Top Seven most popular tennis rivalries of all times
The world of tennis is spotted with rivalries, some of which have prolonged for decades.
Such is the magnitude of these conflicts that when the name of one player comes out, the rival’s name is just like a physiological reaction.
In spite of the fact that the world of tennis is full of exciting rivalries such as Connors-Borg, Becker-Edberg as well as Connors-McEnroe, however here is a list of top seven most fascinating one’s that has managed to hold the attention of the fans even today.
1. Ken Rosewall versus Rod Laver from1963 to 1976
The Australian tennis player Rod Laver and Rosewall had a long rivalry stretched over a time period of fourteen years. They played against each other in a total of one hundred and thirty matches. Overall a match score of 79-63 favors Rod Laver out of the two players.
In spite of the fact that they were extremely famous rivals, each had tremendous respect for the other's tennis and their competition was considered to be very courteous beyond any measure of speculations.
In 1956 both of the contesters made a trip in the amateur circuit but seemingly never played against each other. Rosewall turned professional in the year 1957 and the two players couldn’t face each other until 1963 when Laver also turned pro. They contested on several occasions until 1976 when both of them were semi retired from the major tours.
2. John McEnroe versus Bjorn Borg from 1978 to 1981
"The "McBrat”versus Ice Borg". Their competition was most particularly as a result of their distinct playing styles of the game of tennis, one unruffled and cool, the other allowing his sentiments take the better of him.
Both of them played against each other for a total of fourteen times and were squared at 7-7.However, John McEnroe at last knocked down 'The Ice Borg' in the grass court Grand Slam tournament as well as United States Open back in 1981, meaning by concluding the Swede's supremacy.
3. Chris Evert versus Martina Navratilova from 1973 to 1988
This is truly a competition that is incomparable and will be written in the history of the game beyond any doubt. Both of them were rivals on the courts of tennis while surprisingly best friends off the tennis courts.
Their contestation fascinated the tennis fans and changed the women's tennis radically. Of their 80 clashes, Navratilova is ahead of the two by a total of forty three matches to thirty seven.
4. Monica Seles versus Steffi Graf from 1988 to1989
Their fourteen match competition was interrupted as a result of disastrous stabbing of Monica. Had it not been the case, probably the tennis lovers would have experienced even greater thrill and excitement like Evert and Navratilova. Graf is ahead in their clashes with a total of nine victories to five.
5. Andre Agassi versus Pete Sampras from 1989 to 2002
It was definitely one of the best and most exhilarating on court tennis competitions. Out of the thirty four games contested, "Pistol" Sampras is on the higher side with a total of twenty victories to fourteen. They have faced each other on five occasions in the Grand Slam finals, out of which Andre has succeeded just once, back in 1995 Australian open championship.
6. Serena Williams versus. Venus Williams from 2000 to present
The Williams sisters grabbed the attention of the entire tennis world in the early twenties. In 2002 as well as 2003, both the sisters faced each other in the finals of all the four Grand Slam tournaments, being the only sisters to do so in the rich sporting history.
They have met over sixteen times however Serena Williams is on a leading edge however, Venus still has that flair to lead her sister in the next couple of years.
7. Rafael Nadal versus Roger Federer from 2005 to present
It goes without any question that Federer- Nadal rivalry is the best one in the present age.
Rafa, the clay court winner, knocked down the defending grass court Grand Slam champion Federer at 2008 Wimbledon after a long five-set match, concluding Federer's match winning streak of sixty six at the All England Club at last.
They have faced each other more than eighteen times, out of which Nadal; the recent Wimbledon 2010 champion has succeeded more. Fanciers all around the world now are hoping for another Federer-Nadal matchup in the upcoming United States Open champion this year.
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