What could have been....

[Rob ITST]

Take an all time great, and stick him in a different era. How would they do? For arguments sake, assume their playing style would not change, but training/nutrition/etc would be the same as others in that era.

Laver: He played in his best era. At 5 foot 8 inches, I think he would be dominated physically in more modern times.

Sampras: Stick him in the late 60's, and he dominates 3 of the 4 Slams. All on grass with wood racquets would suit him quite well. He'd still never win RG though.

Borg: He was bjorn 30 years too soon. The courts and equipment of today would have been a perfect fit. We'd have 4 guys splitting the Slams instead of 3.

Federer: Born 10 years too late. The 90's would have been his best era. Faster hard courts, faster grass courts, and I don't believe he benefits from today's equipment as much as the other guys. He would have struggled a bit more on clay, but overall he'd come out ahead.

Nadal: Like Laver, I can't imagine him playing as well in any other era. Take away the poly, give him a smaller racquet, and stick him on faster courts - he would still have dominated clay, but he would struggle to win any other Slams.

McEnroe: Like Sampras, the 60's would have been his best era. With his touch, he might have even been more successful on clay than he was in his own era (I don't care what surface we're on, I don't want to try to pass him at net if I'm using a wood racquet).

Djokovic: Probably would have been a bit better in the 90's. The smaller racquets would have been just fine for his clean strokes, but any earlier and his serve/volley would have been a liability.

Connors: Like Djokovic, the 90's would have been his best time. A great fit for the dawn of the baseliner era, but he hit too flat for today.

Agassi: He played in his best era. Like Djokovic, any earlier and his serve/volley holds him back. Like Connors, his flatter strokes don't benefit from the new strings.

Overall, I think Federer is the most versatile and could have adapted well to almost any past era. However, I think the 2000's was the last era he could do well in, because I believe the 1 handed bh will not hold up over the next 10 years and beyond. On the other hand, just as I think Nadal would have been less successful in past eras, I believe his style is where the game is headed, so his best era might not have happened yet.

[Tamthewasp]

Invalid question dude. What about Billie jean king HE was prob the greatest ever player

[djarvik]

Great topic! If I may, let me expand it from greats to possible greats.

Taylor Dent. 70s 80s. I think he could be a multiple major winner. He has the touch and the serve. Substruct the the injuries he could have had quite a carrer.

David Ferrer (current form) 90s. I think he would do great there. He could have been the Nadal of that era. He basically transformed form a pure pusher to a very competent baseliner. He doesn't miss, has a great passing shot and a under rated volley.

Agree with you about Roger, might be the only man capable of playing and being great in any era, that is why to me, personally, he is an exception that can be called the greatest ever, so far.

I am sure that there are other I would like to comment on, just a bit tired now.

[emate007]

Henman would have loved the 70s.

[Rob ITST]

If I may, let me expand it from greats to possible greats.

I like it.

[Tamthewasp]

What about Billie jean king? He must be up there? MUST BE

[Tamthewasp]

Henman would have loved the 70s.

Please don't ever say the devils name again

[Ali-Iqb93]

Agree with you about Roger, might be the only man capable of playing and being great in any era, that is why to me, personally, he is an exception that can be called the greatest ever, so far.

Spot on

[Tamthewasp]

Agree with you about Roger, might be the only man capable of playing and being great in any era, that is why to me, personally, he is an exception that can be called the greatest ever, so far.

Spot on

Ali agreeing with AL?
Has hell frozen over and I have not noticed?
Would Fed compete with same tools and traing as conner,Mcenroe and Borg

[Corbon]

Superior fitness, power, overall skills and that certain tennis intelligence. Give Roger a wooden racket and a time machine and he would win every slam of the 60's

[Corbon]

BTW Borg made several comeback attempts when he was still in his 20's and they were all crushed.

I think all the top players from the 60's would do rather well on the WTA tour.

[VillaJ100]

BTW Borg made several comeback attempts when he was still in his 20's and they were all crushed.

I think all the top players from the 60's would do rather well on the WTA tour.

I think he was in his 30's and was trying to play with a wooden stick in the mid 1990's. Just asking to lose.

Another one... lleyton hewitt. Sampras makes a good point in his autobiography how he was as much a victim of changing play styles as anyone, moved great but could completely terrorize anyone at the net with his passes and lob. Faster surfaces also help put some pop on his strokes which is why he's still good on grass. When everything was slowed he lost his main weapons of passing lobbing and returning as people just didn't play at the net anymore, and he doesn't have the out and out strength to outclub someone from the back. Probably born 5-7 years too late.

[Corbon]

That was his second comeback which I vaguely remember. His first one was still in the early 80's. Note that Connors was still playing with an antiquated racket that saw him reaching the SF of Wimbledon in '87.

[VillaJ100]

Who was the last slam winner with a wooden bat? Think it might have been yannick noah and mecir was the last slam finalist with one