This just in

[Hs0022]

 

[Hs0022]

Now I don't want to hear anyone say Fed is a weak clay court player. He played in the era of the best clay court players of all time. Take away Nadal and Fed has two calendar slams (he was in the final of FO twice when he won all the other three slams), and multiple FOs (like five).

 

[Hs0022]

That's 214 -144 for clay vs grass. So eat that stat Sampras, Becker, Lendl. Etc.

 

[Hs0022]

Fed also reaches another historic milestone with reaching #2, on all time match winners behind Jimmy Connors. If Fed is healthy I see him eclipsing that record in a shorter time than Jimbo!!

 

[nuraman00]

That's 214 -144 for clay vs grass. So eat that stat Sampras, Becker, Lendl. Etc.

How many clay wins do those others have?

 

[Hs0022]

214-144 clay to grass record for arguably the best grass court player of all time.

 

[nuraman00]

What is the ratio for Nadal, Borg, Djokovic, Steffi?

 

[Hs0022]

Have to look that up but here is a point to ponder, Becker given all his majestic aura never won a clay title. Came twice very close. Henman had one fantastic run to SF at Roland Garros. Rafter I am not sure had a lot of success on clay, Steffi was a legend on clay due to her baseline and all court capabilities.
Sampras I believe won maybe two clay titles.

The fact that clay surface did not change as much as others notably grass over the decades, it's a tremendous achievement what Fed accomplished on clay with his 90sqinch of play area and pre modern age racquets. And he was battling newer technology with his pro staff era frame for most of his career.

 

[Hs0022]

I think Becker had match points. I was a huge Becker fan and prayed he would win just one lousy clay title.

 

[nuraman00]

I think Becker had match points. I was a huge Becker fan and prayed he would win just one lousy clay title.

I was so so towards Becker (Courier was my guy from the early 90s, but ironically I missed all of his wins, and only saw his losses like in the 1991 USO).

But I was rooting for Becker during the 1995 Wimbledon. I remember his quote "I was born on Center court."

 

[nuraman00]

Becker made it to 3 FO SFs.

French Open SF (1987, 1989, 1991)

 

[nuraman00]

This is the match where Becker had 2 match points:

Runner-up 1995 Monte Carlo Clay Thomas Muster 6–4, 7–5, 1–6, 6–7(6–8), 0–6

He did win Doubles on clay during the 1992 Olympics, with Stich.

 

[Hs0022]

1995 was one of Becker's legit shots at the title I think. He had to pull out before a match maybe in round three with a wrist injury I think.

 

[Hs0022]

Actually in 1996 he pulled out (forced to withdraw during a match). Just googled it.

 

[Hs0022]

Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search

 

[nuraman00]

1995 was one of Becker's legit shots at the title I think. He had to pull out before a match maybe in round three with a wrist injury I think.

He lost to Sampras in the 1995 Finals.

He won the 1st set in a tiebreaker.

 

[nuraman00]

Reading Eagle - Google News Archive Search

That's pretty cool to see the newspaper clip.