is roddick the best GRASSCOURT player ever to not win wimbledon

manny pacquiao P4P king · May 19, 2009

he's won 4 queens club titles, and has beaten wimbledon champions such as agassi and hewitt. has beaten quite a few wimbledon semi finalists like grosjean and ancic.

At the moment - only federer and nadal have a better record than roddick in the last few years (i rate roddick ahead of hewitt on grass - hewitt never had play fed in a wimby final). i consider federer and nadal the best players ever. aside from nadal who has actually beaten fed on the grass - roddick is the only man to have pushed federer far at wimbledon, and who knows, if the rain didn't come then roddick might have won.

i think roddick would have won at least 1 wimbledon in the 90's or 90's grass. im not questioning nadal or hewits win at wimbledon (bcuz it was deserved) but roddick would have also been at a bigger advantage to win wimbledon if the grass was faster. wimbledon is obviously quite fast though.

plz plz plz plz plz dont say that murray is a better GC player than roddick simply because he beat roddick in 06. a one time win on grass isn't evidence for being better than someone on that particular surface

mzzmuaa · May 19, 2009

murray and djokovic will have no problem neutralizing his serve and attempt at a power game.
they are better GC players and neither of them have won wimbledon.

RoddickAce · May 19, 2009

mzzmuaa said:
murray and djokovic will have no problem neutralizing his serve and attempt at a power game.
they are better GC players and neither of them have won wimbledon.

Back in 2003 and 2004, I think Roddick was a better grass court player than current Murray or Djokovic. Roddick right now doesn't play the same way he did back then.

Rabbit · May 19, 2009

Actually I think Ken Rosewall was the best grasscourt player to never win Wimbledon with an honorable mention to Ilie Nastase.

tudwell · May 19, 2009

Rosewall, Wilander, Lendl... definitely not Roddick.

Staiger · May 19, 2009

Tim Henman -he should have won at least once. It was perfect for S&V .

manny pacquiao P4P king · May 19, 2009

Staiger said:
Tim Henman -he should have won at least once. It was perfect for S&V .

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO you are kiddin me right?????????????????

he got to 4 semi finals..........roddick got to 2 finals a semi and a QF. actually, henman probably was an overachiever on grass, and actually in the context of his whole career

snark · May 19, 2009

tudwell said:
Rosewall, Wilander, Lendl... definitely not Roddick.

Yeah, I would say Lendl. He came so close so many times.

Lsmkenpo · May 19, 2009

I think so, and still think his best chance at another grandslam is at Wimbledon, he is a better all court player now than ever before.

Cyan · May 19, 2009

Fed is horrible matchup for him. You cant win Wimby if you cant beat Fed!

380pistol · May 19, 2009

Hell no!!!!!!!! Not even close. Pancho Gonzales, Ken Rosewall... damn, even Ivan Lendl and Mats Wilander I'd have ahead of him. Is this a serious question??

Well thenagain most assume if not for the pro/open era split both Gonazles and Rosewall would have Wimbledon titles. But that still leaves him behind Lendl and Wilander.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 19, 2009

I think that Roddick's grasscourt resume is vastly overrated. Yeah he made it to two finals, but he never really beat a good, top level player en route to those two finals. And yeah he has the big serve, but that has been broken down over the past few years in his losses. For a guy with a serve as big as his, it just shows how weak his all around game is that he hasn't been able to win Wimbledon. And yes he made it to two finals, but you could argue he got good draws. I think Hewitt would have taken him out, had he been in Roddick's side of the draw. 4 Queens titles is impressive, but he's never beaten a top 10 player at Wimbledon.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/...=0&player=R485&selTournament=540&prevtrnnum=0

gj011 · May 19, 2009

is roddick the best GRASSCOURT player ever to not win wimbledon

No. Not even close.

manny pacquiao P4P king · May 19, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
I think that Roddick's grasscourt resume is vastly overrated. Yeah he made it to two finals, but he never really beat a good, top level player en route to those two finals. And yeah he has the big serve, but that has been broken down over the past few years in his losses. For a guy with a serve as big as his, it just shows how weak his all around game is that he hasn't been able to win Wimbledon. And yes he made it to two finals, but you could argue he got good draws. I think Hewitt would have taken him out, had he been in Roddick's side of the draw. 4 Queens titles is impressive, but he's never beaten a top 10 player at Wimbledon.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/...=0&player=R485&selTournament=540&prevtrnnum=0

um roddick beat hewitt on grass............

jamesblakefan#1 · May 19, 2009

^^^true, he did beat Hewitt in Queen's. I still think Hewitt would have beaten Roddick at Wimbledon, on the slower grass. Hewitt owned Roddick at his peak, besides that one match. It was 6-1 Hewitt, but Roddick's won the last 3 meetings.

aphex · May 19, 2009

if you are talking 90s grass...definitely---

he would at least have 3-4 wimbys---hell, even krajicek got one...talk about a weak era dominated by the serve...

karlovic would've got a couple back then...

jamesblakefan#1 · May 19, 2009

But Roddick never played on 90s grass, so we don't know.

stormholloway · May 19, 2009

Patrick Rafter.

aphex · May 19, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
But Roddick never played on 90s grass, so we don't know.

no, but we can infer...
he has a better serve, forehand and backhand than sampras
his net game is weaker but if he played in a S&V era it would be better (edit: than it is now)

jamesblakefan#1 · May 19, 2009

aphex said:
no, but we can infer...
he has a better serve, forehand and backhand than sampras
his net game is weaker but if he played in a S&V era it would be better (edit: than it is now)

Serve? No, what planet are you on?
FH? At Roddick's peak, maybe, but not today with Roddick's loopy topspin FH.
BH? Neither one was really good, but I think Sampras's superior net game is enough to end the argument. And S&V era? With Agassi & Courier around winning slams, I don't think it was really an era, at least not during the 90s.

35ft6 · May 19, 2009

Roddick is very effective on grass but not sure if I would necessarily call him a great grasscourt player. This may sound counterintuitive but likewise I don't consider Chang a great clay courter despite him having won a French Open. Maybe I'll have to revise my definition at some point, because the grass has really changed in terms of playing characteristics, but guys like Mac, Sampras, Becker, and Fed are who I consider greats on grass.

jamesblakefan#1 · May 19, 2009

^^^Agreed.

Rabbit · May 19, 2009

stormholloway said:
Patrick Rafter.

Dang....I had thought of Rafter and was going to post....

Foiled again...

smart_player · May 19, 2009

Rabbit said:
Dang....I had thought of Rafter and was going to post....

Foiled again...

yeah rafter i would for sure agree

egn · May 19, 2009

Open era I always think Wilander
Pre Open era Rosewell and Pancho but those are for reasons like not being able to play wimby.

Open era though Wilander won 2 grass court slams and beat McEnroe on fast grass at Australia which some sources feel was at points faster than wimbledon. He had some mental block in England though. He had convincing victories over top players in his two Australian Open runs on grass..it is kind of sad.

Though Rafter is my close second as he lost to the man on fire twice..Sampras and than Goran.

egn · May 19, 2009

mzzmuaa said:
murray and djokovic will have no problem neutralizing his serve and attempt at a power game.
they are better GC players and neither of them have won wimbledon.

oh god..mind you roddick is 28 not 23 anymore and they are 22..gosh and doesn't djokovic get his ass handed to him by roddick as of late?

Leublu tennis · May 19, 2009

Ever?? I was hoping that this was a poll so I could just safely say "no".

Jchurch · May 19, 2009

RoddickAce said:
Back in 2003 and 2004, I think Roddick was a better grass court player than current Murray or Djokovic. Roddick right now doesn't play the same way he did back then.

Agreed. His forehand now just looks like it must hurt. That forehand in the 2004 Wimbledon final was amazing.

tintin · May 19, 2009

hell to the NO!

Deleted member 21996 · May 19, 2009

lets forget Rafter, Rosewall, Wilander, Lendl, Tanner...

and pretend tennis was invented by early 2000's

petetheileet · May 19, 2009

Id say rafter...

he was a chance at winning both of his finals

Madhoshi22 · May 19, 2009

I wouldn't even consider a real GC player...
He used brute force in 04/05, no real thought to his play. Don't get me wrong, he had an enormous serve, but that seemed to be the only thing he showed a slight idea of knowing how to use on grass. Other than that, his volleys are sub-par at best, groundies are average, I definitely wouldn't consider him the best GC player not to win Wimby.

JeMar · May 19, 2009

gj011 said:
No. Not even close.

I'm with gj011 on this one.

RoddickAce · May 19, 2009

I'm sure Ivanisevic is glad he managed to avoid being nominated in this thread. Had he not won Wimbledon at the last moments of his career, I would seriously consider him the best grasscourt player never to win Wimbledon.

GameSampras · May 19, 2009

Roddick the best? Hell I thought Rafter looked better on grass than Roddick. Roddick a "great" grass courter? Great Grass court players would have at least one Wimbeldon to their resume

S H O W S T O P P E R ! · May 19, 2009

I think he got robbed. If the grass wasn't slowed at Wimbeldon, Roddick's service at it's prime could have won him one, maybe even 2 Wimby's.

GameSampras said:
Roddick the best? Hell I thought Rafter looked better on grass than Roddick. Roddick a "great" grass courter? Great Grass court players would have at least one Wimbeldon to their resume

Federer never won RG, does that mean he sucks on clay?

GameSampras · May 19, 2009

S H O W S T O P P E R ! said:
I think he got robbed. If the grass wasn't slowed at Wimbeldon, Roddick's service at it's prime could have won him one, maybe even 2 Wimby's.

Federer never won RG, does that mean he sucks on clay?[/QUOTE]

No he doesnt suck but I certainly dont think Fed is "great" on clay by any means regardless of his RG final slam appearances. But lets look at his road to get to the finals every year. Its Pretty lame. . Certainly not among the best clay courters ever. Fed is definitely a good solid dirtballer though. You could name 15 better clay court players in history over Fed IMO

jamesblakefan#1 · May 19, 2009

S H O W S T O P P E R ! said:
I think he got robbed. If the grass wasn't slowed at Wimbeldon, Roddick's service at it's prime could have won him one, maybe even 2 Wimby's.

He got robbed? Great players adapt to all surfaces, all speeds, and don't just win because of one weapon. Great players adapt. (Ex. Nadal, Federer) Roddick has played on the slower grass for the past 5-6 yrs, he should have adapted a more all around game to win a Wimbledon, instead of relying so much on his serve. That is why he has never won Wimbledon. He is not an all around great player.

manny pacquiao P4P king · May 19, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
He got robbed? Great players adapt to all surfaces, all speeds, and don't just win because of one weapon. Great players adapt. (Ex. Nadal, Federer) Roddick has played on the slower grass for the past 5-6 yrs, he should have adapted a more all around game to win a Wimbledon, instead of relying so much on his serve. That is why he has never won Wimbledon. He is not an all around great player.

you shouldn't have to be a great all around player to win wimbledon - well, you do now as its green clay

jamesblakefan#1 · May 19, 2009

So you're admitting that Roddick's a one trick pony?

helloworld · May 19, 2009

aphex said:
if you are talking 90s grass...definitely---

he would at least have 3-4 wimbys---hell, even krajicek got one...talk about a weak era dominated by the serve...

karlovic would've got a couple back then...

Is this the most pathetic post ever or what? Do you think Roddick will have a chance against Pete Sampras in the 90s? He can't even beat Federer. How the hell is he going to beat prime Sampras at Wimbledon?

380pistol · May 19, 2009

GameSampras said:
Roddick the best? Hell I thought Rafter looked better on grass than Roddick. Roddick a "great" grass courter? Great Grass court players would have at least one Wimbeldon to their resume

Uh huh... yeah. Rafter > Roddick on grass. People talking about if it wasn't for Fed, well in the 90's Roddick sees Agassi and doesn't see the final.

380pistol · May 19, 2009

aphex said:
no, but we can infer...
he has a better serve, forehand and backhand than sampras
his net game is weaker but if he played in a S&V era it would be better (edit: than it is now)

Roddick's serve, forehand and backhand superioer to Sampras'?? On what planet?? Mars??? What are you on???

Leave Tina alone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

joeri888 · May 19, 2009

aphex said:
if you are talking 90s grass...definitely---

he would at least have 3-4 wimbys---hell, even krajicek got one...talk about a weak era dominated by the serve...

karlovic would've got a couple back then...

Krajicek was a great player. He was one of the good serve and volleyers of his time, and his forehand was good as well. There's nothing wrong with serve& volley. Besides, the guy beat Pete Sampras on his way to win it as well, which is not just 'some guy' on grass

manny pacquiao P4P king · May 20, 2009

380pistol said:
Uh huh... yeah. Rafter > Roddick on grass. People talking about if it wasn't for Fed, well in the 90's Roddick sees Agassi and doesn't see the final.

roddick's only win against AA came on grass

Grampy · May 20, 2009

Lendl > Roddick by far.

380pistol · May 20, 2009

manny pacquiao P4P king said:
roddick's only win against AA came on grass

And your point wuld be....??? You mean 7-6 in the 3rd (an 8-6 tie break) vs 33 yr old Agassi. Is Roddick going to beat Agassi at his peak at SW19?? I mean name the the 20 players Roddick has beaten at Wimbledon.

devila · May 21, 2009

jamesblakefan#1 said:
I think that Roddick's grasscourt resume is vastly overrated. Yeah he made it to two finals, but he never really beat a good, top level player en route to those two finals. And yeah he has the big serve, but that has been broken down over the past few years in his losses. For a guy with a serve as big as his, it just shows how weak his all around game is that he hasn't been able to win Wimbledon. And yes he made it to two finals, but you could argue he got good draws. I think Hewitt would have taken him out, had he been in Roddick's side of the draw. 4 Queens titles is impressive, but he's never beaten a top 10 player at Wimbledon.

Your precious Blake thanked him. He needed a fat Roddick who struggled on every surface, to move and serve precisely against every opponent, not just Federer. You conveniently left out Federer's easy Halle draws and crap draws on hardcourts and clay. Hewitt, Clement, Stepanek and Ferrero embarrassed Federer and Nadal too. Soderling and Rochus choked badly against Fed on grass courts, as Roddick did. Since 2006, Roddick cancelled matches with severe injuries and bulimic symptoms.

Joseph L. Barrow · May 21, 2009

No, not "the" best, but he's in the top 10, maybe top five.

CyBorg · May 21, 2009

Rafter, Lendl, Tanner come to mind as good ones as well. Mecir and Henman were good too, but never made the final at Wimbledon.

Ignoring obvious ones like Rosewall of course.

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