It would seem that there is little "general agreement" here.
It appears (to me) that the opinions are 50% for Vilas, 40% for Borg, and 10% for Connors (if that much).
It would seem that there is little "general agreement" here.
It appears (to me) that the opinions are 50% for Vilas, 40% for Borg, and 10% for Connors (if that much).
I reckon Connors was still the best player in 1977 and that Borg only overtook him in 78, but that Vilas had the best year and deserved to be considered number one for the year.
The Masters was held in January 1978.
Bud Collins summarized it this way in his record book of tennis:
"But even though World Tennis magazine declared Vilas No. 1 for the year, most other authorities disagreed and bestowed that mythical honor on Borg.”
His playing record for 1977 was 145 wins against 15 losses (ATP win-loss record was 130–15).
And it's generally agreed that Vilas was the real n°1.
It would seem that there is little "general agreement" here.
And he won 46 matches consecutively, which is the record. Djokovic won 43 in 2011, but was beaten by Federer in FO.
Most experts said that Borg was the real No. 1 in 1977. It means it's generally agreed that Borg was the real No. 1 in 1977.
It's irrelevant is there general agreement among non-experts. Can you provide a reliable source which says that there general agreement among experts?
Djokovic has nothing to do with the topic. Your post is a troll.
This is an interesting point.Two questions to be asked for 1977-Who had the best year?
Who was the best player? Could be two different answers.
I believe Borg was the best player but who had the best year.
I have "no horse in this race."Most experts said that Borg was the real No. 1 in 1977. It means it's generally agreed that Borg was the real No. 1 in 1977.
It's irrelevant is there general agreement among non-experts. Can you provide a reliable source which says that there [is] general agreement among experts?
Is Wikipedia a reliable source? That's a complex question.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World-number-one_male_tennis-player_rankings said:"Tennis Magazine (France); Michel Sutter; World Tennis; London Daily Telegraph; Tennis Club Magazine (Rome); Joe McCauley; Bud Collins; John Barrett; ATP Awards; Borg won Wimbledon over Connors who also lost the US Open against Vilas; Connors captured both the Masters beating Borg and the WCT Finals (Dick Stockton runner-up); Vilas also won a partially depleted French Open without Connors, Borg, Vitas Gerulaitis, Orantes and Stockton (anyway, seven of the top-10 players entered the tournament [30][31], so it was still an important one); Orantes beat Eddie Dibbs in the U.S. Pro; Tennis Magazine (France) ranked Borg #1 because he won Wimbledon and he defeated Vilas 3 times out of 3; Lance Tingay of the London Daily Telegraph, Rino Tommasi of Rome's Tennis Club magazine, Joe McCauley of Tennis Australia, Bud Collins and John Barrett also rated Borg first; while World Tennis and Michel Sutter considered Vilas the best one because among other reasons he won 46 matches in a row (even 50 including the Rye tournament excluded in ATP statistics) and 16 titles (or 17 Rye included); the ATP itself awarded Borg "Player of The Year" contradicting its computer ranking (Connors N° 1)."
Vilas clearly had the best year in 1977 as highlighted by his 2 slam titles and 16 titles in total. Borg was clearly the best player in 1977 with his winning h2hs over Vilas (3-0) and Connors (2-1), and his standard of tennis from about March to November, where his only official defeat was a retirement, being far beyond anything that either of those other 2 produced.
Agassi had the best year in 1999, while Sampras was the best player.
I personally think that Roddick had a slightly better year in 2003 than Federer, but Federer was the best player.
Ashe had the best year in 1975 with his Wimbledon and Dallas titles, while Connors was the best player.
Vilas clearly had the best year in 1977 as highlighted by his 2 slam titles and 16 titles in total. Borg was clearly the best player in 1977 with his winning h2hs over Vilas (3-0) and Connors (2-1), and his standard of tennis from about March to November, where his only official defeat was a retirement, being far beyond anything that either of those other 2 produced.
When Vilas was compiling that winning streak on clay, Borg was winning bigger tournaments on clay and carpet, with better fields and more prize money on offer. It's not about blindly following numbers alone but looking at the tennis played as well.
From March to November Borg was beating better players and playing better tennis than Vilas did at the end of the year.
Not to mention that Vilas was completely helpless in his 3 matches against Borg that year, winning just 1 set out of 8.
Yet Vilas won the 2 biggest clay-court tournaments of the year in the French Open and US Open.
I don't see how anyone can measure this, and who has actually seen all their matches in that period?
One of those matches was in January 1978. Using your argument here, you can say that Nadal was a better player than Federer in 2006 because he beat Federer 4 times out of 6 matches.
When Vilas was compiling that winning streak on clay, Borg was winning bigger tournaments on clay and carpet, with better fields and more prize money on offer. It's not about blindly following numbers alone but looking at the tennis played as well.
As far as non-slam tournaments, he definately had more of a 'quality over quantity' approach than Vilas.
From March to November Borg was beating better players and playing better tennis than Vilas did at the end of the year.
Not to mention that Vilas was completely helpless in his 3 matches against Borg that year, winning just 1 set out of 8.
My opinion about 1977 is that Vilas won most GS titles and most titles overall, but Borg won Wimbledon, was 3-0 up on Vilas and was best overall player on all surfaces. Who does that make the real no.1? I choose Borg, but others choose Vilas. No real wrong answer because it's so close, take your pick.
Vilas won more Grand Slams than Borg, more tournaments than Borg, more matches than Borg. He won tournaments on clay, on hard courts, and also indoor courts, and was finalist in Australia on grass courts. He is the world champion.
Two questions to be asked for 1977-Who had the best year?
Who was the best player? Could be two different answers.
I believe Borg was the best player but who had the best year.
It could be two different answers. IMO, Borg was the better player throughout his career.
I miss World Tennis Magazine. THAT was a real tennis magazine. They declared Becker year end #1 after he won Wimbledon and the USO in 1989, correctly notifying the ATP, which had Lendl ranked year end #1, that their ranking system was facaktin.
I remember the end of the 1989 season. Becker was in the zone for a couple of months in the later part of the year. I saw him play Wilander after the USO (on TV). Wilander was still a great player then and had just come off his own incredible 1988 season. Becker destroyed him. He was going completely Federer before that was even a thing.
Lendl was super consistent, but Becker was the guy in 1989.
What is an "expert" ? Is there a diploma ?
Word Tennis, Tennis de France, Le livre d'or du tennis, Michel Sutter, Eugene L. Scott were not experts ?
Is Wikipedia a reliable source?
What is an "expert" ? Is there a diploma ?
Word Tennis, Tennis de France, Le livre d'or du tennis, Michel Sutter, Eugene L. Scott were not experts ?
He is the world champion.
I have got proof that it's generally agreed that Borg was the real No. 1 in 1977:
"But even though World Tennis magazine declared Vilas No. 1 for the year, most other authorities disagreed and bestowed that mythical honor on Borg.” The Bud Collins History of Tennis An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book
It's obvious that Vilas had the best results over the whole season. That is undeniable. 1977 Borg cannot compete with 16 tournaments wins, 2 majors (plus another major final), a 53 match clay-court winning streak and a 46 match winning streak. Borg just didn't have the activity needed, nor the number of major wins.
Like I said . . . .It would seem that there is little "general agreement" here.
It's obvious that Vilas had the best results over the whole season. That is undeniable.
Like I said . . . .
Can you provide a reliable source which states that most experts said Vilas was the real No. 1 ni 1977?.
Try looking at their 1977 match results and see the reality for yourself.
"But even though World Tennis magazine declared Vilas No. 1 for the year, most other authorities disagreed and bestowed that mythical honor on Borg.”
The Bud Collins History of Tennis An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book
"But even though World Tennis magazine declared Vilas No. 1 for the year, most other authorities disagreed and bestowed that mythical honor on Borg.”
The Bud Collins History of Tennis An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book
"But even though World Tennis magazine declared Vilas No. 1 for the year, most other authorities disagreed and bestowed that mythical honor on Borg.”
The Bud Collins History of Tennis An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book
Do you always do what others tell you or find out things for yourself?
Bud Collins is God ?
Can you find a reliable source which states that most authorites/experts said Vilas was the real No. 1 in 1977?
Can you find a reliable source which states that most authorites/experts said Vilas was the real No. 1 in 1977?