The Greatest Generation- Good article on Tennis.com by Tom Perotta
We’ve all had the debate before. Who’s the greatest (fill in the blank) of all time? Which World Series champion would beat all others? (The 2004 Red Sox, of course.) Which Super Bowl winner is the finest of them all? In tennis, we’ve been talking about the G.O.A.T. since Roger Federer turned in his first three-major-title season in 2004.
As 2008 comes to a close and the best men, minus a banged up Rafael Nadal, travel to Shanghai, ask yourself, how does the current Top 10 compare to similar collections from years past? In terms of titles and accomplishments, this group is barely in the conversation with the best generations. But do they have the potential to rival, say, the 1979 year-end Top 10, which included Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe at the top (see chart)? Or the remarkable 1985 year-end Top 10? The top six players from that year—Ivan Lendl, McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Connors, Stefan Edberg, and Boris Becker—won a remarkable 42 major titles. Right now, the current Top 10 have 20 major titles, 18 of which belong to Federer and Nadal.
But they are young—the youngest Top 10, in fact, since 1994 (average age: 24). Given time, they might achieve nearly as much and, by a not entirely unreasonable stretch of the imagination, maybe more. Here are my generous predictions:
1. Rafael Nadal: Nadal has five majors at age 22. He’s nearly unbeatable on clay and not quite as unbeatable on grass, but close. Only injuries—to his feet, his knees, and his shoulder, to catalogue a few of the problems he has had in his career—will keep him from doubling his current total (say three more at the French Open, another victory at Wimbledon, and a hard court major somewhere along the way). Projected career total: 10 majors
2. Roger Federer: If Federer, 27, continues to slump—that is, win one major a year—he ought to reach 15 before his career ends. Tough to bet against him after his inspired U.S. Open run. Projected career total: 15
3. Novak Djokovic: Djokovic won his first major this year, but he has struggled—and shown signs of frustration—for much of the year. He’s only 21 and his game has no technical flaws: solid strokes, excellent footwork, and multiple weapons. He’s strong mentally, too, but I do sense a bit of impatience from him recently. Compare him to Becker, Edberg, Connors, and Wilander. Does he stack up? If so, he has five or six major titles to go. Projected career total: 5
4. Andy Murray: Murray’s play this year, especially late in the year, caused me to write this column. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray are, to my mind, among the strongest foursomes in the history of the game. Tennis fans have praised Federer’s versatility for years. Murray doesn’t have the same grace or the same caliber forehand. He does, however, have a stronger return of serve, a more reliable backhand, a first serve with more sting, and softer hands at net. The 21-year-old Scot is that good—certainly good enough to win multiple majors. Will he remain healthy enough? Projected career total: 6
5. Nikolay Davydenko: The man with perhaps the most efficient groundstrokes in the game is this era’s answer to Miloslav Mecir, who ranked ninth back in 1985 (and retired at age 26 with a bad back). Davydenko has never reached a major final and isn’t likely to change his fortunes in the future. Projected career total: 0
6. Andy Roddick: Roddick is the most consistent member of the Top 10 (he’s always there) and he owns the most dangerous weapon, the second-best serve in the world (nothing beats Ivo Karlovic’s booming delivery from 700 feet in the air). Roddick could win another major, but it will be a difficult task with so much young talent surrounding him. Projected career total: 1
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Here’s a comparison I haven’t seen before that seems dead on: Tsonga and Boris Becker. Tall, rugged, powerful, agile, always moving forward, always on the offensive, always dangerous. Tsonga’s talent is immense; unfortunately, so is his capacity for injury (he had a knee operation this year and suffers from a chronic back condition). Can he play enough to be at his best in the biggest tournaments? Projected career total: 1
8. Juan Martin Del Potro: I had all but written off Del Potro a year ago. He seemed to lack intensity, he wasn’t in the greatest shape, and he suffered from injuries. He also didn’t move well. This year, though, he’s addressed all these concerns to varying degrees and jumped more than 40 spots in the rankings. I have no idea how he’ll respond to the pressure of a major final, but I do think he’ll get there—and even win a couple. Projected career total: 2
9. Gilles Simon: While the wiry Frenchman lacks the flash of some of his compatriots, he knows more about winning, something no top player from France has figured out since Yannick Noah, another member of the 1985 Top 10 list. Will he break the curse? Close, but no cigar. Projected career total: 0
10. James Blake: Unfortunately, one gets the sense the soon-to-be 29-year-old’s best tennis is behind him. I’d love to see him reach a major final, especially in Flushing, but the chances are slim. Projected career total: 0
Total for the group: 40 (three fewer than the Top 10 from 1985)
I admit, these are lofty predictions, but that ought to tell you how highly I think of this crop of players, not to mention a few others (such as Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic) who might well contend for major titles in the future. Of course, these men might not achieve anywhere near this much success. Take a look at the 1997 Top 10, which no doubt seemed strong at the time. Six of those players reached the No. 1 ranking, yet only Sampras won more than two major titles. Moya could have won more than one French Open. Same goes for Chang and Muster. Rios won 67 percent of the matches he played in his career but couldn’t string seven together over the course of two weeks. Bjorkman couldn’t quite get over the hump in singles. In total, this group won a total of 23 majors, 14 of them by Sampras. They could have done much, much better.
When most people talk about talent, they describe it as difficult to identify. Not true, I say. It’s easy to spot talent. Predicted what a person will do with it is the difficult part. Shanghai is a prelude to the answers we’ll begin learn in 2009.
As 2008 comes to a close and the best men, minus a banged up Rafael Nadal, travel to Shanghai, ask yourself, how does the current Top 10 compare to similar collections from years past? In terms of titles and accomplishments, this group is barely in the conversation with the best generations. But do they have the potential to rival, say, the 1979 year-end Top 10, which included Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe at the top (see chart)? Or the remarkable 1985 year-end Top 10? The top six players from that year—Ivan Lendl, McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Connors, Stefan Edberg, and Boris Becker—won a remarkable 42 major titles. Right now, the current Top 10 have 20 major titles, 18 of which belong to Federer and Nadal.
But they are young—the youngest Top 10, in fact, since 1994 (average age: 24). Given time, they might achieve nearly as much and, by a not entirely unreasonable stretch of the imagination, maybe more. Here are my generous predictions:
1. Rafael Nadal: Nadal has five majors at age 22. He’s nearly unbeatable on clay and not quite as unbeatable on grass, but close. Only injuries—to his feet, his knees, and his shoulder, to catalogue a few of the problems he has had in his career—will keep him from doubling his current total (say three more at the French Open, another victory at Wimbledon, and a hard court major somewhere along the way). Projected career total: 10 majors
2. Roger Federer: If Federer, 27, continues to slump—that is, win one major a year—he ought to reach 15 before his career ends. Tough to bet against him after his inspired U.S. Open run. Projected career total: 15
3. Novak Djokovic: Djokovic won his first major this year, but he has struggled—and shown signs of frustration—for much of the year. He’s only 21 and his game has no technical flaws: solid strokes, excellent footwork, and multiple weapons. He’s strong mentally, too, but I do sense a bit of impatience from him recently. Compare him to Becker, Edberg, Connors, and Wilander. Does he stack up? If so, he has five or six major titles to go. Projected career total: 5
4. Andy Murray: Murray’s play this year, especially late in the year, caused me to write this column. Nadal, Federer, Djokovic, and Murray are, to my mind, among the strongest foursomes in the history of the game. Tennis fans have praised Federer’s versatility for years. Murray doesn’t have the same grace or the same caliber forehand. He does, however, have a stronger return of serve, a more reliable backhand, a first serve with more sting, and softer hands at net. The 21-year-old Scot is that good—certainly good enough to win multiple majors. Will he remain healthy enough? Projected career total: 6
5. Nikolay Davydenko: The man with perhaps the most efficient groundstrokes in the game is this era’s answer to Miloslav Mecir, who ranked ninth back in 1985 (and retired at age 26 with a bad back). Davydenko has never reached a major final and isn’t likely to change his fortunes in the future. Projected career total: 0
6. Andy Roddick: Roddick is the most consistent member of the Top 10 (he’s always there) and he owns the most dangerous weapon, the second-best serve in the world (nothing beats Ivo Karlovic’s booming delivery from 700 feet in the air). Roddick could win another major, but it will be a difficult task with so much young talent surrounding him. Projected career total: 1
7. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Here’s a comparison I haven’t seen before that seems dead on: Tsonga and Boris Becker. Tall, rugged, powerful, agile, always moving forward, always on the offensive, always dangerous. Tsonga’s talent is immense; unfortunately, so is his capacity for injury (he had a knee operation this year and suffers from a chronic back condition). Can he play enough to be at his best in the biggest tournaments? Projected career total: 1
8. Juan Martin Del Potro: I had all but written off Del Potro a year ago. He seemed to lack intensity, he wasn’t in the greatest shape, and he suffered from injuries. He also didn’t move well. This year, though, he’s addressed all these concerns to varying degrees and jumped more than 40 spots in the rankings. I have no idea how he’ll respond to the pressure of a major final, but I do think he’ll get there—and even win a couple. Projected career total: 2
9. Gilles Simon: While the wiry Frenchman lacks the flash of some of his compatriots, he knows more about winning, something no top player from France has figured out since Yannick Noah, another member of the 1985 Top 10 list. Will he break the curse? Close, but no cigar. Projected career total: 0
10. James Blake: Unfortunately, one gets the sense the soon-to-be 29-year-old’s best tennis is behind him. I’d love to see him reach a major final, especially in Flushing, but the chances are slim. Projected career total: 0
Total for the group: 40 (three fewer than the Top 10 from 1985)
I admit, these are lofty predictions, but that ought to tell you how highly I think of this crop of players, not to mention a few others (such as Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic) who might well contend for major titles in the future. Of course, these men might not achieve anywhere near this much success. Take a look at the 1997 Top 10, which no doubt seemed strong at the time. Six of those players reached the No. 1 ranking, yet only Sampras won more than two major titles. Moya could have won more than one French Open. Same goes for Chang and Muster. Rios won 67 percent of the matches he played in his career but couldn’t string seven together over the course of two weeks. Bjorkman couldn’t quite get over the hump in singles. In total, this group won a total of 23 majors, 14 of them by Sampras. They could have done much, much better.
When most people talk about talent, they describe it as difficult to identify. Not true, I say. It’s easy to spot talent. Predicted what a person will do with it is the difficult part. Shanghai is a prelude to the answers we’ll begin learn in 2009.
Comment
-
Comment by Meags on November 12, 2008 at 2:28pm
-
I thought the report was interesting reporters and fans alike always question generations whatever their sporting, cultural or political allegiences are. As for Murray winning 6 majors well...........if he gats 1 ot 2 then I'll be really happy. If he improves like I think he will next year esp forehand and 2nd serve then he has a real chance. Just looking at him on the court he looks like he has a certain dominance. Even Fed made comparisons with himself and his improvement at the same stage in his career. As for the UK there are mixed feelings in the press as he is Scottish but as for Tennis fans we see him as a British tennis player and we are really happy with his progress. If he wins a GS something that Henman and Rusedski never did then I think he will put his critics to rest. He's a big soccer fan and Scotland and England have never got on and he has, maybe naively come out in the press with his affection for Scotland to beat England (which is unlikely!!) but I like his attitude and his confidence. Jo Bloggs on the street mistake this for arrogance, generally silly people with little minds. I love tennis players who play anall round game and Murray is one of the few, he reminds me of a modern day Mac and I would love him to emulate his hero. I watched him today and sometimes I wish he'd come to the net a bit more often and be more aggressive. It looks good for The Masters Cup and next year I honestly think he's the man to beat. I for one will be shouting for him.
-
Comment by Dale Yarbrough on November 12, 2008 at 10:13am
-
I am always amused when I see articles and opinions comparing todays players with those of years pasted. There really is no comparison. Although it is sometimes fun to think about just how much better a Rod Laver would have been if he used a custom made oversized racket, had a personal trainer and sponsors to paid his expenses so that all he had to do was forcus on playing the game. I might be incline to think that todays players could rival the "Rocket" if anyone of them could win 2 Grand Slams in the same mode that Grand Slams were in the '60's; that is, the big four in the same calendar year. When Laver won his second Grand Slam his total earnings for that year was $85,000.00. Today, top players won't even show up without a $100,000 guarantee.
Agreed, the game and player ability has changed over the years. Some of the changes have been for the better. For instance, court surfaces are much better today. I remember when some matches were played on wooden courts and if you think grass is fast, try playing on wood. Rackets, balls and yes, even shoes are better today. In my younger days when I was a hotshot player on the courts, I would wear out a case of shoes in one season.
I'm sure the arguments about who is, was, the best will go on as long as people play the game. That's a good thing because it keeps the game alive and well. In my opinion, I think tennis is the greatest game to play, watch and talk about then any other. I only hope that the money doesn't ruin the game and that the young players coming up keep a level head and a healthy attitude toward the game.
-
Comment by Mark / The Mayor on November 12, 2008 at 9:12am
-
So Richard, tell me what 6 Major wins by Murray would mean to britain. Would he be a national hero of sorts? ...or is he already?
M
© 2024 Created by Mark / The Mayor.
Powered by
You need to be a member of Tennisopolis : Tennis Social Network to add comments!
Join Tennisopolis : Tennis Social Network