chaognosis
Semi-Pro
In light of Federer's recent successes, I compiled the following list of what I consider to be the best individual, single-season performances of the Open Era (limited to one year per player--otherwise, yes, Federer would make the list four times, and force me to leave out many other interesting names and accomplishments!). Here are my choices, with brief commentary.* Please post your thoughts as well.
1. Rod Laver, 1969. Still by far the greatest year of the Open Era, if not in all tennis history. Laver won an incredible 18 titles including a sweep of the four major tournaments to complete his second Grand Slam.
2. Jimmy Connors, 1974. In his great year, Connors won all three of the major championships he entered; he was unfortunately banned from the French Open, won by the young Borg. Connors won 15 titles in all, including at least one on every surface.
3. Roger Federer, 2006. For the second time in his career, Federer won three of the four majors, and this time he bettered his previous performance by reaching the final of the French Open. While Federer won 12 titles, he proved unable to win on all surfaces, as his nemesis Nadal thoroughly dominated the clay courts.
4. John McEnroe, 1984. McEnroe achieved the best single-season winning percentage of the Open Era, winning 13 titles across all surfaces, including two major championships. In the worst loss of his career, McEnroe lost the French Open final to Lendl after winning the first two sets.
5. Bjorn Borg, 1979. Borg's performance this year was in many ways as good as McEnroe's in '84. He also won 13 titles (plus many smaller events and exhibitions), including a repeat of the rare French-Wimbledon double.
6. Pete Sampras, 1994. In his best year, Sampras won two majors and 10 titles in total, including at least one tournament on every surface.
7. Mats Wilander, 1988. Wilander's season is difficult to rate for several reasons. On the one hand, he won three majors--a phenomenal achievement by any standard; however, he lost at the most prestigious event, Wimbledon. Also, Wilander won only six titles overall, and on only two surfaces: outdoor hard and clay. All in all, Wilander's '88 stands as a great year but a less dominant campaign than the six listed above.
8. Guillermo Vilas, 1977. Vilas won an astonishing 16 titles including two major championships, and he racked up some impressive winning streaks. However, his victories came largely against depleted fields and he did not win any grass-court events. Despite Vilas's great season, Connors finished as year-end No. 1 on the computer, and a slight majority of observers at the time actually considered the true No. 1 to be Borg.
9. Ivan Lendl, 1986. Lendl had three extraordinary years in the mid-1980s, but his '86 campaign was probably the best. He won two majors and reached the final at Wimbledon--the Australian Open was not held this year. Lendl also won a total nine titles.
10. Ilie Nastase, 1973. Nastase makes the list despite winning only one major title in '73. He was thoroughly dominant, winning 15 titles across all surfaces, and finishing on top of the inaugural computer rankings.
*Note: there are sometimes conflicting title counts. Because the ATP statistics are notoriously incomplete, and Wikipedia includes small events of dubious status, I have chosen to follow the data at tennis28.com.
1. Rod Laver, 1969. Still by far the greatest year of the Open Era, if not in all tennis history. Laver won an incredible 18 titles including a sweep of the four major tournaments to complete his second Grand Slam.
2. Jimmy Connors, 1974. In his great year, Connors won all three of the major championships he entered; he was unfortunately banned from the French Open, won by the young Borg. Connors won 15 titles in all, including at least one on every surface.
3. Roger Federer, 2006. For the second time in his career, Federer won three of the four majors, and this time he bettered his previous performance by reaching the final of the French Open. While Federer won 12 titles, he proved unable to win on all surfaces, as his nemesis Nadal thoroughly dominated the clay courts.
4. John McEnroe, 1984. McEnroe achieved the best single-season winning percentage of the Open Era, winning 13 titles across all surfaces, including two major championships. In the worst loss of his career, McEnroe lost the French Open final to Lendl after winning the first two sets.
5. Bjorn Borg, 1979. Borg's performance this year was in many ways as good as McEnroe's in '84. He also won 13 titles (plus many smaller events and exhibitions), including a repeat of the rare French-Wimbledon double.
6. Pete Sampras, 1994. In his best year, Sampras won two majors and 10 titles in total, including at least one tournament on every surface.
7. Mats Wilander, 1988. Wilander's season is difficult to rate for several reasons. On the one hand, he won three majors--a phenomenal achievement by any standard; however, he lost at the most prestigious event, Wimbledon. Also, Wilander won only six titles overall, and on only two surfaces: outdoor hard and clay. All in all, Wilander's '88 stands as a great year but a less dominant campaign than the six listed above.
8. Guillermo Vilas, 1977. Vilas won an astonishing 16 titles including two major championships, and he racked up some impressive winning streaks. However, his victories came largely against depleted fields and he did not win any grass-court events. Despite Vilas's great season, Connors finished as year-end No. 1 on the computer, and a slight majority of observers at the time actually considered the true No. 1 to be Borg.
9. Ivan Lendl, 1986. Lendl had three extraordinary years in the mid-1980s, but his '86 campaign was probably the best. He won two majors and reached the final at Wimbledon--the Australian Open was not held this year. Lendl also won a total nine titles.
10. Ilie Nastase, 1973. Nastase makes the list despite winning only one major title in '73. He was thoroughly dominant, winning 15 titles across all surfaces, and finishing on top of the inaugural computer rankings.
*Note: there are sometimes conflicting title counts. Because the ATP statistics are notoriously incomplete, and Wikipedia includes small events of dubious status, I have chosen to follow the data at tennis28.com.
