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 instance, Steffi Graf won each major tournament at least 4 times, won the Golden slam, held all four major titles at the same time twice, spent 377 consecutive weeks at number 1, won major doubles titles and won well over 100 titles. Graf also held winning records over virtually all of her rivals including Monica Seles. The fact that Graf opponents’ were women shouldn’t detract from her achievements which easily far outweigh Roger Federer’s.


This is particularly what makes the greatest discussion fraught with dangers as it is just too subjective for there to be any definitive guide as to who really is the greatest tennis player of all time. The “greatest” is also a very fluid word in sport and tennis in particular. In fact, there seems to be a “greatest” tennis player every five years; especially in the age of the internet.


Since I’ve been following the sport, Bjorn Borg was considered the greatest, then John McEnroe for a few years, then Ivan Lendl, Pete Sampras and now Roger Federer. Many people and pundits already consider Rafael Nadal to be the greatest or set to take over as the greatest, especially as Federer has not beaten Nadal at a major tournament since 2007 and has only beaten Nadal at Wimbledon.


In five years time, Novak Djokovic will be highly likely considered to be the greatest if he keeps winning major titles. As far as the women go, some have argued for Serena Williams being the greatest because they reckon the competition in the early to mid 2000s was at the peak with opponents like Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Jennifer Capriati, Martina Hingis, Clijsters and Henin.


If statistical criteria is the key, then Serena’s case is non existent as her numbers are nowhere near the likes of Graf, Navratilova and Chris Evert or Margaret Court. Also, should major titles be the only guide as to who is seen as the greatest?


Whatever way you look at it, either as a bit of fun or deadly serious, the debate as to who is the greatest continually attracts column inches by eager journalists, internet forums and social media all over the world. One thing can be guaranteed, the list of who is the greatest and in what order they should come will always be subjective and in any case is sure to change in 5 years time when there will be a new debate as to who is the “latest” greatest player of all time.


If the greatest player of all time cannot stand up to the test over a 5 year period, then it really is a pointless exercise to claim one player as the greatest of all time above all other greats.