Comments on: OFF: Who Is the WTA Tour’s GOAT? http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/ Women's Professional Tennis News, Results, and Commentary Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:41:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ash http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23124 Ash Thu, 20 Mar 2008 22:18:07 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23124 I have to give a heartfelt mention to Martina Hingis. Youngest this, longest number 1 without a slam that, etc. I have to give a heartfelt mention to Martina Hingis. Youngest this, longest number 1 without a slam that, etc.

]]> By: pov http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23023 pov Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:24:36 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23023 Richard, I think that what you stated is in itself an opinion. There is the opinion that "most titles" is the same as "greatest." Even if one goes with that, the stats are open to interpretation. For instance Chris Evert has more singles titles than Graf. Graf spent more weeks at #1 than anyone else. Conclusions that differ to what you posted are not unusual: In December 1999, Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Associated Press.[2] Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century, named her as the best female player of the 20th century. Also see - http://www.insidetennis.com/0405_bestfemale.html And if you could post a link to the WTA's info, I'd like to see what they use as their criteria. Richard, I think that what you stated is in itself an opinion. There is the opinion that “most titles” is the same as “greatest.”

Even if one goes with that, the stats are open to interpretation. For instance Chris Evert has more singles titles than Graf. Graf spent more weeks at #1 than anyone else.

Conclusions that differ to what you posted are not unusual: In December 1999, Graf was named the greatest female tennis player of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Associated Press.[2] Tennis writer Steve Flink, in his book The Greatest Tennis Matches of the Twentieth Century, named her as the best female player of the 20th century.

Also see - http://www.insidetennis.com/0405_bestfemale.html

And if you could post a link to the WTA’s info, I’d like to see what they use as their criteria.

]]> By: Richard http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23019 Richard Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:15:57 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23019 Because the list is based off achievements, not opinions. This isn't "Who do you think should be the WTA's greatest player?", this is "Who IS the WTA Tour's GOAT." Because the list is based off achievements, not opinions. This isn’t “Who do you think should be the WTA’s greatest player?”, this is “Who IS the WTA Tour’s GOAT.”

]]> By: pov http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23015 pov Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:52:28 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23015 Aaress, lol. Yeah I'll leave out the decade after exhibition. What was interesting is that Kimiko Date beat Graf and Navratilova. Richard, Why do you think that list should be agreed on? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Aaress,
lol. Yeah I’ll leave out the decade after exhibition. What was interesting is that Kimiko Date beat Graf and Navratilova.

Richard,
Why do you think that list should be agreed on? Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

]]> By: Richard http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23006 Richard Sun, 16 Mar 2008 04:45:43 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-23006 I think I'll ignore the Serena comment and move on. The WTA Top 5: 1. Martina Navratilova 2. Steffi Graf 3. Chris Evert 4. Billie Jean King 5. Margaret Court I think that list should be universally agreed by the majority of tennis fans. My personal favorite and childhood idol is Graf, however. Not a fan of Martina, to be honest. I think I’ll ignore the Serena comment and move on.

The WTA Top 5:

1. Martina Navratilova
2. Steffi Graf
3. Chris Evert
4. Billie Jean King
5. Margaret Court

I think that list should be universally agreed by the majority of tennis fans. My personal favorite and childhood idol is Graf, however. Not a fan of Martina, to be honest.

]]> By: Aaress http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22997 Aaress Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:54:46 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22997 Although this was not even close to being an "official" match, Graf defeated Navratilova only today at an exhibition in Tokyo. Although this was not even close to being an “official” match, Graf defeated Navratilova only today at an exhibition in Tokyo.

]]> By: pov http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22996 pov Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:16:50 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22996 Graf vs Navratilova is 9-9 H2H http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/playerheadtoheaddetail.asp?PlayerID=70044&Player1ID=140007&x=9&y=8 Graf vs Navratilova is 9-9 H2H

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/players/playerprofiles/playerheadtoheaddetail.asp?PlayerID=70044&Player1ID=140007&x=9&y=8

]]> By: M http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22995 M Sat, 15 Mar 2008 15:22:53 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22995 Easy. Steffi Graf. We all know her stats (22, slams, longest as No. 1 both men and women, etc.), but this will set her as the GOAT: She has a head-to-head winning record over EVERYONE. Easy. Steffi Graf. We all know her stats (22, slams, longest as No. 1 both men and women, etc.), but this will set her as the GOAT:

She has a head-to-head winning record over EVERYONE.

]]> By: W http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22992 W Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:12:06 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22992 SERENA! SERENA!

]]> By: Kurt http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22980 Kurt Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:19:30 +0000 http://www.onthebaseline.com/2008/03/14/off-who-is-the-wta-tours-goat/#comment-22980 That's a very difficult question to answer. It's incredibly hard to measure the careers of those before the Open era began to those of today. Some strong candidates: Margaret Court won the most grand slam titles total (and most singles) in history and won a career grand slam boxed set. Steffi Graf has the Open era grand slam singles title record, ended eight years as the world no. 1, and won the Golden Slam in 1988. Martina Navratilova won the most singles and doubles titles ever and once won six consecutive grand slam singles titles. She revolutionized fitness in tennis and is the owner of a career boxed set as well. Chris Evert mastered clay brilliantly (a 125-match winning streak and a record 7 French Opens), dominated over many years (she won at least one grand slam singles title every year for 13 years- 1974-1986), and her overall career win-loss record (her record 90.1% winning percentage). Honorable mentions: Billie Jean King and Monica Seles. The former's career might have been greater had she not been so involved with fighting for equality and starting up and running the WTA Tour and WTT. The latter's career was interrupted by a deranged Graf fan and she subsequently missed the next 10 grand slams. When she did return, the psychological effects of the attack lingered, and she lost much of her dominance. Who knows what she might have accomplished? Yet, she's an honorable mention because of what she DID accomplish, as opposed to what might have been. That’s a very difficult question to answer. It’s incredibly hard to measure the careers of those before the Open era began to those of today. Some strong candidates:

Margaret Court won the most grand slam titles total (and most singles) in history and won a career grand slam boxed set.

Steffi Graf has the Open era grand slam singles title record, ended eight years as the world no. 1, and won the Golden Slam in 1988.

Martina Navratilova won the most singles and doubles titles ever and once won six consecutive grand slam singles titles. She revolutionized fitness in tennis and is the owner of a career boxed set as well.

Chris Evert mastered clay brilliantly (a 125-match winning streak and a record 7 French Opens), dominated over many years (she won at least one grand slam singles title every year for 13 years- 1974-1986), and her overall career win-loss record (her record 90.1% winning percentage).

Honorable mentions: Billie Jean King and Monica Seles. The former’s career might have been greater had she not been so involved with fighting for equality and starting up and running the WTA Tour and WTT. The latter’s career was interrupted by a deranged Graf fan and she subsequently missed the next 10 grand slams. When she did return, the psychological effects of the attack lingered, and she lost much of her dominance. Who knows what she might have accomplished? Yet, she’s an honorable mention because of what she DID accomplish, as opposed to what might have been.

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