Most efficient player of all time?

Most efficient player of all time?

  • Sampras

    Votes: 21 33.3%
  • Federer

    Votes: 10 15.9%
  • Djokovic

    Votes: 20 31.7%
  • Agassi

    Votes: 1 1.6%
  • Medvedev

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Borg

    Votes: 1 1.6%
  • Becker

    Votes: 2 3.2%
  • Nadal

    Votes: 3 4.8%
  • Karlovic/Isner

    Votes: 4 6.3%
  • Other

    Votes: 1 1.6%

  • Total voters
    63

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
I won't define efficient. That's up to you. But who would you pick as the most efficient tennis player of all time?

Vote and discuss!
 

Fiero425

Legend
Even though the GOAT, Djokovic is a player like Nadal who allow people to extend them unnecessarily; esp. going 3 or 4 sets against "no names" and "never weres!" :-D
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
In terms of style of play definitely a serve volley guy is going to take the title.

Ultimately, and I don't know how accurate the stats accumulated are for older players are, but I'd find someone that is comparatively low on the points or games played list, but high on the titles won list.
 

Standaa

G.O.A.T.
Sampras by far. He just stepped to the line, bounced the ball once and hammered down aces. He kept points short on every surface except clay. Ended points in seconds. Ruthless efficiency. Never any toweling off, ball bouncing or time wasting.

Karlovic fits all this + shorter rallies from the baseline.
 
D

Deleted member 780630

Guest
What about guys like Nalby, Safin, Fognini? They aren't the most aggressive or end points immediately, but they can generate effortless power and don't really exert themselves.
 

Standaa

G.O.A.T.
Karlovic? Honestly dude?

why not? it's actually super efficient in terms of saving energy, he basically just serves bombs and if it doesn't end with an ace he runs to the net usually for a put-away volley. His rallies are super short and he sort of half-tanks some of his return games. It must be so chill to gain points like that and not through endless grinding.

someone like Nadal for an option is more laughable, his style must be super draining. He towels like he just got out of the shower.
 

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
why not? it's actually super efficient in terms of saving energy, he basically just serves bombs and if it doesn't end with an ace he runs to the net usually for a put-away volley. His rallies are super short and he sort of half-tanks some of his return games. It must be so chill to gain points like that and not through endless grinding.

someone like Nadal for an option is more laughable, his style must be super draining. He towels like he just got out of the shower.
I was referring to efficient in terms of, well, closing out matches quickly and winning a lot of them overall. Karlovic wouldn't be my first pick for that haha

As far as saving energy, you can't go wrong with a servebot.

OP was intentionally ambiguous with his definition of "efficient" lol
 

Standaa

G.O.A.T.
winning a lot of them overall

that would be who is the best... closing down matches quickly also comes down to the level and not so much style of play, because the matches are faster the better you are. and if Karlovic served out even more aces than now, moved a little better and had a good backhand he would be a lot better while still being this efficient.
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Forgot about Wilander! Definitely should've added him instead of Becker or Nadal (lol).
Talk about a smart player.
 

mental midget

Hall of Fame
Feels like pete but i wouldn't be surprised if fed's got a shorter match average. i believe roger's break % is higher than pete's so while pete 'not trying' on every return game might look efficient, it's not ultimately as efficient as breaking twice in a set.

the servebots probably expend the least energy but they play a lot of tiebreaks. the more i think about it, i wouldn't be surprised if (open era) roger is at or very close to the top when it comes to average match duration. plays fast, wins a lot of serve games in under a minute.
 

Jokervich

Hall of Fame
I've never seen Fed out of breath. That seems pretty efficient.
Federer never out of breath, Djokovic with unlimited stamina, Nadal with ridiculous muscle size and definition at a very young age. :unsure:

Anyway, Djokovic and Federer both seemed quite efficient during their primes.
 

TimHenmanATG

Hall of Fame
GettyImages-51512521.jpg
 

Devilito

Hall of Fame
Petros was famous for getting that one break per set then phoning in the rest of the return games while holding comfortably.
 

terribleIVAN

Hall of Fame
Gambling like Pete doesn't equal efficiency.
Or otherwise, he would have done better on clay.

The most efficient player from any part of the court i ever saw was McEnroe.
Against Borg, you had to feel pity for Bjorn because he was spending 3 times as much energy as John to win his services games.

Lendl almost lost to him in straight sets at RG 1984, because he was able to play on clay as if he would do on hard, winning points in a few shots with finesse and timing.
 
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socallefty

G.O.A.T.
Efficiency as a tennis player should be measured in highest career winning % of matches - should be Djokovic for men and Evert for women.

If a tennis player is measured as an entertainer, Tomic the Tank might get the nod as he finishes his entire match entertainment value in 25-30 minutes sometimes.
 
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