Margaret Court beats Federer in greatest-of-all-time poll

An online reader poll has voted Margaret Court the greatest tennis player of all time.

1965. Ken Fletcher and Margaret Court playing mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 1965

Serena Williams had just blown another US Open final in a blaze of tension and nerves and unforced errors when Margaret Court sent a text message saying: “The 24 is always there to be broken but I don’t believe the 64 grand slams I won will ever be broken.”

Court’s belief is unquestionable there. Modern players do not even attempt what she did at majors.

They don’t win the mixed doubles final, have a shower, go back out and win the doubles, have another shower and a bite to eat and then go knock off the singles for good measure. When you pore over the fine details of her career, including the eight occasions she won the singles, doubles and mixed at a single slam, her numbers and accomplishments really are staggering – the enormity of it all perhaps lost these days when her strict and divisive religious beliefs turn attention elsewhere.

But even if you think Court’s Bible-inspired viewpoints are hideous, it doesn’t mean she won any less majors.

“I don’t hate anyone,” Court said in another text, and after The Australian’s online poll to scan public sentiment about the identity of the greatest player of all time, there’s more love for Court than even she might have expected. Her 24 singles majors, 19 doubles majors and 21 mixed doubles majors, plus the calendar-year grand slam, undoubtedly makes her the most successful tennis player who’s ever lived. So who’s to say she’s not deserving of the title of the greatest?

The poll attracted 1788 votes its in 24 hours and finished with Court (44 per cent) ahead of Roger Federer (26 per cent), Rod Laver (19 per cent), Williams (four per cent), Rafael Nadal (four per cent) and Novak Djokovic (three per cent).

Among the mountain of dear reader comments were these.

From a dear reader called John: “Interesting to see the support for Court. The difference between the 60s and the recent era is the sheer number of tennis playing countries and the degree of professionalism. Court and Laver weren’t facing anything like the degree of competition seen today.”

From a dear reader called Tom: “In the modern professional era, it has to be Djokovic. As much as people don‘t want it to be. Federer won many titles before Nadal and later Djokovic matured into adult players. When all three were at their best Roger struggled against both others. Too many of Nadal’s titles have been on one surface. Novak had to start his majors haul when the other two were already at their best, and at his prolonged peak nobody could touch him. Complete dominance over the whole field, demonstrated by his winning record over the other two GOAT contenders.”

From a dear reader called Bruce: “Can you imagine how much better Rod and Margaret would have been using the modern racquet and shoes. They were the best two ever, both unbeatable.”

From a dear reader called Marie: “As a fringe Wimbledon player when Margaret won her first in ’64 I would like to vote for her but many of her Australian titles were against sub- standard opposition. Margaret also became very nervous in big matches. Laver’s ’69 grand slam was exceptional but his ’62 grand slam was pre-Open tennis and he was not even in the best 10 players at that time. Hoad, Rosewall, Sedgman, Gonzales were far superior.”

Court’s 24 singles majors record is likely to be beaten by Williams, Nadal, Djokovic or no-one at all. Williams has 23 but she’s been trying and failing to match Court for three years. The scale of the achievement makes her tremble with tension but she gets another chance at Melbourne Park from next week. Williams takes on Ash Barty and Simona Halep and a host of accomplished modern players but you get the sense she’s really chasing Court. Nadal has 20 majors but his longevity is always a worry. Djokovic has 17 majors but perhaps four more years to go. Federer has 20 but he’ll only jag one more Wimbledon at best. If Court’s numbers are never beaten, in a number’s game, how can she be anywhere other than top spot? From a dear reader called Tim: “Margaret Court, easy. Unless you want to use gender and religious beliefs against her. And ageism as well. She is clearly the best.” And from a dear reader called Rosalind: “Margaret Court. End of story.”