'Rafael Nadal is possibly the greatest athlete ever in tennis' - Rod Laver

[Backspin1183]

Through Twitter, the Australian legend Rod Laver praised Rafael Nadal. Laver, who was at Wimbledon these two weeks, was admired by the Spaniard's effort in trying to beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and possibly winning the trophy after having a great clay-court season. 'He proved to be superhuman at Wimbledon - to win Roland Garros and come very close here on grass is truly amazing. Possibly the greatest athlete our sport has ever known.'

https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www....e-greatest-athlete-ever-in-tennis--rod-laver/

 

[Zeref]

Nadal and Novak are the 2 top athletes tennis has ever seen. No doubt about it.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

He played a wild good clay season and then go to semis in Wimbledon w no grass tune ups is remarkable.

 

[tennisaddict]

I don’t think there is a debate here . Rafa has proved phenomenal even at 32

 

[RF-18]

I wouldn't oppose to that.

 

[ewiewp]

Last 15 years for sure. Beyond that, it would be interesting to discuss.

On clay, indisputable. Probably immortal record.

 

[Backspin1183]

Last 15 years for sure. Beyond that, it would be interesting to discuss.

Bjorn Borg right up there imo.

 

[Fedforever]

Given that he's basing the opinion on Rafa's performances at Wimby and the FO wouldn't that logically make Borg by far the greatest athlete?

FIve WImbys, six FOS including three Channel Slams.

 

[ewiewp]

Bjorn Borg right up there imo.

during 70s-90s, it's Sampras.

In pre-Open, there is Pancho Gonzalez.

 

[Fedforever]

Bjorn Borg right up there imo.

Beat me to it. Of course I keep forgetting how many posters never saw him play. I'm old....

 

[Backspin1183]

during 70s-90s, it's Sampras.

In pre-Open, there is Pancho Gonzalez.

Sampras a greater athlete than Borg? I'd have to disagree with you here. Pete was serve dominant. Where was his athleticism on clay? Borg was the first king of clay.

 

[ewiewp]

Sampras a greater athlete than Borg? I'd have to disagree with you here. Pete was serve dominant. Where was his athleticism on clay? Borg was the first king of clay.

Sampras' game was pure athleticism. Quint-essential atheleticism. Not just serves. Just differnet focus from Nadal's.

Gonzalez-Sampras-Nadal (and Djokovic I would like to add) is the blood line.

 

[NatF]

Sampras a greater athlete than Borg? I'd have to disagree with you here. Pete was serve dominant. Where was his athleticism on clay? Borg was the first king of clay.

There are different kinds of athleticism. The common view on here seems to be lateral movement + stamina = great athlete, but that's only narrow segment of the athletic spectrum.

Don't know if I'd pick Sampras over a freak like Borg but linking athleticism predominantly with clay is a pet peeve of mine.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Seems right to me.

 

[RF-18]

There are different kinds of athleticism. The common view on here seems to be lateral movement + stamina = great athlete, but that's only narrow segment of the athletic spectrum.

Don't know if I'd pick Sampras over a freak like Borg but linking athleticism predominantly with clay is a pet peeve on mine.

Bit risky to do what he did. Those jumps aren't particurarly short.

 

[roysid]

Rod Laver is proving to me changing his greatest ever every season.
After FO-2016 : it's Djokovic
After AO-2018 : it's fedeFed
And now it's Nadal

I understand he goes in by the trend but more consistency is required

 

[-NN-]

Rod Laver is proving to me changing his greatest ever every season.
After FO-2016 : it's Djokovic
After AO-2018 : it's fedeFed
And now it's Nadal

I understand he goes in by the trend but more consistency is required

It's obvious he doesn't mean player, which is why he was very careful to say athlete.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Fedr

 

[thrust]

Through Twitter, the Australian legend Rod Laver praised Rafael Nadal. Laver, who was at Wimbledon these two weeks, was admired by the Spaniard's effort in trying to beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and possibly winning the trophy after having a great clay-court season. 'He proved to be superhuman at Wimbledon - to win Roland Garros and come very close here on grass is truly amazing. Possibly the greatest athlete our sport has ever known.'

https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www....e-greatest-athlete-ever-in-tennis--rod-laver/

Laver is a total suck up to Nadal and Federer, to keep himself relevant.

 

[Ace007]

Rod Laver is proving to me changing his greatest ever every season.
After FO-2016 : it's Djokovic
After AO-2018 : it's fedeFed
And now it's Nadal

I understand he goes in by the trend but more consistency is required

Greatest tennis ATHLETE ever, not player. Big difference

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Greatest tennis ATHLETE ever, not player. Big difference

I have seen MJ do things that Nadsy will never even dream of doing.

 

[NatF]

Bit risky to do what he did. Those jumps aren't particurarly short.

I'm sure some thought Djokovic's splits and slides were risky for him at one point, just different kinds of athleticism man.

 

[roysid]

Well he's definitely the most intense player..less humanlike in this matter.

The obsessive OCD of bottles, butt picking, line cleaning.
Fighting like a man possessed for each and every point.
I can't imagine him getting married, let alone have kids while he's playing. He has to live very methodically and little distractions

 

[EloQuent]

Backhanded compliment

 

[Backspin1183]

Laver is a total suck up to Nadal and Federer, to keep himself relevant.

Laver will always be relevant when you discuss the greatest of all time among tennis players. He doesn't need to praise Rafa or Roger for it. He is genuinely impressed by them as most fans are.

 

[EloQuent]

Laver will always be relevant when you discuss the greatest of all time among tennis players. He doesn't need to praise Rafa or Roger for it. He is genuinely impressed by them as most fans are.

And they with him, heck they named their new event after him.

 

[The Harkleroad]

Greatest tennis ATHLETE ever, not player. Big difference

I have seen MJ do things that Nadsy will never even dream of doing.

On a tennis court? MJ a tennis athlete?

 

[roysid]

Greatest tennis ATHLETE ever, not player. Big difference

Hmm..it's a grey area. What about the guy who wins a slam at 36.5 years. Isn't he a greater athlete.

What Laver probably meant he is the greatest physical fighter of tennis. Agassi himself said he is a physical freak.

 

[Fedforever]

Well he's definitely the most intense player..less humanlike in this matter.

The obsessive OCD of bottles, butt picking, line cleaning.
Fighting like a man possessed for each and every point.
I can't imagine him getting married, let alone have kids while he's playing. He has to live very methodically and little distractions

Form the Strokes of Genius documentary he's still very rooted in his community - he probably doesn't like the idea of his kids growing up without that sense of place.

 

[Backspin1183]

On a tennis court? MJ a tennis athlete?

He was one of the greatest athletes of all time. Some of the things he did, even Rafa can't. But then MJ wouldn't be able to do some of the things that Rafa can on a tennis court either, even if MJ was a trained professional tennis player.

 

[Deleted member 754093]

No opposition from me
Except he forgot about PETE

 

[Tennis_Hands]

On a tennis court? MJ a tennis athlete?

I can envisage MJ becoming a super tennis player with the proper training.

I cannot envisage Nadal "flying" like MJ did.

 

[flanker2000fr]

Bjorn Borg right up there imo.

Agree. Borg + Nadal are the best athletes the sport has seen.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Sampras' game was pure athleticism. Quint-essential atheleticism. Not just serves. Just differnet focus from Nadal's.

Gonzalez-Sampras-Nadal (and Djokovic I would like to add) is the blood line.

There are different kinds of athleticism. The common view on here seems to be lateral movement + stamina = great athlete, but that's only narrow segment of the athletic spectrum.

Don't know if I'd pick Sampras over a freak like Borg but linking athleticism predominantly with clay is a pet peeve of mine.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Steve0904]

I wouldn't disagree. Tennis has seen a few great athletes though, as mentioned above.

 

[weakera]

Berdych is the best overall athlete IMO, and a good looking man as well.

 

[vex]

I don’t think there is a debate here . Rafa has proved phenomenal even at 32

Yeah I was gonna say, this isn’t news. From a pure athleticism standpoint Rafa has always been the most athletically gifted player in Tennis. So fast, so strong.

 

[BeatlesFan]

He played a wild good clay season and then go to semis in Wimbledon w no grass tune ups is remarkable.

This must make Borg superhuman since he did this 5 times and didn’t just make the semis, he won the event. And he did it on super slick fast grass. All after having won RG every time.

 

[Backspin1183]

This must make Borg superhuman since he did this 5 times and didn’t just make the semis, he won the event. And he did it on super slick fast grass. All after having won RG every time.

Borg was legendary. A better grass court player than Nadal and better clay court player than Federer.

 

[nick_crompton]

Through Twitter, the Australian legend Rod Laver praised Rafael Nadal. Laver, who was at Wimbledon these two weeks, was admired by the Spaniard's effort in trying to beat Novak Djokovic in the semifinals and possibly winning the trophy after having a great clay-court season. 'He proved to be superhuman at Wimbledon - to win Roland Garros and come very close here on grass is truly amazing. Possibly the greatest athlete our sport has ever known.'

https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www....e-greatest-athlete-ever-in-tennis--rod-laver/

Laver is a fan of anyone who isn't Novak Djokovic. Speaking as a Fed fan myself.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

This must make Borg superhuman since he did this 5 times and didn’t just make the semis, he won the event. And he did it on super slick fast grass. All after having won RG every time.

That's why I tend to think Borg is the goat!

 

[EloQuent]

Borg's record on Clay+Grass is astonishing and truly unique. It's really hard to compare the eras, however. Overall competition wasn't the same. Player style wasn't as physically demanding.

 

[NoleFam]

Laver is probably right. Pound for pound, Nadal is probably the greatest athlete ever in tennis. Then after him you have Sampras, Djokovic, Borg and Federer in some particular order.

 

[flanker2000fr]

Laver is probably right. Pound for pound, Nadal is probably the greatest athlete ever in tennis. Then after him you have Sampras, Djokovic, Borg and Federer in some particular order.

Those 5 are probably the most naturally gifted athletes in tennis, with obvious differences between their particular type of athleticism.

I would also add Lendl to that lot. He was not as naturally gifted as any of the other mentioned, but he worked so hard on his conditioning that he was head and shoulder above everybody in the mid to late 80's.

 

[EloQuent]

Laver is probably right. Pound for pound, Nadal is probably the greatest athlete ever in tennis. Then after him you have Sampras, Djokovic, Borg and Federer in some particular order.

Federer has more hand-eye coordination, Nadal more fitness.

 

[KG1965]

Federer is possibly the greatest athlete ever in tennis.
Other great athletes were Borg and Nadal. But Nadal suffered too many injuries.... And Borg withdrew early. Too soon.

 

[metsman]

Pete is obviously the best athlete. Get back to me when Nadal can hit a serve and Djokovic can hit an overhead. Pete didn't rely on defense because he had actual WEAPONS and didn't have to run around like a rabbit on meth to win points. Obviously, he still has the best running forehand of any of them, another sign of athleticism.

 

[metsman]

And don't even bring up Federer. EXPOSED every time when he faced superior athletes and Nadal and Nole.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

My list would look something like

1. Suresh
2. Hypothetical Peak Federer
3. Nadal
4. Borg
5. Djoker

 

[KG1965]

Perhaps it is appropriate to define what is athleticism ...