Dominic Thiem would like to exchange titles with Stefanos Tsitsipas
Swap success in Beijing 2019 for winning the ATP finals in London a few weeks later? Dominic Thiem submitted this offer to Stefanos Tsitsipas . In tennis history, however, there would have been far better exchange options.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Apr 14, 2020, 08:53 am
The Asian tour, which is scheduled for the ATP tour in autumn in regular years, did not bring Dominic Thiem much joy and success in his career. Until last year: The Austrian won the ATP Tour 500 tournament in Beijing with a final victory against Stefanos Tsitsipas. A few weeks later, the two faced each other again in a final, the ATP Finals in London, this time Tsitsipas held the upper hand, which Thiem did a few days ago at "Kasi Live" (daily from 6:00 p.m. in our Instagram account "tennisnetnews" ) prompted his Greek brand colleague to suggest an exchange for the tournament win: Beijing for London, how about it?
Of course, Tsitsipas would have a lot more to lose than Thiem in such a deal. In the history of tennis, however, there would have been negotiating bases that would have promised much more than switching a 500 victory against the unofficial world championship title. We thought for a moment.
Exchange pair 1: Björn Borg and John McEnroe
That's how it was in the time before Novak Djokovic , Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer , dear children: Not all wishes came true. Björn Borg, for example, the great Swede, could not win the US Open because of his killing. Because John McEnroe was standing in his way too often. He, in turn, has always tried in vain at the French Open. It was there that Borg won six titles. Suggestion: John separates from a US Open triumph (maybe that 1981), Björn surrenders his French Open victory from the same year.
Exchange pair 2: Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker
No, Boris Becker would under no circumstances hand over one of his three Wimbledon titles. Ivan Lendl would have to come around the corner with an offer that was Don Corleone quality. But Lendl would probably not be fooled - after all, he was never able to realize his dream of success on Church Road. It was this Becker in the way in 1986, Pat Cash in 1987. However, it is now the case that the Red Baron could not celebrate a single tournament victory on the red ashes. Our suggestion: Ivan throws Roland Garros in 1987, Rome in 1988, Hamburg in 1989 and Munich in 1993. And Boris turns a blind eye to Wimbledon in 1986.
Exchange pair 3: Mats Wilander and Pete Sampras
Speaking of Roland Garros: Pete Sampras had decided early on to beat Roy Emerson's record of Grand Slam victories (who had won twelve major titles). Pete ended his career with 14, but none of them was at the French Open. Mats Wilander, on the other hand, did only one faux pas in the magical year 1988 (in which Sampras had not yet played a role in world tennis. A year later at the US Open, however, the American won in round two in five sets against Wilander): in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon against Miloslav Mecir. Australia, Paris, New York, three majors in one year for Mats. Who also won in Paris in 1982 and 1985. Sampras, on the other hand, ended his career with seven Wimbledon titles. There would be something!
Exchange couple 4: Martina Hingis and Steffi Graf
With good reason one can ask here: What does Steffi Graf actually need? Been there, done that. This applies to every task that German tennis has posed. Whether at majors, the Olympic Games or in the Fed Cup. Immediately Ivan Lendl (see above) Martina Hingis would have to come around the corner with an outrageous offer so that she would do business with Graf. The following variant would be available: Hingis is pushing two Australian Open titles in the direction of Graf, which would result in a total of 23 majors in single, so it would be equal to Serena Williams. In return, Hingis would get the victory at the French Open 1999, which the Swiss woman had booked for herself in the spirit and of course much too early.