New way of finding the GOAT - just keeping sliming down the list

[timnz]

This list I would call - every player who is at least in the discussion of being the best player of all time 25 in all:

William Renshaw
Lawrence Doherty
Wilding
Tilden
Vines
Perry
Budge
Kramer
Gonzales
Rosewall
Hoad
Laver
Emerson
Newcombe
Nastase
Connors
Borg
McEnroe
Lendl
Wilander
Becker
Edberg
Agassi
Sampras
Federer


There is not surely any other player that people would call the greatest of all time - that isn't on the above list? (There may be some that people would highly rate... but no-one that is missing here that they would rate as the best ever?)

Reduced list based on common sense - I produce this based on obvious things like no-one would believe that Emerson rates higher than Laver, or Edberg or Wilander rates higher than Federer.


Tilden
Vines
Budge
Kramer
Gonzales
Rosewall
Hoad
Laver
Nastase
Connors
Borg
McEnroe
Lendl
Becker
Agassi
Sampras
Federer

 

[timnz]

Two Branches

When you talk about the Greatest player of all time, you can mean it in at least two ways.

1/ The absolute best form they ever got in, in their life for one match

2/ Sustained greatest of a significant period, where sustained high quality is a hallmark.

For (1) I would rate Hoad over Rosewall. I base this on the fact that Rosewall struggled greately against Gonzales, but on a given day when Hoad was playing his best, he would wallop Gonzales eg 1959 Forest Hills Professional - 4 sets - but for 3 of those sets Hoad was killing Gonzales.

For (2) I would rate Rosewall over Hoad (easily). Rosewall was making Grandslam finals 20 years apart (1954 to 1974). He was the best player in the world in the early 60's. Reached his peak in 1963 when he won the pro Grand Slam (Wembley, US Pro & French Pro). Gonzales also had a better Head to head record against Hoad.

The point is for (1) that Hoad at his peak was thrasing Gonzales. And for (2) Gonzales had a better head-to-head record against Hoad than the other way around.

 

[NGM]

Oh come on. Can anyone close this topic?

 

[timnz]

Also had to include Rafael Nadal in original list - making it 26.

 

[NGM]

Where is Mod?

 

[tennis-hero]

T

Tilden
Vines
Budge
Kramer
Gonzales
Rosewall
Hoad
Laver
Nastase
Connors
Borg
McEnroe
Lendl
Becker
Agassi
Sampras
Federer

any of them have a definite claim to GOAT-ness

 

[tennis-hero]

Tilden
Vines
Budge
Gonzales
Rosewall
Laver
Borg
Lendl
Agassi
Sampras
Federer

of them i'd divide them again (personal preference), although i'd say any has a claim

Budge
Laver
Borg
Sampras
Federer

^can't pick from those 5

 

[JoshDragon]

This list I would call - every player who is at least in the discussion of being the best player of all time 25 in all:

William Renshaw
Lawrence Doherty
Wilding
Tilden
Vines
Perry
Budge
Kramer
Gonzales
Rosewall
Hoad
Laver
Emerson
Newcombe
Nastase
Connors
Borg
McEnroe
Lendl
Wilander
Becker
Edberg
Agassi
Sampras
Federer


There is not surely any other player that people would call the greatest of all time - that isn't on the above list? (There may be some that people would highly rate... but no-one that is missing here that they would rate as the best ever?)

Reduced list based on common sense - I produce this based on obvious things like no-one would believe that Emerson rates higher than Laver, or Edberg or Wilander rates higher than Federer.


Tilden
Vines
Budge
Kramer
Gonzales
Rosewall
Hoad
Laver
Nastase
Connors
Borg
McEnroe
Lendl
Becker
Agassi
Sampras
Federer

There are only two or three people on that list that could potentially be considered the GOAT: Federer, Sampras, and possibly Laver.

The others are just a bunch of has-beens.

 

[Rickson]

Nadal could be a GOAT contender in the future, but there's no way he could be considered a GOAT with 4 Frenches and a watered down Wimbledon.

 

[blue12]

McEnroe won more singles and doubles together than anybody in the open era!
77-77, 154 total. He was third in all time singles wins. His singles win loss record is better than Sampras's!

 

[chaognosis]

OK, I'll play:

-Starting list-
H.L. Doherty
Wilding
Tilden
Lacoste
Cochet
Perry
Budge
Gonzales
Rosewall
Laver
Connors
Borg
McEnroe
Lendl
Sampras
Federer

-First cut-
Tilden
Budge
Gonzales
Rosewall
Laver
Borg
Sampras
Federer

-Second cut-
Tilden
Budge
Rosewall
Laver

-Third cut-
Rosewall
Laver

-Final cut-
Laver