Which tennis players are the most idolised?

I have just watched Senna, the film about the F1 driver and one thing that struck me about him was the God like status he acheived in his home country. He even received a state funeral after he tragically died. So that got me wondering which tennis player if any receives similar levels of adulation and why. Any thoughts?
 

TJfederer16

Hall of Fame
i also just watched Senna, a fantastic documentary about a legend, even if your not an F1 fan he is certainly one to admire, im not a huge F1 fan but i really enjoyed the whole thing. You really felt the aura around Senna and the respect everyone had for him throughout his career not only because of his unbelievable talent as a driver but also as a person, he really did have that god-like status especially in his home country of Brazil where they loved him so much, he really helped the morale of the country as a whole and when he tragically died you could see what a huge blow it was to the people of Brazil. In terms of tennis Roger obviously has that feel of a god-like status over anyone else, he still has that huge aura just like Senna did and that sense of being the king of their sports, Rafa feels like the heir to that thrown and Novak next in line, but at the moment Roger still stands as the most respected, god-like player with a status similar to that of Senna's.
 
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Evan77

Banned
I'd say that Borg was the first tennis superstar.

Nowadays, it's Federer and Nadal ... Djokovic is getting there
 
I get the impression that Federer does not get the same level of affection in Switzerland - although this could be a cultural thing. I suspect Djokovic maybe more 'loved' in Serbia. As far as fans worldwide are concerned, I would agree Federer transcends tennis like no-one else.

PS I did not much like the film - soundtrack is amazing though.
 
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Numenor

Rookie
Ah, Senna. What is there to say about the F1 GOAT?

Djoker in Serbia has a similar response to Ayrton in Brazil.
 

kragster

Hall of Fame
The largest fan base and the most loyal fan base are two different things. I would posit that Djokovic worship in Serbia probably far exceeds Fed worship in Switzerland or Rafa worship in Spain even though overall they have bigger fan bases.
 

purge

Hall of Fame
since the op seems to be asking about whos the most idolized in their respective home countries i would have to say djokovic as well right now. but that is mostly just because of the difference in mindset between people from serbia and switzerland for example. on a worldwide scheme the answer would obviously be federer
 

Tenez101

Banned
I'd say Bjorn Borg, especially on this forum. Never really got why he was so popular (wasn't around during his heyday), but he was obviously an amazing player.
 
Bjorn Borg. People friggin' wear his name on their crotches! However, I don't think that most kids will recognize him on a photograph.
 

DeShaun

Banned
40 y/o pancho gonzales was beating prime kramers while bageling young ashes; i tend to idolize gonzales.

gonzales rocked! his generation hard, then the next generation he rocked hard, and half way through the third generation (after nearly twenty years of full time play) he was still owning some elite scalps.
 
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tank_job

Banned
Serena Williams is highly idolized.

Many of the 'new generation' of tennis players aspire to play a similar style of game as him. He is also regarded as an icon because of his great success despite his under-privileged background. A fierce rivalry with his older brother has further endeared him to the American public.
 

Evan77

Banned
Serena Williams is highly idolized.

Many of the 'new generation' of tennis players aspire to play a similar style of game as him. He is also regarded as an icon because of his great success despite his under-privileged background. A fierce rivalry with his older brother has further endeared him to the American public.

lol. no, Sharapova as a pretty blond girl is a way more popular than Serena. I don't watch the WTA matches any more because it's all a big joke, but it is what it is ... it's all about glamor and ****, nothing to do with tennis ... look at Ivanovic (she actually had some potential, she did get that #1, won RG etc.) and then she turned out to be a model, a beauty queen posing for major magazines .... she is known more for her looks than for her tennis skills ... kinda sad

even my friends in Canada (who hardly watch any tennis) know who Sharapova, Kournikova, Ivanovic are ... all they say is 'oh, they are so pretty' ... oh well
 

Evan77

Banned
Federer and Agassi are the most popular tennis players of the last 20 years.
it's funny that Agassi was more popular than Sampras ... I like his game but kinda never like his personality ... all of that drama, different looks, hair, huge ego, lol ...

feel bad about poor Pete :)
 

TMF

Talk Tennis Guru
Serena Williams is highly idolized.

Many of the 'new generation' of tennis players aspire to play a similar style of game as him. He is also regarded as an icon because of his great success despite his under-privileged background. A fierce rivalry with his older brother has further endeared him to the American public.

You mean only in the states, not outside of US. And that was years back then, before her outburst at the 2009 USO, where she lost respect and fans. Sharapova has taken over her spotlight years ago. She is the most famous/recognize female tennis player. More people around the world know Sharapova more than Serena. Mainly because she's more beautiful, better personality, which attract fans. Also exposed to commericals, endorsements from major companies, it's hard not to even know Sharapova even if you are not a fan of tennis.
 

mattennis

Hall of Fame
Bjorn Borg. It was something truly amazing. I think him being so shy, so quiet, also helped, giving him some kind of divine essence.
 

Evan77

Banned
Bjorn Borg. It was something truly amazing. I think him being so shy, so quiet, also helped, giving him some kind of divine essence.
man, I'm not gay but can I tell you I LOVE YOU, lol... yeah, lot's of younger posters here have never seen Borg ... and he is still, IMHO, the biggest tennis star ever (sorry Rog).
 

BrooklynNY

Hall of Fame
Federer, Djokovic, & Raonic have all said their idol is Pete Sampras.

2/3 of them have played an exo against him, and Djokovic is basically putting it out there in the press that he is waiting to play Pete in an exo.

Murray has said Agassi was his idol, Federer said he never really paid much attention to Agassi.
 

tennis_pro

Bionic Poster
I'd say Connors (the first big superstar in tennis), Borg, McEnroe, Becker, Agassi, Federer. Nadal is feeding off Federer's popularity as the "no 1 villain" so it doesn't count.

Sampras, Edberg, Wilander, even Djokovic despite owing the tour the last 1,5 years never really were that popular.
 
it's funny that Agassi was more popular than Sampras ... I like his game but kinda never like his personality ... all of that drama, different looks, hair, huge ego, lol ...

feel bad about poor Pete :)

Agassi (the first version) did not have a personality - he was all marketing like those manufactured pop bands.
 

li0scc0

Hall of Fame
it's funny that Agassi was more popular than Sampras ... I like his game but kinda never like his personality ... all of that drama, different looks, hair, huge ego, lol ...

feel bad about poor Pete :)

Pete HAD no personality.
Agassi did the commercials, he had the marketing spin. Cameras, the Rebel! Andre was married to Brooke Shields, Steffi Graf, even in a relatonship with the world's ugliest human Barbra Streisand.
Pete....was a great tennis player. But that is all. Nothing else. He marketed Tournagrip. I guess, at least, he didn't date Babs.
 

veroniquem

Bionic Poster
Agassi (the first version) did not have a personality - he was all marketing like those manufactured pop bands.



Agassi could be blamed for a lot of things: lack of consistency, eccentricity, immaturity, insolence... the one thing he really, really, can't be faulted for is lack of personality. Agassi had more personality in his little finger than Sampras in his entire being. It is precisely because Agassi had such a strong personality/persona that he was so marketable.
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
lol. no, Sharapova as a pretty blond girl is a way more popular than Serena. I don't watch the WTA matches any more because it's all a big joke, but it is what it is ... it's all about glamor and ****, nothing to do with tennis ... look at Ivanovic (she actually had some potential, she did get that #1, won RG etc.) and then she turned out to be a model, a beauty queen posing for major magazines .... she is known more for her looks than for her tennis skills ... kinda sad

even my friends in Canada (who hardly watch any tennis) know who Sharapova, Kournikova, Ivanovic are ... all they say is 'oh, they are so pretty' ... oh well

sharapova has a tenth of serena's popularity...
 

TERRASTAR18

Hall of Fame
You mean only in the states, not outside of US. And that was years back then, before her outburst at the 2009 USO, where she lost respect and fans. Sharapova has taken over her spotlight years ago. She is the most famous/recognize female tennis player. More people around the world know Sharapova more than Serena. Mainly because she's more beautiful, better personality, which attract fans. Also exposed to commericals, endorsements from major companies, it's hard not to even know Sharapova even if you are not a fan of tennis.

in your dreams buddy.....even celebs like cameron diaz flock to see serena.....maria is to serena what djoker is to fed....publicity *****s who try to hard.....
 
I heard at AO finals from one of the commentators - Roger is the most respected but Rafa is the most loved player of the last decade :twisted:
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
sharapova has a tenth of serena's popularity...

Are you off your rocker? Sharapova has 7 million FB fans, how many does Serena have? Not even a million. On twitter Serena has over 2 million I think but how does that compare to Sharapova's 7 million on FB? Worldwide Sharapova is 20 times more popular than Serena Williams. Stop being delusional. You were the only one who voted for Serena in that poll about who should be the women's face of tennis. Doesn't that tell you something?

Serena was rated one of the most hated athletes of all time. She is not even in the discussion about most idolized tennis players.
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
Bjorn Borg owns this thread. He was the first real tennis superstar. Connors was was nowhere near the rock star status that Borg had.

After Borg, it was Agassi who was a mega sensation and brought interest back to tennis (lol somebody on this thread mentioned Sampras as being idolized, what a crock. He was as dull as they come and Agassi was the superstar.) After Agassi it was Federer. Borg, Agassi and Federer are the biggest ever stars in tennis. Nadal is popular too even though many on here seem to dislike him.
 

Evan77

Banned
Agassi could be blamed for a lot of things: lack of consistency, eccentricity, immaturity, insolence... the one thing he really, really, can't be faulted for is lack of personality. Agassi had more personality in his little finger than Sampras in his entire being. It is precisely because Agassi had such a strong personality/persona that he was so marketable.

well, I personally love composed players. I remember a young Agassi (a spoiled brat), never really liked him. Pete was, maybe a bit cold etc. but he was a fantastic player.

Both Fed and Djokovic were like spoiled kids in their early days, but look at them now ...I guess it takes some time to grow up. I used to hate Djokovic and his temper ... but he turned out to be a true champion and I love it. I just love people who can change ... it's not an easy thing tho.
 

li0scc0

Hall of Fame
in your dreams buddy.....even celebs like cameron diaz flock to see serena.....maria is to serena what djoker is to fed....publicity *****s who try to hard.....

However, Maria was featured in SI swimsuit, appears as a model in advertisements for non-tennis products, has done runway modeling, and...and...and.

Serena is absolutely popular, very much so!!! However, she is not even close to the popularity or marketability of Maria Sharapova.
 

Bender

G.O.A.T.
Current players (in no particular order):
Federer
Nadal
Sharapova
Li Na (in Asia)
Djokovic (in Serbia)
Williams Sisters (to a limited extent)
 
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