What impresses you the most

[jane-hawkEye]

GOAT is never ending debate. question: what impresses you the most. and why? your opinion.

Sampras's record of 14 majors
Agassi's career slam
Rod Laver's 2 slams
Borg`s record of of winning the French and Wimbledon back to back 3 years in a row
Sampras's record of six straight years as the world's top player
Federer's record run of 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals
Federer's record run of 17 consecutive GS semifinals
....

 

[Andyk028]

I gotta go with Mr. Borg..thats just an insane achievement.

 

[veroniquem]

I think all of them are very impressive. I like that each great player brings something unique and specific to the game. Personally, I don't care too much about the one GOAT theory. I'm happy with several goats.

 

[alonsin]

All of them are impressive, but I have to go with Federer's 17 consecutive GS semis. That means 4 years without any injuries, slumps or days-off. That's just wicked. Even if you admit that the field was somehow weak I don't think any player has ever achieved that level of consistency through such a long period

 

[veroniquem]

Who cares about semis though? I think # of slams won is more impressive.

 

[alonsin]

Who cares about semis though? I think # of slams won is more impressive.

I guess that if Federer had lost the 17 semi finals I wouldn't think of it as the most impressive. But I think I mentally added to it that he won 12 of those Slams and reached the finals three other times

 

[Cenc]

voted for years at number 1
but what REALLY impresses me most is your fancy
no one in the world could device so many polls like you
congratulations !

 

[jane-hawkEye]

I think all of them are very impressive. I like that each great player brings something unique and specific to the game. Personally, I don't care too much about the one GOAT theory. I'm happy with several goats.

happy too with several goats ;-) veroniquem question is not about GOAT, but what impress you most and why. to me, Agassi's career slam is the greatest achievement. He's not my favorite player, is not GOAT. don't care. but he won all 4 majors on 3 different surfaces. my Hall of fame.

 

[jane-hawkEye]

voted for years at number 1
but what REALLY impresses me most is your fancy
no one in the world could device so many polls like you
congratulations !

I had a record of 17 consecutive polls, 10 boring in a row ;-)

 

[veroniquem]

I can understand counting finals even but semis? why not quarters? To me, if you're gonna lose before the final it really doesn't matter what round (I'm talking recordwise not for ranking of course). What's impressive about Fed is his 12 slams + the finals. I don't think anybody will remember the rest. Do you remember how many slam semis Sampras has played? I certainly don't!

 

[veroniquem]

happy too with several goats ;-) veroniquem question is not about GOAT, but what impress you most and why. to me, Agassi's career slam is the greatest achievement. He's not my favorite player, is not GOAT. don't care. but he won all 4 majors on 3 different surfaces. my Hall of fame.

I would also like to add that as long as Federer hasn't WON the 4 slams, the # of semis will never be very significant. Even if he won 40 of them, what people would remember is that he couldn't win the 4. That's why in the future Federer should invest all his time and energy in trying to get the FO. I'm not sure it's the way he thinks though, I was stunned this year by his lack of heart (or fighting spirit) in the FO final.

 

[jane-hawkEye]

I would also like to add that as long as Federer hasn't WON the 4 slams, the # of semis will never be very significant. Even if he won 40 of them, what people would remember is that he couldn't win the 4. That's why in the future Federer should invest all his time and energy in trying to get the FO. I'm not sure it's the way he thinks though, I was stunned this year by his lack of heart (or fighting spirit) in the FO final.

I agree 100%

 

[Cenc]

federer is getting older and he should learn new skills like volley and try playing that way in us open because i dont think he will be able to compete with younger guys any more running from the baseline

 

[Dash]

Voted for Pete's 6 consecutive years as No.1.
Even as genius as Roger was, he just got 4 years in a row. 2 more years would be like 50% more. That was insane.

 

[oranges]

Voted for Pete's 6 consecutive years as No.1.
Even as genius as Roger was, he just got 4 years in a row. 2 more years would be like 50% more. That was insane.

Agreed, with 14 GS titles a close second, though I must say everything listed is very impressive.

 

[TheTruth]

Great poll, Jane!

Sampras's record of 14 majors-To break a record that had stood for so many years in a field where players were bigger, stronger, and had the advantage of better nutrition and knowledge means you excelled above and beyond the norm. With the 14 Pete went where no man went before in an intensely competitive field.

Agassi's career slam-Not that impressive to me because it's just a player winning one extra match. How many people have won all three gs's and missing winning a single match? For that reason I think it's based on the luck of the draw.

Rod Laver's 2 slams-Definitely don't think this is impressive as they where all mostly played on grass, and if that's your best surface, then it's good, but not great.

Borg`s record of of winning the French and Wimbledon back to back 3 years in a row -Impressive, but not the most impressive. Again, it's only taking in a player's best surfaces while ignoring the other two surfaces.


Sampras's record of six straight years as the world's top player-A toss up between this and the number of slams, but the 14 is loftier.

Federer's record run of 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals-That's impressive, but didn't yield ten consecutive trophies, so um uh.

Federer's record run of 17 consecutive GS semifinals-Who cares about semifinals? Sharapova had a few strings of those and was nicknamed Semipova, as in couldn't win the big one. It took her two years from Wimbledon before she broke through at the USO two years later.

 

[oranges]

Agassi's career slam-Not that impressive to me because it's just a player winning one extra match. How many people have won all three gs's and missing winning a single match? For that reason I think it's based on the luck of the draw.

Not one extra match, there are not many who've reached the final of all four. Agassi might not have had the hardest draw for his RG win, but his Wimbledon one, which should be his worst surface at that time, is a mighty impressive one. Beating Becker, McEnroe and Ivanisevic on 1992 Wimby grass is no small feat. It is comparable to defeating Nadal in RG.

His 16 years in the top 10 is also something to bow down to. The oldest to rank No. 1 at 33 years as well.

 

[TopShelf]

I would take Sampras's 6th straight years. Partly because were seeing Federer lose his (closest run at that 6 years we have seen)
My 2nd would be the 17th semi's in a row, but as an above posted stated, they mean very little if he doesn't win a French, and I agree with that

 

[TheTruth]

Not one extra match, there are not many who've reached the final of all four. Agassi might not have had the hardest draw for his RG win, but his Wimbledon one, which should be his worst surface at that time, is a mighty impressive one. Beating Becker, McEnroe and Ivanisevic on 1992 Wimby grass is no small feat. It is comparable to defeating Nadal in RG.

His 16 years in the top 10 is also something to bow down to. The oldest to rank No. 1 at 33 years as well.

Those are impressive credentials, but the title of the thread was, which do you think is the most impressive? And Agassi wasn't/isn't that impressive to me on the whole, although he definitely left his mark on the game.

 

[oranges]

Those are impressive credentials, but the title of the thread was, which do you think is the most impressive? And Agassi wasn't/isn't that impressive to me on the whole, although he definitely left his mark on the game.

Yes, and I was not arguing that it's the most impressive either, but since you said you don't find it impressive at all, I wanted to point out that a career slam is not just one extra match and that his involved some not very lucky draws on arguably his worst surface, that's all.

 

[autumn_leaf]

woot! first one to go with agassi's slams lol. i really think it's a dream to win all four slams. no matter how many you win and especially if you win all but one.

 

[TheTruth]

Yes, and I was not arguing that it's the most impressive either, but since you said you don't find it impressive at all, I wanted to point out that a career slam is not just one extra match and that his involved some not very lucky draws on arguably his worst surface, that's all.

I didn't think you were arguing, I thought you were explaining the nuances of Agassi's grand slam, which I think you're right, I'm just not impressed with it as much, that or Laver's grand slams.

 

[TheTruth]

Yes, and I was not arguing that it's the most impressive either, but since you said you don't find it impressive at all, I wanted to point out that a career slam is not just one extra match and that his involved some not very lucky draws on arguably his worst surface, that's all.

double post.

 

[matchmaker]

I had a record of 17 consecutive polls, 10 boring in a row ;-)

This is great. It's actually true too, but the seven remaining ones were entertaining so that makes up for it.

 

[matchmaker]

Anyway, I voted for the six years number one, that is quite impressive. Federer won't get there, the way things are going now.

 

[helloworld]

I'm surprise some people actually voted for 17 semis. That's more embarassing than impressive.... Isn't there a more impressive record in Fed's resume, so that you don't have to bring this one up??

 

[DrumWizOHBD]

Great poll, Jane!
Borg`s record of of winning the French and Wimbledon back to back 3 years in a row -Impressive, but not the most impressive. Again, it's only taking in a player's best surfaces while ignoring the other two surfaces.

Borg did get to the Finals of the US OPEN in '78 and '80 where he lost to Conners and McEnroe. Borg was the man!

 

[Serve_Ace]

well sampras was 6 years straight as year-END number 1
Federer is 4 years straight maintaining number 1 all year round, thats more impressive IMO

 

[TheTruth]

Great poll, Jane!
Borg`s record of of winning the French and Wimbledon back to back 3 years in a row -Impressive, but not the most impressive. Again, it's only taking in a player's best surfaces while ignoring the other two surfaces.

Borg did get to the Finals of the US OPEN in '78 and '80 where he lost to Conners and McEnroe. Borg was the man!

I know. The poll was about the most impressive. While impressive, it wasn't the most impressive imo.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

I can understand counting finals even but semis? why not quarters? To me, if you're gonna lose before the final it really doesn't matter what round (I'm talking recordwise not for ranking of course). What's impressive about Fed is his 12 slams + the finals. I don't think anybody will remember the rest. Do you remember how many slam semis Sampras has played? I certainly don't!

Great poll, Jane!

Sampras's record of 14 majors-To break a record that had stood for so many years in a field where players were bigger, stronger, and had the advantage of better nutrition and knowledge means you excelled above and beyond the norm. With the 14 Pete went where no man went before in an intensely competitive field.

Agassi's career slam-Not that impressive to me because it's just a player winning one extra match. How many people have won all three gs's and missing winning a single match? For that reason I think it's based on the luck of the draw.

Rod Laver's 2 slams-Definitely don't think this is impressive as they where all mostly played on grass, and if that's your best surface, then it's good, but not great.

Borg`s record of of winning the French and Wimbledon back to back 3 years in a row -Impressive, but not the most impressive. Again, it's only taking in a player's best surfaces while ignoring the other two surfaces.


Sampras's record of six straight years as the world's top player-A toss up between this and the number of slams, but the 14 is loftier.

Federer's record run of 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals-That's impressive, but didn't yield ten consecutive trophies, so um uh.

Federer's record run of 17 consecutive GS semifinals-Who cares about semifinals? Sharapova had a few strings of those and was nicknamed Semipova, as in couldn't win the big one. It took her two years from Wimbledon before she broke through at the USO two years later.

17 consecutive semifinals is a huge feat. It's total consistency. Along with his 10 consecutive finals.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

How about Hamburg, French Open, Queen's, Wimbledon, and Toronto all at one time.

 

[Ripster]

To me Agassi winning all 4 GS is the best accomplishment. To win on every surface requires a game with multiple dimensions. Can you imagine an American winning Roland Garros these days?

 

[Swingin Richard]

I grew to like Agassi as he grew up, and the career slam was nice, but Pete absolutely owned the guy. That is a problem with Fed being the goat. You can't be the goat when someone (Rafa) owns you.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

I grew to like Agassi as he grew up, and the career slam was nice, but Pete absolutely owned the guy. That is a problem with Fed being the goat. You can't be the goat when someone (Rafa) owns you.

I think Nadal would own Pete as well on most surfaces (Slow hardcourts, Clay, and modern day Grass).Sampras liked playing Agassi because he hit flat.

 

[fastdunn]

17 consecutive semifinals is a huge feat. It's total consistency. Along with his 10 consecutive finals.

Very impressive indeed. I am also amazed Federer never got injured, or any other health problem, not even a food poisoning, cold or something like that at each slam during last 4 years. I think his easy style helps but you gotta be also very lucky, IMO.

But if you consider that fact that all non-clay surfaces now have similar court speed and everybody plays same style baseline game. I think it helps definitely. It is like before 1970 when all 3 non-clay slams were played on grass. I think the next top player will collect similar records (under current homogenized surface condition). Not as many as semi-'s and finals as Federer did but something similar.

This would be much harder to accomplish in very polarized condition and playing styles of 1970's-1990's. But the tennis was more polarized on each surface and protected. I think that helped Sampras dominate grass court tennis for 8 years and to maintain 6 straight year end #1.

So I think the bottom line is the number of slams. And maybe number of weeks at #1 comes second....

 

[Cenc]

I don't think the 14 GS's is the most impressive because it's almost certainly going to be broken, by either Federer or Nadal. Who else can you imagine reaching 17 (and still going!) consecutive semis. On all surfaces. I think its the most impressive because NO ONE else but Federer could have that record.

i guess thats why it is impressive for you: because no one other than federer has ever done it lol

 

[helloworld]

I think Nadal would own Pete as well on most surfaces (Slow hardcourts, Clay, and modern day Grass).Sampras liked playing Agassi because he hit flat.

I wouldn't bet a buck on that. Sampras's serve is possibly the most devastating shot in the game. Nadal's only obvious weakness is his return on fast court. This could be a bad matchup, and Sampras could end up owning Nadal like he did to Agassi.

 

[oranges]

I think Nadal would own Pete as well on most surfaces (Slow hardcourts, Clay, and modern day Grass).Sampras liked playing Agassi because he hit flat.

He should have no problem surpassing all Pete's and Agassi's records then and in a few years we'll get to vote for Nadal 7 years ended as No1, 15 GS titles won and calendar Grad Slam to his name.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

I wouldn't bet a buck on that. Sampras's serve is possibly the most devastating shot in the game. Nadal's only obvious weakness is his return on fast court. This could be a bad matchup, and Sampras could end up owning Nadal like he did to Agassi.

Wrong. Nadal would win many more of the points from the baseline against Sampras than Agassi did. The combination of Sampras's serve and Agassi not winning enough of the neutral points made it more devastating. Grass would be the most interesting battle. That is if they go with the firmer grass of now where Nadal's spin could bother Sampras. I'm pretty sure most sets would go to tiebreaks. Too bad we'll never see that match.

 

[ohlori]

well sampras was 6 years straight as year-END number 1
Federer is 4 years straight maintaining number 1 all year round, thats more impressive IMO

It's a bit misleading I have to agree.
Thomas Muster, Andre Agassi and Marcelo Rios were also number 1 during that 6-year period.

 

[Cenc]

why are you nadal fans so unrealistic. what the hell does spin do there?!
do you think nadal would return sampras' serve with amazing top spin like short cross winners? no he wouldnt and since he doesnt have that flat shots like agassi had he wouldnt have a chance of breaking sampras
while on nadals serve there would be some battle but in the match against gasquet in toronto you could have seen how attackable nadals serve actually is and sampras would attack all the time coming to the net and in ONE moment nadal would lose his serve and never come back

btw dont say nadal would pass with top spin - when sampras is on the ball its just the same if its top spin slice or anything only difference is that top spin is used for short crosses which you cant hit flat but sampras said himself that he didnt understand why current players were playing with so much top spin in each occasion when it in many occasions had no effect

 

[luckyboy1300]

federer's record 234 weeks and counting consecutive weeks at number 1 is the most impressive regarding consistency.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

We all know that Nadal is the all time greatest mean destroying machine, and he could beat Sampras and Agassi in a split lenght wise clay and grass court at the same time while cheweing a banana and dancing the Baile del Chicki Chiki.

some Prozac would be nice for all you nadal fans!

BTW, i voted other because i believe Gaudio's one slam is much more impressive when the guys just doesnt play enough for that or anything close.

 

[Deleted member 21996]

Not one extra match, there are not many who've reached the final of all four. Agassi might not have had the hardest draw for his RG win, but his Wimbledon one, which should be his worst surface at that time, is a mighty impressive one. Beating Becker, McEnroe and Ivanisevic on 1992 Wimby grass is no small feat. It is comparable to defeating Nadal in RG.

His 16 years in the top 10 is also something to bow down to. The oldest to rank No. 1 at 33 years as well.

Oranges: dont even bother.
These young kids dreaming of sleveless shirts and babolat frames have this tendency to underrate the fact that Agassi was the second dominant guy during the nineties right behind Sampras that is "most likely" the GOAT and managed to hand down some old school beatings to the almighty Fed's Generation at 30 plus y.o.

 

[Cenc]

We all know that Nadal is the all time greatest mean destroying machine, and he could beat Sampras and Agassi in a split lenght wise clay and grass court at the same time while cheweing a banana and dancing the Baile del Chicki Chiki.

some Prozac would be nice for all you nadal fans!

BTW, i voted other because i believe Gaudio's one slam is much more impressive when the guys just doesnt play enough for that or anything close.

hopefully this is sarcastic

 

[Cenc]

Oranges: dont even bother.
These young kids dreaming of sleveless shirts and babolat frames have this tendency to underrate the fact that Agassi was the second dominant guy during the nineties right behind Sampras that is "most likely" the GOAT and managed to hand down some old school beatings to the almighty Fed's Generation at 30 plus y.o.

aha ok last post was sarcastic i get it
u said everything in this post thats enough
this thing about sleeveless shirts and babolat frames is amazing
but true...
well. just about 2 months ago there was a tournament (age under 14) in my club. i was there watching the tournament. this was sad: out of 32 players playing in the main draw i saw about 20 babolat aero pro drives. not to mention number of bandanas and sleeveless shirts (ok i also sometimes play in sleeveless shirt when i have training or something but definitely not tournaments) it was so sad to watch imo, i havent seen a single player with wilson rackets (best rackets imo) like pro staff or ncode or kfactor (i use ncode btw)
and yes, 90% of them play western forehand trying to imitate nadal and best of all in CROATIA they scream VAMOS
its called nadalmania?

 

[Cenc]

federer's record 234 weeks and counting consecutive weeks at number 1 is the most impressive regarding consistency.

instead of luckyboy in ur name you could have put fanboy and yes number u put is fine, there are about 1300 fanboys here

 

[oranges]

and yes, 90% of them play western forehand trying to imitate nadal and best of all in CROATIA they scream VAMOS
its called nadalmania?

Hopefully, Mario and Marin will do something in the foreseeable future to reverse that trend

 

[Deleted member 21996]

aha ok last post was sarcastic i get it
u said everything in this post thats enough
this thing about sleeveless shirts and babolat frames is amazing
but true...
well. just about 2 months ago there was a tournament (age under 14) in my club. i was there watching the tournament. this was sad: out of 32 players playing in the main draw i saw about 20 babolat aero pro drives. not to mention number of bandanas and sleeveless shirts (ok i also sometimes play in sleeveless shirt when i have training or something but definitely not tournaments) it was so sad to watch imo, i havent seen a single player with wilson rackets (best rackets imo) like pro staff or ncode or kfactor (i use ncode btw)
and yes, 90% of them play western forehand trying to imitate nadal and best of all in CROATIA they scream VAMOS
its called nadalmania?

exactly. the most hedious trend in tennis ever... and the way these kids showdown and think nadal invented tennis and would beat anything and anyone is just annoying. nothing against the Player (i actually like his personality, not his game), as i believe he seem to be a good hearted kid.

those kids at the tournment you refer should be if anything using prestiges for the respect of grestest croatian tenis player ever or yonexes because of mario... or wilsons for what matters...
please dont let it happen, we need the croantian wide leg serve stance, and the Split style risk game... if you know what i mean? we need that variety...

 

[Cenc]

Hopefully, Mario and Marin will do something in the foreseeable future to reverse that trend

aha if ivanišević comes to wimbledon and cuts the grass down for mario he might play some wimby finals with mahut or stepanek

but yes, mainly thats what i saw about our young hopes. i dont think i have seen any serve and volleyer even on carpet courts (talking about juniors) what is soooo sad
one day when i get a son i promise ill teach him serve and volley from youngest age. i just cant watch this tennis any more (sadly my arm hurts and i cant play serve and volley game any more because i dont have that serve any more)

so i can see future believe or not. im a wizard
in future in top 10 there will be 8 players playing in sleeveless shirts, with babolat aero pro drive, with long hair (although i had long hair too some time ago ), with biiiig biceps' and all screaming vamos all the time, playing extreme western forehand and finishing it above the technically wrong arm

oh yes, with famous nadals shorts too. most of young guys play in long shorts
like niki pilić said once if players continue to wear like this in few years tennis players might wear trousers like in 20s