I'm assuming you were aware of how big a deal the media made of Lendl's quest to win Wimbledon? Esp in 1990 when he skipped the French to prepare for Wimbledon? Why do you think that was? Do you think it had anything to do with the fact that he had already won the other 3?After winning the '89 AO he talked about how important it was to him to have all 4 majors under his belt.
I am aware of that, but you also surely must be aware that Lendl's quest for Wimbledon started long before he won the AO, Wimbledon being the crown jewel of slams and thus coveted by itself. And talk about whether or not he would ever win it, or if he had the ability to do so etc. also preceded his AO wins. Yes, he skipped the French in 1990, mainly because, at 30, he felt he was running out of time for his old Wimbledon quest. There have probably been many players who did the same over the years (skip the French to prepare for Wimbledon) without any views on a "career slam" but just for the sake of Wimbledon itself. I know Santana did it at least once, and it worked. He certainly was not thinking of any career slams.
Look, I don't think Agassi's career slam is to be dismissed, and it is in fact one of the reasons I still rank him a bit above Nadal, even if the latter already surpassess him in other important departments. But I do think the importance of it has been exaggerated. The idea of some special merit in winning all four at some point in your career did exist in the 80s, though it was rather diffuse. At any rate, a hard term for it seems to have gained currency only around the time Agassi accomplished it. And in a sense, things don't fully exist until they have a name.
As I said in my earlier post, I consider Martina's 6 in a row, at a time when all 4 slams were already fully attended, a hugely more difficult accomplishment -- perhaps the most remarkable in the history of the sport. Because of the starting point, she was one title short (on both ends) from two consecutive calendar slams. And sandwiched within 6 in a row are 4 in a row, which to my mind are barely distinguishable from a grand slam in terms of difficulty. So 6 in a row is, in a sense, 50% heavier and more difficult than even a grand slam. Did she get a name for that amazing feat? No. All I heard was Bud Collins saying something to the effect that it was a great accomplishment, but the term grand slam should not be trivialized by mixing it up with it. God forbid. Wow. Scrupulous Bud.
ha, Agassi is lucky the computer ranking only started in 1973, or Jimmy would be tops in this stat as well. He was clearly a top 10 player in '72.
That may be. But I understand he turned pro sometime in 72, so am not sure if he could move up through the rankings so fast as to become top 10 the same year.
