Greatest Canadian player ever

[Dan Lobb]

I expect that this will be a short list.

Here are the most legitimate candidates for greatest ever Canadian player.
This is not an exhaustive list.

1) Lorne Main
Current World #1 over 80
World #1 over 70 in 2000
Champion Monte Carlo clay 1954
Davis Cup 14 wins 14 defeats in singles

2) Bob Bedard
Last Canadian to win the Canadian championship 1955, 1957, 1958 defeating in the finals Ramanathan Krishnan (World #3) and Whitney Reed (U.S.A. #1)
Davis Cup greatest success in 1961, defeating both Llamas and Osuna (World #1) in singles
Defeated Emerson (World #1) at Queens Club 1958
Won a set off Hoad at Wimbledon 1954, lost 3 matches to Hoad in Slam events (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Forest Hills) lost to both Hoad and Rosewall in 1955 Davis Cup

3) Mike Belkin
Rated #7 in world in early 1960's
Davis Cup record 14 wins 7 defeats in singles

4) Daniel Nestor
Defeated world #1 Edberg in five sets in 1992 Davis Cup singles
Won numberless doubles titles, all four slam events and world titles

5) Greg Rusedski
U.S. Open runnerup 1997
Ranked #4 in world
Dual citizen, played Davis Cup for Britain

6) Milos Raonic
Current world #14
Defeated Murray at Japan Open 2012 (career record 2 wins 1 defeat against Murray)

7) Filip Peliwo
Current 2012 Wimbledon and U.S. Open Junior Champion
World Junior #1 2012

Canada has not been a hotbed of tennis until recently, but the above is an honourable list.
I would rate Bob Bedard as all-time number 1, but this could change if Raonic or Peliwo continue to develop.

[treblings]

i appreciate that you include Lorne Maine.
the ITF Seniors Circuit is extremely competitive and his multiple world championships over decades deserve recognition

[Hidious]

Daniel Nestor hands down.

[treblings]

do the canadians consider greg rusedski as own of their own?

[Dan Lobb]

Originally Posted by treblings

do the canadians consider greg rusedski as own of their own?

He is one of our own, and was trained here with Canadian development funds.
On his Wikipedia bio, you will see TWO flags, Canadian and British. He is a dual citizen.

[treblings]

Originally Posted by Dan Lobb

He is one of our own, and was trained here with Canadian development funds.
On his Wikipedia bio, you will see TWO flags, Canadian and British. He is a dual citizen.

so, no hard feelings toward him?

[Dan Lobb]

Originally Posted by treblings

so, no hard feelings toward him?

The Canadian tennis public has hard feelings, because they paid for his training but he acquired British citizenship to get on the well-funded British team. Or so goes the story.
Personally, I have no hard feelings, and Rusedski continues to claim that he is a proud Canadian.

[jaggy]

Glen Michibata was the coolest I thought.

[Dan Lobb]

Originally Posted by treblings

do the canadians consider greg rusedski as own of their own?

The funniest thing I have seen on television was John Lloyd's commentary of a Rusedski match just after Greg joined the British team, when Lloyd stated "Greg actually played a couple of seasons in Canada and picked up his fighting spirit there."
Actually, he lived his ENTIRE life in Canada until he switched Davis Cup teams. Some joke.

[Carsomyr]

Nestor, and it's not close.

[treblings]

Originally Posted by Dan Lobb

The funniest thing I have seen on television was John Lloyd's commentary of a Rusedski match just after Greg joined the British team, when Lloyd stated "Greg actually played a couple of seasons in Canada and picked up his fighting spirit there."
Actually, he lived his ENTIRE life in Canada until he switched Davis Cup teams. Some joke.

what where Rusedskis reasons for playing for GB? i seem to remember he had relatives there.

[Dan Lobb]

Originally Posted by treblings

what where Rusedskis reasons for playing for GB? i seem to remember he had relatives there.

His mother was BORN in Britain, but his parents were and ARE devout Canucks. Greg would, of course, have some relatives in U.K., as I do.
I have second cousins in Cornwall who put up myself and my father when we visited in 2009, and a cousin offered me use of his summer house on the coast. First time I have met these folks, but I do not consider myself a Brit. Not by a longshot.

[Mustard]

Rusedski stopped representing Canada in tennis in June 1995. 1995 Queen's Club was Rusedski's first tournament representing Great Britain, and he was beaten by Mark Petchey, who didn't hide his delight. Rusedski then reached the Round of 16 at 1995 Wimbledon, the best British performance at the tournament, before losing to Sampras.

[PeteD]

I heard at the time it was a matter of money - Rusedski could make more on endorsements if he represented himself as a Brit. I remember feeling like he turned his back on Canada for money and it left a bad feeling.

[Gonzalito17]

Saw Lorne Main play in Sarasota, even played doubles with him once, he used to play there a lot, very fine player, very smooth and elegant with good placement. Gentleman too. Not very big or strong but a lot of talent in his hands and feet and head.

[Gonzalito17]

You have to go with Greg Rusedski as the most accomplished Canadian singles player. And Nestor in doubles. Expect Raonic to surpass Rusedski though.

[treblings]

Originally Posted by Dan Lobb

His mother was BORN in Britain, but his parents were and ARE devout Canucks. Greg would, of course, have some relatives in U.K., as I do.
I have second cousins in Cornwall who put up myself and my father when we visited in 2009, and a cousin offered me use of his summer house on the coast. First time I have met these folks, but I do not consider myself a Brit. Not by a longshot.

most of my relatives are over in Canada, immigrated at one point in history or another, and they always make me feel at home
doesn´t change the fact that i am austrian

[treblings]

Originally Posted by PeteD

I heard at the time it was a matter of money - Rusedski could make more on endorsements if he represented himself as a Brit. I remember feeling like he turned his back on Canada for money and it left a bad feeling.

now why did i have the feeling, that it might have something to do with money

[treblings]

Originally Posted by Gonzalito17

Saw Lorne Main play in Sarasota, even played doubles with him once, he used to play there a lot, very fine player, very smooth and elegant with good placement. Gentleman too. Not very big or strong but a lot of talent in his hands and feet and head.

people like him, or Gardnar Mulloy, are real idols for me. i believe they change our perspective on aging and what we can do if we keep on playing and training(and being lucky and having the right genes i guess)

[MAXXply]

Grant Connell? Sebastien Lareau? Pete Burwash?!