CAMELOT FANTASIES

I think Lendl is still giving johnny mac nightmares:

he stopped him at RG and he once blasted him with a shot that knocked him to the ground.

that might have been at the Madison square garden. I don't really have any details at the moment.

I saw the video somewhere.

in that image you just posted at the rivalries thread, they don't even look at each other when they shake hands.

Quote from: thetruth on February 19, 2014, 04:35:44 pm

Quote from: masterclass on February 19, 2014, 04:07:59 pm

Quote from: thetruth on February 19, 2014, 12:25:41 pm

Quote from: masterclass on February 19, 2014, 08:52:23 am

Looks like Rafa will keep the career clay winning percentage for a long time.  93%, if that's not domination over his competition, nothing is.  Borg is next just under 86%, and Lendl drops down to just over 81%. 

I don't think there is much doubt that Rafa will pass Vilas in the Career Clay Title count.  He trails him by 4, 46-42.  It's only a question of when.  It could possibly happen this year.   But Vilas has one Clay record that I think is safe, 634 career clay match wins.  Nadal has about 293 or so.

Roger is just over 87% on grass, also very high and leads in titles won, but will not catch the great Jimmy Connors in matches won on the turf. McEnroe next at a little under 86%.  There are a group of 4 stalwarts in the 83rd percentile headed by Murray, Borg, Sampras, and Connors.  Heady company indeed.

The interesting one for me though is hard court winning percentage for the career.

There are 5 players with 82 and a fraction percent all separated by less the 3 tenths of a percent.
82.61 Connors
82.60 Lendl
82.50 Laver
82.35 Djokovic
82.34 Federer

I would expect Federer's percentage to dip somewhat as he ages.  Of course the same would apply to any active player that continues to play after their prime years.  But he probably still has a good couple of years before his percentage will get much worse. 

But just to show how close it is, if current 5th place Federer were to win Dubai and Indian Wells back to back, as he did year before last, that would be 11-0 and he would be 575-121 and at 82.615 %, which would put him just ahead of current 1st place Connors who is at 82.609 %.  By the same token, he has played so many matches it is difficult for him to move the percentage a lot.  Even if he finished his career at a 75% clip for a 100 matches or so, equivalent to averaging losing in the 4th round of every tournament, he would still end up higher than McEnroe who is in 6th place.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Great stuff, General (ha ha ha),

If I was a tennis player I don't think I would pay any attention to the numbers and percentages, unless I was checking them to find some improvement. But, as far as highest, most, best, etc. I would ignore that part. Less pressure. I would still want to enjoy my tennis, and I don't think I would enjoy it as much if I was constantly keeping score.

Lady TT,  I completely agree with you, when one is a younger or less accomplished player.   Then one would think about winning their first tournament, or first masters, or slam, or dreaming of being in the top 10 or #1.    But everyone is different and one can't predict how they'll react to success.   But I think every player that has longevity and many accomplishments,  that has a sense of history does indeed look at those records.  For many, it helps their motivation, once they have already achieved much.  For others, it might give themselves a sense of where they belong and might end up in history.

Of course, while playing in a match, one probably does not think of those things unless they are about to set or tie a record.  I can guarantee you that Federer was thinking about majors #14 and #15, especially once he reached the final.  And don't think that Nadal wasn't thinking of getting #14 to tie him with Pete  at the last AO.  Pressure, sure, but there are many that thrive on pressure.  Not everyone succumbs.  But as they play each match?  Probably not.  They are trying to focus on each match.  But before a tournament, or before the final, certainly.  Or when assessing their goals for a season...   I would, but that's me.  But I like to have pressure on myself.  Without it, I often don't care as much.  Some players have a huge dream of winning Wimbledon.  Or any slam.  Once they've achieved that, some feel so fulfilled, they never win another.  They just can't get motivated enough to want to do more.  Others see it as just the beginning and want to achieve even more.  I suppose it depends on one's personality and ambition.

Federer knows the records that are out there.  Ask General Hercules about the video where Federer talked about getting 100 titles and other records.  How else do players that have done so much keep themselves motivated?  They look at the record books, they set short term and long term goals.  Does Rafa think about getting 2 of each major for his career?  I would think he does.  Does he care about getting the most titles on clay to surpass Vilas? Probably to a degree in terms of lifetime goals.  But he probably won't focus on it until reminded of it when he is ready to tie or break the record.  Does Roger think about getting an all time record 8th Wimbledon title?  You bet.  Or breaking the 3 way tie between himself,  Connors and Sampras for most US Opens?  Does he think about having the highest match winning percentage on a surface?  Probably not that much, but it's probably something he recognizes.  Some of these stats are clearly for tennis aficionados.   Others become targets.  Vague awareness when further away, or more obvious when closing in.

Respectfully,
masterclass

Great post, as usual, along with wonderful insights.

It's hard to say what we would do in a given situation. Sometimes you have to actually be in it to know how you'll respond.

I love this statement as it is so fitting for me, in a way. I'm very laid back and don't often often summon up the energy to care, but when I do care I tend to go all out.

I thrive on pressure and without it, I can be a bump on a log.

I do my best work under pressure, if there's no pressure my thoughts aren't as lucid. I need pressure to perform, or want pressure, since it's the only way I'll get things accomplished.

I could work at a stress filled job with looming deadlines and thrive, but I can just as easily give it up and lay on the beach.

So, I guess for me, I would have to be in the situation to see which way the factors would sway me.

OTOH, I would be happy being in the top 100. I would make a decent living, not have the pressure, and be able to preserve my anonymity. Yeah, that's it. I'd be an underachiever sometimes and a comet at other times.

My tennis personality would most probably be like Richard Gasquet. Plenty of talent, but with other things as my priority.

And that's why everyone is different.  We each have our own sense of balance in life, where what's good for you and those you care about around you is what counts.   

I love to compete in sports and play as hard as I am able.  An individual sport like singles tennis is different from playing on a team sport though.  On a team sport one has the pressure of doing well for the team and not letting them down.  But the good thing in team sports is that good teammates will also be there to pick up the slack when you are having an off day.  When you play on a team where you are one of the only good players, you feel more pressure to perform well at all times so that your team has a chance.  Still, even in that situation, you will get support from your teammates when you can't make it happen.

In individual sports like singles tennis, one doesn't have the luxury of teammates. It can be brutal and lonely, and one has to have a real sense of balance, looking for positives and not getting down on oneself.

Respectfully,
masterclass

I never played team sports as a child. Most of my other siblings did though. I just didn't have any interest whatsoever, to the point where I didn't even go and watch them compete. Sports were foreign to me. I preferred being inside reading books.

Being left-handed may have affected my affinity for sports, because it's hard when right-handers try to teach you how to throw a ball or tie your shoes.

When I did play in any physical activity it was in an one on one sport such as karate, tetherball, four square, or things like that.

I enjoyed the fact that I could play where there was no beginning or end. I could walk down to the rec center and jump in, and when I left it didn't affect anyone else.

I wonder what my outlook would be if I had participated in a sport with teammates who depended on me. I'm sure I would've risen to the challenge, but I have no way of knowing since I quit both team sports activities (softball & volleyball) before the first game.

But, I did do well in karate later on.

It's funny how our personalities have a way of determining what interests us.

Wawrinka has won 1 major, sure.  But he is no spring chicken as he will be 29 next month.  This year's 28 yr old Nadal, and 27 yr olds Djokovic, and Murray will eventually decline and they are probably approaching that point within the next 2-3 years.  The average age of the tour is quite old right now, older than in over 40 years.  Many will drop like flies in the next couple of years.   

I imagine it will be near that point when we have some younger players in the transition winning, like a Dimitrov, or Janowicz, or Pospisil, or if Del Potro can get healthy, or Tomic straightens himself out, or who knows who.  But then I finally think a great younger player or two will come along to overhaul them and dominate everyone.  That's what one would expect historically speaking.  But it might be 5 or more years before that happens.

Respectfully,
masterclass

that is just awesome general.


I have done that too a few times.

I think it is effective at times.


keep it coming.

 

Just checked his name on my ballot!

Oops, unless you want the honor, O mighty Founder.

General Masterclass, here is a recent project of mine that I just completed today. I am not sure if you know that, but I am a collector of tennis autographs both through the mail and in person. And since you are an admirer of the history of tennis, I think you are going to like this

That's awesome, Mr. Tee. You got both! What a nice hobby.