I was having this discussion with a colleague the other day about what would look better for Andy's legacy. 6 slams ( say 4 Wimbledon and 2 USO) plus 20 Masters but with no IW or MC. Or 5 slams with career slam plus the career golden Masters (16 total) completing the set, which would make Andy the only player to achieve this.
I would actually take the basic complete set of 4 slams, 9 masters, 1 OG and 1 WTF (ie. 1 of each slam and masters) over 6 slams and 20 masters simply because of the unique achievement. It would show incredible versatility, although the time frame it is achieved over would influence how it is viewed historically.
The alternative is a fantastic career but not top tier all time great and not unique.
It's safe to assume that Nadal's chances (esp. at Paris/WTF) and Federer's chances for OG are very little.
Murray and Djokovic still have time till they get 33-34 to call it a career. At least they have a higher mathematical chance to complete the all big titles set, if their bodies will hold up.
I don't think too many players would swap 8 Slams for a CGS.
It is really only a tiebreaker, and even then it is questionable.
To say Agassi for instance is better than Lendl/ Connors, or even Mac is very much debatable.
Sampras will always be better than Nadal too.
Even on the OP, 6 Slams is still more than 5.
If Murray got 5 Slams and the CGS, it may equal him with Becker and Edberg, but not better imo.
The Career Golden Masters is such a novelty that is not yet in the equation in my book.
I doubt it will ever be done.
Good topic. I had a similar thought the other day.
Would I prefer Murray to win say another 2 Wimbledons & 1 more USO and finish on 6 slams OR win just one AO/RG - complete the CGS and finish on 5 slams?
He would part of a very exclusive group of players if he completed the CGS. So definitely prefer the second option. Plus, I think the last Grand Slam he will fade at is Wimbledon. I think he could win Wimbledon at 33/34.
you should change the numbers, 4 slams and 16 masters AND it happening to be the Golden set is too much in comparison too a marginally more 6 slams and 20 masters
it should be a question of like 8 slams and 25 masters titles versus the Golden Set of everything
because the complete set has yet to be accomplished and would be a prettyyyy big deal. Although each year it seems to be marginally less impressive with the surfaces being less extreme
you should change the numbers, 4 slams and 16 masters AND it happening to be the Golden set is too much in comparison too a marginally more 6 slams and 20 masters
it should be a question of like 8 slams and 25 masters titles versus the Golden Set of everything
because the complete set has yet to be accomplished and would be a prettyyyy big deal. Although each year it seems to be marginally less impressive with the surfaces being less extreme
Nah. I think that's way to big of a gap. If Andy wins AO and RG next year and gets to 5 slams I don't think many people will be comparing him to 8 slam winners like Connors or Lendl.
With 6 slams that's just one slam more and the Career slam IMO would make up for the one lost slam as it would be a rare achievement. Anything more than 6 slams is too much though.
I don't think that getting the complete set matters so much when Andy trails the other three in actual number of titles, sure CGS is worth talking about for GOAT rankings but unless Andy gets in double figures for slams of 23+Masters it doesn't matter whether he was able to fluke IW or RG once
I really don't understand how can a player with mere 3 measly slams be compared to the tier 1 greats with double digit slams and triple digit weeks at #1.
Maybe not in terms of numbers, but it is a more unique achievement.
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