Players who have won exactly 1 Major Title and whether that over- or under-rates them

[Cashman]

Okay, but I think what you really mean is that Cash's resume under-rates his talent. That can be, and probably is, true.

I'm saying that his 1 Major over-rates his resume, which is fairly sparse.

“Overrating his resume” is meaningless nonsense.

Your OP said it overrated him as a player, and nobody who actually watched Cash play would agree that is the case.

 

[zagor]

Okay but again, he really does have a weak resume.

Compare his resume to someone like Mecir, who didn't win a Major. They are night and day different.

Okay, but I think what you really mean is that Cash's resume under-rates his talent. That can be, and probably is, true.

I'm saying that his 1 Major over-rates his resume, which is fairly sparse.

Context is very important here. No one who followed tennis in the 80s or has a passing knowledge of the era would could consider Cash overrated in the slightest.

He's like Delpo essentially, a very talented guy who would have won more big titles if he wasn't so injury prone.

 

[ericarnett88]

..

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Cilic - overrated

 

[metsman]

Wawrinka actually beat Del Potro in the USO 2016 QF in 4 sets. If Del Po wasn’t plagued by injuries, he would have put a lot of wear and take on his body in 2010-2016 when Nadal, Djokovic, and even Fed more than not would beat him. He wouldn’t be fresh to handle Wawrinka anymore than he did. He wouldn’t handle a peaking Cilic in 2014.

Delpo was even with Stan there for 2 sets despite not playing particularly cleanly himself but then ran out of gas. It was still very early in his comeback but obviously stamina has been a bit of an issue in his 2nd comeback.

Sure maybe Delpo stays at 1 major even with health and it's true that he'd only likely win additional USO. But I like his chances to have added another 1-2 USOs. Furthermore, he'd likely also display a level at the French that would likely be considered at the level of a RG winning level player if in an easier era at the top. Something like a quicker Soderling, would have been interesting to see him square off against Rafa. Wimby he wouldn't win any but I'm sure would eventually start doing pretty well once the serve got better. But it's hard to make absolute judgements. He's shown a surprising amount of aptitude on grass.

But even since 2009 he's only accomplished a hell of a lot considering the serial injuries. 4-5 pretty quality slam runs, a bunch of good runs in masters and smaller events. Only 3 healthy full seasons in that time basically. Speaks well to his natural talent level and his work ethic (which could have been channeled to more productive endeavors than rehab).

 

[timnz]

Simple concept. Name some players who have won exactly 1 Major Title, and discuss whether that Major over-rates or under-rates the player.

Pat Cash (W 1987) - OVERRATED: We pretty much only remember Pat cash for his lone Wimbledon title. He only had 6 career titles, zero titles from what we now call 1000s/500s, and a career high ranking of #4.

Andy Roddick (USO 2003) UNDERRATED: 32 titles, 5 Masters, 5 Major finals (losing 4 to prime Federer), 10 Major SFs and YE #1 in 2003. We'd remember him even had he lost the 2003 USO.

Pat Cash did get to two AO finals (1 at Kooyong and 1 at the new facilities).

 

[timnz]

Michael Stich - Underrated.

Sampras called him the most talented player out there. He was consistent at all the Slams - along with winning Wimbledon, he got to a US Open final, a French Open Final and an Australian Open Semi

He also won the two Season end finals of the 1990's - the World Tour Finals and also won the Grand Slam Cup (which was the ITF season end finals).

Also won Wimbledon doubles with McEnroe and Davis Cup.

He didn't have any weakpoints. He could volley in Edberg's league and play baseline as well.

 

[DSH]

DelPo is underrated on HC and overrated on natural surfaces.
Although he should have won a couple more slams.

 

[aditya123]

Caroline Wozniacki is underated in my opinion.

 

[DSH]

I've posted this before, but...

I think it is hard for people who never watched Cash play to understand how unbelievably injury-riddled he was, and how much it constrained his massive potential. He had been a great junior player - ranked number 1 in the world, sweeping all before him. In 1982 he won the boys’ singles and doubles titles at both Wimbledon and the USO, and the doubles title at Roland Garros for good measure.

He really stormed onto the pro scene in late 1983, at 18 becoming the youngest ever to play a Davis Cup final (in a time when that really meant something) and winning a live fifth rubber to take the title for Australia against Sweden. In 1984 his rise was meteoric, blitzing top seeds like Wilander, Curren and Gomez at Wimbledon before running into McEnroe in the semi-finals. He then backed it up with another semi-final at Flushing Meadows, again brushing aside Wilander and pushing Lendl to the brink in a fifth set tiebreak.

All this boosted his ranking to #8 in the world whilst he was still a teenager, and everyone was expecting huge things in 1985. Unfortunately he was already struggling with a recurrence of an old back injury which severely damaged his results for the first six months of the year, eventually forcing him off the circuit after Wimbledon 1985 for a full nine months.

In March 1986 he finally returned to tennis on an extremely limited basis - barely walking, zero fitness. By the time Wimbledon 1986 rolled around he had played five matches in 12 months (none on grass) and was ranked 413. Then, three weeks before Wimbledon started, his appendix burst and required emergency keyhole surgery. Despite all this, he accepted a wildcard to play - and made the quarterfinals. He beat #18 Vilas and #2 Wilander on the way, finally losing in four tough sets to seventh seed Henri Leconte - outgassed more than outplayed.

The rest of 1986 was gradually rebuilding fitness, culminating in leading Australia to another Davis Cup title - again over Sweden. He beat #5 Edberg in the first rubber, and then in a live fifth rubber he came back from two sets to love down to beat #11 Pernfors in five sets. It was absolutely glorious.

That Davis Cup win proved to be the catalyst for a great 1987. The Australian Open final - five set loss to Edberg, after beating #4 Noah and #1 Lendl in the QF and SF respectively. Semi-finals at Queens, this time beating Edberg. The Wimbledon title, well known - Forget, Wilander, Connors, Lendl. Another final in Sydney, beating Becker indoors and losing a tight match to Lendl. The 1988 Australian Open - another win over #1 Lendl in the SFs, on hardcourt this time, and one of the great Slam finals against Wilander, losing 6-8 in the fifth. 1988 Wimbledon - another QF, only losing to a rampant Becker.

Then back niggles set in and, in April 1989, he ruptured his achilles. It was a devastating injury for anyone, doubly so in those days and trebly so for an explosive and physical S&V player like Cash. It took him off the circuit for a full year, and effectively spelled the end of his career as contender. He was only 23.

I speak without a word of hyperbole when I say that I think we as tennis fans were robbed of a genuinely great fast-court player in Cash. During his brief runs without injury he defeated a host of genuine greats of the game, often on their favourite surfaces. How well he could have done with five or ten straight years of fitness, I am not sure. Certainly he would have won the Australian Open, and he probably should have won the US Open as well. I would wager he would have given Becker and Edberg plenty to worry about at Wimbledon too.

I love some historical perspective of former players.
Good insight you give us about Cash's career, mate!

 

[DSH]

Cilic - overrated

 

[BlueB]

Roddick, very overrated, by TT and US media.
Delpo too, but only by TT.
When you listen about them, you'd think they were 4-5 slam winners...

 

[aditya123]

Roddick, very overrated, by TT and US media.
Delpo too, but only by TT.
When you listen about them, you'd think they were 4-5 slam winners...

Roddick would have won 5 or 6 if not for Federer.

 

[DSH]

Roddick would have won 5 or 6 if not for Federer.

And Murray would have won 6 more if not for Djokovic and that means ´squat' at the end of the day.