SamprasisGOAT
Hall of Fame
From me it gos
1.90s
2.80s
3.10s
4.00s
5.70s
1.90s
2.80s
3.10s
4.00s
5.70s
The greatest decade in tennis open era history?
- Thread starter SamprasisGOAT
- Start date
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
80s was best imo. Great start (Borg, JMac, nascent Lendl, still strong Connors), solid middle, great finish (Lendl, Wilander peak season, Becker and Edberg steadily maturing). The 90s were going nicely but rather collapsed towards the end, as Becker, Edberg, Courier were not replaced by an equally great roster and Agassi lost three years to personal issues, leaving Sampras alone even as he was struggling with consistency for much of 1996 and 1998.
Although the 70s saw the tail end of the Laver, Newcombe, Roache, Rosewall era, I still voted for the 80s.
The surfaces still offered real variety, the game wasn't ruled by poly .. and this meant there was a real clash of styles between McEnroe, Borg, Connors, Becker, Lendl, Edberg and others.
The balance of playing styles is what made the 80s the greatest decade of the open era.
The surfaces still offered real variety, the game wasn't ruled by poly .. and this meant there was a real clash of styles between McEnroe, Borg, Connors, Becker, Lendl, Edberg and others.
The balance of playing styles is what made the 80s the greatest decade of the open era.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Tennis nearly died at W in the early 90s. It was grim.
Nearly died, then was killed the cure.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Last edited:
It's happened before.
skaj
Legend
There's a difference between ATP and WTA here.
WTA 2000s definitely, both the strongest and the most watchable field.
For ATP I would pick the 80s - Edberg with his elegant serve and volley game, Lendl and his sharp aggression, McEnroe's skill and intelligence, Mecir's graceful movement and touch, Noah's amazing athleticism, Cash with his exciting net attacks, Borg's fabulous mobility and mentality... more wonderful players and playing styles than ever(not to mention the outfits
).
WTA 2000s definitely, both the strongest and the most watchable field.
For ATP I would pick the 80s - Edberg with his elegant serve and volley game, Lendl and his sharp aggression, McEnroe's skill and intelligence, Mecir's graceful movement and touch, Noah's amazing athleticism, Cash with his exciting net attacks, Borg's fabulous mobility and mentality... more wonderful players and playing styles than ever(not to mention the outfits
).There are some gaps in the poll.
It should read like this:
Which of the following decades was the greatest in tennis history.
1900's
1910's
1920's
1930's
1940's
1950's
1960's
All others ineligible for soft living and easy travel.
Ballmachine87
Rookie
For me the golden era of tennis is clearly the mid/late 80s early/to mid 90s. You simply had so many legends from different eras competing in this time period. Plus, in terms of style I think tennis never looked cooler than in those days. And I think Tennis has never been as popular as in those days.
Give some examples of exciting journeymen, I cannot remember any....got any clips?
boredone3456
G.O.A.T.
The 80's. The Depth, the dynamic personalities, everything added up to a solid era.
Did no one leave any clips from that great era? I guess if you blinked, you missed it.
I don't know if the 70s was the greatest decade, for sure they were the most anarchist and revolutionary: tennis champions became stars, small circles became stadiums, circuit fragmentation, wealth comes with Lamar Hunt's WCT, lots of money even at women, boycotts, the story of ATP begins.
All the champions who played after owe a lot to the 70s.
If I was Tarantino (*) I would make a film on the 70s not on the other decades.
(*) Once upon a time .... in 70s.
with Ashe, Nastase, Newcombe, Connors, Gerulaitis, Borg, Vilas, Panatta, McEnroe, ...
All the champions who played after owe a lot to the 70s.
If I was Tarantino (*) I would make a film on the 70s not on the other decades.
(*) Once upon a time .... in 70s.
with Ashe, Nastase, Newcombe, Connors, Gerulaitis, Borg, Vilas, Panatta, McEnroe, ...
Last edited:
TennisLBC
Professional
Bill Scanlon and the Golden Set. Tim "Dr Dirt" Wilkinson. Andres "GoGo" Gomez; Ronald Agenor, Derrick Rostango....
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Many happy memories of snoozing on a summer day near the top of the Old GS court at USO after Edberg's monotonous Kick Serve + Rush Net game put me to sleep.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Solid list. Scanlon was a heck of a player.
Scanlon of Trinity Wins N.C.A.A. Title (Published 1976)
Last edited:
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
I think the boom was in the 70s. With the boom maybe continuing into the early-80s and then tennis beginning a long, steady slide down. At least in the US in terms of people playing the sport (and perhaps TV audience as well).
I think this writer is correct but I don't have the numbers at hand.
"But tennis’s popularity, in terms of people playing, peaked in 1978 and has been dropping ever since."
Golf vs. tennis.
On Sunday evening, there was a palpable sense of relief in the TV commentators' voices as the sun went down over the U.S. Open championships. It had...
Of the Open era, it's the 1980's, the strongest and most fascinating decade overall imo, the decade of Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Lendl, Wilander, Becker and Edberg, with a strong supporting cast at various times, of Vilas, Gerulaitis, Clerc, Noah, Cash, Curren, Kriek, Mecir, Leconte and with young Agassi and Chang breaking through towards the end.
The 1970's were great also.
I liked the 2000's overall and 2010's, but didn't find the 1990's that interesting.
The 1970's were great also.
I liked the 2000's overall and 2010's, but didn't find the 1990's that interesting.
In terms of money, tennis reached peak success relative to other sports in the late fifties, tennis players were the highest earning athletes in the world.
Not so today.
TennisLBC
Professional
Did you read Scanlon's book, "Bad News for McEnroe"?Solid list. Scanlon was a heck of a player.
Scanlon of Trinity Wins N.C.A.A. Title (Published 1976)
www.nytimes.com
I would agree with you.
I don't remember the late fifties, Dan, so I would bow to your superior knowledge there.
The topic raised here was the greatest decade in Open era history. I would think it was the 1980's overall.
Harrybollz
New User
I grew up with 90s heroes. Though I've watched 80s tennis. Agassi was colourful in his Challenge Court. Chang was Pump and running fast with his Victory Court. Rios dancing on the baseline. Kuertan with the backhand DTL. Rafter at the net. Sampras with his Supreme Court. Who can forget Kournikova, the babe to date, till today she's the hottest to ever hit the courts.
For the 2000s, Agassi said no one could replace him and Sampras. Boy was Roddick and Blake seeing red, but Agassi is right.
For the 2000s, Agassi said no one could replace him and Sampras. Boy was Roddick and Blake seeing red, but Agassi is right.
Phoenix1983
G.O.A.T.
80s for sure.
Followed by 70s/90s/00s in whatever order.
10s last.
Followed by 70s/90s/00s in whatever order.
10s last.
aliceinpains
Rookie
I chose 70's. Tennis popularity peaked in the U.S. With 30 million rec players. Then the decline started in the 80's with the technology. Technology also killed the sport of bowling starting in the 80's. Pro tennis players in the 70's were like rock stars.
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Rock Stars in the 70s were like rock stars too.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
This!
89-02.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
The year Hewitt rolled through the Wimbledon draw and faced fellow consistent baseliner Nalbandian in the final — Pro tennis died that day.
It was on life support until Pistol pulled the plug 2 months later.
Olli Jokinen
Hall of Fame
Solid list. Scanlon was a heck of a player.
Scanlon of Trinity Wins N.C.A.A. Title (Published 1976)
Gomez was a top player and not a journeyman. 21 titles including the FO.
UnderratedSlam
G.O.A.T.
In terms of competition and personality, 80s, in terms of the kind of tennis played, 10s.
UnderratedSlam
G.O.A.T.
Weird.
I celebrated that Wimby year as the rejuvenation of tennis.
Servebots were devastated. Their hope of speeding up Wimby so they can serve 150 aces per match were shattered.
skaj
Legend
I would not put consistent and Nalbandian in the same sentence.
I wouldn't call him a baseliner either. He was consistent from the baseline when on, sure.Funny that you mentioned Tim Wilkinson. Remember his playing and his cap.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Yes, the poll result is very conclusive.
travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
Since we were discussing Hewitt and Nalbandian... this is a much better match to watch:
SamprasisGOAT
Hall of Fame
80s out in front in the polls.
90s clearly in 2nd place.
By a mile the greatest eras in the open era.
90s clearly in 2nd place.
By a mile the greatest eras in the open era.
That's clear, which begs the question "Why is tennis not as good now as it was then?".
Similar threads
