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JonH


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Dream 8 event - who would you invite?
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Inspired by a conversation with CD on another thread and also by a book I am reading at the moment, (re reading) called "Open Tennis" by Richard Evans; it is a history of the first 20 years of Open tennis from 1968 onwards. One of the things that struck me in the early days (and remembering the debate we have now about men over playing), the sheer amount of events the early Open period Pros played was stunning. Not just the Tour (in those days the Grand Prix and WCT Tours for men Virginia Slims Tour for women). There where a huge number of set piece and made for TV style events of 4 or 8 man/woman fields with big prizes such as the Pepsi Grand Slam (4 slam winners in the previous season, similar to what they have in golf still) in Boca Raton, WCT Tournament of Champions, many invitational events. 

It got me thinking, if I could put together a dream 8 player event (men or women, on any surface, any venue) who would I invite to take part in that event.?

I know more about the men so thought I would start with two efforts - a dream field of 8 for now and a dream field of 8 for all time...someone else who knows the womens game better might be better placed to have a stab at that! Note this isnt the top 8 players in the world now (a la O2 event, we already have that; or the best 8 men of all time), this is 8 players who I think would make a stunning few days of tennis if playing at and showcasing their wider personalities to the max.

Current Day - I would love to see an event with Federer, Nadal, Murray, Dimitrov, Del Potro, Kyrgios, Sock, Monfils. Surface would have to be a large outdoor hardcourt venue with a roof over it, so Melbourne Park Rod Laver Arena would do for me as a great place for this event. 

All time - so many to choose from but my dream 8 of the ages event would include Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, and two from today Roger Federer and Andy Murray. I didnt want to create a rule that said a Brit should be invited to this event, but I think not having the best brit ever in this top 8 event  would detract from my enjoyment. The all time dream 8 event would be indoors on a supreme surface and I reckon there is no better tennis venue ever for a dream event than Madison Square Garden in New York. 

There we go- love to hear anyone else's views and love to see what folks suggest on the womens side where my knowledge is so much less... 

 

 

 

 



-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 8th of February 2018 09:53:01 AM

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JonH
Sim


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No Djokovic???



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JonH


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Sim wrote:

No Djokovic???

 that is the beauty of this event, the selector gets 8 wildcards to select! Nope, Djokovic may well be one of the best of all time and may well be still in the current top echelon but being frank he doesnt really rock my boat in terms of exciting me when I watch tennis. Admire his quality immensely but he wouldnt make the 8 players now or past that I would most like to see in one place for my dream event! 

Be interested in others views - i am sure many would include Djoko and Nadal, in the past group I am sure many other names would come into play. If the prizemoney was good enough, Boris Becker would no doubt be pushing for a place   

 



-- Edited by JonH on Thursday 8th of February 2018 12:43:20 PM

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JonH
Jan


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I'd have to include Stefan Edberg!

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christ


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Men I remember that I enjoyed watching when I was younger:

Nastase, Connors, Borg, Goran.

Greats to make up the numbers:

Federer, Nadal, Laver.

& a token Brit:

Murray.

I'm not sure that I can really be objective about Murray, but I have a feeling that if he weren't a Brit I would have him on the Djokovic/ Agassi pile as "athletes that bored me rigid but won a lot"

... and I hated, absolutely hated, watching McEnroe playing singles.

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the addict


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Having seen Edberg, Becker and Stich in Wimbledon finals, I'd have to go for Becker as the best to watch. But choosing eight is more tricky, and I'll have to think a bit more. Jonh's list are pretty well all in my shortlist, as well as a few more

McEnroe, Connors, Borg, Cash, Ivanisevic for a few serves !, Nadal, Murray, Federer, Krygios - that's ten off the top of my head to start with !

On the women's side, I'd have to include Navratilova and Evert in any selection, as I've seen some great matches involving them. Others would be current or recent players though.

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Had to think, which was an effort, as it doesn't happen much.

Current day, well, the 8 I would choose meet often enough anyway.

So, otherwise, I'd just pick my favourite non-Brit players: Ai Sugiyama, Chanda Rubin, Hannah Mandlikova, Li Na, Justine Henin, Amanda Coetzer, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Monica Seles
Reserves: Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Amelie Mauresmo

If I chose a Brit, I'd spend too much focus on only really wanting them to win, whoever they were. But there's absolutely no contest: I'd choose Bally.

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paulisi


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May be an event of flair players with big personalities
Monfils, Federer, Krygios, Tsonga, Fognini, Evans, Del Potro and Tomic

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JonH


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paulisi wrote:

May be an event of flair players with big personalities
Monfils, Federer, Krygios, Tsonga, Fognini, Evans, Del Potro and Tomic

 I'd pay to watch that one. It would need to be played in Rome though, or maybe Paris. 



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JonH
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paulisi wrote:

May be an event of flair players with big personalities
Monfils, Federer, Krygios, Tsonga, Fognini, Evans, Del Potro and Tomic

 Tomic is a bit bored and just going to count his money. Welcome Mr Dimitrov.



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paulisi


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I had an afterthought about selecting Willbomb...

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JonH


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Marcus Willis and mansoor bahrami playing doubles together...

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JonH
Coup Droit


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For my current dream eight, I'd cheat just a tiny bit - i.e. these are current players but I'd rewind the clock a couple of years for a couple so they were playing at their best. (NB No British or French, just plain favourites, for different reasons, for the way they play and what they bring to the match, and pure entertainment value).

Roger Federer; Rafa Nadal; Nick Kyrgios; Dustin Brown; Marco Bagdhatis; Feliciano Lopez; Fabio Fognini; Juan Martin del Potro.

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JonH


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Coup Droit wrote:

For my current dream eight, I'd cheat just a tiny bit - i.e. these are current players but I'd rewind the clock a couple of years for a couple so they were playing at their best. (NB No British or French, just plain favourites, for different reasons, for the way they play and what they bring to the match, and pure entertainment value).

Roger Federer; Rafa Nadal; Nick Kyrgios; Dustin Brown; Marco Bagdhatis; Feliciano Lopez; Fabio Fognini; Juan Martin del Potro.

 A latin feel to that event, lots of hot tempers flaring ! Would have to play this one in Rome as well I reckon; Rome seems to be a likely venue for many of the Dream 8 events! 



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JonH
Coup Droit


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You're not wrong

I was trying to fit Gulbis in - but he's hardly your average Northern European sort of guy either.

Huge amount of respect for players like Goffin and Isner and the more 'reserved' sorts. And I like them as people (as far as one can tell), and as players.

But they don't make the dream eight, I'm afraid.....

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