Anybody going to watch the U.S. Open finals in the Big Apple today?

[aaharvel]

I'm ASSuming there aren't many tennis fans on this forum, but today is going to be special. Quite possibly Andre Agassi's last match- and he's going up against the greatest tennis player of all time in Roger Federer (sorry for all the Sampras fans=)

With Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York and it being 9/11- even if you're not into tennis i recommend tuning in to CBS at 4pm est. I think it will be a historic and very special sporting event. :)

[heiney9]

Been watching it for the past two weeks as time allows. Some really great matches this year. Agassi vs. Blake was almost as exciting as watching Jimmy Connors' march to the semi's in 1991. Tennis popularity has gone down over the years, but I still watch as much as I can. Even the women's matches this year were exciting....beyond the skimpy outfits :p . Still don't play as often as I'd like. I used to be into playing alot, but just don't have the time or opponents anymore it seems.

H9

[heiney9]

I'm ASSuming there aren't many tennis fans on this forum, but today is going to be special. Quite possibly Andre Agassi's last match- and he's going up against the greatest tennis player of all time in Roger Federer (sorry for all the Sampras fans=)

Uh Oh....here we go! Federer the greatest of all time .

Sorry have to politely disagree....Ever heard of John McEnroe?? What a remarkable player.....poor attitude....but a tennis genious. Has done more for the game on and off the court than anyone other than Arthur Ashe.

IMHO of course aaharvel ;)

H9

[MacLeod]

As usual, we're at odds. Sampras rules.

I would like to watch this match if Im home. Im a big fan of Agassi and would like to see him do well although I believe Federer is going to be too much. Still it should be a very good match.

[ND13]

Bjorn Borg, I mean really guys, come on. Look at the comp he had to play against, from the beginning to the end of his career.

It doesn't always have to come down to how many majors a player has won, does it???

[MacLeod]

It doesn't always have to come down to how many majors a player has won, does it???

Yeah, it kinda does.

Winning is kinda how you judge whos better than others.

[ND13]

Oh so the competition doesn't come into play.

Plus I pretty sure that Borg won his share of majors.

[MacLeod]

Fogrive me if Im wrong, but in order to win doesnt that mean youve beaten the competiton? :p

[ND13]

He won 11 majors, that's right ELEVEN and at the height of men's tennis.

[MacLeod]

And Pete's won 14!

[ND13]

Any way, I'm just pushing buttons, while Borg is my all-time male tennis player, I think to try and say that any one player is the best ever is kinda futile. Borg, Sampras, and Federer played in different eras and against different competition, though Sampras and Federer did play a couple of years together. I can't recollect if Sampras and Borg did or not.

I know how many Pete won, I just didn't think you knew how many Borg had won. :) I don't think many really do realize how many majors Borg won.

Those three, imo, are on equal playing fields, though I fear, barring injury, that Federer might end up surpassing both in the not so distant future.

[heiney9]

All great players mentioned in this thread. It comes down to a subjective opinion. What you're essentially saying MacLeod is the same as saying the measurements of one audio component are better than another, therefore it's a better component. We all know that isn't nec true. The best doesn't nec have to be the one with the most wins (or best measurements). Plus it's extremely hard to compare across different generations of players. Different degrees of competition during different era's.

One accomplishment that has only been done by 1 player (Jimmy Connors) is that he won the US Open on three different surfaces. That for some would rank him as the all time great. Gotta get back to the match

H9

[aaharvel]

Federer's 24. He's won 5 majors in just 3years (6 after today?) and he's not even in his prime yet. When all is said and done- he'll eclipse the records of everybody. He has a perfect game on ALL surfaces- neither Borg or Sampras can claim that. jmo.

[ND13]

Yeah, Borg was best on grass and clay.

Agassi is looking damn good so far, it's like he's on mission the way he's hitting the ball. He looks like the Andre of ten years ago.

OH SNAP!! Did you just see that Sampras commercial whaere he tell's that Mrs. Agassi holds the women's record for most consecutive weeks at no. 1, then tells us that he holds the men's record.

[heiney9]

Federer's 24. He's won 4 majors (5 after today?) and he's not even in his prime yet. When all is said and done- he'll eclipse the records of everybody. He has a perfect game on ALL surfaces- neither Borg or Sampras can claim that. jmo.

Pure speculation..... ;) No doubt he's by far the best player playing currently. Andre looks good so far!

H9

[ND13]

What really bothers me is as much as I want to dislike Federer for whatever reason, it's just not possible to do. He's a really cool guy.

[heiney9]

Federer's 24. He's won 4 majors (5 after today?) and he's not even in his prime yet. When all is said and done- he'll eclipse the records of everybody. He has a perfect game on ALL surfaces- neither Borg or Sampras can claim that. jmo.

Yeah...all those claims about how records will be eclipsed were made about Martina Hingis, the Williams sisters and others and they never came true. Someone will come along in the next few years that will be better than Federer, it seems to always happen in tennis these days.

H9

[ND13]

Yeah...all those claims about how records will be eclipsed were made about Martina Hingis, the Williams sisters and others and they never came true. Someone will come along in the next few years that will be better than Federer, it seems to always happen in tennis these days.

H9

Exactly, anybody remember Ivan Lendl or Boris Becker??? They were supposed to be the end all.

[bobman1235]

While I would agree that in a lot of sports, who the best is is much more subjective, but when you're talking about singles tennis... number of wins is one of the only ways to judge the best, I'm sorry. I'ts not a team sport, the only real measure of your greatness is your record. You start bringing into account WHO you beat and it just gets silly - who's to say that one person in one era couldn't beat another in another era? Being great in a sport like tennis means beating all who oppose you, at that time. Do that consistently, and you're great. Do it more than anyone else, you're the best.

Comparing it to somehting subjective like audio is silly.

[ND13]

My "Favorite" male tennis players of all time.
Borg
Agassi
Edberg
Sampras
McEnroe
Pat Cash (yep, he was cool)
Forgot to put Chang in there, he always impressed me with his baseline game and how fast he was even though he had those stubby little legs. :D
Never really cared for Connors, though. He kinda got on my nerves.

One more, I like Roddick, too. Now you wanna talk about a serve, geeesh!!! 156mph is freakin nuts.

[heiney9]

What really bothers me is as much as I want to dislike Federer for whatever reason, it's just not possible to do. He's a really cool guy.

I agree and he has great talent. The biggest thing I dislike about tennis today is the power. There are no more finesse players like John McEnroe. I hate the fact that there is a huge lack of serve and vollyers in both men's and women's tennis. I attribute that to the power game.

H9

[heiney9]

My "Favorite" male tennis players of all time.
Borg
Agassi
Edberg
Sampras
McEnroe
Pat Cash (yep, he was cool)

Never really cared for Connors, though. He kinda got on my nerves.

McEnroe
Connors
Borg
Agassi
Sampras
Edberg
Becker

[heiney9]

While I would agree that in a lot of sports, who the best is is much more subjective, but when you're talking about singles tennis... number of wins is one of the only ways to judge the best, I'm sorry. I'ts not a team sport, the only real measure of your greatness is your record. You start bringing into account WHO you beat and it just gets silly - who's to say that one person in one era couldn't beat another in another era? Being great in a sport like tennis means beating all who oppose you, at that time. Do that consistently, and you're great. Do it more than anyone else, you're the best.

Comparing it to somehting subjective like audio is silly.

Well if you are just talking about wins then Jimmy Connors is the best because he has the most mens titles....so I guess that settles it! ;)

H9

[ND13]

Well if you are just talking about wins then Jimmy Connors is the best because he has the most mens titles....so I guess that settles it! ;)

H9

But all anyone seems to care about is majors for some strange reason, as if winning one of the other tournaments is easier to do

[heiney9]

Yeah and what about weeks ranked at #1 consecutively? I believe Connors or McEnroe has that streak as well. I guess this means once Tiger Woods eclipses Jack Nicholas's all time win record then Jack will be chopped liver. :)

H9

[ND13]

go Andre Go !!!!

[heiney9]

WOW That was a great 2nd set!

[bobman1235]

Does Andre remind anyone else of Yoda in Star Wars Ep 2? He can barely walk, all but hobbling onto the court, but he sprints around as soon as play starts. It's b'zah.

[heiney9]

Does Andre remind anyone else of Yoda in Star Wars Ep 2? He can barely walk, all but hobbling onto the court, but he sprints around as soon as play starts. It's b'zah.

LOL...put some ears on him and paint im green!

Win, he will...forseen it is

H9

[aaharvel]

Come On Agassi!!!!!!!