What would it take for a new player to enter the GOAT debate in the next couple decades?

[Zimforthewin]

The slam count does not matter.

That player would need to dominate a series of competitors who are at least on level with the Big 3.

That's the only way that they get into any kind of serious consideration for being the greatest of all time.

Agreed with your perspective. A player dominating a series of competitors similar to, or the actual Big 3 on the biggest stages would be Nadal. Between Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, he has a significantly stronger H2H record on the biggest stages (grand slams) against the other two. Fed is losing and Djokovic is barely positive at 18-17.

 

[Neptune]

170K+ total points AND
260+ top10 wins
125+ top5 wins

 

[FlyingSaucer]

CYGS

 

[Arjuntino]

This is the current benchmark.

The new GOAT has to take away from Djokovic the majority of the boxes.

This is a very useful visual! That makes sense. Once they have competitive number of checkmarks they could enter the conversation.

 

[Arjuntino]

Whoever comes next can win 30 slams agains the utter mug era that tennis is right now, and it will be meaningless. The point is that there is no objective GOAT. It makes no sense since all GOAT contender players cannot play in the same era, with their primes and peaks happening at the same time, and using the same technology.

This is all a discussion about personal preferences.

Sure, the goat defenitly it is about preferences, but to even enter the conversation, I'd think they would need to have some noteworthy/standout achievement?

Like right now the argument is between 2/3 people and reasonable case can be made for any of them.

But from the conversations the entry fee seems like ~25 slams or some 2-3 year period of complete domination/multiple cygs

 

[itrium84]

Not possible.

A guy being number 1 for that long and only dominating on clay would never happen.

He would have to be versatile to reach 400 plus weeks.

If I said 20 years ago - Rafa will become clay god and win the same number of RG titles as GS titles Sampras won in his whole career... You would say it's not possible.

You would have to be versatile to reach 400+, but not big3-level versatile

 

[itrium84]

This is the current benchmark.

The new GOAT has to take away from Djokovic the majority of the boxes.

Very very good presentation! It covers all the most important criteria, very good.

 

[itrium84]

If Alcaraz wins the US Open and Australian Open he'll probably be called GOAT next year because he's most likely going to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and that would mean he's won 6 slam titles in a row.
Apart from Nadal's 14 French Opens, nobody has ever done anything as great as 6 slam titles in a row, so Alcaraz would move ahead of Federer and Djokovic.
I elaborated on it here and recorded myself saying it....https://voca.ro/1kpo6zvykqO5

You need to learn more about tennis history

 

[nolefam_2024]

If I said 20 years ago - Rafa will become clay god and win the same number of RG titles as GS titles Sampras won in his whole career... You would say it's not possible.

You would have to be versatile to reach 400+, but not big3-level versatile

Nadal is Spanish prodigy who is left handed and plays with a crazy topspin. He was super fast as a kid. And had super stamina.

It's impossible..

 

[nolefam_2024]

Clay is minority surface. You can't be number 1 by skipping or playing poorly in rest of the season.

 

[jackson vile]

Consistency

 

[PK6]

None! Iokovic proved he’s the best ever by winning gold. All that’s left us 100 tournament wins as well 25 slams.

 

[Lleytonstation]

If I said 20 years ago - Rafa will become clay god and win the same number of RG titles as GS titles Sampras won in his whole career... You would say it's not possible.

You would have to be versatile to reach 400+, but not big3-level versatile

In guess it would depend on the era. In this era, I guess it would be possible. Then again, does not change the facts of the accomplishment. 400 weeks with clay domination is still 400 weeks at number one.

 

[Mustard]

Peak + Longevity will matter.
Forget about these discussions, Djokovic has closed them for good at least right now. If in future a GOAT comes, we will see.
Theoretical means nothing

If if if doesn't exist.

What it takes is a big 3 style player to dominate, have longevity, and not have rivals stopping him achieving more like the big 3 did.

 

[nolefam_2024]

What it takes is a big 3 style player to dominate, have longevity, and not have rivals stopping him achieving more like the big 3 did.

Which should be difficult but not impossible.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Which should be difficult but not impossible.

It would be the worst thing for the sport though.

 

[nolefam_2024]

It would be the worst thing for the sport though.

Sampras did it

 

[Lleytonstation]

Sampras did it

lol no he didnt. Agassi won 8 slams, Courier, Kuerten, and Edberg. Plus it was 14, not 25 slams.

 

[ibbi]

Just a DAMN good head of hair.

 

[nolefam_2024]

lol no he didnt. Agassi won 8 slams, Courier, Kuerten, and Edberg. Plus it was 14, not 25 slams.

Not during Sampras time. Sampras won 13. Agassi won 4.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Not during Sampras time. Sampras won 13. Agassi won 4.

However you frame it, Sampras is not the same.

If Carlos were to win 25 slams (21 from here on out), in the next 7-8 years, the tour would go down in flames because of it.

Carlos needs a rival, or at the very least multiple rivals that can challenge him.

Sampras had competition. It was still compelling.

People were having melt downs because of Fed till Rafa came along. Imagine Rafa not arriving till 2010?

 

[nolefam_2024]

However you frame it, Sampras is not the same.

If Carlos were to win 25 slams (21 from here on out), in the next 7-8 years, the tour would go down in flames because of it.

Carlos needs a rival, or at the very least multiple rivals that can challenge him.

Sampras had competition. It was still compelling.

People were having melt downs because of Fed till Rafa came along. Imagine Rafa not arriving till 2010?

Carlos does not need to win 25 in next 7/8 years. But he can have talentless pool of opponents just like Sampras did and world will survive.
Only ATG in Sampras era was Agassi, which came after Sampras already had his day. 1993-1998 6 straight years winning 11 slams while not being favorite at all at RG was pretty OP , and Sampras was year end number 1 for all 6 years.

 

[mental midget]

WRONG

sorry, no. 2 cygs would stand alone in the modern era. laver still enters GOAT convos thanks to his...hence, 'make things interesting.' of course that would still be many total majors behind novak.

 

[mike danny]

Eye test is enough for me, i dont care about titles

Federer was already declared potential GOAT when he only had 4 slams so eye test always played a big part in it. Alcaraz now has the same effect on people with his style

 

[mike danny]

However you frame it, Sampras is not the same.

If Carlos were to win 25 slams (21 from here on out), in the next 7-8 years, the tour would go down in flames because of it.

Carlos needs a rival, or at the very least multiple rivals that can challenge him.

Sampras had competition. It was still compelling.

People were having melt downs because of Fed till Rafa came along. Imagine Rafa not arriving till 2010?

Ehhh, how much competition Pete had is debatable. His main rival was missing for large chunks of his prime

 

[mike danny]

Agreed with your perspective. A player dominating a series of competitors similar to, or the actual Big 3 on the biggest stages would be Nadal. Between Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, he has a significantly stronger H2H record on the biggest stages (grand slams) against the other two. Fed is losing and Djokovic is barely positive at 18-17.

That’s thank to his once in a lifetime clay ability. He didn’t dominate the other 2 on the other surfaces