Tennis should introduce the concept of Timed Records like Swimming/Athletics

[Razer]

Tennis should have had timed records from the beginning of the open era but Data Analytics was not that advanced, it was probably not able to store and process so much data some decades ago, but in this century it's been possible.

- Fastest player with highest footspeed during the points
- Fastest forehand winner recorded every match
- Fastest backhand winner recorded every match
- average forehand and backhand speeds for the match for both players
- average footspeed for the match
- distance ran by players

^ Measure of all these stats for every Set, every match & tournament

We could have measured peak levels and even compared players across eras

In athletics Michael Johnson can say that only 1 man born after 1990 has ran the 200M faster than he did 28 years ago, Maurice Greene can say that only 5 guys born after 1990 have ran 100M faster that he did 25 years ago but poor Pete Sampras got his records broken, sure nobody born after 1990 has won as many slams as him but many people are saying that today's guys would smoke him from the baseline. Even Federer 2004-07 is being disrespected at some level, Hewitt's speed in his peak years is also being underrated by people who think everybody today would smoke him. .... Timed records would have helped all or maybe not? But it would have provided a bit clearer perspective on players across eras for even the modern 15 year old fan of the game who is hearing these names for the first time.

 

[messiahrobins]

Tennis should have had timed records from the beginning of the open era but Data Analytics was not that advanced, it was probably not able to store and process so much data some decades ago, but in this century it's been possible.

- Fastest player with highest footspeed between points
- Fastest forehand winner recorded every match
- Fastest backhand winner recorded every match
- average forehand and backhand speeds for the match for both players
- average footspeed for the match

^ Measure of all these stats at the end of 5th Set and also separately for every tournament

We could have measured peak levels and even compared players across eras

In athletics Michael Johnson can say that only 1 man born after 1990 has ran the 200M faster than he did 28 years ago, Maurice Greene can say that only 5 guys born after 1990 have ran 100M faster that he did 25 years ago but poor Pete Sampras got his records broken, sure nobody born after 1990 has won as many slams as him but many people are saying that today's guys would smoke him from the baseline. Even Federer 2004-07 is being disrespected at some level, Hewitt's speed in his peak years is also being underrated by people who think everybody today would smoke him. .... Timed records would have helped all or maybe not? But it would have provided a bit clearer perspective on players across eras for even the modern 15 year old fan of the game who is hearing these names for the first time.

How long did it take you to come up with that?

 

[Razer]

How long did it take you to come up with that?

Come up with what ?

This thought has always crossed my mind.

Wouldn't it help if technology could compare the foot speeds of Michael Chang, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz who are 3 different players from 3 different eras ?

 

[GabeT]

Come up with what ?

This thought has always crossed my mind.

Wouldn't it help if technology could compare the foot speeds of Michael Chang, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz who are 3 different players from 3 different eras ?

I wonder if some AI program will be able to do that by reviewing match video footage from the past

 

[Backspin1183]

Rafael Nadal of Spain was the quickest player between points, averaging just 18 seconds, significantly faster than the men's tour average of 25 seconds. Roger Federer followed closely behind, averaging 22 seconds between points.

Two legends. Forever GOATs.

 

[Razer]

I wonder if some AI program will be able to do that by reviewing match video footage from the past

I think that's not possible both for AI and for a human eye

Analyzing speeds/RPMs for something which is already taped is impossible, AI will need data that has to be collected in realtime and the human eye will also need to witness a match live in a stadium side by side even comparing the players

AI is more accurate than the eye test, no doubt there but unfortunately no ways to analyse 90s data/80s data unless it is already done by IBM or some firm back then, unlikely.