Whose achievement was greatest?

[Clutch]

Whose achievement was greatest?

My vote goes to Evert. How is that for consistency!

Again, like with my other recent poll, all these achievements are great, but which one would you take if you had a shot. I hope this does them justice.

 

[Clutch]

Here are the descriptions of their respectable achievements:

Borg - from 1978 to 1981, entered 12 majors, four on each slam surface, and reached finals of 11, winning seven

Evert - from USO in 1971 to Wimbly in 1987, entered 49 slam events and reached the semis or better in 48, winning 18

Graf - golden slam in 1988, surrendering just two sets throughout

Navratilova - owns 350 singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles

Sampras - 1993 - 1998 finishing as ATP's season-ending No. 1

 

[Kevin Patrick]

You missed some other aspects:

Borg-'78 to '80 won French & Wimbledon back to back 3 straight years. In last 50 years only Laver(twice), Trabert, & Hoad have pulled off this double. Seems very unlikely that anyone will ever do what Borg did.

Evert-won at least one major a year for 13 straight years

Sampras-a record 14 grand slam titles, a record 7 wimbledon titles, an open era record(with Connors) of 5 us open titles

Graf-only player, male or female, to win every major title 4 times each.

 

[newnuse]

Voted for Borg.

Did not vote for the ladies because I think the ATP tour is much more competitive and thus harder to rack up impressive stats.

Did not vote for Sampras because I can see somebody coming along with a huge serve and volley game that would win more than 7 W's.

Voted for Borg. I don't think I will see anybody winning FO's and W's like that again.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

Voted for Borg.



Did not vote for Sampras because I can see somebody coming along with a huge serve and volley game that would win more than 7 W's.

You're kidding right?

 

[timmyboy]

sampras is king. no doubt. held like, the longest no1 run ever, and won 7 wimbledons, and 5 us open. a truly masterful accomplishment.

 

[killer]

Navratilova began playing competitively 4 decades ago!!! She just won YET ANOTHER doubles title. she holds modern era records in most categories, and I daresay that her Wimby record is better than Billie Jean King's because she played through a more 'competitive' era in women's tennis...but these things all come down to emotions, don't they? I always secretly routed against Sampras b/c his style hinged so much on his serve...can't say the same about Borg...

 

[Deuce]

Connors was #1 for 160 consecutive weeks, lost it for a week or so, then regained it for another 84 consecutive weeks.

 

[Cavaleer]

One's vote depends on one's view and definition of achievement.

For enduring excellence Martina and Connors must be at the top, especially since they maintained that level without a dominant shot, only through desire and training.

For difficulty of achievement Borg, Sampras and Graf would be my selections, with Borg at the top. As someone else mentioned, dominating RG and W back-to-back, without a dominant shot, for five years must be the most difficult challenge there is in tennis.

 

[Type40]

No doubt in my mind that the most difficult of all these great achievements was that accomplished by Borg.

 

[newnuse]

You're kidding right?

No I'm not.... what the hell is so impossible about a big time S&V player coming along and dominating Wimbledon. It's one tournament/year played on the same surface.

Now you got Borg dominated on clay and grass for 6 years. Those are the two extreme ends of court surfaces. How many people can even win one of each. Grass god Sampras couldn't get out of the first round of the FO more than once.

You can't really tell me Borg's achievements were not more difficult than dominating just on grass. BTW didn't he win 5 W himself?? That's close to 7.

 

[Kevin Patrick]

calm down with the pete bashing. he did make the quarters 3 times & the semis once at the french.

But I agree it seems very unlikely that anyone will ever do what borg for 3 years(not 6)

 

[wildbill88AA]

connors 109 tournament wins.

 

[newnuse]

calm down with the pete bashing. he did make the quarters 3 times & the semis once at the french.

But I agree it seems very unlikely that anyone will ever do what borg for 3 years(not 6)

I'm not Pete bashing. I'm making a point to that rocket scientist poster with his smart arse reply "you're kidding right", that even a great player like Sampras couldn't win one FO. He also lost in the 1st and 2nd round multiple times. That's how how hard it is to do what Borg did.

I worded it poorly. I didn't mean he won W & FO in the same years 6 times. He did win 6 & 5.

 

[Northerly]

Graf - winning each of the Slams at least 4 times on 4 different surfaces, winning the Golden Grand Slam, and being number one for so long is mind-boggling!