Player Size

[El Dude]

Talk about the size of various players in the Murray thread inspired me to do a bit of research. The short version is probably not news to anyone: players are getting bigger, although we still haven't seen a truly large all-time great. Boris Becker is the tallest 6+ Slam winner, at 6'3" -- the same height as Andy Murray.

Here are all players with at least 3 Slam titles in the Open Era, or 2+ and #1 (I added a few others that didn't quite fit that criteria, but people might want to see where they fit):

6'11": Karlovic (230 lbs)
6'10": Isner (238)
6'6": Del Potro (214), Cilic (196), Berdych (200)
6'4": Safin (195), Soderling (192)
6'3": Becker (187), Murray (180), Kuerten (182), Dimitrov (179)
6'2": Djokovic (170), Edberg (170), Lendl (175), Roddick (195), P Gonzales (180), Tsonga (205)
6'1": Federer (187), Sampras (170), Nadal (187), Ashe (160), Rafter (190), Courier (183), Thiem (174)
6'0": Wilander (170), Newcombe (180), Wawrinka (180), Ferrero (160)
5'11": McEnroe (165), Agassi (177), Borg (160), Vilas (165), Nalbandian (175)
5'10": Connors (155), Hewitt (170), Davydenko (154), Nishikori (161)
5'9": Rosewall (150), Ferrer (161)
5'8": Laver (150)
5'7": Schwartzman (141)

(I had to add Diego and Karlovic/Isner to give the range)

It is interesting to note that all four of the 14+ Slam winners are in a relatively tight range of 6'1" - 6'2" and 170 - 187 lbs. Maybe a small sample size, though.

For comparison, here are the sizes of the best of Next Gen, also listed by height:

6'11": Opelka (225)
6'6": Zverev (198), Medvedev (182), Khachanov (192), Bublik (170)
6'5": Berrettini (209), Hurkacz (179), Popyrin (172)
6'4": Tsitsipas (187), Auger-Aliassime (194), Fritz (190), Kyrgios (187)
6'2": Rublev (154), Coric (187), Tiafoe (190), Humbert (160), Sinner (165), Djere (181)
6'1": Shapovalov (165), Garin (187)
6'0": De Minaur (152), Kecmanovic (165), M Ymer (165), Fokina (176), Ruud (170), Munar (168)
5'9": Moutet (150)

Those are most of the Next Genners and a few "Next-Next Gen" in the top 100. Notice that, as a group, they're pretty tall; Moutet is the only one below 6'.

Make of all that what you will.

 

[El Dude]

 

[El Dude]

And here's the range.

 

[mrzz]

5'7": Schwartzman (141)

I know a few people who have met Schwartzman in person and all of them are unanimous in saying that he is at least 2 inches shorter than that (actually we use centimeters here as part of the metric system, so people say at least 5 cm less, one even said 10 cm less). Looking at the pictures I believe them.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I know a few people who have met Schwartzman in person and all of them are unanimous in saying that he is at least 2 inches shorter than that (actually we use centimeters here as part of the metric system, so people say at least 5 cm less, one even said 10 cm less). Looking at the pictures I believe them.

I agree schwartzman is shorter than 5’7 .. I don’t think Agassi was really 5’11..

 

[herios]

I know a few people who have met Schwartzman in person and all of them are unanimous in saying that he is at least 2 inches shorter than that (actually we use centimeters here as part of the metric system, so people say at least 5 cm less, one even said 10 cm less). Looking at the pictures I believe them.

10 cm less? That is an exaggeration. He is not less than 5'6", by looking at the gap between him and Dominic.

 

[Front242]

We should let some of the ladies give their opinions in this thread 'cos apparently size isn't important

 

[atttomole]

What about Opelka?

 

[AnonymousFan]

In the NBA this season, they’re requiring teams to submit real player heights without shoes...

So far, out of the known new listings, many players went down 1 inch on their listings, some 2 inches, a few even 3 inches

So it wouldn’t surprise me if Diego is actually 5’5

For example, guards Isaiah Thomas went from 5’9 to 5’8, JJ Barea 6’0 to 5’10, Derrick Rose 6’3 to 6’1
Bigs Marvin Bagley 6’11 to 6’8, Dwight 6’11 to 6’9, Draymond 6’7 to 6’5, etc.

And then there are a few taller than advertised lol

 

[Moxie]

I know a few people who have met Schwartzman in person and all of them are unanimous in saying that he is at least 2 inches shorter than that (actually we use centimeters here as part of the metric system, so people say at least 5 cm less, one even said 10 cm less). Looking at the pictures I believe them.

I've heard commentators mention thinking that a few of the smaller players are shorter than their official heights. I see no harm in it, though.

10 cm less? That is an exaggeration. He is not less than 5'6", by looking at the gap between him and Dominic.

Maybe you're joking about 1", but you can't tell from a photo, and Dominic is leaning forward, and Diego is a little in front of him in the photo. Anyway, Mrzz knows people that have met him.

 

[Moxie]

For @tented, our resident Olivier Rochus fan...with Safin and with Karlovic.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

And then there are a few taller than advertised lol

How does that happen? Were they wearing shoes of negative height?

 

[El Dude]

How does that happen? Were they wearing shoes of negative height?

I have no idea, but I can see scenarios where they are measured when they turn pro at 18ish and then grow another inch or two, as some kids do at that age.

 

[Moxie]

The ATP doesn't seem to change listing for height/weight on players. I would wager that some of those youngsters are going to fill out and weigh more, in the next couple of years. Look at this:

6'6": Zverev (198), Medvedev (182), Khachanov (192), Bublik (170)
6'5": Berrettini (209), Hurkacz (179), Popyrin (172)
6'4": Tsitsipas (187), Auger-Aliassime (194), Fritz (190), Kyrgios (187)
6'2": Rublev (154), Coric (187), Tiafoe (190), Humbert (160), Sinner (165), Djere (181)
6'1": Shapovalov (165), Garin (187)

Berrettini is a big boy, and so is Tiafoe. I don't expect them to change. And probably Kyrgios is at his real weight. I think a lot of these guys will beef up a bit, though.

 

[Ricardo]

almost all the players I have met have their real height recorded, for me I thought Roger felt taller than Rafa and I have been about a meter away from each of them. Safin felt to me like 6”5’, while Karlovic was hard to judge as he really towers well above that you can’t really tell.

 

[Moxie]

almost all the players I have met have their real height recorded, for me I thought Roger felt taller than Rafa and I have been about a meter away from each of them. Safin felt to me like 6”5’, while Karlovic was hard to judge as he really towers well above that you can’t really tell.

I agree that Safin was closer to 6'5".

 

[Ricardo]

I think overall tall players don’t mind claiming an inch or two shorter while short ones don’t mind adding a bit.

 

[britbox]

Some players "seem" different from their actual height. Borg always seems tall to me, yet he's under 6'

 

[Moxie]

Some players "seem" different from their actual height. Borg always seems tall to me, yet he's under 6'

Agreed. By the same token, I'm always surprised that Dimitrov is 6'3". He seems shorter.

 

[Jelenafan]

Still trying to reconcile Muscles ( Ken Rosewall) was taller than Rod Laver.