A look at the history of "The Next Gen" of greats

[fed_rulz]

In men's tennis, a generation is usually defined as 5 yrs or so. Let's look at the list of noteworthy champions in successive generations (dates are for when the players turned Pro; open era only)

Gen 1: Jimbo (1972), Borg (1973)
Gen 2: Lendl (1978 ), McEnroe (1978 )
Gen 3: Edberg (1983), Becker (1984), Wilander (1981)
Gen 4: Agassi (1988 ), Courier (1988 ), Sampras (1989)
Gen 5: Kafelnikov (1992), Kuerten (1995)
Gen 6: Federer (1998 ), Safin (1997), Hewitt (1998 ), Roddick (2000)
Gen 7: Nadal (2001), Djoker (2003), Delpo (2005)
Gen 8: (Tomic, Dmitrov, Raonic....??)

As you can see, there's a nice pattern here; every 5 yrs, the next set of big guns show up, and most likely eclipse the previous gen.

The generation following Sampras is strange -- I could not come up with the next set of competitors. I believe the Sampras generation of players greatly benefitted from this vacuum, not having the next set of guns breathing down their necks.

Also, Nadal turning pro in 2001 greatly disadvantaged Federer; he effectively reduced Federer's alloted time by 2 years. He was already a tour veteran of 3 yrs when they met for the first time. We all know what would've happened if we shift Nadal out by 2 yrs . And it's remarkable that Federer is still #1 in what is likely the first half of the 2nd generation following his!

 

[Cormorant]

You could slot in Kafelnikov and Kuerten into Gen 5, and leave Gen 8 blank out of respect for the players who've actually got grand slam pedigree!

I still think Tomic can come good, but Dimitrov and Raonic are getting nowhere near a GS slam final at their current rate of progress.

 

[fed_rulz]

You could slot in Kafelnikov and Kuerten into Gen 5, and leave Gen 8 blank out of respect for the players who've actually got grand slam pedigree!

I still think Tomic can come good, but Dimitrov and Raonic are getting nowhere near a GS slam final at their current rate of progress.

thanks! updated list with Kafelnikov, Kuerten. My point still stands -- the gen following sampras looks to be the weakest of all. Surely helped Sampras & co. thrive?

The brackets around Gen 8 is indicative of future potential.

 

[tank_job]

Take Murray out of gen 7 and replace with Delpo, thanx

 

[fed_rulz]

Take Murray out of gen 7 and replace with Delpo, thanx

valid point, done.

 

[Mustard]

Wilander turned professional in 1984? Surely not that late?

1981, according to this:

http://tennis-champions.findthedata.org/q/131/2001/What-year-did-Mats-Wilander-turn-pro

 

[tricky]

Patrick Rafter in Gen 5

 

[smoledman]

In men's tennis, a generation is usually defined as 5 yrs or so. Let's look at the list of noteworthy champions in successive generations (dates are for when the players turned Pro; open era only)

Gen 7: Nadal (2001), Djoker (2003), Delpo (2005)
Gen 8: (Tomic, Dmitrov, Raonic....??)

Gen 7 : Nadal, Djoker, Murray
Gen 8: Delpo, Tomic, Dimitrov, Raonic, Dolgo

 

[Mick3391]

In men's tennis, a generation is usually defined as 5 yrs or so. Let's look at the list of noteworthy champions in successive generations (dates are for when the players turned Pro; open era only)

Gen 1: Jimbo (1972), Borg (1973)
Gen 2: Lendl (1978 ), McEnroe (1978 )
Gen 3: Edberg (1983), Becker (1984), Wilander (1984)
Gen 4: Agassi (1988 ), Courier (1988 ), Sampras (1989)
Gen 5: Kafelnikov (1992), Kuerten (1995)
Gen 6: Federer (1998 ), Safin (1997), Hewitt (1998 ), Roddick (2000)
Gen 7: Nadal (2001), Djoker (2003), Delpo (2005)
Gen 8: (Tomic, Dmitrov, Raonic....??)

As you can see, there's a nice pattern here; every 5 yrs, the next set of big guns show up, and most likely eclipse the previous gen.

The generation following Sampras is strange -- I could not come up with the next set of competitors. I believe the Sampras generation of players greatly benefitted from this vacuum, not having the next set of guns breathing down their necks.

Also, Nadal turning pro in 2001 greatly disadvantaged Federer; he effectively reduced Federer's alloted time by 2 years. He was already a tour veteran of 3 yrs when they met for the first time. We all know what would've happened if we shift Nadal out by 2 yrs . And it's remarkable that Federer is still #1 in what is likely the first half of the 2nd generation following his!

Hey, you left our Mick Sweeney, my 11 year old son, next dominant champ! What gives?

Wouldn't that be something? The thing is, you can be a great player, live a clean life, and still drift around 10-50 in the rankings, you have to do somethig different, innovative, special I think to be champ. It's like any sport, there are many who are AWESOME, but at that level they have to be born with the talent, desire more than everyone, creative thought, confidence, clean life, they have to do it all, and even then there are losses, tough sport!

 

[fed_rulz]

Patrick Rafter in Gen 5

gen 4 actually; he turned pro in 1991

 

[fed_rulz]

Hey, you left our Mick Sweeney, my 11 year old son, next dominant champ! What gives?

Wouldn't that be something? The thing is, you can be a great player, live a clean life, and still drift around 10-50 in the rankings, you have to do somethig different, innovative, special I think to be champ. It's like any sport, there are many who are AWESOME, but at that level they have to be born with the talent, desire more than everyone, creative thought, confidence, clean life, they have to do it all, and even then there are losses, tough sport!

ok, i guess ??

 

[fed_rulz]

Wilander turned professional in 1984? Surely not that late?

1981, according to this:

http://tennis-champions.findthedata.org/q/131/2001/What-year-did-Mats-Wilander-turn-pro

you're right; updated.

 

[Towerofpower205]

You could slot in Kafelnikov and Kuerten into Gen 5, and leave Gen 8 blank out of respect for the players who've actually got grand slam pedigree!

I still think Tomic can come good, but Dimitrov and Raonic are getting nowhere near a GS slam final at their current rate of progress.

Raonic is way more likely to show up over tomic and dmitrov he's 15 in the world and is constantly getting better. Tomic is spacey with no aggressiveness. Dmitrov is hanging around 60 and thats where he belongs right now I look for him to hang around 25-30

 

[Ashley D]

ok, i guess ??

Lol. Welcome to Mick3391's inane drivel and self inflated opinion of his own ability and his son's.
What exactly is it that you think Fed does that's innovative or different? He's straight out of a tennis text book. He's the perfect, quintessential tennis player.

 

[underground]

Federer should be in 3 generations.

And just to satisfy *******s, I think after putting Fed into 3 generations, bracket that in capital letters WEAK ERA.