In the sport of tennis, there is not one specific litmus test for judging the real measure of greatness.
Grand Slams, prize money, Olympic medals and the No. 1 ranking are often touted as major achievements, but what do you consider to be the true test of a player’s greatness?
For today’s Open Forum Friday topic, let’s discuss tennis greatness—and what makes a legend.
Does the No. 1 ranking mean more to you than a Grand Slam title? Where does Fed Cup and the Olympics fit into the equation? Do you have a favorite player who you consider to be the Greatest of All Time?
Everyone, thank you for participating in the comments below! Enjoy this week’s discussion and the Fed Cup first round!
Monica Seles is the greatest tennis-player of all time. The true test of her greatness was her ability to come back as the best player in the world after being stabbed in the back at a changeover.
At the time of the stabbing (30th April 1993), Monica had won seven of the last eight Majors she played, and was ranked #1. She was out for 27 months, but then came back not only with a special ranking of #1, but playing like the #1!
She won the Canadian Open 1995 (her comeback-tournament) for the loss of just 14 games, came within a bad call of winning the US Open 1995 (her second tournament back), and won Sydney and the Australian Open 1996 (her third and fourth tournaments back, and her ninth Major title).
Sadly, Monica never quite scaled those lofty heights again – I blame injuries, the death of her father, and eventually stronger competition as other players began to emulate the hitting that Monica had pioneered: early, hard and flat.
For me, the tests of a tennis-player’s greatness (in terms of achievements rather than talent) are as follows:
1. to win a Major after being stabbed in the back at a changeover;
2. number of Major titles (with variety of Majors as a tiebreaker, although a Grand Slam is still only worth four Majors);
3. overall number of titles (Majors + Olympic Gold Medals + WTA Tour titles);
4. number of weeks at #1.
Fed Cup doesn’t really fit into the equation, as you’re playing for your country rather than the individual glory that defines a great champion, although as Monica experienced three times, it is certainly a great honour to play in a winning Fed Cup team!
So, now a player must be stabbed to be one of the greatest…
I think there has to be the same components of Andrew’s minus the stabbing. I really think that respect for the game is important which is indicated by winning majors, playing other tournaments and winning Tier 1 or as they are now called Premier, and weeks at no 1. The only problem I have with Serena Williams is that she has not always stuck with the game. Even if she had an injury, her priority was not often returning to the game. She will be head and shoulder above everyone if she continues to play and stays for awhile at no 1. I would like Sharapova to return to challenge her so that we have someone else on that level. Hopefully Safina or the Serbs will elevate their level also as well as other top players to challenge for no. 1.
As much as I am a fan of Steffi but I think Monica Seles for me personified greatness. She showed a passion for the sport that is unmatched, excellent sportsmanship win or lose, humility, resilience under crisis and fiery competitiveness on-court. She may not have 10+ grand-slams but it’s the way she conducted herself with class that will always make me remember her.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the history books do not record what might have been, but what was. For me, Steffi Graf is the standard for greatness in tennis. She won 22 grand slam singles titles. She spent 377 weeks at number one, including ending 8 years in the top spot.
Great comments, everyone! It is great reading everyone’s take on the subject.
Like Kurt, I think that Steffi Graf meets the criteria.
She had a legendary career and unlike many of the other players in consideration, she does not have any gaps in her resume. She redefined the term domination with her record stint at No. 1, something that no other male or female player has bested. Not to mention the fact that Serena Williams, the Tour’s Grand Slam leader, is still TWELVE major titles behind Graf.
And—Graf has achieved the Golden Slam . . . the true test of greatness in my book.
But 11 of Graf’s 22 Majors were won after the Stabbing, by which time Monica was winning Majors at a rate of three a year (as she did in 1991 and 1992), while Graf – who is 4½ years older than Monica – was winning only one Major a year.
I wanted to claify my statement earlier. I was not comparing Serena Williams to other great players. I was first just stating what I feel a great player should have and then just talking about the situation in today’s game. I love Monica Seles but I don’t think we can say what would have happened if she didn’t get stabbed, just like we can’t say what would have happened all this time Sharapova has been injured or what would have happened if Federer did not have mono last year, impeding his play and possibly leading to loss of confidence this year. I think we have to go with the records that are there and that means Steff Graf, with golden slam, weeks at number 1 etc. is the greatest.
Objective data are always easier to grade, but it is extremely difficult to eliminate subjective information and bias from the process…making it near impossible to pick a champ that everyone agrees on…one of those agree to disagree situations…
No one can ever know what WOULD have happened, but what we do know is that Monica was winning three Majors a year when she was stabbed, and then made an amazing comeback!