I was having a conversation with a tennis person on the debate of the GOAT in women's tennis. He asked why is this even a debate as it is obviously Serena. So I attempted to put my opinion aside and asked questions to define the scope of the issue.
When we are identifying who is the greatest what do you (the individual) look for? Total Grand Slams? If yes then the answer is Serena Williams (Open Era). End of discussion. She has 23 and Graf has 22.
This was accepted and the discussion was nearly short and boring until I was asked:
"Well what else is there?"
So here is the what else:
Graf vs Williams
Grand Slams - 22 (2nd all time) vs 23 (1st all time)
Singles Titles - 107 (3rd) vs 87 (5th)
Wins-Losses(%) - 900115 (88.7%) vs 858156 (84.6%)
Weeks at #1 - 377 (1st) vs 319 (3rd)
Those were what I thought to be the major stats in tennis but I am sure there are others that I am not thinking of. So I asked does a 1 slam difference make up for Serena's shortfall in the other stats?
The conversation ended with the agreement that it is a topic that can be debated. Very pleasant.
I know your position on this discussion so I am not asking for a war just another opinion. What stats should be included? How do you weight the numbers? I find it is the weights that often create the difference of opinion. Someone may say GS count is the end all be all. Someone may consider career titles a major stat comparable to Slam count.
Over to you.
When we are identifying who is the greatest what do you (the individual) look for? Total Grand Slams? If yes then the answer is Serena Williams (Open Era). End of discussion. She has 23 and Graf has 22.
This was accepted and the discussion was nearly short and boring until I was asked:
"Well what else is there?"
So here is the what else:
Graf vs Williams
Grand Slams - 22 (2nd all time) vs 23 (1st all time)
Singles Titles - 107 (3rd) vs 87 (5th)
Wins-Losses(%) - 900115 (88.7%) vs 858156 (84.6%)
Weeks at #1 - 377 (1st) vs 319 (3rd)
Those were what I thought to be the major stats in tennis but I am sure there are others that I am not thinking of. So I asked does a 1 slam difference make up for Serena's shortfall in the other stats?
The conversation ended with the agreement that it is a topic that can be debated. Very pleasant.
I know your position on this discussion so I am not asking for a war just another opinion. What stats should be included? How do you weight the numbers? I find it is the weights that often create the difference of opinion. Someone may say GS count is the end all be all. Someone may consider career titles a major stat comparable to Slam count.
Over to you.