[Volcana]

I'll throw up stats later.

 

[AnomyBC]

Statistically, Lenglen was better. But that being said, if peak Seles played peak Lenglen, Seles would probably win 6-0, 6-0. (If they played on grass with wooden rackets it would be Seles 6-2, 6-1.)

 

[Sexysova]

you can't compare them omg

 

[homogenius]

Suzanne :rocker2:
I'd love to rewatch her Wimbledon's final against Chambers in 1919.Can someone post the vid ?

 

[Volcana]

Statistically, Lenglen was better. But that being said, if peak Seles played peak Lenglen, Seles would probably win 6-0, 6-0.

If peak Kournikova played peak Lenglen, peak Kournikova would win 6-0, 6-0.

If peak Kournikova was allowed to lay tennis at all. Same with peak Seles. If she got to play tennis at all, she might well overwhelm peak Lenglen. Or she, quite likely, would have been born into a family that didn't allow girls to participate in athletics. But the wooden racket comment ... have you ever PLAYED with wood rackets? I grew up with them.

Monica Seles' whole style would have failed with wood rackets. You just could NOT bash every single shot from the basleine with wooden rackets and succeed. The sweet spot was just too damn small. It's like using broadsword techniques with a screwdriver. The theory looks the same, to the uninitiated. But the practice?

Does. Not. Work.

 

[MistyGrey]

Cant compare...Monica Seles would not be able to put in a decent stroke with a wooden racket.. Suzanne would probably be overpowered in today's era. But based on what these two meant in their own eras, I'd have to say Suzanne.She is like the first grand dame of tennis...

 

[Jakeev]

I'll throw up stats later.

you were bored huh?

 

[hingis-seles]

If peak Kournikova played peak Lenglen, peak Kournikova would win 6-0, 6-0.

If peak Kournikova was allowed to lay tennis at all. Same with peak Seles. If she got to play tennis at all, she might well overwhelm peak Lenglen. Or she, quite likely, would have been born into a family that didn't allow girls to participate in athletics. But the wooden racket comment ... have you ever PLAYED with wood rackets? I grew up with them.

Monica Seles' whole style would have failed with wood rackets. You just could NOT bash every single shot from the basleine with wooden rackets and succeed. The sweet spot was just too damn small. It's like using broadsword techniques with a screwdriver. The theory looks the same, to the uninitiated. But the practice?

Does. Not. Work.

Exactly. Monica would fail miserably with wooden racquets with her game style, just like Hingis would trump the Williams Sisters every time if they played with wooden racquets. Players like Graf and Hingis would have exceled even with wooden racquets. Can't say the same for the big babe brigade that Seles spawned.

 

[Sam L]

This is like asking who was Greater: Alicia Markova or Marie Taglioni? Maria Callas or Giuditta Pasta?

Legends from different eras can't be compared especially when like Ted Tinling said Monica was the first true star that tennis has produced since Suzanne.

 

[Sammo]

Lenglen was local, even Mathilde Johansson is a much more complete player

 

[miffedmax]

If not for Lenglen, nobody would have heard of Seles. Or the Williams sisters.

Her historical importance far transcends her accomplishments or ability.

 

[Perseust]

BJK!!!

No one else comes close!!!

 

[bobito]

If not for Lenglen, nobody would have heard of Seles. Or the Williams sisters.

Her historical importance far transcends her accomplishments or ability.

That about sums it up. Lenglen was very possibly the most important tennis player, man or woman, of all.

 

[nathanj594]

The answer is always Peak Pierce.