Can women produce a great match like Fed - Nadal in the future?

Question

What do you think a future rivalry in women tennis? Last great slam final I remember is Venus - Davenport (2005 WImbledon) & Seles -Graf (1992 French Open). They all had to play long set in the third.

Answer 1

Yes, and No. The greatest match of Nadal/ Federer does not happen every Grand slam. Borg/McEnroe in 1980. Almost 30 years of gap ? I don't underestimate women's tennis. Many female players now are 6 ft or over, and with much more stamina. I would like the Slam organizers give female players some open options of 5 set match, instead of just 3sets. I have to see to believe.

Answer 2

Umm, maybe, but I don't think so.

Answer 3

Right now the only real potential rivalry I see is Sharapova-Ivanovic.  Those two are the top two players and are favorites at all tourneys.  Both are young enough to have at least several years of fighting for top spot.  Unfortunately both are struggling with consistency.

As for the greatest final match, I think Seles-Sabatini at the year end WTA Championships in 1990 when they went to the 5th set, 6-4 5-7 3-6 6-4 6-2 is the closest to this Wimbledon's final.  It was a combination of stamina and great tennis from both players.

Answer 4

I do believe that many of our former Ladies champions in the past have produced some of the games greatest matches. I did a little check and this is what I found.

From 1960 - at the four Majors - only 34 times did the finals went to a fifth set in the men's game, while in the Ladies finals at the four Majors, only 67 times since 1960 did the final went to a third set.

Of those finals only 6 of the 34 men's fifth set Grand Slam finals went the distance. They are:

1960 Australian Open - Rod Laver defeated Neale Fraser 5-7, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, 8–6

1980 Wimbledon – Bjorn Borg defeated John McEnroe 1-6, 7–5, 6–3, 6-7(16), 8–6

1988 Australian Open - Mats Wilander defeated Pat Cash 6-3, 6-7, 3-6, 6-1, 8–6

2001 Wimbledon – Goran Ivanisevic defeats Patrick Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7

2004 French Open - Gaston Gaudio defeated Guillermo Coria 0-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 8–6

2008 Wimbledon - Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7

Of the 67 Ladies three-set Grand Slam finals, only 10 of those finals went the distance. They are:

1976 Wimbledon - Chris Evert Lloyd defeated Evonne Goolagong Cawley 6-3, 4-6, 8-6

1981 US Open - Tracey Austin defeated Martina Navratilova 1-6, 7-6, 7-6

1985 US Open - Hana Mandlikova defeated Martina Navratilova 7-6, 1-6, 7-6

1987 French Open - Steffi Graf defeated Martina Navratilova 6-4, 4-6, 8-6

1991 Wimbledon - Steffi Graf defeated Gabriela Sabatini 6-4, 3-6, 8-6

1992 French Open - Monica Seles defeated Steffi Graf 6-2, 3-6, 10-8

*1995 Wimbledon - Steffi Graf defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 4-6, 6-1, 7-5

1996 French Open - Steffi Graf defeated Arantxa Sanchez Vicario 6-3, 6-7(4), 10-8

2001 French Open - Jennifer Capriati defeated Kim Clijsters 1-6, 6-4, 12-10

2005 Wimbledon - Venus Williams defeated Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6(4), 9-7

* This was the final that had that incredible 12 deuced game in the 11th game of the final set between Graf and Sanchez-Vacario. I remember it took more than 20 minutes for the two to complete that one game, and after the entire Centre Court crowd got to their feet and give both players a standing ovation. When last have you seen that happened in any match?

Yes women only play three sets versus the five sets that men play, and therefore it is possible to say that because of this fact, there is a higher chance that women will go to a third set quicker than the men playing a fifth set. However if we are only looking at matches that actually went the full distance in a final. From these results it's clear that more women's Grand Slam finals have gone the distance than men's Grand Slam finals.

Also a final set marathon tends to happen with more frequency in the women's game than it does with the men's. For example the years that it did happen in the men's game were 1960; 1980; 1988; 2001; 2004; 2008. While in the women's game a clear trend has emerged where it tends to happen at least 3-4 times every decade since 1960.

As for the future rivalries in the women's game. Well there are a lot of great players on the tour right now. In this past decade alone we have had more rivalries emerged from the sport from this decade alone than any other decade, e.g. Henin versus Clijsters, Henin versus S. Williams, S. Williams versus Capriati, Mauresmo versus Henin, S. Williams versus V. Williams, Sharapova versus the Williams sisters, Ivanovic versus Jankovic, Hingis versus Davenport, Hingis versus the Williams sisters, Davenport versus the Williams sisters.Therefore women's tennis has never had more depth than any other era in the history of the game.

And as we look to the future to decipher the next generation of players and rivalries, I believe with the two Serbs sitting at the top of the rankings now, you can expect some great stuff from them in the future. Also many are saying that women's tennis is going through another round of it's transitional phases where we are seeing the new crop of young players who will soon dominate the sport. This means that there is so much more great things to come in women's tennis.

I, for one can't wait to see the Radwanska sisters and the Bondarenko sisters come to form and start to dominate the game in the way most are saying they are capable of doing. LOL Then there are all the other young teenagers who are already making waves on the circuit. Players such as Szavay, Cornet, Wozniacki, Cibulkova, Kanepi, Zheng, Knapp, Dellacqua, Paszek. These are names that could do great things in the future but right now they're just tough floaters in any draw.

Answer 5

I think the women should have to win three clear sets like the men do. It's so sexist and unfair. People can win a match after losing the first two sets in the mens and it's about stamina and determination as much as anything. The William's sisters should stand aside and let some others through - they are SO boring to watch.

Answer 6

course they can

i jsut want to see, ana ivanovic v sharapova, right now in time what a great final that would be

Answer 7

I think part of the reason mens is so exciting is b/c of they play best of 5. which is a whole different monster. Can you imagine how boring Men's tennis would be if they played 3 measly sets? borrrrinnnnnnggggggg.  Anyways, I think it would help some women players out there!

Answer 8

We also had quite a few nice matches between Serena and Justine.  Unfortunately, how quickly The Belgians rose to the top, they chose to leave much earlier then expected.  However, with the increasing level of play on both tours, and the many up and comers in the womens game ( Radwanska is already #10, along with Szvay, Chakvetaze, Safina., Azarenka, Vaidisova, The Bondarenko's, Wozniacki, and so forth), I think the womens game will keep getting interesting. For now though while they have a few years left, and when healthy, Serena and Venus are clearly the best out there. Ivanovic, Jankovic, The Russians, and others will continue to display awesome tennis, and I believe because of the immense talent out there, no one woman will dominate as in years past.

Answer 9

No, there is no other pair like nadal-federer. it can not be reproduced. the uniqueness of these matchups at the french open and wimbledon can not ever bbe repeated

Answer 10

they may be produce a great match someday. but not as incredible as 2008 wimbledon final between fed & nadal.

because there's a different between men and women's play. men has a lot of power and stamina, while women might not had that much of power and stamina...

Answer 11

Absolutely not!  The rallies are either baseline or minimal to none existent.  With that said, the points go faster, 3 sets instead of 5, and unless you're looking for a panty flash the chance of a great match is minimal.

Answer 12

no

Answer 13

My guess is that will be between,Amanda Ceotzar and Hingis if they intend to participate in a tournament and try seriously...