Another angle on comparing tennis greats (with a pretty chart)

[El Dude]

Curious where you got that from, and how do you know it was AI and not just some idiot? Or did you ask AI?

My browser search has an AI option, and is the first thing that comes up when you ask a question.

 

[Moxie]

My browser search has an AI option, and is the first thing that comes up when you ask a question.

So, are you considering de-activating that? LOL.

 

[El Dude]

So, are you considering de-activating that? LOL.

It is weird - I'm not a big fan of AI, perhaps due to seeing (and reading) so much science fiction, and also being a big advocate for the arts and worrying that, as one meme put it, "I want AI to do my dishes and laundry so I can do art and walk the dog, not walk the dog and do art so I have to do the dishes and laundry."

But I also find it interesting what answers they come up with. It is sort of an easier lazy-man's Wikipedia. I'm leery of the algorithm, but for low-stakes stuff and quick answers, I find it useful.

In other words, AI is good for: "What's an easy recipe for Swedish meatballs" and not so good for, "Which conspiracy theories are true?"

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

At this moment my all time top 10 list would be:

(1) Novak Djokovic (most slams, most masters, has done the calendar slam twice)
(2) Rafael Nadal (second highest number of slams, king of clay, 29-30 h2h with GOAT, banana shot, greatest artisan)
(3) Roger Federer (streaks at US Open and Wimbledon, most Wimbledon titles, broke Sampras's record, most elegant player in history)
(4) Pete Sampras (Best serve in history, fourth most slams, slam dunk, did not lose a Wimbledon final)
(5) Rod Laver (11 slams, but he was the first man to do the calendar slam twice)
(6) Bjorn Borg (11 slams, made the highest streak in Wimbledon titles at his time, hybrid backhand)
(7) Andre Agassi (8 slams, won 5 slams after turning 30 years of age, great forehead, backhand and compact game, career slam)
(8) Jimmy Connors (most titles, the guy does not have a forehand)
(9) Ivan Lendl (8 slams, was a great player even though he didn't manage a Wimbledon title)
(10) John McEnroe (7 slams, 3 Wimbledon titles, graceful serve, cutest backhand ever, good hairstyle, flamboyance, charisma).

An honorable mention: Mats Wilander. He also won 7 slams and actually had a winning record with McEnroe in slams and had better longevity than him.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

I had a tough time incorporating McEnroe in that list after seeing that he has a losing record to Wilander in slams. What a Shame.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

At this moment my all time top 10 list would be:

(1) Novak Djokovic (most slams, most masters, has done the calendar slam twice)
(2) Rafael Nadal (second highest number of slams, king of clay, 29-30 h2h with GOAT, banana shot, greatest artisan)
(3) Roger Federer (streaks at US Open and Wimbledon, most Wimbledon titles, broke Sampras's record, most elegant player in history)
(4) Pete Sampras (Best serve in history, fourth most slams, slam dunk, did not lose a Wimbledon final)
(5) Rod Laver (11 slams, but he was the first man to do the calendar slam)
(6) Bjorn Borg (11 slams, made the highest streak in Wimbledon titles at his time, hybrid backhand)
(7) Andre Agassi (8 slams, won 5 slams after turning 30 years of age, great forehead, backhand and compact game)
(8) Jimmy Connors (most titles, the guy does not have a forehand)
(9) Ivan Lendl (8 slams, was a great player even though he didn't manage a Wimbledon title)
(10) John McEnroe (7 slams, 3 Wimbledon titles, graceful serve, cutest backhand ever, good hairstyle, flamboyance, charisma).

An honorable mention: Mats Wilander. He also won 7 slams and actually had a winning record with McEnroe in slams and had better longevity than him.

Guys let me know what you feel about my all time list.

 

[Front242]

I like your skepticism but Nole is great at recovery has a great team and technology. He will be back in 100% health and when he's that way, he will be hard for Rafa to stop especially on hard.

Can't disagree about hard courts but not convinced by Novak yet on clay.

 

[britbox]

Guys let me know what you feel about my all time list.

Not bad, although I don't think Agassi is above Connors or that Jimmy had no forehand. I'd have Agassi below Connors, Lendl and Mac.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Not bad, although I don't think Agassi is above Connors or that Jimmy had no forehand. I'd have Agassi below Connors, Lendl and Mac.

Why do you think Lendl was better than Agassi?
Why do you place Connors above Agassi?

Like I said I had a tough time putting McEnroe ahead of Wilander. I can't see how he's better than Agassi.

Thanks for your input anyway.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Why do you think Lendl was better than Agassi?
Why do you place Connors above Agassi?

Like I said I had a tough time putting McEnroe ahead of Wilander. I can't see how he's better than Agassi.

Thanks for your input anyway.

You cannot be serious, no way Wilander was better than McEnroe. Johnny Mac was better than Connors ( who had no answer for Borg most of the time) and Lendl

 

[britbox]

Why do you think Lendl was better than Agassi?
Why do you place Connors above Agassi?

Like I said I had a tough time putting McEnroe ahead of Wilander. I can't see how he's better than Agassi.

Thanks for your input anyway.

Agassi never dominated the sport for a sustained period of time - unlike Lendl, Connors or Mac. With due respect to Mats - he is never above McEnroe.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Agassi never dominated the sport for a sustained period of time - unlike Lendl, Connors or Mac. With due respect to Mats - he is never above McEnroe.

In my defense, Agassi has more SLAMS than all those players.

Also, the reason I felt sad for not putting Mats Wilander at no. 10 is because he had as many slams and a winning h2h with McEnroe at slams. My personal bias did not allow me to put him above. Having said that I must respect clay court specialists like Mats Wilander or Guga Kurten.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Agassi also had a beautiful game who I wanted to reward for his resilience and adaptability after turning 30.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Guys let me know what you feel about my all time list.

Good job on the list.. Mac, Connors, Lendl Agassi, Wilander is the way I see it

 

[britbox]

In my defense, Agassi has more SLAMS than all those players.

Also, the reason I felt sad for not putting Mats Wilander at no. 10 is because he had as many slams and a winning h2h with McEnroe at slams. My personal bias did not allow me to put him above. Having said that I must respect clay court specialists like Mats Wilander or Guga Kurten.

Slams were regarded slightly differently in different eras. Not the be all and end all of the modern era. Connors only played the AO twice in his entire career.
McEnroe won more than twice as many tournaments as Wilander, was also world #1 in doubles (at the same time as being #1 in singles) and had one of the most dominant seasons of all time - 84. Not even Mats' mother would put him above McEnroe in the great scheme of things. As good as player as Mats was (and he was very smart) - he's definitely not all time Top 10. Agassi might have a slightly stronger claim, but for me he'd be #10 at best and probably slightly lower. Players like McEnroe and Lendl changed the game... (in different ways).

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

You cannot be serious, no way Wilander was better than McEnroe. Johnny Mac was better than Connors ( who had no answer for Borg most of the time) and Lendl

Well while John McEnroe was less clueless with Borg than was Jimmy Connors Mats Wilander has a winning h2h with McEnroe in slams. That is why it was a tough decision for me.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

I placed Connors above McEnroe because he won more titles than him overall. Way more.

I can't see why Lendl is better than Agassi who has less slams and did not manage to win Wimbledon.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

That Mats Wilander was good on clay should not mean he does not have a case with McEnroe. His only fault was that he was more of a clay and hard player than a grass player while Johnny Mac was a grass and hard player.

This is something to happens to clay court specialists. They get ignored.

 

[Shivashish Sarkar]

Agassi has a career slam unless many other players. What about that?

 

[Fiero425]

Not bad, although I don't think Agassi is above Connors or that Jimmy had no forehand. I'd have Agassi below Connors, Lendl and Mac.

Agassi has 8 majors, but wasted so many yrs., not really ever dominating! A lot of his winning occurred late after Lendl, Sampras, Courier, Edberg, & Becker "waned" or left the tour! The top players around then came & went rather quickly like Hewitt & Safin OTTH!