saram
Legend
...does not exist. He cannot exist, because of several things...
Technology has changed. Laver dominated in a game of finesse. He dominated when the surfaces were different than today's. And, not only were the surfaces different, the Opens won during his era were played on different surfaces as well. The AO, for example, was played on grass--not rebound ace.
Laver's rackets were wood. His opponents smoked and drank continually. The power in today's game did not exist. The game in itself was entirely different.
Pete came along in an era that separated Rod and Roger. Power was being introduced, grass was still grass, and the players still lacked the racket technology and power of today's game. He dominated his era--but may not have dominated Rod's era if given Rod's rackets, opponents, surfaces, etc.
Roger's era is completely different than both Pete's and Rod's. Roger's era combines power with slower surfaces, more surfaces than during Rod's era and players less consistent than during Pet's era. Pete never had to contend with grass that played almost as clay. Pete never faced a challenger on clay such as Rafa. Pete's only constant was Andre..and Roger has yet to face a constant challenger during his era. His opponents and challenges change like the tide.
Andre won slams during the course of 20 years. He challenged Pete without ever losing a set during a match that went four tie-breakers. He took Roger to five sets over two days during the Open a few years ago. He also won on all four current surfaces--something Rod, Pete, and Roger cannot say. Andre won on grass, fast, clay and rebound ace. Again--nothing the other three can say.
Bjorg dominated and left just too early to ever know his greatness. If he had stayed on tour for 20 years as Andre did, then maybe he would be the GOAT. And, if Johnny Mac did not have to contend with Bjorg during his short tenure--then maybe Johnny Mac would have been the GOAT.
Then there is Rios--maybe the most talented and best player to never win a Slam. He will never be mentioned in the GOAT conversation--but based on talent--he had it--just never hung around the tour long enough to exploit it.
My point, after all this rambling, is that there can never be a GOAT as so many things change during the growth of tennis, its technologies, and its surfaces. Nothing stays constant enough to allow greats to come and go and be compared on a level playing field/surface--let alone, technology.
Right now, Roger is the goat. But give it time. In ten years, another will arise, surpass him, and I'll be saying the same things between Roger and his apprentice as we are saying about Pete and Roger now.
I do find though, that to be considered for the GOAT, you need to possess the same or similar qualities:
All court game
Ability to serve and volley
Mellow demeanor and calmness
Clean strokes within the simplest form
Precise serve--not the fastest, but precise
Simple clean lifestyle without drama or chaos
It is time to put the GOAT analogy to rest, and enjoy tennis for what it is: a great sport that is ever evolving into something even greater....
Technology has changed. Laver dominated in a game of finesse. He dominated when the surfaces were different than today's. And, not only were the surfaces different, the Opens won during his era were played on different surfaces as well. The AO, for example, was played on grass--not rebound ace.
Laver's rackets were wood. His opponents smoked and drank continually. The power in today's game did not exist. The game in itself was entirely different.
Pete came along in an era that separated Rod and Roger. Power was being introduced, grass was still grass, and the players still lacked the racket technology and power of today's game. He dominated his era--but may not have dominated Rod's era if given Rod's rackets, opponents, surfaces, etc.
Roger's era is completely different than both Pete's and Rod's. Roger's era combines power with slower surfaces, more surfaces than during Rod's era and players less consistent than during Pet's era. Pete never had to contend with grass that played almost as clay. Pete never faced a challenger on clay such as Rafa. Pete's only constant was Andre..and Roger has yet to face a constant challenger during his era. His opponents and challenges change like the tide.
Andre won slams during the course of 20 years. He challenged Pete without ever losing a set during a match that went four tie-breakers. He took Roger to five sets over two days during the Open a few years ago. He also won on all four current surfaces--something Rod, Pete, and Roger cannot say. Andre won on grass, fast, clay and rebound ace. Again--nothing the other three can say.
Bjorg dominated and left just too early to ever know his greatness. If he had stayed on tour for 20 years as Andre did, then maybe he would be the GOAT. And, if Johnny Mac did not have to contend with Bjorg during his short tenure--then maybe Johnny Mac would have been the GOAT.
Then there is Rios--maybe the most talented and best player to never win a Slam. He will never be mentioned in the GOAT conversation--but based on talent--he had it--just never hung around the tour long enough to exploit it.
My point, after all this rambling, is that there can never be a GOAT as so many things change during the growth of tennis, its technologies, and its surfaces. Nothing stays constant enough to allow greats to come and go and be compared on a level playing field/surface--let alone, technology.
Right now, Roger is the goat. But give it time. In ten years, another will arise, surpass him, and I'll be saying the same things between Roger and his apprentice as we are saying about Pete and Roger now.
I do find though, that to be considered for the GOAT, you need to possess the same or similar qualities:
All court game
Ability to serve and volley
Mellow demeanor and calmness
Clean strokes within the simplest form
Precise serve--not the fastest, but precise
Simple clean lifestyle without drama or chaos
It is time to put the GOAT analogy to rest, and enjoy tennis for what it is: a great sport that is ever evolving into something even greater....
