Who is the goat of tennis ??

[Quasar44]

As a tennis historian it’s hard

I have to say Roger Federer from 2003-2009 was the best ever for peek years.

The best career of all time has to go to Djokovic
He is closing in at 19 slams and is the best defensive player of all time . The best return of serve of all time . The most consistent champ ever

The best accomplishment is Nadal winning the most physical demanding event a total of 14 times or so , the French

 

[Synthaholic]

Serena Williams and it isn’t even close.

 

[Quasar44]

The best ever
Grass - Sampras
Best serve - Sampras
Best backhand - Djokovic and Agassi
Best FH - Federer and nadal
Best volleys - Laver , Mac , Edberg
Hard - Djokovic
Clay -Nadal
Most talent - Federer
Best offense player -,Fed
Best Def - Djokovic
Most mentally tough - Nadal and Connors
Fastest ever - Nadal and Chang
Best over 40 - Tilden
Best over 30 - Djokovic
Best year ever - 1984 Mac
Biggest pervert - Tilden
Best return serve - Djokovic

 

[AFrench2]

John McEnroe

 

[gtopa1]

Rod Laver....2 Grand Slams....(When a Grand Slam meant 4/4 Majors in a Calendar year.)

Greg

 

[konradv]

Best Defense- Bjorn Borg

 

[tyroneweaver]

Marjorie Court

 

[francoHFW]

Rod laver's hero Lew Hoad- hurt his back after a few years unfortunately.... I may be biased....

 

[westwall]

Serena Williams and it isn’t even close.

Ummmmm, Margaret Court and Navratilova both have far more titles than Serena.

 

[DGS49]

There are two ways to answer the question, both are correct.

Who was the most dominant player of his own era? And Who was or is the best player ever?

The second, sorry to say, is easy. Djokovich - at his best - could beat any player in history, consistently. He can/could return his opponents' best shots, time after time, while keeping the ball in play until his opponent either makes an unforced error or he has a chance to hit an easy winner. Not even Sampras could beat Djokovich at his best.

How much of this is superior equipment, no one can say. Today's groundstrokes (and the topspin lob) have killed the most enjoyable style for spectators: Serve & Volley.

As for the most dominant in his era, I vote for Sampras. Federer certainly has strung out his prime years to an incredible duration, but if you look at the occasional matches between early Federer and late Sampras, there is little doubt at which would have won if they could have played when both were in their prime.

Just one person's opinion. And I've never seen a professional men's tennis match in person.

On the female side, there is really no question.

 

[Quasar44]

Rod Laver....2 Grand Slams....(When a Grand Slam meant 4/4 Majors in a Calendar year.)

Greg

He won one as an amateur
The 60s was a very weak era

 

[Quasar44]

Tennis golden ages

1920s
1950s
Late 70s to mid 90s
2005-2015

 

[Rocko]

Jimmy Connors was the most exciting player

 

[Synthaholic]

Serena Williams and it isn’t even close.

Ummmmm, Margaret Court and Navratilova both have far more titles than Serena.

Does anyone seriously believe that Margaret Court wouldn't be decimated by Williams in straight sets?

 

[Quasar44]

Jimmy Connors was the most exciting player

He was ..yes but not as exciting as Agassi and Fed to me
Connors could dig deeper than anyone . He even played badly injured in big events

 

[Synthaholic]

I grew up with Tracy Austin and really thought she would stay among the top ranked players. She was very good for a short time.

 

[westwall]

Serena Williams and it isn’t even close.

Ummmmm, Margaret Court and Navratilova both have far more titles than Serena.

Does anyone seriously believe that Margaret Court wouldn't be decimated by Williams in straight sets?

View attachment 456833

Yes, I do. Court was a better all around athlete than Serena.

From wiki

Margaret Court AC MBE (née Smith; born 16 July 1942), also known as Margaret Smith Court, is an Australian retired tennis player and former world No. 1. She won 24 Grand Slam women's singles titles in her career, 19 Grand Slam doubles titles, and 21 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. She won more Grand Slam titles than any other player in history, and is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. She is currently a Christian minister in Perth, Western Australia.

In 1970, Court became the first woman during the Open Era (the second woman in history after Maureen Connolly) to win the singles Grand Slam (all four major tournaments in the same calendar year). She won 24 Grand Slam singles titles in total (11 in the Open Era), which is the all-time record. She also won 19 women's doubles and 21 mixed doubles titles, giving her a record 64 Grand Slam titles overall. Her all surfaces (hard, clay, grass and carpet) singles career-winning percentage of 91.74 is the best of all time according to the Sporteology website.[1] Her Open era singles career winning percentage of 91.37% (593–56) is unequalled, as is her Open era winning percentage of 91.7% (11–1) in Grand Slam finals.[2] Her win-loss performance in all Grand Slam singles tournaments was 90.12% (210–23). She was 95.31% (61–3) at the Australian Open, 90.38% (47–5) at the French Open, 85.10% (51–9) at Wimbledon and 89.47% (51–6) at the US Open. She also shares the Open era record for most Grand Slam singles titles as a mother with Kim Clijsters.[3][4] In 1973, Court set the record for most titles won in a single Grand Slam event, with 11 Australian Open wins. This record was surpassed by Rafael Nadal in 2019 when he won his 12th French Open title, but remains a women's record.



Singles champion
Australian 1960-66, 1969-71, 1973
French 1962, 1964, 1969-70, 1973
United States 1962, 1965, 1969-70, 1973
Wimbledon 1963, 1965, 1970

Doubles champion
Australian 1961-63, 1965, 1969-71, 1973
French 1964-66, 1973
Wimbledon 1964, 1969
United States 1963, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1975

Mixed doubles champion
Australian 1963-65, 1969
French 1963-65, 1969
Wimbledon 1963, 1965-66, 1968, 1975
United States 1961-65, 1969-70, 1972

Federation Cup
1963-1965, 1968-1970
Captain 1965, 1968, 1971

Dubbed “The Arm” by Billie Jean King for her formidable reach, Court amassed a list of tournament wins that is unrivalled. She is one of only three players to complete the “boxed set” – singles, doubles and mixed titles at all four majors. A strong, superbly conditioned athlete known for her blanketing net attack and powerful serve, Court collected 64 major titles in singles, doubles and mixed (including two shared Australian mixed titles); her closest rival is Martina Navratilova with 59. In 1970, Margaret Court became just the second woman to complete the Grand Slam; only Steffi Graf has since emulated the feat. As Margaret Smith, the “Aussie Amazon” had already swept a unique Grand Slam in mixed doubles with Ken Fletcher in 1963. An 11-time winner of her national title, from 12 finals, no other player has so dominated a Grand Slam like Court at the Australian Championships.

 

[DGS49]

Margie Court will never live down her disastrous loss to Bobby Riggs. Maybe that's unfair, but it's true.

 

[Skeptic1959]

Serena Williams and it isn’t even close.

You mean Selena Williams best MALE player ever...just look at her boyhood photos...

 

[Desperado]

Serena Williams and it isn’t even close.

have to give it to the Wookie