Which is your favorite 5-year stretch in Open Era tennis?

[zvelf]

Here are the major winners from each period with how many they won:

1971-1975: Ken Rosewall (2), Jan Kodes (2), John Newcombe (4), Stan Smith (2), Andres Gimeno (1), Ilie Nastase (2), Jimmy Connors (3), Bjorn Borg (2), Arthur Ashe (1), Manuel Orantes (1)

1976-1980: Jimmy Connors (2), Bjorn Borg (8), Mark Edmondson (1), Adriano Panatta (1), Roscoe Tanner (1), Vitas Gerulaitis (1), Guillermo Vilas (4), John McEnroe (2), Brian Teacher (1)

1981-1985: Jimmy Connors (3), Bjorn Borg (1), John McEnroe (5), Johan Kriek (2), Mats Wilander (4), Yannick Noah (1), Ivan Lendl (2), Stefan Edberg (1), Boris Becker (1)

1986-1990: Mats Wilander (3), Ivan Lendl (6), Stefan Edberg (3), Boris Becker (3), Pat Cash (1), Michael Chang (1), Andres Gomez (1), Pete Sampras (1)

1991-1995: Stefan Edberg (2), Boris Becker (1), Pete Sampras (6), Jim Courier (4), Michael Stich (1), Andre Agassi (3), Sergi Bruguera (2), Thomas Muster (1)

1996-2000: Boris Becker (1), Pete Sampras (6), Andre Agassi (3), Yevgeny Kafelnikov (2), Richard Krajicek (1), Gustavo Kuerten (2), Patrick Rafter (2), Petr Korda (1), Carlos Moya (1), Marat Safin (1)

2001-2005: Pete Sampras (1), Andre Agassi (2), Gustavo Kuerten (1), Marat Safin (1), Goran Ivanisevic (1), Lleyton Hewitt (2), Thomas Johansson (1), Albert Costa (1), Juan Carlos Ferrero (1), Roger Federer (6), Andy Roddick (1), Gaston Gaudio (1), Rafael Nadal (1)

2006-2010: Roger Federer (10), Rafael Nadal (8), Novak Djokovic (1), Juan Martin del Potro (1)

2011-2015: Roger Federer (1), Rafael Nadal (5), Novak Djokovic (9), Andy Murray (2), Stan Wawrinka (2), Marin Cilic (1)

 

[King No1e]

2010-2015. Big 4 era. The Golden Age.

 

[Third Serve]

I know some of the more experienced fans might go for some of the 1980s stretches but I gotta vote for 2006-2010. We had some great moments from Fedalovic (and even Murray too!) and various other players had some impressive moments in the limelight -- especially in 2009, that's for sure.

Outside of the poll, I'd modify it a bit. Maybe make it 2008-2012.

 

[Standaa]

06-10

 

[Tshooter]

Panatta.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Why no 03-07? I would pick that one.

 

[Shaolin]

1998 to 2002

 

[duaneeo]

2001 - 2005. Great list of past/current/future champions, seeing Federer evolve, various court speeds, fast USO, rebound ace AO, carpet, BO5 finals at YEC and most Masters, and the 5-year stretch ending with Rafa's coming out year.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

2008 - 2013

 

[Spencer Gore]

1978-82

Borg in his captivating ice-cool pomp -then his abrupt, shattering disappearance; Connors in full aggressive-comedic Jimbo mode; the emergence of "superbrat" and the greatest touch in tennis. Tennis as front page news and late night chat-show staple.

We'll never see its like again.

 

[Wrecker]

Among options listed I will go for 1986-90 though I like early 80s and the Big 4 era as well.

Lendl in his prime, Becker the grass and indoors beast, Edberg coming into the scene as well. Wilander's 1988 season. Cash and Mecir two great Top 10 players too. And by 1990 promising youngsters like Agassi, Courier, Sampras and Muster arrived. Also Chang's win at 1989 French. A highly competitive era

 

[ForumMember]

You should have created these 5 year periods in such a way that 2003-07 falls in a single bucket. Now how I am gonna express my love for Bagdatis era?

 

[Nadal_Django]

Random 1991-95 ATP Top 10

1. Jim Courier
2. Stefan Edberg
3. Pete Sampras
4. Goran Ivanisevic
5. Boris Becker
6. Michael Chang
7. Ivan Lendl
8. Michael Stich
9. Andre Agassi
10. Richard Krajicek

 

[waarp]

why 79-84 Mac of course.

 

[Yugram]

2009-2013

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Definitely 2014-2019

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

1986-90/91-95. Greatest variety, competitive epicness and general excitement, yay for clashes of style and BO5 finals. Modern muggery doesn't compare

 

[tacou]

05-09. Both tours were great.

 

[Thetouch]

1976-1996: I liked all the transition and rivalries and styles and many players

Tennis hasn't been the same for me since the late 90s

 

[RS]

1986-90/91-95. Greatest variety, competitive epicness and general excitement, yay for clashes of style and BO5 finals. Modern muggery doesn't compare

2007-2009 and 2011-2013 wasnt bad

 

[ibbi]

It wouldn't be quite this cut and dry for me. I think the late 80s to early 90s is the goldenest golden era in the history of the game, if I had to single out 5 years I'd maybe say something like 88-92? You have the tail end of Wilander, Lendl and Becker's prime, Edberg in his pomp, the young American quartet rising up for the crown, Stich and Cash and Mac have strong moments in there too, and at least still at the US Open you have Connors hanging around too. So many different styles of players, so many different types of court, so many great competitors at so many different stages of their careers. To me the only close periods would be the late 70s when things went legit box office, and maybe 2008-12 and the era of the holy trinity (quartet?)

 

[Start da Game]

1991 - 1995

self explanatory era......

 

[zvelf]

From the comments, it's clear that people's favorite 5 year periods coincide with the peaks of their favorite players, which is a natural reaction. I do wonder how much one's age affects the choices as well. I first started watching tennis as a little kid in the late 70s and so almost picked 1981-1985. Only McEnroe's domination then deterred me because I hated his brattiness at the time. 1986-1990 was also a favorite period due to Becker and Edberg, but again, Lendl was the most dominant then and I didn't care for him at the time.

 

[Sephiroth]

2008-2013

 

[Subway Tennis]

It's a 6 year stretch, but 2008-2013 imo.

Either that, or the extraordinary 1995-1999 period. We saw a new growth explosion in the game, the majors really experienced full parity, and we got some of the best power fast court tennis ever.

 

[BGod]

95-00 for the poll.

But 2002-2006 if it's any 5 year stretch.

 

[duaneeo]

But 2002-2006 if it's any 5 year stretch.

This.

 

[SaintPetros]

91-'5 easily the strongest

 

[KINGROGER]

2007-2012.

Out of these 2006-2010.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Why no 03-07? I would pick that one.

Weak era.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

91-'5 easily the strongest

Sampras ruined it with his 10000000000000 aces.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Weak era.

Ah, that is why 16-21 is not on there.

 

[JoelSandwich]

2007-2012

 

[SaintPetros]

Sampras ruined it with his 10000000000000 aces.

*Made it ('specially with 2nd serve aces)

 

[clout]

In general, I'd definitely say 2008-2012, but according to those on the poll, I'd go with 2006-10.

 

[DSH]

2007-2012

A New Era Begin!

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Ah, that is why 16-21 is not on there.

Because not even you can predict the future?...

 

[UnderratedSlam]

*Made it ('specially with 2nd serve aces)

It was a fun era until Sampras RUINED it with his dull personality and servebot game.

 

[Spencer Gore]

2001 - 2005. Great list of past/current/future champions, seeing Federer evolve, various court speeds, fast USO, rebound ace AO, carpet, BO5 finals at YEC and most Masters, and the 5-year stretch ending with Rafa's coming out year.

One of the poorest periods in the history of the game.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

One of the poorest periods in the history of the game.

No, it was an exciting period, especially due to courts and balls finally slowing down.

 

[Spencer Gore]

No, it was an exciting period, especially due to courts and balls finally slowing down.

Yes, the era when mighty legends of the game like Johansson, Costa, Ferrero, Gaudio and Roddick bestrode the tennis world like colossi, sweeping up titles in their path!

If only we could go back to those days.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Yes, the era when mighty legends of the game like Johansson, Costa, Ferrero, Gaudio and Roddick bestrode the tennis world like colossi, sweeping up titles in their path!

If only we could go back to those days.

It may have been a weak era, but there was finally some tennis, there were actual rallies after a decade of servebot nonsense.

 

[Zetty]

07-11

 

[SaintPetros]

It was a fun era until Sampras RUINED it with his dull personality and servebot game.

You've gotten predictable, old friend.

 

[aman92]

2008-2013

 

[duaneeo]

One of the poorest periods in the history of the game.

Thanks for your valued opinion.

 

[SaintPetros]

It may have been a weak era, but there was finally some tennis, there were actual rallies after a decade of servebot nonsense.

I'll take matches with competitive juice over farcical competitions between mental ANTS any day of the week.

 

[SaintPetros]

2007-2009 and 2011-2013 wasnt bad

'7-'9 was mostly Fred and Ralph with occasional guest appearances from Murray and Djoker pitched against a landscape of MUGS, SMURFS, and ANTS.
'11-'13 had some interesting changes in the dynamic between the big 3 with Fedovic being intriguing, Fedal a foregone conclusion obviously, and ditto re:the buffoons dotting the rest of the landscape.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

You've gotten predictable, old friend.

You mean as predictable as Sampras's dullness?

 

[UnderratedSlam]

I'll take matches with competitive juice over farcical competitions between mental ANTS any day of the week.

I'll take both, great tennis AND great personalities/competition. Why settle for one?