Greatest Tennis Player of All Time - Rafael Nadal?

[Plum]

Now that he has completed the Career Grand Slam(let's face it - only the formalities remain now), the real question is whether Nadal can do the calendar grand slam. With 9 titles already, how long before he overtakes Fed even statistically, which is the only crutch Fed supporters have been left for now?

Who is going to stop this ninathadhai nadathiyE mudippavan?

Can anyone dare deny him the all time greatest title?

[Plum]

Voted For Nadal, for, how long can one hide a sengal in sOru?

[Nerd]

ivLO chatterjee-yaaaa? :shock:

[ajithfederer]

Plum, I hope it is NOT one of your jinxing threads before a big event :). Saying that If this is what the title means we still have to wait for another 2-3 years to look for consistency.

[Raikkonen]

pistol than.

[omega]

Why is Andre not in the list?
The man who went from No.1 to Challengers & back to No.1 completing the Career Grand Slam.....He deserves more than the Jimmys' & Johnys'

[venkkiram]

ஸ்டெஃபி

22 தனிநபர் கிராண்ட் ஸ்லாம் பட்டங்களை வென்றவர். 1988 இல் எல்லா (நான்கு) கிராண்ட் ஸ்லாம் பட்டங்களையும் வென்றதோடு ஒலிம்பிக் தங்கப் பதக்கத்தையும் வென்றவர். டென்னிஸ் தர வரிசையில் 377 வாரங்கள் முதலிடத்திலிருது சாதனை படைத்தவர்.

ஸ்டெஃபிக்கென்றே ஓசியில் படிக்கும் SportStar இதழ்களில் வரும் புகைப்படங்களை நறுக்கியோ, அல்லது கையாலேயே கிழித்தோ திருட்டுத்தனம் செய்த பள்ளிப் பருவம் இன்றும் இனிப்பானவை..

இணையக்கட்டுரையில் ஒருவர் தனக்குப் பிடித்த பத்து பெண்களை வரிசைப்படுத்தும் போது ஸ்டெஃபியை பட்டி இவ்வாறு எழுதியிருப்பது அருமை..

---------------------------
மற்ற வீராங்கனைகளைவிட ஸ்டெஃபியிடம் என்னைக் கவர்ந்தது ஸ்டெஃபியின் மாறாத பெண்மைதான்!!! எதிர்முனையில் உடல் இறுகி, ஆஜானபாகுவாய் மிரட்டும் முரட்டுப் பெண்கள், மெல்லினங்களின் இடத்திலெல்லாம் வல்லினங்களால் நிரம்பிய* எழுத்துப்பிழைகளாய் எழுந்து நிற்க.... மெல்லினக் கவிதையாய், குதிரைவால் காற்றில் குதிக்க நளிணமாக விளையாடி வெற்றிபெறும் ஸ்டெஃபி கிராஃபை இன்னும் மறக்கவில்லை :)
----------------------------

[Plum]

Why is Andre not in the list?
The man who went from No.1 to Challengers & back to No.1 completing the Career Grand Slam.....He deserves more than the Jimmys' & Johnys'

Agassi add paNNEnE! Dont know how it didnt show up. Will try to add again.

[Plum]

ippO add paNNa mudiyala!

[MADDY]

Life or death, Sampras is my hero

[Plum]

All great players end up with some or the other failure. Pete Sampras didnt win the French Open. Agassi didt fulfil his potential. Fed, ofcourse, has the poor record against Nadal. But not even mid-way through his career, Nadal has ticked all boxes. (He also has a Olympic Gold, right?). How awesome is that?

[Vivasaayi]

Sampras :)

[aiya than nethu first vote potadhu]

[raajarasigan]

Sampras :)

[aiya than nethu first vote potadhu] :cool2: avara maadhiri alattikkaama 14 GS vaanga mudiyuma... :D

[Puliyan_Biryani]

Federer :D . For the sheer joy and awe he brought when he was in his peak.

[Vivasaayi]

All great players end up with some or the other failure. Pete Sampras didnt win the French Open. Agassi didt fulfil his potential. Fed, ofcourse, has the poor record against Nadal. But not even mid-way through his career, Nadal has ticked all boxes. (He also has a Olympic Gold, right?). How awesome is that?

nadalku aappadikka evanum varamaya iruppan?

[Vivasaayi]

indha michael chang michael chang nu oruthan irundhane...avana yarukavadhu pidikuma?

one of my childhood favourites

[Dinesh84]

Feddy ke en voteu.. :yes:

endrum .. endrendrum Federer 8-)

:x @ Plum for calling him 'Former' King..

[raajarasigan]

indha michael chang michael chang nu oruthan irundhane...avana yarukavadhu pidikuma?

one of my childhood favouritesasappula Jackie chan'kku thambi maadhiri iruppan... Sampras peakla irundha timela semis varaikkum vandhu thotthuduvaar...

[Puliyan_Biryani]

indha michael chang michael chang nu oruthan irundhane...avana yarukavadhu pidikuma?

one of my childhood favouritesasappula Jackie chan'kku thambi maadhiri iruppan... Sampras peakla irundha timela semis varaikkum vandhu thotthuduvaar...
Match beginning-la nallaa kOttai vittuduvaaru. appuram 2 sets down + 1 break down in the 3rd set maadhiri situation-la muzhichukittu bayangaramaa aadi win pannuvaaru :D

[Plum]

All great players end up with some or the other failure. Pete Sampras didnt win the French Open. Agassi didt fulfil his potential. Fed, ofcourse, has the poor record against Nadal. But not even mid-way through his career, Nadal has ticked all boxes. (He also has a Olympic Gold, right?). How awesome is that?

nadalku aappadikka evanum varamaya iruppan?

I dont think so.
It is like this:( a very unscientific comparison)

MSV-IR-ARR - Rahmankappuram yaarum varalai
Pete-Fed-Nadal - apdiyE convert paNNikkunga :-)

[Waterloo]

Rafael "Superman" Nadal
Roger "Former King" Federer
Pete "Wimbledon" Sampras
John "Temparamental Artist" McEnroe
Jimmy "Retriever Dog" Connors
Rod "Grand Slammer" Laver
Bjorn "Ice Man" Borg
Martina "Maltova" Navaratilova
Steffi "Fraulein Forehand" Graf

Let me put my thoughts :arrow:

Considering Women's section in isolation ( too much of power gap between men & women in Tennis ).
I wud vote for Martina . Her overall record is stupendous. Be it singles or doubles, mixed doubles .

Men's section :

All the listed names are all time greats but they had their own share of shortcomings other than Rod Laver . They havent won a slam ( except Fed & Nadal ). Considering this (-)ative aspect, the final list is down to just 2 :

Roger
Rafa

Both are role models & legends. As of now, Roger leads in terms of titles and qualifies by virtue of having won French open. However, I doubt whether he cud have won it last year if Rafa had been there across. His victories against Rafa have not been convincing ( thumping ) of late and he would have been a bunny @ last year's final.
Now Nadal :arrow: Having won US open too now, he definitely has to be held in the highest grade . He has beaten all the respective court specialists handsomely and bound to reach Fed's awesome slam records. I cud forsee atleast another 3 french open + 1 Wimbledon + 2 US + 3 Australian which will enable him to surpass Fed.
So my conclusion is conclusive :D ( we should not talk about grace , charm etc here :wink: )

[kid-glove]

Little premature to call him 'greatest tennis player of all time'. He doesn't seem to slow it down, but I'm predicting that he'll end with maximum of 5 GS (which is still 2 short of Fed's tally ATM), and will gradually lose his streak. Yes, I'll bookmark this post.

[omega]

Federer :D . For the sheer joy and awe he brought when he was in his peak.

Enna sir past tensela pesureenga. Intha openla kooda joy kuduthaare (first round tweener/the underscoop finish against Melzer/showcasing soderling how to play with wind/pushing the 23 year old then no.3 (novak) even on his worst serving day).

Kavalaye padaatheenga innum kuduppaar!!!!

[Puliyan_Biryani]

Little premature to call him 'greatest tennis player of all time'. He doesn't seem to slow it down, but I'm predicting that he'll end with maximum of 5 GS (which is still 2 short of Fed's tally ATM), and will gradually lose his streak. Yes, I'll bookmark this post.
Well said kid-glove. When Fed got to 15 there was talk of 18 or even 20 by the time he hangs his boots. But it is very difficult to maintain that level of consistency and fitness. Especially for Nadal's game, fitness is the most important aspect and how he manages it would be crucial. Irrespective of your last shot, Nadal will always get there and make you hit one more shot. Another reason why I chose Fed over Nadal is it is incredible to have reached the QF/SF of all Slams over the last 6-7 years (to have such an injury-free run).

[Puliyan_Biryani]

Federer :D . For the sheer joy and awe he brought when he was in his peak.

Enna sir past tensela pesureenga. Intha openla kooda joy kuduthaare (first round tweener/the underscoop finish against Melzer/showcasing soderling how to play with wind/pushing the 23 year old then no.3 (novak) even on his worst serving day).

Kavalaye padaatheenga innum kuduppaar!!!!
naan solradhu absolute peek sir. During the 2003-2005 days when his racquet was compared with a magic wand. The flicks and passes were likened to beautiful paintings. The days when Roddick threw the kitchen sink at him but Roger brought his bathtub. Nowadays he does produce some moments of brilliance, but they are few and far between. Sometimes it is a bit irritating to watch him shank balls out of the court.

Federer himself said that he has set his sights on London 2012 (to be played on grass :D). Winning that and retiring would be great. Anything he acheives till that time is just a bonus :D

[Waterloo]

Little premature to call him 'greatest tennis player of all time'. He doesn't seem to slow it down, but I'm predicting that he'll end with maximum of 5 GS (which is still 2 short of Fed's tally ATM), and will gradually lose his streak. Yes, I'll bookmark this post.

Hmm. You are rating Fed by sheer noof titles . 1 or 2 titles short doesnt make Nadal inferior or Fed superior. Arent you convinced that Nadal had beaten Fed on Wimbledon too @ his peak ? Fed cudnt do it in Rolland Garros :oops:

[Puliyan_Biryani]

Hmm. You are rating Fed by sheer noof titles . 1 or 2 titles short doesnt make Nadal inferior or Fed superior. Arent you convinced that Nadal had beaten Fed on Wimbledon too @ his peak ? Fed cudnt do it in Rolland Garros :oops:
Just extending this above logic a bit further. 14 or 15 titles short doesn't make Nalbandian inferior or Nadal superior. Doesn't Nalbandian hold a 2-0 head to head advantage against Nadal? Why have we not included Nalbandian in the top ten :lol:

Since when did we start picking greats just by looking at their H2H records. What shall we do for players of other era like Laver? IMHO the H2H stats itself are flawed. When Fed was in his peak, he consistently made the finals of all the tournaments (even in FO). Nadal at one point could only make it in FO and he had a great record beating him in FO. If Nadal had made the finals of other slams/tournaments and beaten Fed consistently then I would agree (maybe). By the time Nadal started making the finals of other slams, Fed was past his prime (IMO). It is inappropriate to come to a conclusion just on H2H.

[Vivasaayi]

indha michael chang michael chang nu oruthan irundhane...avana yarukavadhu pidikuma?

one of my childhood favouritesasappula Jackie chan'kku thambi maadhiri iruppan... Sampras peakla irundha timela semis varaikkum vandhu thotthuduvaar...
Match beginning-la nallaa kOttai vittuduvaaru. appuram 2 sets down + 1 break down in the 3rd set maadhiri situation-la muzhichukittu bayangaramaa aadi win pannuvaaru :D

enna oru energy...chumma kaal la sakkaratha katti vitta maadhiri parapaaan! :clap:

pete..haayaaa parkla kaathu vangitu velayadradhu innoru vagai!

[raghavendran]

sampras is my fav..he is the best

[satissh_r]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya? :(

[Vivasaayi]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya

steffi grafoda husbandungra vagaila...konjam consider panlaam..still...

[Maniraj]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya? :(

Naan thaan irukaenlae... antha motta payan :clap: :thumbsup:

[satissh_r]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya

steffi grafoda husbandungra vagaila...konjam consider panlaam..still...

Avar kuda grand slam jeychirukarunga :? konjam yosichu avar perayum sethukonga :P

[raghavendran]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya? :(

Naan thaan irukaenlae... antha motta payan :clap: :thumbsup: :rotfl3: ..idhe ketta vandhu ungale andhe thalayale oru headbutt adichitudhan povaru

[Maniraj]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya? :(

Naan thaan irukaenlae... antha motta payan :clap: :thumbsup: :rotfl3: ..idhe ketta vandhu ungale andhe thalayale oru headbutt adichitudhan povaru

no da chellam :mrgreen:

[raghavendran]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya? :(

Naan thaan irukaenlae... antha motta payan :clap: :thumbsup: :rotfl3: ..idhe ketta vandhu ungale andhe thalayale oru headbutt adichitudhan povaru

no da chellam :mrgreen:unakku avarode thodu dhaane pudikkum?

[Maniraj]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya? :(

Naan thaan irukaenlae... antha motta payan :clap: :thumbsup: :rotfl3: ..idhe ketta vandhu ungale andhe thalayale oru headbutt adichitudhan povaru

no da chellam :mrgreen:unakku avarode thodu dhaane pudikkum?

avaru motta thalla mollu mollunu irukum...
Sun light reflect aagumna paathukonga :lol:

[raghavendran]

Andre Agassiku inga supporters illaya? :(

Naan thaan irukaenlae... antha motta payan :clap: :thumbsup: :rotfl3: ..idhe ketta vandhu ungale andhe thalayale oru headbutt adichitudhan povaru

no da chellam :mrgreen:unakku avarode thodu dhaane pudikkum?

avaru motta thalla mollu mollunu irukum...
Sun light reflect aagumna paathukonga :lol: :lol: ..agassimunnadiyellam neetta kudirai vaal mudi vechirparu..ungala madhiri yarode pecha kettudhan vetirparu :)

[Riyazz]

My vote for nadal :thumbsup:

[Maniraj]

Voted for Sampras

[steveaustin]

I have not seen how Rod Laver has played. So I will leave him out.

For pure racket skills from the net, the two left handed geniuses Navaratilova and McEnroe still unmatched. Federer, Sampras and Graf are complete allround players. They can play at their will whether from the front of the court or back of the court. They can produce winner after winner from any part of the court. For sheer athleticism, quick court coverage, mental toughness and the big forehand, I personally feel that no one is yet to match Steffi Graf.

Andre Agassi, the greatest returner in the history of tennis could have been added for his charisma as well as breathtaking ground strokes. Agassi was known for his adaptability. His wayward attitude in the earlier years has cost him few titles. I still remember him for his breathtaking brilliance against greatest grass-courters in the history of tennis in the Wimbledon, his least favourite surface.

GBC of all time - Nadal, Connors, Borg played like cranes waiting for the fishes in the ponds. I can remember them only for fighting qualities and certainly not for tennis. I don't have enough patience and I cannot watch them play for more than 30 minutes. :)

[Plum]

Guys, I actually added Agassi but when I submitted the poll, his name went missing. And now I am not able to add his name. Maybe, Feeyaar can add.
Will PM him.

Austin - very good post. Nicely explained your rationale in selecting Graf and a good sum-up of others, too :thumbsup:

[steveaustin]

Plum
:oops2: Failed to read your earlier post. :oops:

:ty:

[steveaustin]

All great players end up with some or the other failure. Pete Sampras didnt win the French Open. Agassi didt fulfil his potential. Fed, ofcourse, has the poor record against Nadal. But not even mid-way through his career, Nadal has ticked all boxes. (He also has a Olympic Gold, right?). How awesome is that?

nadalku aappadikka evanum varamaya iruppan?

I dont think so.
It is like this:( a very unscientific comparison)


If somebody wants to aapufy Nadal, then he should play serve and volley game and cut down his shot making time as well as angles to pass. I think that is the best way to thrash him. As of now, I too think Nadal cannot be beaten and particularly from the baseline since everyone seems to be comfortable by playing from the baseline and Nadal is simply the best in grinding.

[omega]

All great players end up with some or the other failure. Pete Sampras didnt win the French Open. Agassi didt fulfil his potential. Fed, ofcourse, has the poor record against Nadal. But not even mid-way through his career, Nadal has ticked all boxes. (He also has a Olympic Gold, right?). How awesome is that?

nadalku aappadikka evanum varamaya iruppan?

I dont think so.
It is like this:( a very unscientific comparison)


If somebody wants to aapufy Nadal, then he should play serve and volley game and cut down his shot making time as well as angles to pass. I think that is the best way to thrash him. As of now, I too think Nadal cannot be beaten and particularly from the baseline since everyone seems to be comfortable by playing from the baseline and Nadal is simply the best in grinding.

Exactly....Pistol (@ peak) in US Open could have done that with his thunderous serves...The one guy who can rely on his serve & volley any day in hardcourts.

However he would be very happy that he doesn't have to play Nadal in this era's Wimbledon.

[ajithfederer]

I am also noting down the post :).

Little premature to call him 'greatest tennis player of all time'. He doesn't seem to slow it down, but I'm predicting that he'll end with maximum of 5 GS (which is still 2 short of Fed's tally ATM), and will gradually lose his streak. Yes, I'll bookmark this post.

[Plum]

The last post (kid's and AF's reply) seemed interesting so revive..marubadiyum book mark paNNikunga

[venkkiram]

Last week end, I was trying to experiment Western grip forehand. OMG. Very very tough to play. Within 2 games, I switched back to my semi-western. Really I should appreciate Great stars like Nadal in excelling the Western grip forehand.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/01/17/wbOPEN2nadal2_gallery__470x355.jpg

[venkkiram]

நேற்று டென்னிஸ் இரட்டையர் ஆட்டத்தில் ஒரு கேமரூன் நாட்டு மனிதருடன் சேர்ந்து விளையாடினேன். மனுஷன் நுட்பத்தையேல்லாம் நல்லா வெளிப்படுத்தினார். அவரது ஆட்டத்தை பார்த்து ரசித்துக்கொண்டே விளையாடியதில் நான் கொஞ்சம் தடுமாறிப்போனேன். பயிற்சியாளர் துணையில்லாமல் சிறுவயதிலிருந்தே மூத்தவர்கள் விளையாடுவதை பார்த்துக்கொண்டே, பந்துகள் பொறுக்கிப் போட்டுக்கொண்டே இந்த விளையாட்டையும், நுட்பங்களையும் கற்றுக்கொண்டிருக்கிறார். ஆதர்ச நாயகர் நடால். விளையாட்டு முடிந்து செலவழித்த பதினைந்து நிமிடமும் நடாலின் புராணம் தான். சில முத்துக்கள். (பல விஷயங்கள் நமக்கு தெரிந்திருந்தாலும், நுட்பம் தெரிந்த ஒரு விளையாட்டு மனிதர் ஒரு நட்சத்திரத்தை புகழ்வதைக் கேட்பதில் ஒரு சுகானுபவம். )

டென்னிஸ் உலக வரலாற்றிலேயே ஆட்டத்திற்கு வருவதற்கு முன்னர் கடைப்பிடித்து வந்த ஆட்டப்போக்கினை சூழலிற்கு ஏற்ப மாற்றிக்கொண்டு பலதரப்பட்ட விளையாட்டு மைதானங்களிலும் கோலோச்சிய அறிய மனிதர்களில் ஒருவர்.

ஆட்டத்தில் நுழையும்போது ஏகப்பட்ட எதிர்மறை விமர்சனங்கள். வெஸ்டன் க்ரிப், சர்விஸ் போடும் லாவகம் இதெல்லாம் ரொம்ப நாள் தொடராது, குறைந்த எதிர்காலம் என்ற கூவிய அனைவருக்கும் இன்றுவரை கரியை பூசிவருபவர்.

இவரை சமாளிப்பது எப்படி என யோசித்து அதை சிறந்த முறையில் நிறைவேற்றி வந்த, வருகிற ஜெக்கொவிச்சிற்கு இப்போது அடிக்கடி வரும் உடல் நலக் குறைவே ஒருவிதத்தில் நடால் எப்படிப்பட்டவர் என்பதை காட்டுகிறதாம். நடாலின் சுழல் சர்விஸ் பந்துகளை திருப்பி அனுப்புவது அவ்வளவு சுலபமான ஒன்றல்ல.

தீவிர பயிற்சி, அணு அணுவாக விளையாட்டை ரசிக்கும் பாங்கு, முழுமையாக அர்ப்பணித்தல் எல்லாவற்றிலும் சிறந்த எடுத்துக்காட்டு நடால். இவர்கள் போன்றவர்கள் தான் சிறுவர்கள், இளைய மக்களை ஆர்வமாக டென்னிஸ் விளையாட்டிற்கு இழுக்கின்றனர். கடுமையான பயிற்சியினால் பலன் நிச்சயம் என்பதற்கு சிறந்த உதாரணப் புருஷர்.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GpkIyR_5YA

[venkkiram]

களிமண் தளத்தில் நடைபெற்ற சில போர்க்காட்சிகள். பந்தின் ஒவ்வொரு சுழல்களும் கவிதை.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRgYokupirI

[leosimha]

Time to revive this thread too. :)