Peak Level over Five Years

[Dan L]

Nüsslein in both cases (Wembley 1938 is doubtful though).

Tilden could occasionally put on a good show until the early forties, but his heyday was the twenties.

 

[BeGreat]

We have had seemingly an infinite number of GOAT threads throughout the years but I decided to have another thread for Peak Level with a minor difference.

I would like to define PEAK LEVEL as the highest level of play over a five year consecutive period. Reason is that peak level can be define in an infinite amount of ways. It was be defined as one match, one year, one month etc. I want to see who is the best of all time over five years. The reason I picked five years is that the human body obviously ages and over let's say ten years their is considerably decline in physical talent. However a super player can maintain his great level of over five years.

We cannot necessarily define it by statistics alone because it is often dependent on the level of the competition. A perfect example of this is Rod Laver from the mid 1960's to the Open Era in 1968 and 1969. Laver was 25 for most of 1964 and perhaps the top player in the world. He was at perhaps his physical peak and yet his winning percentage while he was on the Old Pro Tour was lower than when he started Open Tennis in 1968 and for a few years afterwards. Laver was to turn 31 in 1969 but his winning percentage was higher than any of his Old Pro Tour years from 1963 to 1967. Why? Because Open Tennis had lower competition than the Old Pro Tour. Laver had a number of easier matches that he was fairly certain to win in his sleep.

Some names are Tilden, Vines, Perry, Budge, Kramer, Gonzalez, Borg and Laver. I'm sure Dan will mention Hoad and BobbyOne will mention Rosewall. And I am sure many will mention Sampras, Connors, McEnroe Nadal, Djokovic and Federer.

Now five years to me insures super greatness but feel free to discuss one year GOATs also.

Please discuss.

ughhh
stop it already

 

[pc1]

Tilden could occasionally put on a good show until the early forties, but his heyday was the twenties.

He was still pretty tremendous for a decent part of the 1930's also Dan. For example he was runner up in the French in 1930 despite perhaps serving an ace on match point against Lacoste that Cochet (the lines judge!!) called out. He also won Wimbledon that year. He won his last Pro Major in 1935 and finished second to Nusslein in his last three Pro Major finals. He won his last tournament over Nusslein in 1938.

He also was great enough at age 41 to battle Vines fairly closely in losing 47 to 26 in their head to head World Championship tour in 1934.

 

[Dan L]

He was still pretty tremendous for a decent part of the 1930's also Dan. For example he was runner up in the French in 1930 despite perhaps serving an ace on match point against Lacoste that Cochet (the lines judge!!) called out. He also won Wimbledon that year. He won his last Pro Major in 1935 and finished second to Nusslein in his last three Pro Major finals. He won his last tournament over Nusslein in 1938.

He also was great enough at age 41 to battle Vines fairly closely in losing 47 to 26 in their head to head World Championship tour in 1934.

Tilden was "carried" by his achievements of the 1920's and the commercial value of his name on the billboard.

Kramer suspected that Vines did not put out a full effort against Perry, and perhaps that happened with the Tilden series, too.

Sorry to say this, but it was all about money.

Vines should have played against Nusslein in the 1934 tour, as Nusslein had already won the "world series" against Tilden.

But commercially, Tilden made more sense.

 

[pc1]

Tilden was "carried" by his achievements of the 1920's and the commercial value of his name on the billboard.

Kramer suspected that Vines did not put out a full effort against Perry, and perhaps that happened with the Tilden series, too.

Sorry to say this, but it was all about money.

Vines should have played against Nusslein in the 1934 tour, as Nusslein had already won the "world series" against Tilden.

But commercially, Tilden made more sense.

Dan,

You're correct that Nusslein should have been the challenger to Vines but that wasn't the point I was trying to make. My point was that Tilden, age 41 was still a very dangerous opponent for anyone and that he was strong enough at that late age to win a decent amount against the powerful Vines.

I doubt that Vines carried Tilden since Vines himself wrote that he was in awe of Tilden's game and that he never saw (and this statement was written in 1978 ) anyone who could do more off both sides than Tilden.

 

[BobbyOne]

He was still pretty tremendous for a decent part of the 1930's also Dan. For example he was runner up in the French in 1930 despite perhaps serving an ace on match point against Lacoste that Cochet (the lines judge!!) called out. He also won Wimbledon that year. He won his last Pro Major in 1935 and finished second to Nusslein in his last three Pro Major finals. He won his last tournament over Nusslein in 1938.

He also was great enough at age 41 to battle Vines fairly closely in losing 47 to 26 in their head to head World Championship tour in 1934.

pc1, Tilden did not have a matchpoint in the 1930 French final. He lost in four sets, the third and fourth clearly.

 

[pc1]

He was still pretty tremendous for a decent part of the 1930's also Dan. For example he was runner up in the French in 1930 despite perhaps serving an ace on match point against Lacoste that Cochet (the lines judge!!) called out. He also won Wimbledon that year. He won his last Pro Major in 1935 and finished second to Nusslein in his last three Pro Major finals. He won his last tournament over Nusslein in 1938.

He also was great enough at age 41 to battle Vines fairly closely in losing 47 to 26 in their head to head World Championship tour in 1934.

My error Tilden had a match point in the 1927 French. Memory was incorrect here. I believe Tilden won 18 tournaments and as I mentioned earlier, Wimbledon. Not bad for an old man.

 

[BobbyOne]

My error Tilden had a match point in the 1927 French. Memory was incorrect here. I believe Tilden won 18 tournaments and as I mentioned earlier, Wimbledon. Not bad for an old man.

pc1, Thanks. Yes, Tilden was very strong in 1930. I even give him a tied No.1 place with Cochet as he also reached SF of the US Championships.