Ranking of Tennis Tournaments?

[ChrisRF]

I don't understand the hype about the Olympics. It wasn't that big of a deal before 2008, despite beginning in 1988. It is important because you play for your country, but a tournament that is played once every 4 years should have no bearing on someone's legacy. And it certainly shouldn't be ranked above a tournament like the WTF that has a rich history since the 1970's. All the ATG except Nadal and Wilander have won the WTF. No way it should rank below Olympics and just above the smallest tournaments given the quality of the winners at this event.

I don’t think it is so important who won those tournaments in the past. For example in 2004 Massu was the Olympic champion, and this fact is often used by those who try to dismiss the prestige of Olympic tennis. But Federer was is the draw and desperately wanted to win Gold. It’s not Massu’s fault or the fault of the Olympics in general that Berdych stopped Federer.

We can go even further back: In 1992 Marc Rosset won, but Courier, Sampras, Becker, Edberg, Muster, Bruguera, Ivanisevic etc. were in the draw.

I give you that 1988 was really a bad start though (only Edberg and Mecir were top players), but that was a singular occurrence.

Yes, there were also some withdraws in later years, but we shouldn’t overrate for example when some “patriotic” American players rather played something like Washington instead of the Olympics shortly before the US Open.

To make it short: It is not important who won in the past, but who tried. And even more important is who tries NOW. Judging by the behaviour of the big 4 (all of them!), the Olympic tournament is just as important as a Slam, and therefore just as difficult and prestigous to win. Definitely it is above the WTF or Masters (nobody of them would ever cry for one of those tournaments).

 

[FrontHeadlock]

Team and individual competition is the same. It's ridiculous to to say otherwise. I'm sure no one is going to undermine Michael Phelps for winning too many gold medals in medley relay. All of his singles and medley medals are equally valued and respected.

I'm sorry but tennis is way down in the list of level important to the Summer Olympics.

Get real. Nobody thinks the 4x100 relay gold is worth as much as the 100m individual gold. To suggest otherwise is insane.

 

[mike danny]

I don’t think it is so important who won those tournaments in the past. For example in 2004 Massu was the Olympic champion, and this fact is often used by those who try to dismiss the prestige of Olympic tennis. But Federer was is the draw and desperately wanted to win Gold. It’s not Massu’s fault or the fault of the Olympics in general that Berdych stopped Federer.

We can go even further back: In 1992 Marc Rosset won, but Courier, Sampras, Becker, Edberg, Muster, Bruguera, Ivanisevic etc. were in the draw.

I give you that 1988 was really a bad start though (only Edberg and Mecir were top players), but that was a singular occurrence.

Yes, there were also some withdraws in later years, but we shouldn’t overrate for example when some “patriotic” American players rather played something like Washington instead of the Olympics shortly before the US Open.

To make it short: It is not important who won in the past, but who tried. And even more important is who tries NOW. Judging by the behaviour of the big 4 (all of them!), the Olympic tournament is just as important as a Slam, and therefore just as difficult and prestigous to win. Definitely it is above the WTF or Masters (nobody of them would ever cry for one of those tournaments).

Judging by Nadal not being fully healthy and still coming to the WTF, that says something. Given that Fed decided to skip Paris just to prepare for the WTF says something.

 

[FrontHeadlock]

Judging by Nadal not being fully healthy and still coming to the WTF, that says something. Given that Fed decided to skip Paris just to prepare for the WTF says something.

We all know Paris is the least prestigious Masters.

 

[Slightly D1]

I disagree. Usain Bolt became an Olympic legend in track and field. Murray has won 2 gold medals, but he is far from an Olympic legend, and his popularity/fame is due to his 3 slams and other achievement at the ATP. Murray's fame status remains the same even if he never won a medal in the Olympics. This holds true for Nadal and Federer...their Olympics medal is insignificant to what they have achieved in tennis.

Please stop equally Olympics to Wimbledon because you're comparing apples-to-oranges.

When did I try to make the Olympics and Wimbledon equals? That’s dumb.


The player’s Olympic golds are very important to them and Nadal has said this and Federer has also said something along these lines as well. To downplay it over partisan fan opinion is silly and is a see through lie. Most Olympic sport’s gold medal winners are going to be ultimately forgettable but it is extremely important in the moment and for the athlete and country.


Your argument for the most part didn’t make sense either. Just because these professional tennis players make their names and careers doing something every year over and over, does not make the Olympics less important just because it is an event that is done for country and it takes place every 4 years. The Olympics is still a big tournament with the best players participating now and it is a huge career achievement for players and their country who follows them. Although it may not be viewed as such by a fanatic on an Internet forum because he would rather pretend it’s irrelevant that their favorite player doesn’t have an Olympic Gold (you).


Your Murray point doesn’t make sense either because you seem to forget how big it was that he won gold at Wimbledon in 2012. Although I’m sure he would rather have had a 2012 WTF’s title instead according to you?


The Olympics is much more important than the WTF though unless you’re going to say Dimitrov would value his 2017 WTF over a hypothetical 2016 or 2020 Olympic singles Gold.

 

[Slightly D1]

Aussie blows away the smelly French

Still much more prestigious and historic compared to the major that most guys didn’t feel they needed to attend every year until recently.

 

[TMF]

Get real. Nobody thinks the 4x100 relay gold is worth as much as the 100m individual gold. To suggest otherwise is insane.

That's just you. Nobody is going to put any asterisk on any of Phelp's 23 gold medals.

 

[TMF]

When did I try to make the Olympics and Wimbledon equals? That’s dumb.


The player’s Olympic golds are very important to them and Nadal has said this and Federer has also said something along these lines as well. To downplay it over partisan fan opinion is silly and is a see through lie. Most Olympic sport’s gold medal winners are going to be ultimately forgettable but it is extremely important in the moment and for the athlete and country.


Your argument for the most part didn’t make sense either. Just because these professional tennis players make their names and careers doing something every year over and over, does not make the Olympics less important just because it is an event that is done for country and it takes place every 4 years. The Olympics is still a big tournament with the best players participating now and it is a huge career achievement for players and their country who follows them. Although it may not be viewed as such by a fanatic on an Internet forum because he would rather pretend it’s irrelevant that their favorite player doesn’t have an Olympic Gold (you).


Your Murray point doesn’t make sense either because you seem to forget how big it was that he won gold at Wimbledon in 2012. Although I’m sure he would rather have had a 2012 WTF’s title instead according to you?


The Olympics is much more important than the WTF though unless you’re going to say Dimitrov would value his 2017 WTF over a hypothetical 2016 or 2020 Olympic singles Gold.

Read your post. You're trying to convey if an Olympics double/single gold is the same then Wimbledon double/single win is also the same. That's dumb since Olympics main purpose for an athlete is to win a gold for one's country regardless if it's a team or an individual competition. All gold medals in the same sport are equally respected and has the same value base on the Olympics committee. You don't decide certain event is worth more than the others. Unlike Wimbledon, single champion is way more prestige than double, there's more prize/money, enhanced legacy, draw for sponsors, etc.

Tennis is one of the least important event in the Olympics than many other sports. I posted the the link and tennis is ranked #30 in most important. Olympics have no problem if there's no tennis events, but just imagine if there's no track and field, that would be a big blow.

Sure it's big when Murray won the gold, and that include Nadal and Federer who also became an Olympics Gold Medalist. But when compare to other medalist winner like Bolt, it's nowhere near as prestige. Bolt became a legend, but Murray, Nadal, Federer or Massu are not a living legend just because they won the gold in tennis.

BS. Olympics tennis is much less important than the WTF. Many players never care about Olympics tennis in the past and the event wasn't even exist for a long stretch between the 20s and 70s. Not to mention the ATP reward zero points as apposed to 1,500 max for the WTF. The WTF has rich history and many legends have won this prestigious event.

 

[captainbryce]

So I am pretty curious to know, how people would rank the biggest tennis tournaments.

I think we can agree, that the 7 most prestigious tournaments are, the 4 Grand Slams, Olympic games, the year-end finals and Davis Cup. But personally how would you rank them after most prestigious.

Me personally would rank them this way.

1. Wimbledon Championships
2. Roland Garros
3. US Open
4. Australian Open
5. Olympic Games
6. Year-end Tour Finals
7. Davis Cup


But please share your rank

I’d probably put the US Open ahead of the French. It’s an older tournament and more of the legendary greats have won it. Also, I don’t know if I’d even include Davis Cup at all. It’s a team competition that nobody outside of the sport even cares about. I mean, how many people really watch Davis cup, or care who wins it each year? Otherwise I’d agree with your rankings.

 

[captainbryce]

Let’s be honest RG, USO and AO are at the same level. No point trying to rank them unless you’re clueless.

1)Wimbledon
2)RG, USO and AO
3)WTF
4)Olympics
5)Davis cup

Clueless about what exactly? Technically ALL four of the grand slams are “equal” (in terms of ranking points anyway). Prestige usually has to do with which is the oldest, most famous, and most desired by more of the best players. And in that sense, they’ve not always been “equal”. Moreover, while you can say they are all equal TODAY, that hasn’t always been the case. And for that reason alone, Wimbledon will ALWAYS be the most prestigious and the AO will always be the least.

 

[captainbryce]

1. Wimbledon
2. UO
3. FO
4. AO
5. WTF
6. IW
7. Miami
8. Rome
9. Cincy

Who cares about the Olympics or Davis Cup?

Olympics yes (it’s only once every four years, and includes many sports). Davis cup no (its every year, a team competition, and nobody remembers who wins from year to year).

 

[True Fanerer]

Olympics yes (it’s only once every four years, and includes many sports). Davis cup no (its every year, a team competition, and nobody remembers who wins from year to year).

The Olympics matter I guess. Probably matter a lot more in the future after some history has been established.

 

[dgold44]

Been to Indian Wells about 4 times and Cincy about twice. I wished I went to Cincy much more when I was living in Michigan. I totally screwed that up.
Both are A plus events.
Indian Wells caters to a more wealthy, older crowd and the Tourney is more expensive !!!
Cincy is like the Family Masters Slam. There are kids everywhere and its loud. Kids here and kids there. Cincy is more affordable too.

 

[dgold44]

Still much more prestigious and historic compared to the major that most guys didn’t feel they needed to attend every year until recently.

IT WAS for sure not now. The Aussie now has surpassed every slam by a large margin , in my opinion.
The quality of the Tennis and the Event is the best.


USO is a giant Corporate event with an annoying loud crowd and airplanes flying overhead.
French has terrible facilities which reflect a 5th World Nation.
Wimbledon has lousy quality of tennis. BAD tennis and you know it. Grass was meant to be Serve an Volley and today's style looks like trash on grass.

 

[FrontHeadlock]

That's just you. Nobody is going to put any asterisk on any of Phelp's 23 gold medals.

Nobody is putting an asterisk, but some are certainly worth more than others.

I'll put it this way: there's a reason why swimmer Alexander Popov is way more highly regarded than swimmer Jenny Thompson, even though Popov has 4 gold medals and Thompson 8.

To suggest otherwise shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the Olympics and particularly certain events within the Olympics.

 

[FrontHeadlock]

IT WAS for sure not now. The Aussie now has surpassed every slam by a large margin , in my opinion.
The quality of the Tennis and the Event is the best.


USO is a giant Corporate event with an annoying loud crowd and airplanes flying overhead.
French has terrible facilities which reflect a 5th World Nation.
Wimbledon has lousy quality of tennis. BAD tennis and you know it. Grass was meant to be Serve an Volley and today's style looks like trash on grass.

Look, the Aussie Open may be a wonderful tournament to attend, but it clearly has the least prestige. It has very low historical prestige, much less lay prestige than the other 3 majors, and I'd guarantee you the fewest # of players would want that as their only major title.

In addition, the Aussie suffers from the fact that it's on hard courts like the USO. That effectively means that every player gets two bites at the apple for a hard court major, which has the effect imo of rendering RG and W more prestigious since success on different surfaces is critical at the top. Would someone like Stan trade an AO or USO for a Wimbledon title? He'd be insane not to, as titles on all three surfaces puts him in a special group.

I do agree with you that the USO has seen its prestige sink, and if the AO is going to pass any tournament it will be the USO. For a tournament that once rivaled Wimbledon as the greatest tennis tournament in the world, the USTA seems hell-bent on killing the US Open for reasons I can't quite figure out.

 

[justasport]

1. Wimbledon
2. Australian Open, US Open, French Open
3. Masters Cup

 

[justasport]

Those are your 5 major events each year.

 

[justasport]

Now if you want us to rank all of the majors and masters 1000 events in order of prestige then that might be a better question. In that case I'd say:
1. Wimbledon
2. Australian Open
3. US Open
4. French Open
5. Masters Cup
6. Indian Wells
7. Rome
8. Cincinnati
9. Miami
10. Shanghai
11. Monte Carlo
12. Toronto/Montreal
13. Madrid
14. Paris

 

[TMF]

Nobody is putting an asterisk, but some are certainly worth more than others.

I'll put it this way: there's a reason why swimmer Alexander Popov is way more highly regarded than swimmer Jenny Thompson, even though Popov has 4 gold medals and Thompson 8.

To suggest otherwise shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the Olympics and particularly certain events within the Olympics.

Thompson is ranked #3 in all-time greatest swimmer at the Olympic, Popov is ranked #13

http://www.topendsports.com/events/summer/medal-tally/rankings-sports-swimming.htm

 

[FrontHeadlock]

Thompson is ranked #3 in all-time greatest swimmer at the Olympic, Popov is ranked #13

http://www.topendsports.com/events/summer/medal-tally/rankings-sports-swimming.htm

Lol at that literally fraudulent list.

 

[Atennisone]

I’d probably put the US Open ahead of the French. It’s an older tournament and more of the legendary greats have won it. Also, I don’t know if I’d even include Davis Cup at all. It’s a team competition that nobody outside of the sport even cares about. I mean, how many people really watch Davis cup, or care who wins it each year? Otherwise I’d agree with your rankings.

I Care a lot for Davis Cup. A problem is that few brodcasters sends it. So I had to watch highlights on youtube instead. Roland Garros is on Clay, and for me it just makes it more special.