What is the greater accomplishment?

[Autodidactic player]

Which is the greater one year accomplishment? Which is harder to accomplish? Which is more prestigious? In my view, the answer to each question is different.

1: 2 major tournament titles;
2: 6 Masters 1000 tournament titles;
3: 12 ATP 250 or higher tournament titles;
4: Year end number 1 in both singles and doubles;
5: Going from unranked (or single digit points) to qualifying for the Year End Finals (top 8).

 

[junior74]

One Edberg Award to rule them all

 

[RaulRamirez]

Which is the greater one year accomplishment? Which is harder to accomplish? Which is more prestigious? In my view, the answer to each question is different.

1: 2 major tournament titles;
2: 6 Masters 1000 tournament titles;
3: 12 ATP 250 or higher tournament titles;
4: Year end number 1 in both singles and doubles;
5: Going from unranked (or single digit points) to qualifying for the Year End Finals (top 8).

Hmmm...probably #4 would be the hardest to achieve today, as not many of the top singles players - men or women - play or excel at doubles. Who was the last to do it? Navratilova and Johnny Mac...I may be missing more recent examples. Too tired to think.

 

[spottishwood]

Hmmm...probably #4 would be the hardest to achieve today, as not many of the top singles players - men or women - play or excel at doubles. Who was the last to do it? Navratilova and Johnny Mac...I may be missing more recent examples. Too tired to think.

Not in the same year but,

 

[boredone3456]

Hmmm...probably #4 would be the hardest to achieve today, as not many of the top singles players - men or women - play or excel at doubles. Who was the last to do it? Navratilova and Johnny Mac...I may be missing more recent examples. Too tired to think.

While I do not believe they ended the year #1 in Singles/doubles, Davenport and Clijsters I believe are the most recent to hold #1 in both disciplines at the same time.

I would agree #4 is probably the most difficult to do, as you would have to play a ton of tennis at top level winning multiple titles in both disciplines (which require different skill sets) to pull off. And in doing it you are probably winning a couple of majors, some Masters/Premier Mandatory Tournaments etc etc...

 

[boredone3456]

Most Difficult would probably be #4
Most Prestigious probably #1
Greatest? I'm guessing that is synonymous with prestigious in this case so probably also #1.

although I will say anyone who wins 12 titles in one year no matter where they are has also worked their rears off to do it.

 

[Autodidactic player]

I'm going with 2 slams as the most prestigious. Modern tennis is all about the slams. Even without much else in a career, 2 slams alone might get you into the Hall of Fame.

I think number 5 is the most difficult. Without any points, a player wouldn't qualify for any ATP events, including the Challengers. He'd have to shlep for very limited points in Futures events until he got enough to qualify for Challengers. Given the limited number of Futures events, this would probably take all of January and February even if he was winning big. Certainly wouldn't get direct entry into the clay Masters (even the quails) or the French so, again, even winning whatever low-level tournaments he played, he's not getting many points. The second half of the year, once he earned enough points to get direct entry into the ATP events, would have to be all time great level to get enough points to qualify for the year end finals. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe anyone has ever done this. Of course, if he somehow pulled a Raducanu at the Australian life would be much easier!

As for "greatest," which to me is an amazing rare and significant achievement which has very high status in the sport. Sort of a combination of difficulty/rarity and prestige. I'm going for YE#1 in singles and doubles. Every player views YE#1 as a really big deal and understands that it is very, very rare to do that in both singles and doubles. Lots of respect for that achievement. * Martina Navrátilová held the #1 position in both singles and doubles for over 200 weeks!

 

[NatF]

One Edberg Award to rule them all

Fan favourite award.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

The Nadal one

 

[tex123]

Which is the greater one year accomplishment? Which is harder to accomplish? Which is more prestigious? In my view, the answer to each question is different.

1: 2 major tournament titles;
2: 6 Masters 1000 tournament titles;
3: 12 ATP 250 or higher tournament titles;
4: Year end number 1 in both singles and doubles;
5: Going from unranked (or single digit points) to qualifying for the Year End Finals (top 8).

Are you trying to set a trap?

 

[Autodidactic player]

Are you trying to set a trap?

I don't understand. I thought the question(s) might make for a good debate. See my answer in post #7. I'm not claiming that my answer is correct, just my opinion.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

Hmmm...probably #4 would be the hardest to achieve today, as not many of the top singles players - men or women - play or excel at doubles. Who was the last to do it? Navratilova and Johnny Mac...I may be missing more recent examples. Too tired to think.

Edberg was the last number one in singles and doubles.

 

[Lgoel]

Winning 6 masters titles is the hardest. Number 1 in singles and doubles can be done, if a player actually wants to do it. Serena /Venus could have done it if they planned or it

Going to year end from minimal points can happen with some luck and good play. Getting a wildcard earlier in Australia open, doing good to get direct entries in ATP tournaments and couple of big wins can do it .but it needs a lot of things falling in place

 

[LETitBE]

as Muzzard is proving #5 is pretty bloody tough

 

[vex]

Which is the greater one year accomplishment? Which is harder to accomplish? Which is more prestigious? In my view, the answer to each question is different.

1: 2 major tournament titles;
2: 6 Masters 1000 tournament titles;
3: 12 ATP 250 or higher tournament titles;
4: Year end number 1 in both singles and doubles;
5: Going from unranked (or single digit points) to qualifying for the Year End Finals (top 8).

YE1 in both Singles and Doubles would be insane. I don’t think Prime Fed could have done that even if he tried for it

 

[Lgoel]

YE1 in both Singles and Doubles would be insane. I don’t think Prime Fed could have done that even if he tried for it

What if every top 10 singles player tried it? All of them played singles and doubles?

 

[fishpiefriday]

Most Difficult would probably be #4
Most Prestigious probably #1

This.

 

[NoleFam]

While I do not believe they ended the year #1 in Singles/doubles, Davenport and Clijsters I believe are the most recent to hold #1 in both disciplines at the same time.

I would agree #4 is probably the most difficult to do, as you would have to play a ton of tennis at top level winning multiple titles in both disciplines (which require different skill sets) to pull off. And in doing it you are probably winning a couple of majors, some Masters/Premier Mandatory Tournaments etc etc...

I believe Serena in 2009 is the last to do it.

 

[vex]

What if every top 10 singles player tried it? All of them played singles and doubles?

It would be awesome but that’s just not what they do.

 

[Lgoel]

It would be awesome but that’s just not what they do.

Absolutely. And that's why it's currently hard for men to be number 1 in both singles and doubles. It will be physically impossible. In women with grand slams being 3 setters it is still possible

2 grand slams are war more prestigious than 6 masters, 2 slams in a year has been done numerous times, 6 masters only once!!