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Originally Posted by NadalAgassi
Hmm you consider Kramer, Sedgman, and Vines all superior to Sampras, Borg,a and Tilden? Interesting. Just curious as to why you feel that way.
Regarding Hoad did he have a year he was regarded the number 1 player in the World?
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Happy to answer that.
It is difficult to judge players from different eras, but I think Vines showed his level to be consistently close to Budge, and I would like Kramer's chances in a best-of-one-hundred series against anyone, certainly against Sampras. A hot Sedgman could beat anyone.
Difficult to judge Tilden, as the field in the twenties was short on big names. He beat Johnston by about the same margin as Williams did, so perhaps they were about the same stature.
Hoad was probably regarded number one amateur at the end of 1953, when he was the only amateur to be offered a pro contract by Kramer, and was 2 and 0 against Trabert, 5 and 0 against Rosewall, the other two contenders.
He was regarded as number one amateur for 1956, although his back problems prevented him from winning the grand slam.
Hoad was regarded by Sports Illustrated as number one for 1959, and also by Kramer's organization for the same year in the year-end summary, cited by Anderson in his article for World Tennis.