Comments on: Forget ‘Fab Four’, Men’s Tennis Still More Competitive

By: Liam Lenten

Liam Lenten — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 04:20:53 +0000

Hi Nick. Well, if your definition of competiveness is purely what goes on with the just the top handul of players, then yes, surely women’s tennis has been more competitive of late and the figures will bear that out. My point, however, was simply that the men’s tour is about more than just four individuals. There is, admittedly, a degree of judgement about just how many players should be counted, but again, if we are talking about the ‘Tour’, then it makes sense to me that all WTA/ATP games should be counted.

By: Nick Evans

Nick Evans — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:32:51 +0000

Apart from Serena Williams skewing the figures by preferring to use her time preparing for major tournaments, rather than picking up ranking points in other competitions, does this analysis actually show what you claim? How many of the matches involving one of the top 4 men were upsets?

After all, the men’s game can still be less competitive if the same 4 guys reach the semifinals every time they compete, even if the no.17 beats the no.15 more often than happens in the women’s game.