coach wrote:
Sampras is certainly in the conversation for greatest ever along with today's big 3 and Laver. Those 5 are clearly in the discussion and no order has yet been solidified.
One must clearly hate Serena for not acknowledging her greatness coupled with longevity. Losing in the finals these last few years has not tarnished her image. Young phenoms have come and gone but Serena keeps rolling along.
I've been a big Federer fan and always rooted against Nadal and I also never liked Serena but if you're a fan you have to acknowledge their greatness.
What has tarnished Williams' image is Williams herself. You would be hard-pressed to find a more ungracious champion in the game.
But when it comes to records in tennis and longevity in the game, nothing can now be taken at face value. Tennis is just as susceptible to doping issues as any other sport. We have it in the words of former WADA head Richard Pound, when he said a few years ago, "tennis has a doping problem". Of course it does. It is modern professional sport.