Roger Federer, Serena Williams? Who makes our tennis five-a-side team?
Imagine if we could put together a five-a-side football team made up of some of the best current tennis players in the world. Well, here on Tennis 365 that’s exactly what we have done.
Goalkeeper
Let’s start from the back by choosing the goalkeeper. There are certain qualities which make a good shot stopper and those include a high level of concentration, two strong hands, a tall frame and in recent years, a German passport.
With all that in mind, there is no better contender than Alexander Zverev. Standing two metres tall, the current German No 1 not only has the right physical attributes, but also comes from a nation with a proud footballing background.
Defence
Next we need someone at the back. There are many contenders which spring to mind such as Andy Murray, David Ferrer and even Gael Monfils. However, there can only be one realistic choice and that is Novak Djokovic.
The Serb might be going through a tough period at this moment, but he is likely to go down in history as one of the finest defensive players. For that reason, he is definitely going into our dream team.
Midfield
In midfield we need a couple of players who are able to dominate but also have the creativity to produce chances.
In order to meet the criteria we have chosen two of arguably the best players in history; Roger Federer and Serena Williams. With 43 Grand Slams between them you are unlikely to find a more decorated pairing anywhere in sport.
While Federer has the ability to produce the Messi-esque moments of magic, Williams has a dominant presence which any good midfield requires.
What’s more, both of these individuals are also team players as seen throughout Williams’ doubles career and Federer’s contribution during Switzerland’s recent Hopman Cup triumph.
Attack
Lastly, we require a forward and there certainly isn’t a lack of choice. While we could run through dozens of names, we decided to go for Garbine Muguruza.
The Spaniard’s style is often described as explosive and that is definitely an important characteristic in a forward. The current Wimbledon champion would without a doubt run through defenders and take chances; a trait that has brought her two Slams in the same amount of years.
Disagree with any of our picks? Make sure you comment below with your suggestions.
By Sebastian Sternik
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