

[KennyR]

But if you look at the last 5 years, there's no single women who dominated the game such as those names. We have Osaka, but after her triumph in the grand slams, she lost traction already.

And last year we have Raducanu, same thing happen, changes coaches and now nowhere to be found in the top 5. But we could have Swiatek already, that might take the ladies division for then next coming years as I don't see anyone getting close to her at this point.

Yes, Iga Swiatek will surely be dominating the women's division. She is just 21 years of age and that too an advantage for her long career in tennis. Already won 3 grand slams, and in the past I've heard elder brothers of me saying today's match is going to be a win for Serena Williams just because she's is playing. Soon Iga Swiatek name will have such a saying.

[electronicash]

Who do you think is the best number one of all time?

Pete Sampras, Jimmy Connors, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, or Rafael Nadal? (maybe another one?)

Sampras still has the impressive record of being the number one player for 6 continuous years.

I wasn't so much into tennis in Sampras time so I don't really remeber any big rivalries for him other than Agassi and he had quite good H2H with him in the end.

Murray would have made so much more in any other time than this. I don't think tennis ever had something similar to level of performaces the big four produced before becoming the big three. Any one of them would have had it so much easier if competition wasn't that good. That is why it is so difficult to compere player from different eras.

Can we give a little appreciation to the woman players as well.
Maria and Sefty Graff
What an amazing woman they were too

Of course, we appreciate women too, Serena and Venus Williams had a great battle with Swiss Miss Martina Hingis and then Maria Sharapova. Those are the times that the women side can rival the mens are far as intensity and the number of fans watching their battle in the court.

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, who would forget the stabbing incident on her?

And along the line there are a lot of women like Lindsay Davenport, Justin Henin, Kim Clijsters, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce.

But if you look at the last 5 years, there's no single women who dominated the game such as those names. We have Osaka, but after her triumph in the grand slams, she lost traction already.

And last year we have Raducanu, same thing happen, changes coaches and now nowhere to be found in the top 5. But we could have Swiatek already, that might take the ladies division for then next coming years as I don't see anyone getting close to her at this point.

not very familiar with tennis players actually but one that i heard in the news was dominated by fellow Filipino Alex Eala. she still is 17, maybe we'll see her often on the news.

age often limits the career heights. i once invited to play this sport and this is for the agile athletes only. as a player, you'd have to run quickly, hit the ball and back again inside the court. what i can only appreciate is their sportwear.

[Trofo]

But if you look at the last 5 years, there's no single women who dominated the game such as those names. We have Osaka, but after her triumph in the grand slams, she lost traction already.

And last year we have Raducanu, same thing happen, changes coaches and now nowhere to be found in the top 5. But we could have Swiatek already, that might take the ladies division for then next coming years as I don't see anyone getting close to her at this point.

Yes, Iga Swiatek will surely be dominating the women's division. She is just 21 years of age and that too an advantage for her long career in tennis. Already won 3 grand slams, and in the past I've heard elder brothers of me saying today's match is going to be a win for Serena Williams just because she's is playing. Soon Iga Swiatek name will have such a saying.

What about Barty? She is the one to mention before Swiatek, she won almost everything she played and then retired from tennis. Raducanu was one tournament wonder which I said even then, you can find my post somewhere here. She will need much more work before she can keep her form for longer periods of time.

Swiatek is without real opposition at the moment. Yes she looses matches on lower level tournaments but I belive that is motivation thing since she takes Grand Slams without dropping sets in more than one match.

But I agree, nobody stayed on top long enough to really become legend.

[btc_angela]

But if you look at the last 5 years, there's no single women who dominated the game such as those names. We have Osaka, but after her triumph in the grand slams, she lost traction already.

And last year we have Raducanu, same thing happen, changes coaches and now nowhere to be found in the top 5. But we could have Swiatek already, that might take the ladies division for then next coming years as I don't see anyone getting close to her at this point.

Yes, Iga Swiatek will surely be dominating the women's division. She is just 21 years of age and that too an advantage for her long career in tennis. Already won 3 grand slams, and in the past I've heard elder brothers of me saying today's match is going to be a win for Serena Williams just because she's is playing. Soon Iga Swiatek name will have such a saying.

What about Barty? She is the one to mention before Swiatek, she won almost everything she played and then retired from tennis. Raducanu was one tournament wonder which I said even then, you can find my post somewhere here. She will need much more work before she can keep her form for longer periods of time.

Swiatek is without real opposition at the moment. Yes she looses matches on lower level tournaments but I belive that is motivation thing since she takes Grand Slams without dropping sets in more than one match.

But I agree, nobody stayed on top long enough to really become legend.

Barty though retired so early, so we didn't see how good she will do against Swiatek.

But I do agree that Swiatek is the new face of womens tennis. Raducanu or even the other teenager she faces in the finals, Leylah Fernandez was one hit wonder. But it's really hard to reason why is the women side like this one? No one stayed on top like the previous era.

[bct_ail]

Can we give a little appreciation to the woman players as well.
Maria and Sefty Graff
What an amazing woman they were too

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, who would forget the stabbing incident on her?

Now I also know who is meant by Maria. 
Unfortunately the career from Monica Seles was ended when somebody (1993) stabbed her in the back with a knife during a tournament. She was never herself again after that. The mental wounds were unfortunately too deep.

By the way, Steffi Graf was number 1 in the world rankings for 377 weeks.

Not to forget Martina Navratilova and Gabriela Sabatini at that time.

Nice fact: Seles and Navratilova are left-handed players.

[babygun]

What about Barty? She is the one to mention before Swiatek, she won almost everything she played and then retired from tennis. Raducanu was one tournament wonder which I said even then, you can find my post somewhere here. She will need much more work before she can keep her form for longer periods of time.

Swiatek is without real opposition at the moment. Yes she looses matches on lower level tournaments but I belive that is motivation thing since she takes Grand Slams without dropping sets in more than one match.

But I agree, nobody stayed on top long enough to really become legend.

It is too bad that Barty retired as she was dominating the field in one point and could have won some more grandslams! I don't think Raducanu will be a one tournament wonder, she has a lot of work but is only 19 years old so she still has some time to grow. She just needs to stop switching from coach lol.

[aoluain]

But if you look at the last 5 years, there's no single women who dominated the game such as those names. We have Osaka, but after her triumph in the grand slams, she lost traction already.

And last year we have Raducanu, same thing happen, changes coaches and now nowhere to be found in the top 5. But we could have Swiatek already, that might take the ladies division for then next coming years as I don't see anyone getting close to her at this point.

Yes, Iga Swiatek will surely be dominating the women's division. She is just 21 years of age and that too an advantage for her long career in tennis. Already won 3 grand slams, and in the past I've heard elder brothers of me saying today's match is going to be a win for Serena Williams just because she's is playing. Soon Iga Swiatek name will have such a saying.

What about Barty? She is the one to mention before Swiatek, she won almost everything she played and then retired from tennis. Raducanu was one tournament wonder which I said even then, you can find my post somewhere here. She will need much more work before she can keep her form for longer periods of time.

Swiatek is without real opposition at the moment. Yes she looses matches on lower level tournaments but I belive that is motivation thing since she takes Grand Slams without dropping sets in more than one match.

But I agree, nobody stayed on top long enough to really become legend.

Barty though retired so early, so we didn't see how good she will do against Swiatek.

But I do agree that Swiatek is the new face of womens tennis. Raducanu or even the other teenager she faces in the finals, Leylah Fernandez was one hit wonder. But it's really hard to reason why is the women side like this one? No one stayed on top like the previous era.

Barty v Swiatek could have turned into  what happened over the last 15 to 20 years on the mens side,
basically dominating the tour and sharing grand slams between them.

Maybe Jabeur can bridge the gap? and there is very little seperating the next 5 closest with 60% less
points than Swiatek.

I think the buzz around Raducanu has well and truly faded, unfortunately. She has a massive amount of
development to do, currently she is back down in #66 position, Raducanu at #38.


On Sonego at the Sofia Open in Bulgaria, he lost his match against Holgar Rune in 3 sets and Rune really
hasnt been lighting up the courts recently. Unfortunately I had a bet on Sonego ^{how many thimes have
we seen this happen.} Anyway Sinner is through to the Quarter finals and is looking like the strongest
to take the title and is seeded #1 anyway.

[Trofo]

Maybe Jabeur can bridge the gap? and there is very little seperating the next 5 closest with 60% less
points than Swiatek.

Maybe but I sort of feel it is too late for her. She is already 28 years old and she doesn't really have much more room for improvement. Even if she manages to challenge Swiatek this season and next, then it will become an age problem.

Swiatek is just 21 years old and already better player then Jabeur by almost any metric. Don't see how this could turn into any real rivalry. And we need proper rivalry in WTA side between few top players that can last a decade. Swiatek only one so far for me, maybe Raducanu can become the other one, or maybe Coco Gauff. Those two youngsters have the game on their good days to challenge Swiatek but they are missing consistency. That is something that can be ironed out in the years to come.

[Naficopa]

Of course, we appreciate women too, Serena and Venus Williams had a great battle with Swiss Miss Martina Hingis and then Maria Sharapova. Those are the times that the women side can rival the mens are far as intensity and the number of fans watching their battle in the court.

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles, who would forget the stabbing incident on her?

And along the line there are a lot of women like Lindsay Davenport, Justin Henin, Kim Clijsters, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce.

Those were the days - my dad was so fond of Steffi Graf. He had a silent crush on her.
He never missed any of her match - during those days we used to have a big fat TV - but we all used to sit in front of that TV and watch together - now everyone has TV in the rooms - life have become so different