[Chloe le Bopper]

I'm talking about people who have cases for and against -

People like Andre, and Pete are total no brainers.

IMO, among other active players who should eventually get in there -

Guga - 3 French Opens, committed Davis Cup play, number on in the world, masters series winner 5(?) times over, masters cup winner, and still has some good years ahead of him.

Kafelnikov - one of a few guys to win 25 titles in singles, and 25 in doubles, consistent top ten player over most of a decade, 2 time slam winner, several time doubles slam winner, dedicated Davis Cup player.

Well those are a couple, I'll leave it up to everyone else to argue for or against them, and make a case for other active, or recently retired players

 

[Daniel]

Guga!!!!! all his career has been glorious so far .

 

[the cat]

I'm tempted to say Guga is a clay court specialist. But knowing that this is Becca's thread, I won't say that! Actually when you look past his "major" success on red clay, you realize Guga is capable on hard courts and indoors, too.

But the thing that will hurt him with some voters is that his Grand Slam titles have only come on clay.

But I don't see any way that Kuerten can be kept out of the Hall Of Fame. He is an easy choice.

The same goes for Yevgeny Kafelnikov. He has had alot of ups and downs in his career. But 2 grand slam titles and an Olympic gold medal are his ticket to the Tennis Hall of Fame!

I think my assessment is fairly fair!

Players with 2 or more grand slam titles and made #1 on the ATP computer will get into the Hall Of Fame. I don't think anyone, male or female, with 2 or more grand slam singles titles, has been kept out of the Hall Of Fame.

Kuerten and Kafelnikov might have to wait to get into the Tennis Hall O Fame. But they will eventually get in. There is no doubt about it! :bounce:

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

Kuerten and Kafel aren't done either, so who knows what they will have ammassed at the end. Kafel might have a Davis Cup to add to that, and who knows - another slam?

Guga has more years left than Kafel, so I won't even guess.


"I'm tempted to say Guga is a clay court specialist. But knowing that this is Becca's thread, I won't say that! Actually when you look past his "major" success on red clay, you realize Guga is capable on hard courts and indoors, too.

But the thing that will hurt him with some voters is that his Grand Slam titles have only come on clay. "

Guga has won a hard court masters series (or two? ) and the end of the years indoor tournament though, and was an end of year number one.

If he won three wimbledons it wouldn't even be up for discussion.

YOu were being fair, but I always have a comment.

 

[Dissident]

Guga won Cincinatti Masters and Indianapolis beating the 2000 Safin in the final. Miami final losing a heart-breaking epic to Pete Sampras, and also reached the quarters of both the USOpen (twice) and Wimbledon. So, he is not a clay specialist.

Kafelnikov and Guga should be there.
Hewitt is too young or I would add his name too. He will be there someday, though, Im sure.

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

What about someone like Rafter or Chang? I can think of reasons for and against both.

Opinions?

 

[U.S. AIR FORCE]

Rafter. I think yes. 2 slams and 2 finals. Add in the #1 ranking. Did he win a Davis cup title? If so that would help his case. And I think he has 1 or 2 Grand Slam doubles titles. Though he doesn't have many career singles titles from what I can remember. Under 15 I thought?

Kafelnikov: I think so as well. 2 slams on different surfaces. I think he has 2 or 3 doubles slams as well? Plus his numerous singles and double titles. And the gold medal in the Olympics.

Chang: I don't know. 1 slam, no number 1 ranking. Has a lot of career titles. I believe he is the youngest to win a slam, right? Or at least male to win Roland Garros. Besides that fact I can't think of any else that is special in his career.

Guga: I think so. I would be surprised if he doesn't win another slam besides Roland Garros. I think he has a shot at Wimbledon if he would dedicate himself to it.

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

"Chang: I don't know. 1 slam, no number 1 ranking. Has a lot of career titles. I believe he is the youngest to win a slam, right? Or at least male to win Roland Garros. Besides that fact I can't think of any else that is special in his career. "


I don't agree with Chang either, but this is the arguement I have seen elsewhere -

He is arguabley the best player of Asian decent, ever. Youngest to win the French Open. Has won over 30 singles titles. COnsistent top tenner for years.

 

[U.S. AIR FORCE]

I don't agree with Chang either, but this is the arguement I have seen elsewhere -

He is arguabley the best player of Asian decent, ever. Youngest to win the French Open. Has won over 30 singles titles. COnsistent top tenner for years.

I'm not sure if his decent would be considered in his chance to get into the Hall of Fame. Chang's career reminds me of Conchita Martinez's career.

Both won one slam, and by winning those slams they both accomplished something special. Chang being the youngest male winner at Roland Garros, and Conchita being the only Spaniard to have won Wimbledon. And after winning their first slam finals, both lost the next two they played in: Conchita in Australia in '98 and Paris in '00; Chang in Australia in '96 and New York in '96. Both have won 30+ career titles in singles. Neither has been #1. And both were consistent top 10 players for years. While both have accomplished a lot in their careers you can't really put them against obvious Hall of Famers: Agassi, Sampras, Seles, Aranxta.

Conchita does have Fed Cup titles and I believe some Olympic medals. Not sure if Chang has a Davis Cup title or a Olympic medal. Both which could help in Hall of Fame consideration

 

[Lisbeth]

Definitely Rafter and probably also Hewitt already - 2 grand slams each and three conscutive Davis Cup finals (although Rafter was technically not on the team that won). Rafter also has two Wimbledon finals and I think at least semis in every grand slam (although I don't have time to check his RG results to confirm that). Also Rafter would just be a very popular choice, and it's obvious that does play a role even if it's not supposed to!

Guga should also be in easily. He is clearly the class clay player of the late 90s/early 00s.

 

[TennisHack]

Rafter: Yes.

Kafelnikov: Yes.

Guga: Yes.

Lleyton: Yes.

I also think Todd Woodbridge will be inducted after he finishes his career. He has a ton of titles in doubes, including 7 Wimbledons. He's also possibly the best-known men's doubles player still on the circuit.

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

number1kim - Rafter reached the semis at Roland Garros in 1997 I beleive.

Tennishack - Todd Woodbridge for sure. If I"m not mistaken he has won the most slams of any doubles player, and will soon pass the all time titles list? Something like that?
Among the most accomplished dubs players ever.

Though my stats are wrong I think, as I think McEnroe won 70 some odd dubs titles? But Todd has 60 something doesn't he already?

 

[U.S. AIR FORCE]

Todd has 73 doubles titles (13 Grand Slam doubles: 3 Australian's, 1 Roland Garros, 7 Wimbledon's, 2 US Open's)

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

Thankyou

He's a no brainer

 

[Dissident]

Oh God, those numbers
Pretty good, huh?

 

[tazban1]

My understanding is that it's not actually THAT hard to get into the hall. They may not get in the first year of eligibility, but I think the following should get there eventually:

Kafelnikov - 4 doubles slams on 2 surfaces, 2 singles slams on different surfaces, 1 slam final, 1 of only small handful of current players to have more than one title on all four surfaces, stint at number 1, ranked in the top 11 for the past 8 years, 1 of only 8 players in history to have one 25 titles in both singles and doubles, don't know how long - but for a while he was one of the only modern players to be in the top 10 for both singles and doubles (I know he qualified for the doubles masters tournament at least twice, he's also one of the only players to qualify for the singles masters tournament 6 (?) years in a row)

Guga - 3 slams, 16 total titles, 8 doubles titles, year-end number 1

Hewitt - 2 slams on 2 surfaces, 16 total titles, 2 doubles titles

Rafter - 2 slams, 11 total singles titles, 10 doubles titles, 1 or 2 weeks at number 1, several slam finals and semis.


I think Mark Woodforde (4 singles, 67 doubles) and Todd Woodbridge (2 singles, 74 doubles) should both be inducted eventually, as well. Odd, I always thought Todd was the more talented of the two so I'm surprised that he has fewer singles titles.

LOL, I was originally going to write "the Woodies should get in as a team" and suddenly realized that phrasing it that way might be a little too, er, provocative. Of course, I just wrote it now so I guess I'm not too concerned. Maybe the rest of you aren't as perverted as me.

Basically, I think anyone who has at least 2 slams has a good shot at getting in. Not necessarily that I think they should, but the committee isn't too strict as far as I know.

players on the bubble:

Goran Ivanisevic - 1 slam, 2 slam finals, top10 for several years, 22 singles titles, 9 doubles titles

Michael Chang - 1 slam, several slam finals and semis, 34 total singles titles, several years in the top 10

Paul Haarhuis - 54 doubles titles, 6 (?) of those slams.

 

[harry_potter]

moi

 

[the cat]

Harry in the Tennis Hall Of Fame?

Becca, Rafter will be in the Hall Of Fame. And I think Chang will eventually be inducted, too. His 1989 French Open win was the most surprising and amazing grand slam singles title in the history of tennis! And that will help him get inducted. Unfortunately that great win by Chang came at the expense of my favorite player at the time, Stefan Edberg.

Becca, thanks for recognizing my fairness where Guga is concerned! I always to to be fair. Even when I am irrational!

 

[harry_potter]

Harry in the Tennis Hall Of Fame?

when i become a lleyton fan as likely as when pigs fly

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

Shouldn't Chang, quite possibley being the most succesful player of Asian decent, count for something?