Rafa Nadal - The most important professional tennis player in history

[Azure]

I’m not saying they’re not important, I’m saying that Borg was more influential in terms of making tennis popular. He’s iconic. I’d agree that the Serena Williams is more important for tennis than Nadal. A lot more people who don’t care for tennis know her as an international sports icon. Nadal’s impact may be gone once he retires.

Oh yes, popularity is for sure a component but the OP said ‘important’. Importance transcends mere popularity. What the first black players manage to do is to inspire kids of a generation of players that it is indeed possible to even play the sport. What BJK or Nav did for the sport is tremendously important. Women’s tennis today is what it is thanks to women such as these. These to me are more important than mere popularity.

Of course fanatics and the ones motivated by mere fan wars would never see anything without removing their rose tinted glasses.

 

[Razer]

It seems almost every other young player in the current ATP field had Nadal as their idol in their kid years. I suppose Mats in his lazy/hazy statement tried to allude to that. Just had a quick glance at 128 players of AO main draw this year and about 30 appears to be clear Rafaites. Way more than the number of Federites atm.

Djokovic is not doing too bad, he has 3 now. That's 200% improvement in a year and a half.

Kids born in the late 80s-early 90s would have Federer as their idol growing up, those in mid-late 90s would have Djokodal, so I am not surpised the tour now has more people following Nadal growing up as almost all of them 1995 or beyond born, so that does mean much.

Federer is the person who infused popularity into Tennis in this new millennium and since his retirement I reckon tennis is going downhill, this might not be visible now but after Novak retires you will miss Federer more.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

Oh yes, popularity is for sure a component but the OP said ‘important’. Importance transcends mere popularity. What the first black players manage to do is to inspire kids of a generation of players that it is indeed possible to even play the sport. What BJK or Nav did for the sport is tremendously important. Women’s tennis today is what it is thanks to women such as these. These to me are more important than mere popularity.

Of course fanatics and the ones motivated by mere fan wars would never see anything without removing their rose tinted glasses.

Important for popularity and thereby most important for the sport itself = biggest impact. That's all I'm talking about. If you're talking about some kind of social or political impact, then yes – it's people like Ashe, BJK or Navratilova. But i'm pretty sure that Op and Wilander are talking about impact on the sport itself. And then it's Borg.

 

[SummerBreeze]

With Fed being as boring as Wilander was.

:') the irony

 

[Azure]

Important for popularity and thereby most important for the sport itself = biggest impact. That's all I'm talking about. If you're talking about some kind of social or political impact, then yes – it's people like Ashe, BJK or Navratilova. But i'm pretty sure that Op and Wilander are talking about impact on the sport itself. And then it's Borg.

Wouldn’t know. I assumed importance transcending everything. In either case there are many names who are responsible and we cannot single out one player.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

The Borg/McEnroe/Connors era certainly was a great era but it was nothing like it is now simply because satellite communication didn't exist, consequently, only Americans could watch the USO, only the British could watch Wimbledon, only Australians could watch the Australian Open and only the French could watch Roland Garros.

Absolute nonsense. Where are you getting that from?

"Satellite" and cable existed in the 1970s, and in the U.S. we were watching global sports--including Wimbledon and other tennis events--at that time. Your statement is 100% patently false, and seems like another attempt to bolster the anything but historic "Big Three" era.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

Absolute nonsense. Where are you getting that from?

"Satellite" and cable existed in the 1970s, and in the U.S. we were watching global sports--including Wimbledon and other tennis events--at that time. Your statement is 100% patently false, and seems like another attempt to bolster the anything but historic "Big Three" era.

Yes, the guy forgot about people in other countries than US, UK, AUS and France. Wimbledon and FO was broadcast in many different European countries.

 

[clayqueen]

Absolute nonsense. Where are you getting that from?

"Satellite" and cable existed in the 1970s, and in the U.S. we were watching global sports--including Wimbledon and other tennis events--at that time. Your statement is 100% patently false, and seems like another attempt to bolster the anything but historic "Big Three" era.

I don't remember satellite communication in the 70s, maybe late 70s going into the 80s.

 

[clayqueen]

Absolute nonsense. Where are you getting that from?

"Satellite" and cable existed in the 1970s, and in the U.S. we were watching global sports--including Wimbledon and other tennis events--at that time. Your statement is 100% patently false, and seems like another attempt to bolster the anything but historic "Big Three" era.

I rest my case.

 

[Mustard]

It's not Laver's fault at all. I just find tennis is very subjective about how commentators create heroes at will on air, often based on their own fandom and casual fans lap it all up as legitimate. Margaret Court still holds the record for slams in women's tennis but the pundits wanted Serena to be the GOAT and they willed her on to, at least, equal Margaret Court's record, which she never did. Margaret Court was only mentioned in the context of Serena surpassing her. Court achieved far far more than Laver did and many people have never heard of her.

Remember that embarrassing Eurosport rant where John McEnroe was pleading with Serena Williams (not in her presence) to overtake Margaret Court's majors record in order to put Court's name into irrelevancy? It was cringe. And I dislike Court's politics as much as most people.

 

[Razer]

Remember that embarrassing Eurosport rant where John McEnroe was pleading with Serena Williams (not in her presence) to overtake Margaret Court's majors record in order to put Court's name into irrelevancy? It was cringe. And I dislike Court's politics as much as most people.

Any video to that ? Sounds hilarious.

 

[Mustard]

The Borg/McEnroe/Connors era certainly was a great era but it was nothing like it is now simply because satellite communication didn't exist, consequently, only Americans could watch the USO, only the British could watch Wimbledon, only Australians could watch the Australian Open and only the French could watch Roland Garros.

The coverage was nothing like now admittedly, but it's certainly false to say what you said at the end there. In the US, Wimbledon finals before 1979 used to be shown on tape delay, and many viewers would already know the result, such as Ashe's big upset win over Connors in the 1975 Wimbledon final. 1979 with Borg vs. Tanner was the first "Breakfast at Wimbledon" where the men's final at Wimbledon was shown live in the US.

And in the UK, other majors used to be shown on other terrestrial channels (i.e. non-satellite channels). Much of the French Open and US Open were on the BBC in the 1970s and 1980s, mostly in highlights form, and the US Open moved to ITV around 1987 or 1988 up until 1993. The US Open moved to Sky Sports (i.e. Satellite) around 1993.

 

[Mustard]

Any video to that ? Sounds hilarious.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

I rest my case.

Satellite television, yes. But you could get live broadcasts from other continents before 1982: On 11 July 1962 British television viewers saw pictures beamed live from the US via the Telstar satellite. Raymond Baxter and Richard Dimbleby were on hand to provide commentary, although the precise time of the broadcast was not known in advance.

 

[clayqueen]

The coverage was nothing like now admittedly, but it's certainly false to say what you said at the end there. In the US, Wimbledon finals before 1979 used to be shown on tape delay, and many viewers would already know the result, such as Ashe's big upset win over Connors in the 1975 Wimbledon final. 1979 with Borg vs. Tanner was the first "Breakfast at Wimbledon" where the men's final at Wimbledon was shown live in the US.

And in the UK, other majors used to be shown on other terrestrial channels (i.e. non-satellite channels). Much of the French Open and US Open were on the BBC in the 1970s and 1980s, mostly in highlights form, and the US Open moved to ITV around 1987 or 1988 up until 1993. The US Open moved to Sky Sports (i.e. Satellite) around 1993.

Live tennis matches were not shown by satellite in the UK.

 

[clayqueen]

Satellite television, yes. But you could get live broadcasts from other continents before 1982: On 11 July 1962 British television viewers saw pictures beamed live from the US via the Telstar satellite. Raymond Baxter and Richard Dimbleby were on hand to provide commentary, although the precise time of the broadcast was not known in advance.

No one in the UK could watch wall to wall LIVE tennis tournaments in the 70s.

 

[Mustard]

In April 1982, 3 TV channels existed in the UK. Those were BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. ITV had different regional channels depending on which part of the country a person lived in. This 3 channel situation had been the case since April 1964 when BBC2 had been introduced.

The French Open and US Open would be shown, mostly in highlights form until the late stages, on one of these channels. Satellite didn't start becoming prominent until 1989 and beyond (very few people in Britain had Satellite before this), and Satellite didn't really start to take off until 1992 and afterwards with Sky Sports having the rights to show Premier League football (soccer).

It wasn't until October 1998 that Sky Digital was introduced, i.e. using a digital signal instead of an analogue signal, and Sky forced all their customers still on analogue to upgrade to Sky Digital in 2001. The analogue signal for terrestrial, non-satellite broadcasts was shut down in 2010 in my area.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

I rest my case.

The "Thrilla in Manila"--obviously one of the most important and watched sports events in history--was carried by satellite in the U.S. by HBO in 1975 (and seen by over a billion viewers, also using satellite broadcasts), and was far from the only broadcast of its kind in that decade. You have not made a case, but willfully ignored it, to--as already noted-- bolster the "Big Three" era, when they never had the impact on tennis as seen during the historically recognized Tennis Boom from the late 70s/early 80s.

The coverage was nothing like now admittedly, but it's certainly false to say what you said at the end there.

Indeed.

 

[clayqueen]

In April 1982, 3 channels existed in the UK. Those were BBC1, BBC2 and ITV. ITV had different regional channels depending on which part of the country a person lived in. This 3 channel situation had been the case since April 1964 when BBC2 had been introduced.

The French Open and US Open would be shown, mostly in highlights form until the late stages, on one of these channels. Satellite didn't start becoming prominent until 1989 and beyond (very few people in Britain had Satellite before this), and Satellite didn't really start to take off until 1992 and afterwards with Sky Sports having the rights to show Premier League football (soccer).

It wasn't until October 1998 that Sky Digital was introduced, i.e. using a digital signal instead of an analogue signal, and Sky forced all their customers still on analogue to upgrade to Sky Digital in 2001. The analogue signal for terrestrial, non-satellite broadcasts was shut down in 2010 in my area.

I remember how they used to try and give away satellite dishes on the High Street and no one was interested until the late 80s.

 

[clayqueen]

The "Thrilla in Manila"--obviously one of the most important and watched sports events in history--was carried by satellite in the U.S. by HBO in 1975 (and seen by over a billion viewers, also using satellite broadcasts), and was far from the only broadcast of its kind in that decade. You have not made a case, but willfully ignored it, to--as already noted-- bolster the "Big Three" era, when they never had the impact on tennis as seen during the historically recognized Tennis Boom from the late 70s/early 80s.



Indeed.

Tennis from overseas was not available by satellite in the UK in the 70s.

 

[Mustard]

I remember how they used to try and give away satellite dishes on the High Street and no one was interested until the late 80s.

They were pretty big dishes hanging on outside house walls, and not all that many satellite channels at the time.

Tennis was not available by satellite in the UK in the 70s.

It didn't need satellite. Analogue terrestrial broadcasts were fine. Analogue and terrestrial means a terrestrial aerial on the chimney or side of the TV to receive a signal from analogue transmitters up nearby mountains. In 1998, Sky introduced a Digital service, which meant digital transmitters in outer space. Analogue signals for non-satellite broadcasts remained available until 2010 in my area. After that, you needed a freeview box to continue with that non-satellite service (now digital).

 

[clayqueen]

They were pretty big dishes hanging on outside house walls, and not all that many satellite channels at the time.


It didn't need satellite. Analogue terrestrial broadcasts were fine.

But we couldn't watch live tennis from overseas. Analogue broadcasts only covered this country.

 

[Razer]

Funny but cringe, no doubt.

 

[Mustard]

But we couldn't watch live tennis from overseas. Analogue broadcasts only covered this country.

Tennis from overseas was available on British TV, with British commentators like Dan Maskell commentating on French Open and US Open matches. The French Open and US Open had some coverage on the BBC for years in the 1970s and 1980s, with the US Open moving to ITV around 1987-1988 time. We didn't need satellite for this. Analogue, terrestrial broadcasts were all that were needed.

 

[clayqueen]

Tennis from overseas was available on British TV, with British commentators like Dan Maskell commentating on French Open and US Open matches. The French Open and US Open had some coverage on the BBC for years in the 1970s and 1980s, with the US Open moving to ITV around 1987-1988 time. We didn't need satellite for this. Analogue, terrestrial broadcasts were all that were needed.

 

[borg number one]

More people watched the 1980 Wimbledon final with Borg and McEnroe than any other tennis match ever, despite the advances in technology. Ratings record. The sport has never been more popular worldwide.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

More people watched the 1980 Wimbledon final with Borg and McEnroe than any other tennis match ever, despite the advances in technology. Ratings record. The sport has never been more popular worldwide.

We're supposed to ignore that in order to sell the myth of the "Big Three" being the most popular and/or important players in history. Tough sell when their era did not advance cultural interest in tennis like those who were part of the Tennis Boom.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

No one in the UK could watch wall to wall LIVE tennis tournaments in the 70s.

I didn't say that either. Anyway, people followed tennis from abrooad back then and got involved with the results.

 

[clayqueen]

I didn't say that either. Anyway, people followed tennis from abrooad back then and got involved with the results.

Definitely not to the extent that they do now.

 

[Genie Of the Bank]

Mats Wilander calls Rafael Nadal ‘maybe the most important professional tennis player in history’, and says Rafa has impacted the next generation more than any other player: “It's time we started celebrating Rafael Nadal, because Rafael Nadal is the main reason why we have passion and players like Carlos Alcaraz or Stefanos Tsitsipas. Rafael Nadal is the one who has most impacted the younger generation, more than Roger Federer or even Novak Djokovic, because of his behavior on the court over the years. He has always behaved like this. He is an athlete who always puts in a lot of effort, maybe even too much. But I think that's what we want to see in our young players and Rafa is the main reason for me.” “He’s one of the greatest players of all time, and maybe the most important professional tennis player of all time”

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1745856891387843064

Here is the response to Wilander from Djokovic .

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

You thought wrong.

ROFLMAO

 

[Mustard]

Definitely not to the extent that they do now.

True, but that was also true with home events as well. People's everyday personal lives were more meaningful and enjoyable back then, not more mundane, robotic and more of a chore like it tends to be today. People were regularly down the pub for pints with their mates back then, and not getting taxed to death with crazy prices for doing so. The establishment have largely destroyed that congregation culture, even turning football matches into middle class "respectability".

 

[messiahrobins]

Connors put the street into tennis before that.

He did but didnt have that rock star appeal borg had. Abba perhaps played a part as to be swediah back thsn wss to be super cool

 

[messiahrobins]

True, but that was also true with home events as well. People's everyday personal lives were more meaningful and enjoyable back then, not more mundane, robotic and more of a chore like it tends to be today. People were regularly down the pub for pints with their mates back then, and not getting taxed to death with crazy prices for doing so. The establishment have largely destroyed that congregation culture, even turning football matches into middle class "respectability".

Best post i have ever seen. Absolutely nailed on.

 

[Third Serve]

I’d argue that the Williamses single handedly have had more influence than Nadal in this aspect.

Can it really be singlehandedly if there's two Williams sisters?

 

[dr moose]

Honestly the summary is that Borg, Connors and McEnroe were legends and huge stars, that helped catapult tennis to new heights popularity-wise, while Federer, Nadal and Djokovic have 'merely' been legends (with truly incredible numbers that they all deserve a lot of credit for) and huge stars, without anything close to the same influence (in-fact their sustained success hasn't been able to stop declining participation figures across Europe).

One could probably make the argument that the achievements\careers of Federer, Nadal, and Djok would not be possible without Borg\Mac\Connors. The money that came into the game as a result of how popular tennis became probably made it possible for the ”rich” (i.e. top players) to become ”richer” - in other words separate themselves from the rest easier - with better training, coaching, physios, travel luxuries, equipment, etc. I recall hearing a story about Mac and Lendl traveling to a tournament in Europe in a car together, even though they couldn't stand each other. Pretty sure the top players on the tour don't do that anymore....

 

[SonnyT]

Rafa Nadal, the most important clay tennis player in history!

 

[StefanosRespecter]

Sinner is better than Nadal.

 

[vex]

Mats Wilander calls Rafael Nadal ‘maybe the most important professional tennis player in history’, and says Rafa has impacted the next generation more than any other player: “It's time we started celebrating Rafael Nadal, because Rafael Nadal is the main reason why we have passion and players like Carlos Alcaraz or Stefanos Tsitsipas. Rafael Nadal is the one who has most impacted the younger generation, more than Roger Federer or even Novak Djokovic, because of his behavior on the court over the years. He has always behaved like this. He is an athlete who always puts in a lot of effort, maybe even too much. But I think that's what we want to see in our young players and Rafa is the main reason for me.” “He’s one of the greatest players of all time, and maybe the most important professional tennis player of all time”

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1745856891387843064

…? He’s just one of the big 3… no more,
No less.

 

[Bartelby]

The last of the clay courters and the first transitional player.

Rafa Nadal, the most important clay tennis player in history!

 

[messiahrobins]

Rafa Nadal, the most important clay tennis player in history!

2nd best USO player in the 21st century.