We should add to this list Bedard's win over Mike Sangster in the 3rd round of the 1960 Canadian championship, 13-11, 6-4.
Greatest Canadian player ever
- Thread starter Dan Lobb
- Start date
We should add to this list Bedard's win over Mike Sangster in the 3rd round of the 1960 Canadian championship, 13-11, 6-4.
Bedard's greatest tournament wins are probably as follows,
1) 1957 Canadian final df. Ramanathan Krishnan 6-1,1-6,6-2, 6-4
Krishnan would later win this tournament in 1968 over Torben Ulrich
2) 1958 Canadian final df. Whitney Reed 6-0, 6-3, 6-3
Reed would later win this tournament twice.
3) 1957 North of England Hard Courts final df. Alan Mills 6-2, 6-3.
Mills defeated Laver in the 1961 London Hard Court, so he was good on clay.
4) 1957 Sutton Hard Courts final df. Bob Howe 6-2, 6-1.
Howe defeated Hoad in 1956, and Laver in 1957, a strong clay player.
5) 1960 Eastern Clay Court final df. Gene Scott 1-6, 14-12, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Scott was ranked about #4 in the U.S., so he was a strong player. Scott was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros in 1964.
6) 1965 Quebec final df. Ron Holmberg 6-2, 6-2, 8-6. Remarkable showing for the 34 year-old Bedard.
All of these tournaments were apparently held on clay.
Bedard's breakthrough moment occurred at the Italian in Rome in 1954, when he suddenly caught fire in a 2nd round match against Sven Davidson and won in five sets, 4-6,3-6, 11-9, 6-3, 6-2.
Bedard later lost a quarter-final to Drobny, the defending champion.
Davidson would defeat Rosewall at Roland Garros immediately after this event.
Bedard played well that year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but lost to Hoad in both tournaments.
1) 1957 Canadian final df. Ramanathan Krishnan 6-1,1-6,6-2, 6-4
Krishnan would later win this tournament in 1968 over Torben Ulrich
2) 1958 Canadian final df. Whitney Reed 6-0, 6-3, 6-3
Reed would later win this tournament twice.
3) 1957 North of England Hard Courts final df. Alan Mills 6-2, 6-3.
Mills defeated Laver in the 1961 London Hard Court, so he was good on clay.
4) 1957 Sutton Hard Courts final df. Bob Howe 6-2, 6-1.
Howe defeated Hoad in 1956, and Laver in 1957, a strong clay player.
5) 1960 Eastern Clay Court final df. Gene Scott 1-6, 14-12, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Scott was ranked about #4 in the U.S., so he was a strong player. Scott was a quarter-finalist at Roland Garros in 1964.
6) 1965 Quebec final df. Ron Holmberg 6-2, 6-2, 8-6. Remarkable showing for the 34 year-old Bedard.
All of these tournaments were apparently held on clay.
Bedard's breakthrough moment occurred at the Italian in Rome in 1954, when he suddenly caught fire in a 2nd round match against Sven Davidson and won in five sets, 4-6,3-6, 11-9, 6-3, 6-2.
Bedard later lost a quarter-final to Drobny, the defending champion.
Davidson would defeat Rosewall at Roland Garros immediately after this event.
Bedard played well that year at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but lost to Hoad in both tournaments.
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The Eastern Clay Court Championship which Bedard won in 1960 has a long and strong history, with major clay players such as Frank Parker among the chmpions. It was held historically and until the mid 1950's at Jackson Heights Clay courts in New York City, and then from the late fifties at Hackensack, New Jersey, where apparently this monumental 1960 final was played.
We should add to this list the Adirondack Invitationals of 1958 and 1959, Quebec championships of 1959 and 1965, and the Oakville Invitation in 1962.
In the 1959 final, Bedard defeated the outstanding Cuban player Garrido in the semi-final 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-8, 6-0. Garrido had won the Canadian title the previous week, defeating Bedard.
In the 1965 Quebec championship, the 34-year-old Bedard survived a long semi-final against Lenoir 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-0, and defeated the prominent U.S. player Ron Holmberg in the final 6-2, 6-2, 8-6.
In the 1962 Oakville final, Bedard defeated the U.S. player Paul Cranis 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
In the 1958 Adirondack final, he defeated fellow Canadian Lorne Main 7-5, 6-2, and in the 1959 Adirondack final the American Sidney Schwartz 8-6, 6-2. Obviously, the Allegheny mountain air was a positive for Bedard's game.
I now make it 14 tournament victories for Bedard's career.
NonP
Legend
No offense (which of course means the exact opposite) but the OP's question is like asking who's the 2nd most famous Beatle alive.
And while it's indeed a great start for Milos don't forget he lost to Fed by the same score (plus 6-4 in the 3rd) at Wimbledon less than two years ago. I wouldn't quite bring out the pom-poms yet.
And while it's indeed a great start for Milos don't forget he lost to Fed by the same score (plus 6-4 in the 3rd) at Wimbledon less than two years ago. I wouldn't quite bring out the pom-poms yet.
We will dust off the pom-poms just in case, I am sure you would have no objection to that.
NonP
Legend
Check out the research above on Bedard.....that's another Beatle of Canadiana tennis.Of course not. Just get used to lots of dusting.
Like, maybe for the next two weeks?Of course not. Just get used to lots of dusting.
NonP
Legend
I really should put away the grindstone but....
Hey Dan, you know I hate nothing more than giving you the slightest chance to rub it in but I do concede that your boy Milos has been very impressive at this AO. His footwork has vastly improved in the last couple of years (I'm not exaggerating--the first time I saw Raonic play he made Todd Martin look like Djokovic) and now he even looks comfortable approaching and getting up to and down at the net. Stan and Gael really didn't play that bad, Milos was simply steadier(!) on top of bringing the expected heat on serve.
And unlike many I actually didn't think Novak looked unbeatable today. Not ready to call Milos winning the whole shebang yet--after all he needs to get past Murray first--but I suspect most observers will be surprised if he and Djoko do meet in the final. Make sure your pom-poms are well dusted for the rest of this tourney.
Hey Dan, you know I hate nothing more than giving you the slightest chance to rub it in but I do concede that your boy Milos has been very impressive at this AO. His footwork has vastly improved in the last couple of years (I'm not exaggerating--the first time I saw Raonic play he made Todd Martin look like Djokovic) and now he even looks comfortable approaching and getting up to and down at the net. Stan and Gael really didn't play that bad, Milos was simply steadier(!) on top of bringing the expected heat on serve.
And unlike many I actually didn't think Novak looked unbeatable today. Not ready to call Milos winning the whole shebang yet--after all he needs to get past Murray first--but I suspect most observers will be surprised if he and Djoko do meet in the final. Make sure your pom-poms are well dusted for the rest of this tourney.
What has made the change is Raonic's work on and vast improvement in his volleying technique in the past couple of months, and his willingness to follow his first AND second serves to the net, and to rush the net on return games. He had trouble volleying before this month, but that appears to be a thing of the past.I really should put away the grindstone but....
Hey Dan, you know I hate nothing more than giving you the slightest chance to rub it in but I do concede that your boy Milos has been very impressive at this AO. His footwork has vastly improved in the last couple of years (I'm not exaggerating--the first time I saw Raonic play he made Todd Martin look like Djokovic) and now he even looks comfortable approaching and getting up to and down at the net. Stan and Gael really didn't play that bad, Milos was simply steadier(!) on top of bringing the expected heat on serve.
And unlike many I actually didn't think Novak looked unbeatable today. Not ready to call Milos winning the whole shebang yet--after all he needs to get past Murray first--but I suspect most observers will be surprised if he and Djoko do meet in the final. Make sure your pom-poms are well dusted for the rest of this tourney.
Raonic has single-handedly shown that serve-and-volley is NOT dead in today's tennis, it can still work as a strategy.
pc1
G.O.A.T.
Dan,
Since your thread title is Greatest Canadian Player I feel you don't have to be confined to just tennis. I would think that in the NHL it would be between Gordie Howe, Gretzky and Bobby Orr. Maybe Maurice Richard and Mario Lemieux.
In baseball it could be Joey Votto.
Not sure about the CFL.
Best Canadian Baseball team-1993 Toronto Blue Jays who defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in the World Series.
Since your thread title is Greatest Canadian Player I feel you don't have to be confined to just tennis. I would think that in the NHL it would be between Gordie Howe, Gretzky and Bobby Orr. Maybe Maurice Richard and Mario Lemieux.
In baseball it could be Joey Votto.
Not sure about the CFL.
Best Canadian Baseball team-1993 Toronto Blue Jays who defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in six games in the World Series.
pc1
G.O.A.T.
I really should put away the grindstone but....
Hey Dan, you know I hate nothing more than giving you the slightest chance to rub it in but I do concede that your boy Milos has been very impressive at this AO. His footwork has vastly improved in the last couple of years (I'm not exaggerating--the first time I saw Raonic play he made Todd Martin look like Djokovic) and now he even looks comfortable approaching and getting up to and down at the net. Stan and Gael really didn't play that bad, Milos was simply steadier(!) on top of bringing the expected heat on serve.
And unlike many I actually didn't think Novak looked unbeatable today. Not ready to call Milos winning the whole shebang yet--after all he needs to get past Murray first--but I suspect most observers will be surprised if he and Djoko do meet in the final. Make sure your pom-poms are well dusted for the rest of this tourney.
Have not seen Raonic this tournament! Is his movement that much better?
pc1
G.O.A.T.
No problem.
N
nowhereman
Guest
Singles - Rusedski, even though he only repped Canada for 4 years
Doubles - Nestor
Doubles - Nestor
Rusedski remains a Canadian citizen..so that's okay.
Rusedski had a big win over Sampras at the Paris International.
That would be like Raonic beating Federer...hey, wait a minute...Raonic has two wins over Fed. Not bad.
N
nowhereman
Guest
Not only that, but he beat him at Paris too just like Rusedski. But I still think Rusedski is the better player. He reached a slam final and won a couple of masters after all.
pc1
G.O.A.T.
I didn't see the full match but apparently Raonic was very good in almost beating Murray today.
Here is for a start, a sad one. An old family friend, a former elementary student of my mother, passed away this last week.
I talked with him on the phone several times in 2005 when he published his book about his famous family curling team, and he recalled old times with my parents, who were close friends of his parents. His uncle and my uncle were business partners...but that happens in a small town of about 3 or 4 hundred people.
http://www.therecord.com/sports-story/6243983-champion-curler-sam-richardson-dies-at-82/
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Here is the most famous success of the great Richardson curling team, the 1962 Canadian championship showdowns against the 1961 champion Hec Gervais.
The round robin match is from 12:30 to 19:48 and the playoff is from 24:10 to 27:50...the greatest ever showdown in curling history. Sam Richardson was the second on the Richardson team.
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The year before the classic 1962 showdown, Ernie appeared on "To Tell the Truth". The team must have spent too much time in New York that visit, they lost in the 1961 Canadian championship playoffs.
The Richardson team holds the record for most world championships, 1959, 1960, 1962, and 1963.
pc1
G.O.A.T.
Sorry for your loss Dan.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Rusedski won just 1 Masters title: 1998 Paris-Bercy (a year after he made his only Slam final at the US Open). He beat Sampras in the final in straight sets.
stronzzi70
Professional
Glen Michibata ,,, cc
NonP
Legend
If you've been following the GSOAT thread you should know that I've been making this same argument about S&V for years. Good run by Milos, despite the disappointing SF.
Which brings us to....
I really thought he was going to win the whole thing. Not only was his movement markedly better this was the first time I'd seen him actually playing like he could beat anyone in the world. Raonic has often been (correctly) criticized for his choking tendencies but he absolutely gave it his all this time, even after he injured his groin against Murray in the SF (BTW I first thought he was just cramping a la Rafter in the '01 SF and didn't find out about the injury afterward). Definitely a good sign for Milos going forward, especially since his injury doesn't seem to have been serious:
To continue our thread on great Canadian players, NonP, I think that you need some references.
Ronald Turini, the favourite student of Horowitz, who taught at my music school,
Janina Fialkowska, the favourite student of Rubinstein, who is a Chopin and Liszt specialist, in an authentic recording of Chopin 1.
Stewart Goodyear, in a performance of Beethoven's finale of the Hammerklavier, actually using Beethoven's own written tempos, fasten your seatbelt.
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Tough to choose in hockey, because that is number one in Canada, and so many of our best athletes go into hockey.
In no particular order, no goalies allowed, chronologically, Maurice Richard, Gordie Howe, Doug Harvey, Jean Beliveau, Tim Horton, Bobby Hull, Frank Mahovlich, Bobby Orr, Serge Savard, Phil Esposito, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, some recent candidates. No surprises on that list.
Baseball, only one Hall of Famer, Ferguson Jenkins. Maybe Larry Walker in the field.
CFL is usually focussed on Russ Jackson, although Ron Lancaster became a Canadian citizen.
The 1993 Jays were the most exciting offensive team post-season, although the 1992 squad had deep strong pitching.
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Track and Field, Percy Williams, who won both the 100 and 200 yard dash in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics.
On clay, Bedard won 15 tournaments, so his groundstrokes were probably better or more consistent than Nestor, Rusedski or Raonic.I gotta go with Daniel Nestor and Raonic
Also, Bedard was an outstanding hockey player, like Drobny, and was offered a pro contract with the New York Rangers. A better athlete.
Jovana
New User
I didn't say Nestor or Raonic are better than the rest, I just said I personally have to choose them
Yes, I understand. Hopefully, Raonic will show us later this season the wonderful serve-and-volley game he developed for the Australian Open, and be able to overcome his injury problems in time for Wimbledon.I didn't say Nestor or Raonic are better than the rest, I just said I personally have to choose them
I would nominate the reigning Olympic golf champion, George Lyon.Dan, the greatest Canadian player is Bobby Orr!
His Olympic trophy is on display at the Glenn Abbey golf course a few blocks from here.
http://www.chch.com/swing-and-a-miss/
Our boy Milos should be even more impressive now that John McEnroe is coaching him for Wimbledon.I really should put away the grindstone but....
Hey Dan, you know I hate nothing more than giving you the slightest chance to rub it in but I do concede that your boy Milos has been very impressive at this AO. His footwork has vastly improved in the last couple of years (I'm not exaggerating--the first time I saw Raonic play he made Todd Martin look like Djokovic) and now he even looks comfortable approaching and getting up to and down at the net. Stan and Gael really didn't play that bad, Milos was simply steadier(!) on top of bringing the expected heat on serve.
And unlike many I actually didn't think Novak looked unbeatable today. Not ready to call Milos winning the whole shebang yet--after all he needs to get past Murray first--but I suspect most observers will be surprised if he and Djoko do meet in the final. Make sure your pom-poms are well dusted for the rest of this tourney.
pc1
G.O.A.T.
He should be able to help him with the volley and when to volley.
Also the now reigning women's PGA (formerly known as the LPGA) winner, Brooke Henderson, the youngest winner ever of this event.
Last year, Brooke Henderson was rated #221 in women's golf, today her ranking is #2.
http://www.lpga.com/videos/brooke-h...major-victory-at-kpmg-womens-pga-championship
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