In the world of tennis, every individual who has reached the pinnacle of their game has drawn inspiration from figures who’ve played a crucial role in shaping their careers, enabling them to achieve new heights in the sport. While their careers are defined by their prowess with a racket, their admiration for icons from various domains beyond tennis reflects that inspiration can be found anywhere. This sentiment was vividly demonstrated by the emerging tennis talents, Ben Shelton and Sebastian Korda.
Despite excelling in tennis, Shelton and Korda recently participated in a general questionnaire alongside other ATP stars, sharing who they consider to be their Greatest of All Time (GOAT) figures outside of tennis. In this article, we delve into their selections, exploring the diverse inspirations that drive these remarkable athletes.
The survey, which included some of the biggest names in tennis, opened with Tommy Paul expressing his admiration for NBA legend Michael Jordan. Paul’s choice was indicative of a widespread sentiment among the participants. Ben Shelton, following suit, also chose Michael Jordan, lauding the basketball legend for his exceptional success. Hubert Hurkacz, too, turned to the realm of basketball, selecting Michael Jordan as his personal GOAT.
Meanwhile, Andrey Rublev ventured slightly off the beaten path, honoring the late Kobe Bryant as his own GOAT. The recurring theme of basketball legends as inspirations outside of tennis was becoming evident.
Stefanos Tsitsipas echoed the sentiment by showcasing his deep respect for Michael Jordan. However, Daniil Medvedev took a unique approach by combining two soccer giants, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, as his GOATs outside of tennis.
In a refreshing twist, Sebastian Korda deviated from the basketball-heavy trend, choosing to pay tribute to the golf legend, Tiger Woods. Woods’ dominance in the world of golf has left an indelible mark, making him a worthy choice as Korda’s GOAT.
These selections provide a glimpse into the diverse inspirations that drive ATP players beyond the confines of tennis. It is a testament to the fact that greatness transcends individual sports, and these athletes find motivation and admiration in figures from various domains.
Interestingly, this exchange of admiration is not exclusive to tennis. In the past, players from Liverpool FC, a popular English soccer club, participated in a similar exercise, naming their GOATs outside of soccer. It is intriguing to note that this exercise had some overlap with the tennis world, with legends like Roger Federer receiving recognition from the soccer stars.
