The Player that brought YOU the most joy in your lifetime

[Deleted member 763024]

The tennis world is mired in GOAT debates and understandably so, gets heated and bitter at times.

This is a different kind of ‘GOAT’ poll, where the facts and figures don’t matter - at least not as far as in trying to convince others, but about what (or rather who) is dear to YOU.

It could be their style of game, the personality they brought to the sport, their success on court, shared citizenship, physical attributes or just as simple as someone you watched growing up.

The only criteria is that you have to be convinced that this the player that gave you the most joy. Titles don’t matter nor length of career. Neither slam count nor H2Hs. Just pure and simple sustained emotional joy and happiness. That’s the only honesty needed for this thread.

So go on and vote for your choice. Share with us your feelings. Tell us what made you or makes you keep coming back to this player.

Yes, it is inherently unfair because it’s NOT about stats or figures. The poll is also skewed towards the last 20-30 years of male players. Sorry if your player is not on the poll. But if you fav is an exception go on and help us appreciate them in the comments; what they mean to you.

And keep it classy folks.

 

[Deleted member 716271]

Novak Djokovic.

Serbian Defiance.

It don't get no better than that.

 

[Deleted member 763024]

I grew up loving Agassi, and appreciated other quirky players but Federer takes the cake for me. His game style made me feel like this guy is the culmination of everything tennis. The best of the past in the present age of tech advances.

I would have been happy even if his career slams success wasn’t as astonishing simply because what his game meant to me. (But to be honest, success only made me more greedy as a fan)

 

[Rubens]

Kuerten.

 

[Raining hopes]

Djokovic.
While Following Fred has been special, Djokovic has even better story and hence maybe more investment from my side.

Initially the young man who had grown in such hardship but the world chose to not accept him, then the man who was always thwarted by Fedal, then a legend who carved himself a place alongside those giants , then a monster who ended up surpassing them.

He has gone through personal troubles and to the point of appearing like a stick on the tennis court to completely invincible .

Djokovic is the most flawed but the best man among the three .

 

[Yoneyama]

Stan Wawrinka. I love seeing an underdog rise up.

He may not have as many titles as the other guys, but he has taken down the big names in the biggest of moments.

It must have been hard playing in the shadow of Federer all his life, but towards his later years he has managed to create his own legacy.

 

[Deleted member 763024]

Kuerten.

Nice. A different choice not usually heard about here much.
Can you share more about the how and why?

 

[Shaolin]

Rios
Sampras
Fed
Safin

 

[Deleted member 763024]

Novak Djokovic.

Serbian Defiance.

It don't get no better than that.

For many if us here, we don’t appreciate/understand what Novak means to his countrymen.

Can you perhaps add something that gives context?

 

[Deleted member 763024]

Rios
Sampras
Fed
Safin

I loved Nalbo from that era. But who do you pick for the most joy received even if by a small margin?

 

[Deleted member 763024]

Stan Wawrinka. I love seeing an underdog rise up.

He may not have as many titles as the other guys, but he has taken down the big names in the biggest of moments.

It must have been hard playing in the shadow of Federer all his life, but towards his later years he has managed to create his own legacy.

Love Stan’s arm tattoo.

Yeah can only imagine being in Roger’s shadow and achieve what he did.

 

[comeback]

1, Jimmy Connors..got me into tennis, inspirational, electric, rebellious, greatest competitor
2 , Roger Federer..GOAT, most talented, class
3, Pete Sampras, Serve, Slam Dunk, won US Open 18 years old
4, John McEnroe, different game, crazy personality, pure entertainment

 

[Shaolin]

I loved Nalbo from that era. But who do you pick for the most joy received even if by a small margin?

I loved Nalbo as well, as well as lots of other players from that era. Very fond of late 90s and early 00s tennis. So much variety of styles, surfaces and lots of personalities.

For pure tennis enjoyment for me no one will equal Rios from his peak in 1998 and 1999. He was like Agassi with the footwork of Fed and hands of McEnroe or Santoro. Too bad his attitude was so **** poor or he'd have some slams to his name.

 

[Deleted member 763024]

1, Jimmy Connors..got me into tennis, inspirational, electric, rebellious, greatest competitor
2 , Roger Federer..GOAT, most talented, class
3, Pete Sampras, Serve, Slam Dunk, won US Open 18 years old
4, John McEnroe, different game, crazy personality, pure entertainment

I caught the tail end of Jimmy and John’s careers so can’t really say I knew their games that well. But watching old videos today one can see their impact on the game. McEnroe’s game was more my style and loved his touch and volleys.

Pete was arch nemesis lol. Always beating up on my guy Agassi.

Fed is Fed

 

[Deleted member 763024]

I loved Nalbo as well, as well as lots of other players from that era. Very fond of late 90s and early 00s tennis. So much variety of styles, surfaces and lots of personalities.

For pure tennis enjoyment for me no one will equal Rios from his peak in 1998 and 1999. He was like Agassi with the footwork of Fed and hands of McEnroe or Santoro. Too bad his attitude was so **** poor or he'd have some slams to his name.

Rios is probably at the top of the list of most talented guys never to win a slam.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Gee, I wonder who?

 

[Deleted member 763024]

Gee, I wonder who?

Only 1 vote for Nadal so far, so can’t be him. Michael Chang?

 

[Deleted member 757547]

The GOAT Dustin Brown

 

[BeatlesFan]

 

[MichaelNadal]

Only 1 vote for Nadal so far, so can’t be him. Michael Chang?

Venus would be right behind him though

 

[GenerationTennisElbow]

As someone with Swiss citizenship and heritage, Federer has always been the spiritual center of everything that is tennis. My family barely knows anything about tennis yet still love the aura that he exudes. I will say though that for me personally nobody provokes the level of red-blooded passion and love for the sport in and of itself that Stanislas Wawrinka does. Raw, clean power, WOW-factor, struggles, underdog status, a sometimes surprising level of finesse, it's all there for me.

 

[Fedforever]

Fed for most joy definitely - still can't watch the end of AO 17 without tears.

But no Fed loss has ever been as painful as McEnroe losing to Lendl in FO 84.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

I would so love to give an oddball answer to this. But that would be being dishonest. So...

Fedr.

 

[Deleted member 763024]

I would so love to give an oddball answer to this. But that would be being dishonest. So...

Fedr.

Username checks out

Where is Dolgo these days?

 

[Dolgopolov85]

Username checks out

Where is Dolgo these days?

No idea. Disappointing but not surprising.

 

[MS_07]

Djokovic.
While Following Fred has been special, Djokovic has even better story and hence maybe more investment from my side.

Initially the young man who had grown in such hardship but the world chose to not accept him, then the man who was always thwarted by Fedal, then a legend who carved himself a place alongside those giants , then a monster who ended up surpassing them.

He has gone through personal troubles and to the point of appearing like a stick on the tennis court to completely invincible .

Djokovic is the most flawed but the best man among the three .

Lol .. when did world refuse to accept him ? World always follows the winner .. that chum has got his own share of fan following , just look into mirror ..

 

[-NN-]

Hard one to call.

Yep. Really struggling with this one.


Serena Williams.

 

[The Green Mile]

That would be Federer, comfortably... Stan stepping up big time in the last few years has also been wonderful. I love watching Simon play and win, unfortunately most of his runs are in the minor tournaments, they cannot compete emotionally with the majors.

 

[The Green Mile]

Hard one to call.

Yep. Really struggling with this one.


Serena Williams.

This is actually a good call, I was so happy that day lol, had no issues with either winning before the match really began....

I cannot remember being happier about a loss....

 

[-NN-]

This is actually a good call, I was so happy that day lol, had no issues with either winning before the match really began....

I cannot remember being happier about a loss....

ROFL that's not quite what I was going for, but I cosign. But really I was happier that Osaka won than Serena lost. I'm UUUUUUGE fanarino.

 

[The Green Mile]

ROFL that's not quite what I was going for, but I cosign. But really I was happier that Osaka won than Serena lost. I'm UUUUUUGE fanarino.

Oh, lol... You've been a fan of Osaka for a while?

 

[-NN-]

Oh, lol... You've been a fan of Osaka for a while?

Nah not long - since 2018 Indian Wells.

I'll actually watch some WTA lol.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Lleyton Hewitt, the best Australian player since Newcombe.

 

[OldschoolKIaus]

Fedr.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Username checks out

Where is Dolgo these days?

Ikr? Dude fell of the face of the earth. Forgot he existed. Like Justin Credible

 

[BVSlam]

Roger Federer, but not even because of nice looking shots or all those trophies.

I didn't even know anything about tennis until I randomly decided not to zap away when I saw it being broadcast. I believe I was 12 then. And the match happened to be Wimbledon 2003 against Roddick. For some reason, it immediately clicked. I got involved, and it helped that the first tennis match I ever watched had him playing some of his best ever tennis, so that was a great introduction not only to his game, but the sport itself. And that ponytail, lol! He wouldn't become number 1 for a while still, not even truly dominant until about a year later, but I was a fan from that semifinal onwards.

But the most important reason is that it gave me the hobby of tennis in the first place, as I registered for a club in the spring of 2004. I still play tennis and I still watch tennis (when I have the option, that is) because of that one moment where I just decided to watch a tennis match at random without prior interest in the sport. And it happened to include Roger Federer.

 

[Deleted member 757547]

No idea. Disappointing but not surprising.

Just checked and his ranking is 299 and hasn't won a match since the Australian Open...

 

[octobrina10]

Rafa:

 

[Raining hopes]

Rafa:

That's a pretty cool picture of Rafa.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

Just checked and his ranking is 299 and hasn't won a match since the Australian Open...

Really sad. Had a lot of talent but never put together a package.

 

[Subway Tennis]

For me it's Nadal, Coria and Sampras.

Just their individually unique styles and quirks, and the fact that they looked totally free, like the court is a playground for them.

 

[Bender]

Ralph

 

[Subway Tennis]

Rafa:

Great image. I think for most of us whenever we see an illustration or photographic montage that includes either the 2012 or 2014 RG celebrations the emotions run pretty high. I wonder if the artist has done an updated version of that now to include 2018's result?

 

[heninfan99]

Justine Henin

The Stanimal

 

[PMChambers]

Although more a Becker fan mainly through family dispute, I'd say Edberg. The guy always came down under in era where AO was 2 Tier and played at my cities EXO.
I like Mac but only got to see him a few times live and he's more a "Sex Pistols" anti establishment sort of coke head.
I don't find any of the big 3 as exciting as late 70 through to 90s. Their games are bigger but their personalities cardboard.

 

[maratha_warrior]

For me the end result doesn't matter, I like the journey of the fighter who faces internal struggles but never gives up.

That is why I always liked djokovic who was behind Fedal during 2008-10 period.
His fight and Journey to Top is inspiring.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

soderling and rosol

 

[Fedforever]

For me the end result doesn't matter, I like the journey of the fighter who faces internal struggles but never gives up.

That is why I always liked djokovic who was behind Fedal during 2008-10 period.
His fight and Journey to Top is inspiring.

Good comment. One interesting aspect of Big 3 rivalry is they've all had to struggle to some extent, Fed with his temperament, Nadal with his body and Djoko with having to come from behind.

I wonder if people identify with whichever one seems closest to their own struggles in life?

 

[tennisaddict]

McEnroe, Sampras, Federer, Martina, Graf, Henin.

 

[Hamnavoe]