the truly Magnificient Seven

[kiki]

Many people have posted about the great four some or six some of the past and present.

Nowadays, a Federer-Murray-Nadal-Djokovic group seems to be so stablished that it can get through history books
In the early to middle 90´s, we had two Us players.sampras and Agassi and two european: Becker and Edberg

Of course, the Borg-Mac-Connors-Lendl quator of the early 80´s and the Hoad-Gonzales-Laver-Rosewall gropu of the early 60´s.

The magic 6 guys that gave pro game a big boost in Sedgman-Rosewall-Hoad-Gonzales-Trabert-Kramer in the late 50´s

Perry-Vines-Budge-riggs made up a great quator in the pro ranks of the late 30´s-early 40´s and it would have been better with Von Cramm and Crawford.

And Tilden battled it out against the three french mousketters all through the 20´s...

But has ever been an eight some like that of 1970-1972 such as Laver-Newcombe-Rosewall ( the last three turly great aussies), Nastase-Ashe-Kodes-Smith? I doubt it, because they also had other greats such as Roche,Okker and Gimeno just behind.

if the 1985 and 1981 top ten look the toughest ever, I just don´t think we will ever have a group of 7 player like this.Any suggestions?

 

[Dan Lobb]

Many people have posted about the great four some or six some of the past and present.

Nowadays, a Federer-Murray-Nadal-Djokovic group seems to be so stablished that it can get through history books
In the early to middle 90´s, we had two Us players.sampras and Agassi and two european: Becker and Edberg

Of course, the Borg-Mac-Connors-Lendl quator of the early 80´s and the Hoad-Gonzales-Laver-Rosewall gropu of the early 60´s.

The magic 6 guys that gave pro game a big boost in Sedgman-Rosewall-Hoad-Gonzales-Trabert-Kramer in the late 50´s

Perry-Vines-Budge-riggs made up a great quator in the pro ranks of the late 30´s-early 40´s and it would have been better with Von Cramm and Crawford.

And Tilden battled it out against the three french mousketters all through the 20´s...

But has ever been an eight some like that of 1970-1972 such as Laver-Newcombe-Rosewall ( the last three turly great aussies), Nastase-Ashe-Kodes-Smith? I doubt it, because they also had other greats such as Roche,Okker and Gimeno just behind.

if the 1985 and 1981 top ten look the toughest ever, I just don´t think we will ever have a group of 7 player like this.Any suggestions?

Considering the photo I have seen of the tour pros tanning in the sun with some of Hollywood's starring ladies, I would nominate the top eight pros of 1959 as the true and original Handsome Eight.

Hoad, Gonzales, Rosewall, Sedgman, Trabert, Segura, Cooper, Anderson.

Also, the physically strongest group of pros ever. Perhaps the Muscular Eight would be better.

 

[1477aces]

Considering the photo I have seen of the tour pros tanning in the sun with some of Hollywood's starring ladies, I would nominate the top eight pros of 1959 as the true and original Handsome Eight.

Hoad, Gonzales, Rosewall, Sedgman, Trabert, Segura, Cooper, Anderson.

Also, the physically strongest group of pros ever. Perhaps the Muscular Eight would be better.

A joke? Guys who swigged cokes during matches, chain-smoked, and was 5'7" were the strongest ever? They were certainly great players, but definitely not the strongest ever.

 

[kiki]

Considering the photo I have seen of the tour pros tanning in the sun with some of Hollywood's starring ladies, I would nominate the top eight pros of 1959 as the true and original Handsome Eight.

Hoad, Gonzales, Rosewall, Sedgman, Trabert, Segura, Cooper, Anderson.

Also, the physically strongest group of pros ever. Perhaps the Muscular Eight would be better.

Segura and Rosewall strong????

Cooper??

 

[hoodjem]

Segura and Rosewall strong????

Cooper??

Segura had a pretty awesome forehand. I believe Kramer ranked it as the greatest FH ever. Some have ranked it as the greatest shot ever.

 

[Dan Lobb]

A joke? Guys who swigged cokes during matches, chain-smoked, and was 5'7" were the strongest ever? They were certainly great players, but definitely not the strongest ever.

The strongest group ever.

Gonzales once tore a metal locker apart with his bare hands.

Hoad once lifted a chair by its front legs with a man still seated in it, up to eye level, and then dropped it after warning the man to cease his comments.
(This happened in 1957 in a South African bar.)

No current player could do these things, not even close.

They would hide under the nearest table.

 

[Dan Lobb]

Segura and Rosewall strong????

Cooper??

Segura and Rosewall were deceptively strong, especially in the legs.

Cooper was a marvel of strength and fitness, doing rapid-fire pushups and running-on-the-spot. He never suffered cramps, and could play all day, outlasting Anderson in the 1958 U.S. final, and Hoad in the 1959 Slazenger final. (Hoad and Anderson were both more brilliant players, but Cooper could sometimes outlast them.)

 

[jaggy]

Not sure Kodes belongs in such great circles

 

[kiki]

Not sure Kodes belongs in such great circles

He certainly was a Magnificient Seven by his own merits.