More gruelling: winning back to back best of 3 set tournaments or winning a Slam?

[JennyS]

What is more grueling: winning back to back one week ATP events or playing 7 best of five set matches over 14 days?

I think it's the back to back best of three tournaments. The reason? The players often have to play 5 days in a row, whereas in Slams, they rarely have to play two days in a row.

Consider these examples:

Rafael Nadal spent a combined 957 minutes on court at Monte Carlo and Barcelona in 2008 and only dropped one set in those two weeks. But I think he played 5 days in a row at Barcelona and probably 3-4 days in a row at Monte Carlo.

At the French Open the same year, he spent 881 minutes on court, with a day off between all of his matches.

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

I'd go w/ back to back 3 setters but a slam means more

 

[JayChu]

Physically: Back to back 3 setters
Emotionally: Grand Slams

 

[JennyS]

Federer back to back 7 day tournament wins:
1. 2005: Rotterdam, Dubai
2. 2006: Madrid, Basel

Nadal back to back 7 day tournament wins:

1. 2005: Costa Do Sauippe, Acapulco
2. 2005: Monte Carlo, Barcelona
3. 2006: Monte Carlo, Barcelona
4. 2007: Monte Carlo, Barcelona
5. 2008: Monte Carlo, Barcelona
6. 2009: Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome

 

[JennyS]

Physically: Back to back 3 setters
Emotionally: Grand Slams

I agree 100%!

 

[Anaconda]

The only reason it was tough for Nadal is because of his style. Rafter and Roddick won back to back masters and a slam. Both of these guys played aggressively.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

A slam is definitely more difficult, but when it comes to b2b MS events like IW-Miami, that may have a case for being just as difficult as winning a slam; but not regular ATP 250 events w/ cupcake fields.

 

[JennyS]

How about when the Masters events used to be 6 rounds for every player and in many cases had a best of 5 final? That was pretty brutal.

 

[matchmaker]

Back to back ATP tournaments.

The day off between two GS matches allows for better recovery, even though the matches are longer.

When the schedule in a GS gets messed up and players have to play on consecutive days, though, it becomes a lot harder. Nadal's Wimbledon campaign in 2007, I believe, comes to mind.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

Back to back ATP tournaments.

The day off between two GS matches allows for better recovery, even though the matches are longer.

When the schedule in a GS gets messed up and players have to play on consecutive days, though, it becomes a lot harder. Nadal's Wimbledon campaign in 2007, I believe, comes to mind.

I don't agree.

Again, back to back tourney wins can be pretty easy if you're playing the smaller 250 events like the ones this week, where none of the top guys are playing. When JMDP won consecutive weeks in 08, he didn't even have to beat a top 10 player to do so. Very rare that the same can happen in a slam.

Besides, most of these guys practice even on the "off days" during a slam 2-3 hours a day. That adds to the strain involved at the slams.