Quote:
Originally Posted by forzamilan90
^^^i get that it's impressive but like I said I see things differently. To me pre open era player cannot be goat, end of story. Too far back, too different from contemporary game, too many variables. Do i know for a fact that Tilden would dominatw today? Hell no it's completely speculative no way of knowing. But its other things that put these guys out of contention for me (i.e. Tilden seemingly wears long pants and from footage I've seen is more of a casual tennis than full blown tennis epics and atheticism). That's just not relatable to modern tennis to me (didn't they also have to serve differently with one foot at the ground at all times?). Sorry if Grammatical errors typing from phone
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Point is that you are being close minded about this. You decided that this must be correct and you proceed from there. I've used this example before and I'll use it again. Nolan Ryan, the all time strikeout leader in baseball played in 1965, which is by definition before 1968 which is the Pre Open Era in tennis. Yes I know it's a different sport but hey it's is a while ago. Ryan in his heyday threw the ball clearly over 100 mph. His last pitch in the 1990's at I believe age 46 was timed at 98 mph. By your definition he wouldn't do well today. I disagree.
The great Pancho Gonzalez played in the 1940's and he played until the 1970's. He defeated everyone from Tilden to Connors. He was 6'31/2" and a super athlete. By your definition this gifted player couldn't play today.
Check this video out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd0gJzm_EQY
Here's a reverse question that's often asked. Could Federer, Nadal, Murray and Djokovic play in the pre open era?
http://www.espn.co.uk/tennis/sport/story/177649.html