The Rankings Thread (ATP)

[mrzz]

I didn't compare him to Gaudio, but to Berdych, Tsonga, and Ferrer. I don't think he was a better player than those three -- that he belongs more in that category than, say, Medvedev. Cilic won a bunch of titles, but most were ATP 250s.

Hmmm... I'm with @PhiEaglesfan712 in this one. Not because of the numbers, but because of the level he eventually reached. Cilic didn't inherited a Major, he won one fair and square playing great tennis. He got to two other major finals again playing great tennis. I agree those were just a few moments in a long career, but all those other guys simply didn't have them.

 

[El Dude]

Hmmm... I'm with @PhiEaglesfan712 in this one. Not because of the numbers, but because of the level he eventually reached. Cilic didn't inherited a Major, he won one fair and square playing great tennis. He got to two other major finals again playing great tennis. I agree those were just a few moments in a long career, but all those other guys simply didn't have them.

Yes, I hear that. I'm not taking away his Slam title nor am I making an overall career assessment. But I'm talking about something specific: Whether or not a player disappoints from their perceived potential. Before 2014, no one would have been surprised or disappointed if Cilic never won a Slam. If you look at his career up to that point, it didn't scream "future Slam winner." He was actually perceived somewhat lower than Berdych/Tsonga/Ferrer.

 

[mrzz]

Yes, I hear that. I'm not taking away his Slam title nor am I making an overall career assessment. But I'm talking about something specific: Whether or not a player disappoints from their perceived potential. Before 2014, no one would have been surprised or disappointed if Cilic never won a Slam. If you look at his career up to that point, it didn't scream "future Slam winner." He was actually perceived somewhat lower than Berdych/Tsonga/Ferrer.

At that point, yes, definitely.