Federer or Tiger?

[kill_time]

Huge debate on this lately as to who is the greater sportsman?
Both achieved amazing feats over the last few years. Both are arguably going to be considered the greatest of all time in their respective sports by the time they finish up so I put the question out there, who do you think is greater and why?

 

[gridfaniker]

Huge debate on this lately as to who is the greater sportsman?
Both achieved amazing feats over the last few years. Both are arguably going to be considered the greatest of all time in their respective sports by the time they finish up so I put the question out there, who do you think is greater and why?

woods. the competition is greater in golf than in tennis. for that reason — and the fact he couldn't win the french — I'm not so sure federer should be considered the greatest in his sport.

 

[kill_time]

Why do you say the competition is greater in golf?
While Woods has won all 4 Majors in gold Federer has twice been in the final of the French so could well win it yet. He's two Grand Slam wins off equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14 - who never won the French but is the greatest tennis player until Federer surely overtakes him. Even if he didn't equal his 14 total Federer is agreed by most to be the most naturally gifted player ever. They both stand second in all time major tournament wins in their sport and both hold the number one spot the longest also.

 

[gridfaniker]

Why do you say the competition is greater in golf?
While Woods has won all 4 Majors in gold Federer has twice been in the final of the French so could well win it yet. He's two Grand Slam wins off equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14 - who never won the French but is the greatest tennis player until Federer surely overtakes him. Even if he didn't equal his 14 total Federer is agreed by most to be the most naturally gifted player ever. They both stand second in all time major tournament wins in their sport and both hold the number one spot the longest also.

woods has won all four majors twice. he wins the US OPen and he will have won all four three times. He's faced stiffer competition year-in and year-out than federer.

Sampras was only arguably the best tennis player ever. Rod Laver is still the only player to win the slam, and has won each major at least twice.

I'd even throw Borg (six French and five wimbeldon titles) into the argument. The competition Borg faced in his career — Ashe, Nastase, Vilas, Gerulaitis, Connors, McEnroe — was far greater than Federer's.

 

[kill_time]

Again it's easily argued the other way especially regarding the competition Laver had. Sampras still had Connors and McEnroe albeit near the end of their careers, Chang while at top of his game, Agassi, Muster on clay who is like Nadal on clay. Nadal is pretty much the greatest clay courter ever so saying he's not competition is a bit unfair. A huge point about Federer is he makes the top ten players look very ordinary - he has near double figure winning streaks against many of the top ten. Had something like 14 straight wins against Roddick who isn't exactly terrible since he's won slams. And he dismantles his serve yet everyone else struggles with it, naturally. I still think Federer can win the French and pass Sampras's record.
I think tennis has huge competition - its easy to get a lowly player to beat a top guy but very rarely happens in the womens game. I think unseeded players are more likely to go further in a tournament than an outsider having a chance at winning a golf tournament amongst the worlds best.

 

[Trace]

In golf you don't play an opponent you play the course. I think there are many more variables is golf than tennis. Basically, in tennis you play 3 different types of courts.

Every course is different in golf.

I will give the edge to tennis in the hot girls in the crowd though.

Just my .02

 

[Southern_Yankee]

Why do you say the competition is greater in golf?
While Woods has won all 4 Majors in gold Federer has twice been in the final of the French so could well win it yet....

Dukey_2.0 ?

 

[kill_time]

In golf you don't play an opponent you play the course. I think there are many more variables is golf than tennis. Basically, in tennis you play 3 different types of courts.

Every course is different in golf.

I will give the edge to tennis in the hot girls in the crowd though.

Just my .02

There are 4 types of court in tennis...hard, clay, grass, carpet. Then there are different types of clay and hard, some fast and some slow, some in door and some outdoor. Each effecting the game differently. For instance Federer won in hamburg last year on clay just before the French beating Nadal in the final. He was helped because the clay in Hamburg is faster than that in the French and so he could play it closer to a hardcourt game.

 

[gottalaff]

There are 4 types of court in tennis...hard, clay, grass, carpet.

I'm new to tennis. What professional tournaments are played on carpet?

 

[Trace]

I'm new to tennis. What professional tournaments are played on carpet?

Table tennis in the livingroom.