Greatest Group of all Time (GGOAT) ?

[joe sch]

Part of the discussions for the "Budge, Perry, Vines-the magic trio of the 30s" thread
considered how the greats of the 1930s compared against other great eras. Several of
the posters were interested in seeing a poll, so here it is. Also fits in nicely with
the GOAT threads since the competition should be a consideration in naming a GOAT.
For example, I dont list the 2000s since not sure anybody else deserves to be included
with Federer and Nadal.

1920s: Tilden, Cochet, La Coste, Borotra
1930s: Perry, Vines, Budge, Riggs, Nusslein, Von Cramm
1950s: Gonzales, Sequra, Kramer, Rosewall, Sedgman, Hoad, Trabert
1960s: Laver, Rosewall, Emerson, Gonzales, Gimeno
1980s: Borg, Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Vilas
1990s: Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Edberg, Becker

NOTE: Added Sequra, Kramer to 1950s although Kramer really dominated the 1940s

 

[urban]

Its a good list. I have a bit of problems with the timing. I think, the 30s, end of the 50s, end 60s to begin 70s, and end 80s, begin 90s had the best competition of top 6 to top 8. Around 1970 i would add Newcombe (overall stronger than for instance Vilas) and Ashe (maybe Gimeno and Roche, too). Around 1980 i wouldn't rank Lendl among the others Borg, Mac and Connors. I think, at his peak, he formed a strong group with Becker, Edberg, Wilander at the end of the 80s.

 

[joe sch]

Its a good list. I have a bit of problems with the timing. I think, the 30s, end of the 50s, end 60s to begin 70s, and end 80s, begin 90s had the best competition of top 6 to top 8. Around 1970 i would add Newcombe (overall stronger than for instance Vilas) and Ashe (maybe Gimeno and Roche, too). Around 1980 i wouldn't rank Lendl among the others Borg, Mac and Connors. I think, at his peak, he formed a strong group with Becker, Edberg, Wilander at the end of the 80s.

Agree. Really hard to have decade cutoffs, like 1975..85 very strong for the players listed in the 80s and Lendl dominated from 1985..90. Also agree that Newcombe, Roche, Smith, Ashe, and other multi-slam champions should be mentioned with respective greatly competitive eras.

 

[jean pierre]

Borg, Connors, Vilas, McEnroe, it was a fantastic period ! The only big 4 stars in the history of tennis.

 

[jrepac]

Ivan

Its a good list. I have a bit of problems with the timing. I think, the 30s, end of the 50s, end 60s to begin 70s, and end 80s, begin 90s had the best competition of top 6 to top 8. Around 1970 i would add Newcombe (overall stronger than for instance Vilas) and Ashe (maybe Gimeno and Roche, too). Around 1980 i wouldn't rank Lendl among the others Borg, Mac and Connors. I think, at his peak, he formed a strong group with Becker, Edberg, Wilander at the end of the 80s.

But, Lendl was right up there in the early 80's....he just was not winning GS yet...

from late 70's to 1985, you just had fantastic competition...so many all time greats competing against each other...

we've had some superb players since then, but never so many all at one time out there...

 

[the little dasher]

Of that group I'd favour the 30s. Little btwn any of them though. I think they have a little more depth than the 50s though the duo of Gonzales and Rosewall are the premier pair of the comparative groups.

 

[TennisLurker]

The late 80's group

Lendl, Becker, Edberg, Wilander and the slamles but still great Mecir, that is the best group ever

you also had McEnroe and Connors still playing, and Noah

 

[pc1]

Just a minor thing, in the 1960's group, I think Gimeno is a better choice than Emerson. Gimeno has beaten Laver and Rosewall many times and often in one tournament. Emerson had the advantage of playing in the amateurs and Gimeno was winning tournaments against Laver, Rosewall, Gonzalez and many other greats.

In the 1950's, Kramer and Segura may be better choices than some.

 

[hoodjem]

Good thread. Even with the generalities, a good poll. We'll see who comes out on top.

 

[joe sch]

Just a minor thing, in the 1960's group, I think Gimeno is a better choice than Emerson. Gimeno has beaten Laver and Rosewall many times and often in one tournament. Emerson had the advantage of playing in the amateurs and Gimeno was winning tournaments against Laver, Rosewall, Gonzalez and many other greats.

In the 1950's, Kramer and Segura may be better choices than some.

pc1, excellent points and I do agree on all counts infact Im ashamed to have left off Kramer (really 1940s) and Sequra. I cant update poll now but will update my post listing

 

[joe sch]

I wanted to post another excellent comment from pc1 that supports the 1980 group:

"Borg, Lendl, Connors and McEnroe was four unbelievable players all playing around the same time. I think all of them for a five year span won over 90% of their matches at one point.

A lot of all time greats never won 90% of their matches for one year!"

What I really admire about the 1960 group is that Laver, Rosewal, and Gonzales all played till about 40 years of age, competing and beating the best players in the world. This says alot for the kind of tennis they played and how great those games held up. I also admire this love of tennis and fighting ability in Connors and McEnroe. I think that Mac may have held up better than any player in history since he is now 50 and can still play at an unbelievable level.

 

[the little dasher]

Tilden said he reached the peak of his game in 1934 when he 41. That year he faced off with Vines in the pro tour but eventually went down to him.

I agree that that Rosewall and Gonzales were phenomenal in holding their form up to age 40 and beyond but I think Laver started to peter out before that age. Still a great player into his mid thirties though.

The efforts of Tilden, Gonzales and Rosewall are astonshing however.

 

[JoelDali]

Rush, when Neil joined.

 

[kiki]

Its a good list. I have a bit of problems with the timing. I think, the 30s, end of the 50s, end 60s to begin 70s, and end 80s, begin 90s had the best competition of top 6 to top 8. Around 1970 i would add Newcombe (overall stronger than for instance Vilas) and Ashe (maybe Gimeno and Roche, too). Around 1980 i wouldn't rank Lendl among the others Borg, Mac and Connors. I think, at his peak, he formed a strong group with Becker, Edberg, Wilander at the end of the 80s.

You could have Lendl in the early 80´s group (Borg,Connors,Mc Enroe,Lendl,Vilas and Gerulaitis), the mid 80´s (Mac,Lendl,Wilander,Becker,Connors and Edberg) or the late 80´s-early 90´s (Sampras,Agassi,Courier,Lendl,Becker,Edberg).Any of those groups are terrific, which shows how funny and special the whole 1980´s were ( not to mention second stringers like Noah,Cash,Tanner, Kriek,Mecir,Gomez,Curren,Leconte,Chang,Bruguera

 

[kiki]

Of that group I'd favour the 30s. Little btwn any of them though. I think they have a little more depth than the 50s though the duo of Gonzales and Rosewall are the premier pair of the comparative groups.

Laver,Rosewall,Emerson,Santana,Gonzales,Hoad,Gimeno and Fraser, if they have all played together as pros ( or amateurs) must have formed the best group of 8.

 

[kiki]

Part of the discussions for the "Budge, Perry, Vines-the magic trio of the 30s" thread
considered how the greats of the 1930s compared against other great eras. Several of
the posters were interested in seeing a poll, so here it is. Also fits in nicely with
the GOAT threads since the competition should be a consideration in naming a GOAT.
For example, I dont list the 2000s since not sure anybody else deserves to be included
with Federer and Nadal.

1920s: Tilden, Cochet, La Coste, Borotra
1930s: Perry, Vines, Budge, Riggs, Nusslein, Von Cramm
1950s: Gonzales, Sequra, Kramer, Rosewall, Sedgman, Hoad, Trabert
1960s: Laver, Rosewall, Emerson, Gonzales, Gimeno
1980s: Borg, Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Vilas
1990s: Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Edberg, Becker

NOTE: Added Sequra, Kramer to 1950s although Kramer really dominated the 1940s

1930s: Crawford better than Riggs and Nuslein
1960s: Santana as good as Gimeno
1980s: add Gerulaitis behind Vilas

rest is OK, IMo

 

[kiki]

But, Lendl was right up there in the early 80's....he just was not winning GS yet...

from late 70's to 1985, you just had fantastic competition...so many all time greats competing against each other...

we've had some superb players since then, but never so many all at one time out there...

What a big truth ¡¡¡

 

[kiki]

Borg, Connors, Vilas, McEnroe, it was a fantastic period ! The only big 4 stars in the history of tennis.

Not true.Many other former quartets had 4 stars

Tilden,Perry,Budge and Vines
Kramer,Gonzales,Hoad,Rosewall
Laver,Emerson,Newcombe,Ashe

and, my fav one: Laver,Hoad,Gonzales and Rosewall

It´s just that tennis stars didn´t have the rock and roll star status that they got in the 70´s, when TV popularised tennis world wide.To me, Nastase was much more of a star than Vilas ( a honest 4 th man)

 

[Wuornos]

I agree with the current leader of the poll being the 80s but from my own personal point of view I would rate the current crop of men's singles players even more highly.

Tim

 

[Andres]

Why are the 70s missing?

(Voted 80s anyway, but would have voted 70s with 70s Borg, 70s Connors, Nastase, 70s Vilas)