So now, tell me who is the best...

[Sebastien]

ref: http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/newsandscores/news/news6.asp

Federer's Dominance at No. 1
Roger Federer is scheduled to play four more tournaments (including Madrid) before the end of the season. He is on pace to become the first player in the Open Era to win 10 or more ATP titles three years in a row and more than 80 matches in back-to-back seasons since Ivan Lendl in 1981-82. Over the last three years Federer has dominated the ATP circuit like Lendl did nearly 20 years ago:

From 2004-2006 (heading into Madrid):
Consecutive Weeks at No. 1 141 (since Feb. 2, 2004-Oct. 9)
W-L Finals Record 31-5
Tournaments Won-Played (Pct.) 31 of 46 (.674)
Grand Slam Titles Won-Played 8 of 12 (9 of 14 since '03 Wimb.)
W-L Match Record (Pct.) 232-15 (.939)
Record vs. Top 10 Opponents 44-6 (five losses to Nadal)

2006 Season (heading into Madrid):
W-L Finals Record 9-4
Tournaments Won-Played 9 of 14
W-L Match Record (Pct.) 77-5 (.939)
Record vs. Top 10 Opponents 11-4 (all four losses to Nadal)

Players to finish No. 1 three or more consecutive years:
Federer is on pace to finish with the best three-year record at No. 1 since the inception of the ATP Rankings in 1973. Federer has won nearly 94 percent (.939) of his matches in the last three years and captured 67 percent of the tournaments he's entered (31 titles in 46 tourn., including 8 of 12 Grand Slams). Here is a look at how Federer compares to the other players who have finished No. 1 for three straight years:

Federer
2004: 74-6, 11 titles (3 G.S.)
2005: 81-4, 11 titles (2 G.S.)
2006: 77-5, 9 titles (3 G.S.)
Totals: 232-15 (.939), 31 titles (8 G.S.)

Pete Sampras
1993: 85-16, 8 titles (2 G.S.)
1994: 77-12, 10 titles (2 G.S.)
1995: 72-16, 5 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 234-44 (.845), 23 titles (6 G.S.)

Ivan Lendl
1985: 84-7, 11 titles (1 G.S.)
1986: 74-6, 9 titles (2 G.S.)
1987: 74-7, 8 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 232-20 (.921), 28 titles (5 G.S.)

John McEnroe
1982: 71-9, 5 titles (0 G.S.)
1983: 63-11, 7 titles (1 G.S.)
1984: 82-3, 13 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 216-23 (.904), 25 titles (3 G.S.)

Jimmy Connors
1976: 90-7, 12 titles (1 G.S.)
1977: 70-11, 8 titles (0 G.S.)
1978: 66-6, 10 titles (1 G.S.)
Totals: 226-24 (.904), 30 titles (2 G.S.)

---- END ----

 

[Raistlin]

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[oscar_2424]

ref: http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/newsandscores/news/news6.asp

Federer's Dominance at No. 1
Roger Federer is scheduled to play four more tournaments (including Madrid) before the end of the season. He is on pace to become the first player in the Open Era to win 10 or more ATP titles three years in a row and more than 80 matches in back-to-back seasons since Ivan Lendl in 1981-82. Over the last three years Federer has dominated the ATP circuit like Lendl did nearly 20 years ago:

From 2004-2006 (heading into Madrid):
Consecutive Weeks at No. 1 141 (since Feb. 2, 2004-Oct. 9)
W-L Finals Record 31-5
Tournaments Won-Played (Pct.) 31 of 46 (.674)
Grand Slam Titles Won-Played 8 of 12 (9 of 14 since '03 Wimb.)
W-L Match Record (Pct.) 232-15 (.939)
Record vs. Top 10 Opponents 44-6 (five losses to Nadal)

2006 Season (heading into Madrid):
W-L Finals Record 9-4
Tournaments Won-Played 9 of 14
W-L Match Record (Pct.) 77-5 (.939)
Record vs. Top 10 Opponents 11-4 (all four losses to Nadal)

Players to finish No. 1 three or more consecutive years:
Federer is on pace to finish with the best three-year record at No. 1 since the inception of the ATP Rankings in 1973. Federer has won nearly 94 percent (.939) of his matches in the last three years and captured 67 percent of the tournaments he's entered (31 titles in 46 tourn., including 8 of 12 Grand Slams). Here is a look at how Federer compares to the other players who have finished No. 1 for three straight years:

Federer
2004: 74-6, 11 titles (3 G.S.)
2005: 81-4, 11 titles (2 G.S.)
2006: 77-5, 9 titles (3 G.S.)
Totals: 232-15 (.939), 31 titles (8 G.S.)

Pete Sampras
1993: 85-16, 8 titles (2 G.S.)
1994: 77-12, 10 titles (2 G.S.)
1995: 72-16, 5 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 234-44 (.845), 23 titles (6 G.S.)

Ivan Lendl
1985: 84-7, 11 titles (1 G.S.)
1986: 74-6, 9 titles (2 G.S.)
1987: 74-7, 8 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 232-20 (.921), 28 titles (5 G.S.)

John McEnroe
1982: 71-9, 5 titles (0 G.S.)
1983: 63-11, 7 titles (1 G.S.)
1984: 82-3, 13 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 216-23 (.904), 25 titles (3 G.S.)

Jimmy Connors
1976: 90-7, 12 titles (1 G.S.)
1977: 70-11, 8 titles (0 G.S.)
1978: 66-6, 10 titles (1 G.S.)
Totals: 226-24 (.904), 30 titles (2 G.S.)

---- END ----

U have a lot of free time

 

[Hal]

I'm not sure why you chose to limit the discussion to three years? Why not one, why not four, ten...??? I'm pretty sure it's skew the stats to support whatever argument you're trying to make. Better luck next time...

 

[Sebastien]

U have a lot of free time

If you look, I am NOT the author of this - I put the reference on top of the page.

I'm not sure why you chose to limit the discussion to three years? Why not one, why not four, ten...??? I'm pretty sure it's skew the stats to support whatever argument you're trying to make. Better luck next time...

Simple... the 3 years that a player has been consecutively ranked No.1 !

 

[boojay]

I was wondering how good Lendl was, now I know, but his accomplishments during that period still pale in comparison to what Fed's currently doing.

 

[ksbh]

If you're talking Best of all time, it's between Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver.

ref: http://www.atptennis.com/1/en/newsandscores/news/news6.asp

Federer's Dominance at No. 1
Roger Federer is scheduled to play four more tournaments (including Madrid) before the end of the season. He is on pace to become the first player in the Open Era to win 10 or more ATP titles three years in a row and more than 80 matches in back-to-back seasons since Ivan Lendl in 1981-82. Over the last three years Federer has dominated the ATP circuit like Lendl did nearly 20 years ago:

From 2004-2006 (heading into Madrid):
Consecutive Weeks at No. 1 141 (since Feb. 2, 2004-Oct. 9)
W-L Finals Record 31-5
Tournaments Won-Played (Pct.) 31 of 46 (.674)
Grand Slam Titles Won-Played 8 of 12 (9 of 14 since '03 Wimb.)
W-L Match Record (Pct.) 232-15 (.939)
Record vs. Top 10 Opponents 44-6 (five losses to Nadal)

2006 Season (heading into Madrid):
W-L Finals Record 9-4
Tournaments Won-Played 9 of 14
W-L Match Record (Pct.) 77-5 (.939)
Record vs. Top 10 Opponents 11-4 (all four losses to Nadal)

Players to finish No. 1 three or more consecutive years:
Federer is on pace to finish with the best three-year record at No. 1 since the inception of the ATP Rankings in 1973. Federer has won nearly 94 percent (.939) of his matches in the last three years and captured 67 percent of the tournaments he's entered (31 titles in 46 tourn., including 8 of 12 Grand Slams). Here is a look at how Federer compares to the other players who have finished No. 1 for three straight years:

Federer
2004: 74-6, 11 titles (3 G.S.)
2005: 81-4, 11 titles (2 G.S.)
2006: 77-5, 9 titles (3 G.S.)
Totals: 232-15 (.939), 31 titles (8 G.S.)

Pete Sampras
1993: 85-16, 8 titles (2 G.S.)
1994: 77-12, 10 titles (2 G.S.)
1995: 72-16, 5 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 234-44 (.845), 23 titles (6 G.S.)

Ivan Lendl
1985: 84-7, 11 titles (1 G.S.)
1986: 74-6, 9 titles (2 G.S.)
1987: 74-7, 8 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 232-20 (.921), 28 titles (5 G.S.)

John McEnroe
1982: 71-9, 5 titles (0 G.S.)
1983: 63-11, 7 titles (1 G.S.)
1984: 82-3, 13 titles (2 G.S.)
Totals: 216-23 (.904), 25 titles (3 G.S.)

Jimmy Connors
1976: 90-7, 12 titles (1 G.S.)
1977: 70-11, 8 titles (0 G.S.)
1978: 66-6, 10 titles (1 G.S.)
Totals: 226-24 (.904), 30 titles (2 G.S.)

---- END ----

 

[Ivanišević]

Oscar, I was just about to write the same thing.

This GOAT thing is becoming annoying

 

[Ten_is]

this is one of the reasons why: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1bKZLwTpV4&NR
whooo hooo!

 

[Andres]

Oscar, I was just about to write the same thing.

This GOAT thing is becoming annoying

Don't worry, Ivanisevic. You're the only GOAT to my eyes

 

[Colpo]

Federer's red hot, and has been since early 2004. He's virtually automatic. But it's still only three years. When did he turn pro, 1998? Didn't it take him about three years to win an event? (There have been better pros in their late teens.) Doesn't Nadal have his number on everything but grass? He's great, and ultimately they'll have to decide two issues, not just one:

- Was he the greatest of all time? AND,
- Whether he was or wasn't the greatest, did he have the greatest "hot" period during a career (now up to 3 years and counting)

Let me give an example. No one would say Lendl was the greatest ever, but he had at least 2 periods during his career of pure dominance (early 80s and late mid-80s). Judge Federer the same way.

 

[Ten_is]

HUGE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJkeiYL8HJc&mode=related&search=

 

[VGP]

Funny to chose a match where Fed lost.....

 

[sarpmas]

There is no denying, Federer is indeed amazing. The only negative for me, I think he is too dominant.

 

[bagung]

THE ONLY AND ONLY reason that fed is doing so well, is because there is no good players arround who can give him a "good fight".... the only one can beat him from time to time is only nadal.... the rest of it like, nalb, roddick,blake etc is just not good enough to give him a fight, it is a joke really...... not like sampras times, lendl times, connors times, they have tons of good players that can beat them from time to time.... tennis is more fun to watch at those old days compare to now....

 

[FiveO]

Federer HAS won at an unprecedented rate in the Open era these past three years. No male has had three consecutive years like his on the full-time pro tour.

However, as far as majors go Laver's three consecutive years playing the majors:

1962 "The Grand Slam"
1968 Wimbledon
1969 "The Grand Slam"

That's Nine Majors and Two natural Grand Slams in three years.

Federer's career winning percentage is .789
Laver's in the Open era, from '68 to '77, from age 29 to 40, was .798.

Incredible three years for Federer, no doubt. But Federer needs to keep it up for a few more years before he can be compared to Laver, Borg and Sampras. Longevity is part of the deal and I see no reason why Fed can't.

 

[Hal]

Simple... the 3 years that a player has been consecutively ranked No.1 !

You don't determine who's the best based their record when they number one, you determine it based on their career. When Fed's career is complete (or smashes all the GS records) maybe we'll have our answer. Either that or there will be some new guy that everyone is trying to call the GOAT.

 

[DashaandSafin]

THE ONLY AND ONLY reason that fed is doing so well, is because there is no good players arround who can give him a "good fight".... the only one can beat him from time to time is only nadal.... the rest of it like, nalb, roddick,blake etc is just not good enough to give him a fight, it is a joke really...... not like sampras times, lendl times, connors times, they have tons of good players that can beat them from time to time.... tennis is more fun to watch at those old days compare to now....

Yea, Ok buddy. Im sure Blake, Roddick, Nalbandian, Ljubicic, and Nadal, couldn't hold a candlestick to the players of the 90's