Some years back I was watching Wimbledon, a match was rained off and to fill in the time, the BBC showed a classic match featuring two players whose names I've unfortunately forgotten. One was a Spanish / South American sounding name. To give you an idea of how old this match was, they still played with white tennis balls. The match was mesmerisingly brilliant - far better than anything I've seen for a long time. If only I could remember the chap's name.....
He has hardened the f*** up to get back to where he is now and I am glad he knows how to cry. Nothing is worse than a guy who shows off with an attitude like you won't ever see me crying baby.
That's because back in the good old days they didn't have the racquet technology to slam the ball so hard, so games didn't just devolve into the interminable baseline rallies of the modern game (this phenomenon is particularly bad in women's tennis, especially since Hingis has left the game).
This is very relative question how long can one man stay great (ever) until another man breaks his record. Given the past record of other Grand Slam winners R. Federer is currently one of the greatest tennis players of our times but.... As the technology of equpiment continuously evolves (from wooden rackets to hi tech composite materials with more aerodynamic frames) and training methodologies improve (players become much stronger and employ powerful techniques e.g. heavier topspin and faster serve) there will still be new record breakers and tough players in the future to come.
Many like his humble, human, sentimental style. No vicious, pretentious, ostentatious warrior this. Tough on court and a softie when the battle is over.
Perhaps the classic Pancho Gonzales - Charlie Pasarell match which was the longest ever played - indeed, so long that it led to the introduction of tie-breaks. The third set was something absurd like 30-28. (Correction; 22-24, 1–6, 16-14, 6–3, 11-9 - it lasted over 5 hours)
Rod the Rockhampton Rocket is my vote for the greatest ever - two calendar Grand Slams, one as an amateur the second as a professional.