Can There Really Be One Greatest?
The past few years has seen a real intensification of the debate as to who is the greatest tennis player of all time. The most recent activity has seen a countdown of the 100 greatest players of all time, men and women from 100 to 1, taking into account pre and post Open era players. It is an interesting concept but I can’t help but think it is a rather fruitless exercise perpetuated in the media in it’s quest to claim the one player the greatest of all time or “GOAT” as it has become known on internet speak the last 5 years. In the latest countdown, Roger Federer was acclaimed as the greatest player of all time. Steffi Graf came in at number 2; the top 5 was rounded off with Rod Laver, Martina Navratilova and Pete Sampras. Rather interestingly, Rafael Nadal came in at number 6. Mixing male and female players is always a dangerous thing to do, simply because if this countdown is based on achievements, then Steffi Graf or Martina Navratilova should be number 1. For i...