TripleATeam
G.O.A.T.
If a passerby glanced at random Player v Player threads- (ie. Djokovic v Federer, Federer v Nadal, Djokovic v Lendl) they would see a lot of talk about Grand Slams. Obviously, Grand Slams are the crux of the sport, the pinnacle of pinnacles, and the crowning achievements for most tennis players. However, looking at the numbers, there doesn't seem to be a reason to treat these so much more highly than Masters 1000s.
Purely using the ATP numbers, Grand Slams are worth 2000 points vs the 1000 point Masters 1000s. Sure. Obviously the sport needs some markers- something to say this person can beat 7 other world-class tennis players consecutively with each match getting progressively harder. I get that.
However, the ATP Masters 1000 events are also incredibly important. They show how players are doing at any given point in the year, especially going into Slams. There are 9 events in total, 8 of which are mandatory. This means that all of the top players will be present at each Masters 1000 event, just like at the Slams. This means the competition is just as fierce.
The prize money is less, sure, but that's only because there is less on the line than in Majors. And it is worth half the points that a Grand Slam is worth- nearly as much as a player gets for being runner-up at a Grand Slam.
The way I see it, if Player 1 won every single Masters 1000, yet won nothing else, but Player 2 got the Calendar Year Grand Slam, yet won nothing else- Player 1 ends up being the Year End #1. But on these forums, everyone would argue that 4>>>>>>0, so Player 2 is far superior.
Why do some people consider Grand Slams the only measure of a player's worth?
Should we factor in Masters 1000 almost as much as Grand Slams when determining who's better? Half as much? A quarter?
Purely using the ATP numbers, Grand Slams are worth 2000 points vs the 1000 point Masters 1000s. Sure. Obviously the sport needs some markers- something to say this person can beat 7 other world-class tennis players consecutively with each match getting progressively harder. I get that.
However, the ATP Masters 1000 events are also incredibly important. They show how players are doing at any given point in the year, especially going into Slams. There are 9 events in total, 8 of which are mandatory. This means that all of the top players will be present at each Masters 1000 event, just like at the Slams. This means the competition is just as fierce.
The prize money is less, sure, but that's only because there is less on the line than in Majors. And it is worth half the points that a Grand Slam is worth- nearly as much as a player gets for being runner-up at a Grand Slam.
The way I see it, if Player 1 won every single Masters 1000, yet won nothing else, but Player 2 got the Calendar Year Grand Slam, yet won nothing else- Player 1 ends up being the Year End #1. But on these forums, everyone would argue that 4>>>>>>0, so Player 2 is far superior.
Why do some people consider Grand Slams the only measure of a player's worth?
Should we factor in Masters 1000 almost as much as Grand Slams when determining who's better? Half as much? A quarter?