Why is it harder to win grandslams than any other tournaments?
By betterdays
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
Philippines
September 8, 2012 2:15am CST
I have seen a lot of great players who wins a lot of minor tournaments but when it comes to the grandslams, they fail to continue those great runs. Why is this the case? I see players like Marcelo Rios and now Andy Murray who have collected a lot of trophies with minor tournaments beating players whom they always lose when they meet them in major tourneys like grandslams. What factors are involved in this? Is it due to mental toughness or lack of confidence? Is it due to the endurance needed for grandslams because they are best of five sets games? How about you, what are your opinions with this?
8 responses
@lakerfanster (2577)
•
28 Sep 12
Grand Slam's are where the players are most up for the game. It matters much more as the stakes are so high. Also the depth of the competition is not as strong as in Grand Slam's as some players are playing a different warm up Tournament somewhere other than a Rival.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
I would agree, and I believe before grandslam events they choose tournaments that have the same surface with the next grandslam to prepare for that event the best way. So for example, when the US Open is about to begin within a few months the top players joins as many hardcourt tournaments which is similar to the surface in the US Open as the best preparation when the US Open begins.
@lakerfanster (2577)
•
28 Sep 12
Yeah there are a few Grass Tournaments in the run up to Wimbledon for instance.
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
9 Sep 12
There is more competition and better competition. In most smaller tournaments there will be one or two players that are considered some of the worlds best, in grand slams nearly every player is a top ranking player. That means that in the qualifying matches are all games are like finals, meeting one of the best players in the world so it is very tiring and draining and that means by the final, only the players that are in perfect shape both mentally and physically that day will win.
1 person likes this
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
I would agree, and having said that I believe the higher seeded players have bigger edges because they are always matched with weaker players. So the top two tennis players in the world have the best chances to win in most cases due to the match ups.
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
8 Sep 12
It is some of what you said. Also, they are longer with more top players in the draw than most other tournaments. Also there is a lot more pressure in them especially on the top players to live up to their reputations and ranking. This is true for the women also even though they are still playing best of three.
1 person likes this
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
Yes, speaking about the mens and the womens tennis grandslam tournaments, I wonder which one is more popular. For me, I watch mostly the men's tennis tourney mainly because I'm a man but I wonder if there are more people watching women's tennis than men's tennis, or is it the other way around?
I would agree that most or all of the top ten tennis players are often inside the draw of the grandslam tourneys because grandslams gives the biggest points for the players which could lead them to higher ratings.
@swissheart (6482)
• Romania
8 Sep 12
I'm thinking another factor might be the imense preasure especially if you play in your country.
1 person likes this
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
Yes, I would say the pressure in grandslam tourneys are much higher than any other kinds of tournament because it is the highest and most respected tournaments in tennis and one which gives the highest points for players to improve their ratings. I would agree playing in one's own country would be greater pressure like whenever Andy Murray plays in Wimbledon or when Roddick plays in the US Open or whenever Lleyton Hewitt plays in the Australian open or whenever Cedric Piolin plays in the French Open ( I'm so sorry about the old and retired players I have mentioned because i can't think of the newest players in those respective countries for now...lol ).
@swissheart (6482)
• Romania
8 Sep 12
maybe it's because you have to win 3 sets out of five( in the guys circuit). there were many numeber 1 in the world who never won a grand slam tournament. i don't like andy and I don't consider him an exceptional tennis player. antoher important factor is the fact that a grand slam tournament lasts for 2 weeks. there many good tennis players in the grand slam tournament. they practically reunite the best in the world. while in a normal tournament some really good tennis players might not participate.
1 person likes this
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
Yes, we could mention a lot of great players who never won any grandslams. One of them is Marcelo Rios who even became number 1 in the world but never won a single grand slam.
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
You're probably talking about winning the grandslams three times in a row and I would believe you're right, because only a few players ever had accomplished such a feat. If I'm not mistaken, I believe some players even won the 4 granslam events in the same year. Even winning the 4 granslams in any year is so difficult that only a handful of players have done that.
@shreed_14 (460)
• India
5 Oct 12
Hello there.
You are absolutely right. I have noticed that as well.
In addition to the factors mentioned by you, I think the pressure involved in a Grand Slam also takes a toll on the player mentally. Winning a Grand Slam is a huge deal and every nation prays for their countrymen to bring the honor. And it depends on how a player handles this pressure. Many collapse under this load.
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
8 Sep 12
Hey u are absolutely correct. Actually the Grand slams are usually a very big stage with so many crowd and this puts a lot of pressure on the players as they have to play well in front of so many crowd. Experience matters in this case and even big and best players fail to deliver at such a stage. Mental toughness is also one factor that a player at a grand slam should have. Also playing best of five set games that can possibly extend to a five setter is not a small thing. it requires lot of patience and stamina.
What say?
1 person likes this
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
28 Sep 12
I agree with all your observations, subjojit. Concerning grandslams, I'm so glad my favorite player Murray finally got one! I believe now he believes more easily that he could win one, so it should be easier for him to win his second grandslam and so on.
