The perfect tennis player

Halba

Halba

Hall of Fame
This is basically my opinion - attributes from each great. This guy would destroy every player.


Peak versions below

1st/2nd serve - Sampras or Federer. Nadal for clay

Defensive backhand - djokovic , Nadal for clay.
Rally backhand - Agassi . Nadal for clay again.
Down the line backhand - Djokovic, Nadal clay
Cross court backhand - Nadal on all surfaces
Rally forehand - Federer, del potro( peak). Nadal on clay.
Running forehand - Federer or Djokovic(2011)
Returns - Djokovic. Nadal for clay.
movement- Djokovic. Nadal for clay
Mental - djokovic(save so many match balls), Nadal for clay
Volleys- Sampras edge Federer slightly.
Passing shot - djokovic. Nadal on clay.
Overhead -anyone but Djokovic. Hah it is Federer. His overhead is sublime.
Physical / stamina - djokovic easily . Nadal on clay.

Funnily enough Nadal himself is the perfect tennis player for clay. He’s the undisputed goat for clay. Aspects of others required for other surfaces.
 
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Too complicated, the perfect tennis player would simply be a cross of Sampras, Federer and Novak with the best attributes between the 3. So serves, volleys, speed would be Sampras, precision shots, forehands, backhands, slice would be Federer and the rest on Novak like clutch factor, stamina, returns, patience, etc.
 
spottishwood said:
Will lose to this one anyways.
Forehand: paire
Backhand:Johnson
serve:diego
volleys:[some random nextgen]
ROS:karlovic
overhead:nishikori
Fighting spirit: Tomic
Click to expand...
nishikori's serve is pretty bad as well. if you're too short = serve terrible.
 
Halba said:
This is basically my opinion - attributes from each great. This guy would destroy every player.


Peak versions below

1st/2nd serve - Sampras or Federer. Nadal for clay

Defensive backhand - djokovic , Nadal for clay.
Rally backhand - Agassi . Nadal for clay again.
Down the line backhand - Djokovic
Cross court backhand - Nadal
Rally forehand - Federer, del potro( peak). Nadal on clay.
Running forehand - Federer or Djokovic(2011)
Returns - Djokovic. Nadal for clay.
movement- Djokovic. Nadal for clay
Mental - djokovic(save so many match balls), Nadal for clay
Volleys- Sampras edge Federer slightly.
Passing shot - djokovic. Nadal on clay.
Overhead -anyone but Djokovic. Hah it is Federer. His overhead is sublime.
Physical / stamina - djokovic easily . Nadal on clay.

Funnily enough Nadal himself is the perfect tennis player for clay. He’s the undisputed goat for clay. Aspects of others required for other surfaces.
Click to expand...
Not bad, but it’s definitely Sampras for serve, running forehand, and overhead and Edberg for volleys. I’ll take Pete easily over Fed for volleys too.
 
BGod said:
Too complicated, the perfect tennis player would simply be a cross of Sampras, Federer and Novak with the best attributes between the 3. So serves, volleys, speed would be Sampras, precision shots, forehands, backhands, slice would be Federer and the rest on Novak like clutch factor, stamina, returns, patience, etc.
Click to expand...

Are you saying Federer's backhand is better than Djokovic's ? Lol.
 
Imperator said:
Are you saying Federer's backhand is better than Djokovic's ? Lol.
Click to expand...

In his prime the Federer backhand was a bigger weapon than Novak's ever yes. Novak has the more consistent backhand but a peak one hander will always be better than a two hander in terms of outright winner or attacking stroke. I don't see that as a controversial statement. I do prefer the Wawrinka backhand but that's the only shot of Wawrinka's that's worth talking about and my point was to combine 3 players only.

But frankly if we could only combine 2 players I'd just combine Sampras and Novak.
 
BGod said:
In his prime the Federer backhand was a bigger weapon than Novak's ever yes. Novak has the more consistent backhand but a peak one hander will always be better than a two hander in terms of outright winner or attacking stroke. I don't see that as a controversial statement. I do prefer the Wawrinka backhand but that's the only shot of Wawrinka's that's worth talking about and my point was to combine 3 players only.

But frankly if we could only combine 2 players I'd just combine Sampras and Novak.
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Most definitely not. Novak’s BH has a better peak and is far more consistent. He can take it on the rise easier, hits more winners, and makes significantly less errors. There is a reason no one talks about Fed’s BH when talking about all-time great BHs.
996588-EA-0-A62-40-F0-B868-694-F21-D2488-D.gif
 
Halba said:
This is basically my opinion - attributes from each great. This guy would destroy every player.


Peak versions below

1st/2nd serve - Sampras or Federer. Nadal for clay

Defensive backhand - djokovic , Nadal for clay.
Rally backhand - Agassi . Nadal for clay again.
Down the line backhand - Djokovic
Cross court backhand - Nadal
Rally forehand - Federer, del potro( peak). Nadal on clay.
Running forehand - Federer or Djokovic(2011)
Returns - Djokovic. Nadal for clay.
movement- Djokovic. Nadal for clay
Mental - djokovic(save so many match balls), Nadal for clay
Volleys- Sampras edge Federer slightly.
Passing shot - djokovic. Nadal on clay.
Overhead -anyone but Djokovic. Hah it is Federer. His overhead is sublime.
Physical / stamina - djokovic easily . Nadal on clay.

Funnily enough Nadal himself is the perfect tennis player for clay. He’s the undisputed goat for clay. Aspects of others required for other surfaces.
Click to expand...
Nadal with sampras serve
Or
Federer with Thiem topspin backhand
 
1st Serve - Karlovic
2nd Serve - Sampras
Forehand - Federer
Backhand - Djokovic
Volleys - Sampras
Lob - Murray
Drop shot - Ferrero
Mental Strength - Djokovic
Passing shots - Nadal
Smash - Sampras
Return of serve - Djokovic
Touch - McEnroe
Talent - Federer
Trick shots - Federer
Fair Play - Rafter
Fitness - Federer
Power - Del Potro
Tennis IQ - Wilander
Stamina - Borg
Pace - Nadal
 
BGod said:
In his prime the Federer backhand was a bigger weapon than Novak's ever yes. Novak has the more consistent backhand but a peak one hander will always be better than a two hander in terms of outright winner or attacking stroke.
Click to expand...
But that just makes that backhand better in some respects. The best returners have been guys with the 2 hander for a very long time, so you can only argue for the 1 hander if you claim it gives an additional advantage on serve that makes up for lost points on return.

I believe the most important return stat is % of return games won, and the best are generally all 2 handers. So if you are arguing for the 1 hander being superior, you have to make a case for it being that much better on serve. The problem is that you just can't separate the serve from the rest of the service game, so you pretty much have to reason that the one hander gives such an advantage at the net that it outweighs being attacked the way Nadal attacked Fed.
 
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Halba said:
This is basically my opinion - attributes from each great. This guy would destroy every player.


Peak versions below

1st/2nd serve - Sampras or Federer. Nadal for clay

Defensive backhand - djokovic , Nadal for clay.
Rally backhand - Agassi . Nadal for clay again.
Down the line backhand - Djokovic
Cross court backhand - Nadal
Rally forehand - Federer, del potro( peak). Nadal on clay.
Running forehand - Federer or Djokovic(2011)
Returns - Djokovic. Nadal for clay.
movement- Djokovic. Nadal for clay
Mental - djokovic(save so many match balls), Nadal for clay
Volleys- Sampras edge Federer slightly.
Passing shot - djokovic. Nadal on clay.
Overhead -anyone but Djokovic. Hah it is Federer. His overhead is sublime.
Physical / stamina - djokovic easily . Nadal on clay.

Funnily enough Nadal himself is the perfect tennis player for clay. He’s the undisputed goat for clay. Aspects of others required for other surfaces.
Click to expand...

Why not give Nadal the down the line backhand too, for clay.
 
BGod said:
In his prime the Federer backhand was a bigger weapon than Novak's ever yes. Novak has the more consistent backhand but a peak one hander will always be better than a two hander in terms of outright winner or attacking stroke. I don't see that as a controversial statement. I do prefer the Wawrinka backhand but that's the only shot of Wawrinka's that's worth talking about and my point was to combine 3 players only.

But frankly if we could only combine 2 players I'd just combine Sampras and Novak.
Click to expand...
Agree. Look at feds laser backhand of 2017. However he did not maintain this level.

Agree for faster surface just combine Djokovic with Sampras or Djokovic with Federer.

the fast court goats are

1. Djokovic.
2. Federer( very close between Djokovic and Federer)
3. Sampras.

nadal has been listless on faster courts except us open for over a decade
 
Halba said:
Agree. Look at feds laser backhand of 2017. However he did not maintain this level.

Agree for faster surface just combine Djokovic with Sampras or Djokovic with Federer.

the fast court goats are

1. Djokovic.
2. Federer( very close between Djokovic and Federer)
3. Sampras.

nadal has been listless on faster courts except us open for over a decade
Click to expand...
It should be Federer ranked at the top on Fast courts and followed by djokovic at 2nd place.

If you absolute fast courts like Sanghai and Cincy its Federer who has dominated djoker 3-1 in cincy and 2-0 in sanghai.
 
Djokovic+ Federer serve and FH =GOAT
Federer + Djokovic Backhand and present mental stret= GOAT

Nadal + Sampras serve even Federer serve= Will go entire seasons undefeated
 
Gary Duane said:
But that just makes that backhand better in some respects. The best returners have been guys with the 2 hander for a very long time, so you can only argue for the 1 hander if you claim it gives an additional advantage on serve that makes up for lost points on return.

I believe the most important return stat is % of return games won, and the best are generally all 2 handers. So if you are arguing for the 1 hander being superior, you have to make a case for it being that much better on serve. The problem is that you just can't separate the serve from the rest of the service game, so you pretty much have to reason that the one hander gives such an advantage at the net that it outweighs being attacked the way Nadal attacked Fed.
Click to expand...

One handed backhanded is mostly to generate own pace. So it's not a great defensive shot generally speaking but can be used as a counter whereas the 2 hander can almost never be used as a counter. And what I mean is basic physics where a player like Wawrinka is made to run down a shot and has the opportunity to crank it back for a winner. A two hander will only be able to hit it back or press, no outright winners. Volleys are a given, could even argue double the win ratio on one handed volleys as oppose to two. Players like Nalbandian and del Potro made it seem like two handed attacking tennis was more than possible but those were freaks.

As for that last comment, any good coach would tell you Fed's arrogance is why he had trouble with a lefty top spin. I mean seriously, Fed just would not adjust for Nadal out of sheer hubris. In 2017 you could see night and day his approach.

Spencer Gore said:
Federer for backhand!!! The Mayor of Shanksville! :-D:-D:-D:-D:-D
Click to expand...

Against Nadal, because see above.
 
BGod said:
A two hander will only be able to hit it back or press, no outright winners.
Click to expand...

This argument doesn’t follow. Check out the average pace for backhands from last year. Even Thiem gets outpaced by several two handers and Fed has never been able to hit his as hard as him. I would argue a two-hander is actually a more attacking shot because it is far easier to stand up in the court and take the ball on the rise, allowing for more pace and taking time away from an opponent, therefore more winners. Agassi, Djokovic, and Connors are the best examples IMO. Also, look at lateral court position. Fed has to “guard” the BH side far more than Novak because he doesn’t want to it hit BHs because he knows his limits there and because he wants to hit his FH as much as possible. This is good except for the fact it often puts him out of position far off the court and opens him up to possibly facing a BH DTL winner. I know almost no one that would rather have Fed’s BH over Novak’s, even the biggest of Fed fans. There’s a reason for that.

www.atptour.com

Wrecking Ball: Jannik Sinner Has The Heaviest Backhand Of Them All | Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers | ATP Tour | Tennis

Italian teen Jannik Sinner hits the heaviest ball from the backhand wing than any other ATP Tour tennis star, topping even Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
www.atptour.com www.atptour.com

BGod said:
As for that last comment, any good coach would tell you Fed's arrogance is why he had trouble with a lefty top spin. I mean seriously, Fed just would not adjust for Nadal out of sheer hubris. In 2017 you could see night and day his approach.



Against Nadal, because see above.
Click to expand...

One tournament on a fast hard court does not a BH make. There are far more contrarian examples when it comes to Fed’s topspin BH. Great slice though.
 
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The best server ever is Isner IMO and it's not even close. Federer or Sampras' serves may have more class and variety, but in terms of efficacy and speed, no one matches him.
You give his 1st serve to Nadal or Djokovic, ...they'd have 30 slams instead of 20.

I agree (mostly) with the comments regarding the other shots
 
Tennisfan339 said:
The best server ever is Isner IMO and it's not even close. Federer or Sampras' serves may have more class and variety, but in terms of efficacy and speed, no one matches him.
You give his 1st serve to Nadal or Djokovic, ...they'd have 30 slams instead of 20.

I agree (mostly) with the comments regarding the other shots
Click to expand...
Karlovic >>> Isner
 
Djokovic's game with Isner's serve and Federer's popularity.

Best player for all surfaces, Isner's serve is undoubtably one of the greatest serves in history and to combine it with Djokovic's game would be pretty much unbeatable and add to it Federer's popularity that is often a huge factor in a tennis players greatness by people who know little to nothing about the sport and you have the perfect player.
 
I believe the future has three backhands so for me the "perfect player" would be able to hit with Fed's 1H'er or Djok's 2H'er based on the situation.
 
You can just combine Federer and Djokovic and call it a day.

Federer's serve, forehand, slice, volleys.

Djokovic's return, backhand, movement.

Done.
 
BGod said:
Too complicated, the perfect tennis player would simply be a cross of Sampras, Federer and Novak with the best attributes between the 3. So serves, volleys, speed would be Sampras, precision shots, forehands, backhands, slice would be Federer and the rest on Novak like clutch factor, stamina, returns, patience, etc.
Click to expand...
How would this “perfect” player do against Rafa at FO?
 
jm1980 said:
Stretched too much to hit a 2HBH but doesn't want to hit a slice because the other guy is at the net, so they hit this weird one-handed flick

Karatsev's not the only two hander to do this

Click to expand...

That's what the 1h drive is there for. Situations where you don't have the time to set up for the 2H and need power (not slice).

For a while, before I changed my service return grip on the advice of a friend, I was returning big serves with that one-handed flat flick/block. That's kinda where I got the idea.
 
Villain said:
I know almost no one that would rather have Fed’s BH over Novak’s
Click to expand...
If the player doesn't want a two hander?Whose 1HBH shall he take? Stan's and thiem's won't work on grass cuz they lack quality slices and have a long wind up. I don't think there's any one hander with power like thiem/stan and variety like fed, is there?
Villain said:
One tournament on a fast hard court does not a BH make.
Click to expand...
I see what ya did there:cool:
 
Nadalgaenger said:
How would this “perfect” player do against Rafa at FO?
Click to expand...

Considering Isner pushed peak Nadal to 5? I mean, Sampras only cared for a few seasons and still lost to the eventual champion twice. If you crossed him with Novak I'd take that player over Nadal pretty confidently.
 
spottishwood said:
If the player doesn't want a two hander?Whose 1HBH shall he take? Stan's and thiem's won't work on grass cuz they lack quality slices and have a long wind up. I don't think there's any one hander with power like thiem/stan and variety like fed, is there?
Click to expand...

Fed does have great variety, no doubt about it, but I think that’s mostly because his slice is so good. I’d take Edberg, Becker, Kuerten, Haas, Wawrinka, Thiem, Gasquet overall because they are separate shots and the topspin BH is more important to me over the slice. It’s fine to have a 1HB, one of my favorite players had one, but I think there’s a reason 90% of pros play with two hands now.
 
BGod said:
Considering Isner pushed peak Nadal to 5? I mean, Sampras only cared for a few seasons and still lost to the eventual champion twice. If you crossed him with Novak I'd take that player over Nadal pretty confidently.
Click to expand...
2011 Nadal not peak and smaller ball in 2011 well-documented.
 
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