Greatest Players of All Time - according to Tennis Abstract

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Greatest Players of All Time - according to Tennis Abstract

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

JonH comes home wrote:
Wasnt in my top 50 but again would have probably had him on my list.

www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2022/08/20/the-tennis-128-no-60-frank-sedgman/

Actually I should check my list as he would have been close!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

When I started following the mens game in the 70s all of the players on the veterans tour back then included players like Sedgman, Sven Davidson, Trabert, others of that ilk. Rosewall, Roche , Newcombe and Rocket Rod still played the main WCT and Grand Prix tour, this was before the ATP Tour when the ATP was just the players union

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I dont have my notes but the more I think the more likely it was frank was in my top 50. I rated he won 8 majors, 5 slams and 3 pro slams which in my opinion counted heavily at a time of amateur tennis. Ill need to check !

edit - checked and Frank wasnt in my top 50 but certainly 60th feels about right to me.

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Saturday 20th of August 2022 11:26:18 AM

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

Some of these Wimbledon mens champions from the early fifties must be made of strong stuff. Dick Savitt (1951), Frank Sedgman (1952) and Vic Seixas (1953) are all still alive. From the rest of the fifties you can add 3 runners up in Ken Rosewall(1954 and 1956), Neale Fraser(1958) and Rod Laver (1959) who are all still alive. There are no ladies champions from the 1950's still alive and only one runner-up in Angela Mortimer(1958).

jsackmann · Social player

That's interesting--I didn't realize Savitt was still alive. I hope I'm not spoiling anything by saying he's not on the list, but he was a fascinating guy. I recently stumbled on a Sports Illustrated piece about him from 1955:
vault.si.com/vault/1955/05/02/tony-trabert-was-the-winner-at-river-oaks-but-once-again-the-real-sensation-was-that-weekend-whiz-dick-savitt

Shirley Fry almost made it -- she was born the same year as Sedgman and Savitt, and she died last summer.

-- Edited by jsackmann on Monday 22nd of August 2022 05:42:32 PM

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

jsackmann wrote:
That's interesting--I didn't realize Savitt was still alive. I hope I'm not spoiling anything by saying he's not on the list, but he was a fascinating guy. I recently stumbled on a Sports Illustrated piece about him from 1955:
vault.si.com/vault/1955/05/02/tony-trabert-was-the-winner-at-river-oaks-but-once-again-the-real-sensation-was-that-weekend-whiz-dick-savitt

Shirley Fry almost made it -- she was born the same year as Sedgman and Savitt, and she died last summer.

-- Edited by jsackmann on Monday 22nd of August 2022 05:42:32 PM

1951 was Dick Savitt's most successful year in the Slams. He won Wimbledon on his debut. Not on my list I'm afraid.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

GAMEOVER wrote:
jsackmann wrote:
That's interesting--I didn't realize Savitt was still alive. I hope I'm not spoiling anything by saying he's not on the list, but he was a fascinating guy. I recently stumbled on a Sports Illustrated piece about him from 1955:
vault.si.com/vault/1955/05/02/tony-trabert-was-the-winner-at-river-oaks-but-once-again-the-real-sensation-was-that-weekend-whiz-dick-savitt

Shirley Fry almost made it -- she was born the same year as Sedgman and Savitt, and she died last summer.

-- Edited by jsackmann on Monday 22nd of August 2022 05:42:32 PM
1951 was Dick Savitt's most successful year in the Slams. He won Wimbledon on his debut. Not on my list I'm afraid.

Thats good - hes not on Jeffs list either !

GAMEOVER · Satellite level

We have no59 and one of my favourite players in Evonne Goolagong. Made playing tennis look so easy.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

www.tennisabstract.com/blog/2022/08/23/the-tennis-128-no-59-evonne-goolagong/

Indeed, a great player and one of my favourites of her time.

I had Evonne Goolagong - Cawley (is she Cawley now or back to Goolagong?) as my 24th of all time, so some way above here and I would argue with anyone she is deserving of a top 50 place regardless of whether I have over-rated her!!

Born in July 1951 so she will be 71 now , so still a youngster really!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

of my personal top 50, 5 have now come up in the list to date:

Cochet - my number 17, TA rated as 77!!! (on reflection I over rated Cochet to be honest!)

Goolagong - my number 24, TA rated as 59

Hoad - my number 33, TA rated as 74 (stand by my rating here!)

Lacoste - my number 39 (TA rated him as 64)

Bueno - my number 44, TA rated as 82. (stand by my rating here, or maybe somewhere in between)

With 58 still to come in Jeff's , I hope that the 45 names I listed that haven't appeared all manage to get a place at some point or other!!

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Tuesday 23rd of August 2022 12:26:09 PM

indiana · Tennis legend

My list of one, Andy at #65, hasn't appeared yet. He surely will so I will have underrated him.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

indiana wrote:
My list of one, Andy at #65, hasn't appeared yet. He surely will so I will have underrated him.

I ended up with Andy at 49, just in the top 50. He will surely come, as you say!

I have Fred Perry as top Brit at 29, not sure any other Brits will come, the obvious names have appeared already

jsackmann · Social player

>not sure any other Brits will come

Depends how strictly you define "Brit" ;)

(I may have already said too much...)

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

jsackmann wrote:
>not sure any other Brits will come

Depends how strictly you define "Brit" ;)

(I may have already said too much...)

Thats a teaser - obviously Andy and Fred (a Scottish person is a Brit, Indy can vouch for that !) but who else ?!