In your opinion's, now which is the greater rivalry: Fedal or Djokodal?

[clout]

These two rivalries, along with the Fed/Novak rivalry are easily among the greatest in tennis history. However from a generational gap perspective, the Fed vs Novak rivalry loses just a bit of lust due to the fact that almost all their matches came when one of them were playing really well and the other wasn't exactly at their best yet/anymore (ex. Peak Novak vs 33/34 year old Fed or peak/prime Fed vs teenage/20 year old Novak). So by default, it usually boils down between the Djokodal and Fedal rivalries, but which one in your opinions is the greater one?
I used to think it was Fedal because of their contrast in styles, how they've dominated the tour together for extended periods of time and their places in history, but now I'm probably gonna side with Djokodal. These two clearly bring the best out of each other whenever they see one another on the other side of the net (as can be shown by their almost even h2h) whereas the entire Fedal rivalry until the last year or so, seemed to only bring the best out of Rafa (and now it seems to only bring the best out of Fed).
Also, the Djokodal rivalry is special because they've met pretty much everywhere. They've met in all 4 slams several times, all the Masters tourneys, WTFs, Davis Cups, and even played a classic at the Summer Olympics at one point in time. Age also plays a major role too as Nadal and Djokovic are separated by just one year whereas Fed is significantly older. So technically, Fed's longevity mixed with Rafa's early blooming is what helped the rivalry blossom.

 

[Standaa]

Nothing beats Fedal.

Nothing beats Djokodal except for Fedal.

 

[Junaid]

Djokodal. 26-25 lot closer than 23-15 or whatever it is. I actually think djokovic federer is better than fedal.

 

[JoelSandwich]

I think in terms of the best/greatest match/es
Fedal
In terms of which player is going to win the match (tough to call, 50/50 yadayada)
Djokodal

 

[Deleted member 756486]

Fedal wasn’t really a rivalry until AO 2017 imo.

Federer was pretty much Rafa’s whipping boy from 2008-2014 but Fed has changed this by winning the last 5 encounters.

 

[Deon Sanders]

On real tennis surfaces both Federer centric rivalries are relatively even at the top

 

[Daniel Andrade]

Difficult, but I will say Fedal.

 

[Pheasant]

Djoker vs Nadal is far better. Both of these players are only 1 year apart in age. So it is a same gem rivalry. Also, this rivalry is far closer.

 

[GabeT]

Fedal wasn’t really a rivalry until AO 2017 imo.

Federer was pretty much Rafa’s whipping boy from 2008-2014 but Fed has changed this by winning the last 5 encounters.

Agree. Fedal may end as the third best rivalry after Djokodal and Fedovik.

Fedal is the gossip magazine version of tennis rivalries, more glamour than substance.

Djokodal has the most matches, the only to have finals in all four slams. And Nole remains the only player that could put up a consistent fight on clay against NADAL.

And Fedovik is the forgotten stepchild of rivalries. The only one where each player beat the other in all four slams, and one where neither player ever dominated the rivalry for long, After Fed won the first four matches (back in 06/07) neither of the two ever managed to beat the other more than three times in a row. And they have been competitive against each other in all the surfaces, which is rare.

 

[DRII]

seems like the 'DAL' part is the most important!

 

[Junaid]

Fedal rivalry is like djokovic-Murray rivalry

 

[stringertom]

Fedovic rules!

 

[borg number one]

I think it's Federer - Nadal. Since Djokovic is third amongst the three, and even though Djokovic-Nadal has had a incredible rivalry, I'd say the Federer-Nadal rivalry (thus far) is likely to go down as the greater (more memorable) rivalry. That could change in the years to follow.

 

[joy-z]

Fedal because if their more contrasting styles.

 

[duaneeo]

I think Djokodal has provided more entertaining matches, but Fedal is the greater rivalry.

 

[KINGROGER]

Djokodal.

Fedal would’ve been better had Fed taken the 09 AO match as revenge for Wimbledon and / or won a match at RG.

Plus there’s the age gap.

 

[icedevil0289]

Agree. Fedal may end as the third best rivalry after Djokodal and Fedovik.

Fedal is the gossip magazine version of tennis rivalries, more glamour than substance.

Djokodal has the most matches, the only to have finals in all four slams. And Nole remains the only player that could put up a consistent fight on clay against NADAL.

And Fedovik is the forgotten stepchild of rivalries. The only one where each player beat the other in all four slams, and one where neither player ever dominated the rivalry for long, After Fed won the first four matches (back in 06/07) neither of the two ever managed to beat the other more than three times in a row. And they have been competitive against each other in all the surfaces, which is rare.

Fed/nole wins by having a lot of names. I've heard fedole, djokerer, fedovic and now apparently fedovik

 

[GabeT]

Fed/nole wins by having a lot of names. I've heard fedole, djokerer, fedovic and now apparently fedovik

Yeah, couldn’t remember which one was used the most. Fedole!

 

[icedevil0289]

Yeah, couldn’t remember which one was used the most. Fedole!

At this point I'm not sure lmao.

 

[clout]

Fedovic rules!

I love that rivalry too but the fact that both their primes/peaks hardly intercepted sorta puts it just a bit behind fedal and djokodal imo. If you look at both their careers, Federer's regular slam winning days were from 2003/04 till early 2010, and Djokovic's regular slam winning days weren't until 2011 till mid 2016. Also, by the time Fed began to regularly win slams again, starting in 2017, Djokovic began tailing off big time. In other words, a lot of their matches were either when Fed was in his prime playing against a much younger/inexperienced Djokovic, or it was Djokovic in his prime playing against a much older Federer. Nonetheless, I think Fedovic is solidly (at least) the third greatest rivalry in men's tennis history.

 

[upchuck]

Someone above said it best. Fedal is mostly hype, not a lot of substance.

Djokodal has been much more dynamic. A very layered and complicated rivalry. And very even.

 

[TenS_Ace]

FEDAL all the way..these 2 guys play against each other and have RESPECT for each other. My take is Fed is seriously annoyed by the Joker and his s_h_!_T

 

[MeatTornado]

What do you mean "now?"

Regardless of how you felt before today, should 3 good sets of tennis without a conclusion be swaying anyone's votes right now?

 

[ohiostate124]

Fed vs. Djokovic

 

[beltsman]

Lots of people are forgetting the epic Fedal encounters 2004-2008, before Bull completely took over and whipped Fred. So for that reason, Fedal is now UNDERRATED. People have short-term memories.

 

[metsman]

Fedal may have produced some fun tennis but hard to call it a rivalry when Federer was Nadal's BUTLER for YEARS in big matches. At least Nole had the STONES to make it a rivalry.

 

[RS]

Fedal match the Djokdal epics IMO in the 2005-2009 years. Miami 2005,AO 2009,Wimbeldon 2007-2008,Rome 2006,FO 2005-07,Hamburg 2008,MC 2006 can compare to Madrid 2009,AO 2012,USO 2010-11,Hamburg 2008,FO 2013-14,Queens 2008. Djokovic and Nadal have had a more competitive rivalry so it gets the edge.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Fedovic > Djokodal > Fedal imo

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Fedal will always be the greatest rivalry in our sport.

Both of Djokovic's rivalries with Fedal are also stellar viewing though.
I've gotta go rewatch some old Djok matches now I like the guy. Some GOATing Masters finals in there.

 

[Rabin]

Fedal, nothing else even comes close. Fedovic and Djokodal may have been closer, they may have even at times produced better matches (though I think people have forgotten about the 2004-2009 epics, they were mostly very close) but a rivalry is about emotions, at least for me.

 

[stringertom]

I love that rivalry too but the fact that both their primes/peaks hardly intercepted sorta puts it just a bit behind fedal and djokodal imo. If you look at both their careers, Federer's regular slam winning days were from 2003/04 till early 2010, and Djokovic's regular slam winning days weren't until 2011 till mid 2016. Also, by the time Fed began to regularly win slams again, starting in 2017, Djokovic began tailing off big time. In other words, a lot of their matches were either when Fed was in his prime playing against a much younger/inexperienced Djokovic, or it was Djokovic in his prime playing against a much older Federer. Nonetheless, I think Fedovic is solidly (at least) the third greatest rivalry in men's tennis history.

Just my opinion but their slightly contrasting styles and abilities to raise their games for the matchup always produced close matches that were edge of the seat type viewing. Across three surfaces (fourth if you add indoor HC), 4-4 on clay, 1-2 on grass for Joe, 13-12 fedr outdoor HC, 5-4 Joe indoor HC Eight matches in peak 2015 and 32/33-year old fedr still managed 3 wins. Three slam SFs in 2011 and fedr derailed the CYGS in his one win. Back-ro-back USO SFs with MPs saved by Joe Kovic in '10-'11.

As good as it gets.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Both have their share of stinkers

 

[King No1e]

Fedal rivalry is like djokovic-Murray rivalry

Nailed it on the head. Both rivalries are overhyped and publicized in the media, when in reality it's just a one-sided affair

 

[Red Rick]

Both have their share of stinkers

Every matchup has

Except for Nishikori Raonic it seems.

I would have added Fedovic to the poll honestly

 

[King No1e]

Just my opinion but their slightly contrasting styles and abilities to raise their games for the matchup always produced close matches that were edge of the seat type viewing. Across three surfaces (fourth if you add indoor HC), 4-4 on clay, 1-2 on grass for Joe, 13-12 fedr outdoor HC, 5-4 Joe indoor HC Eight matches in peak 2015 and 32/33-year old fedr still managed 3 wins. Three slam SFs in 2011 and fedr derailed the CYGS in his one win. Back-ro-back USO SFs with MPs saved by Joe Kovic in '10-'11.

As good as it gets.

Djokerer is in reality what Fedal is made out to be

 

[Red Rick]

Nailed it on the head. Both rivalries are overhyped and publicized in the media, when in reality it's just a one-sided affair

Hey now

Murray is actually unbeaten vs Djoko on his best Slam.

 

[zagor]

Djokodal and Fedovic are both better than Fedal.

 

[Red Rick]

Just my opinion but their slightly contrasting styles and abilities to raise their games for the matchup always produced close matches that were edge of the seat type viewing. Across three surfaces (fourth if you add indoor HC), 4-4 on clay, 1-2 on grass for Joe, 13-12 fedr outdoor HC, 5-4 Joe indoor HC Eight matches in peak 2015 and 32/33-year old fedr still managed 3 wins. Three slam SFs in 2011 and fedr derailed the CYGS in his one win. Back-ro-back USO SFs with MPs saved by Joe Kovic in '10-'11.

As good as it gets.

There's a few things that hamper Fedovic, the biggest one being that they were never really on top together, and I think they only played like 4 Grand Slam finals?

Crazy to think that until Wimbledon 2014 they'd only played 1 GS final.

 

[Raining hopes]

Fedovic ,nothing actually comes close .Not in terms quality nor tactical approach.Even when one of Djoker or Fraud play like god the matches still have good competitive stretches.


Djokodal is one dimensional war

Fedal at it's best has the best level of play but it's one match out of 5, others have predictable ends.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Every matchup has

Except for Nishikori Raonic it seems.

I would have added Fedovic to the poll honestly

RAFA + Nole has the advantage of being "a closer" rivalry due to the amount of matches they've played -- when they had played as many as Fedal currently their h2h was almost identical at 22-16 IIRC. Early in the rivalry RAFA won the most of the matches with Djoker retiring in a few, while Novak went 7-0 twice. For me rivalries should ideally be that either player has the chance of winning at any given time while this rivalry has mostly just been the other player beating the other one thanks to being in better form in a certain period of time.

 

[King No1e]

Hey now

Murray is actually unbeaten vs Djoko on his best Slam.

Federer leads Nadal at Wimb too. Also Djoker is 5-0 at HIS favorite Slam

 

[King No1e]

Lots of people are forgetting the epic Fedal encounters 2004-2008, before Bull completely took over and whipped Fred. So for that reason, Fedal is now UNDERRATED. People have short-term memories.

Nothing on the level of Djokodal matches at USO11, AO12, RG13, etc

 

[beltsman]

Nothing on the level of Djokodal matches at USO11, AO12, RG13, etc

Mostly true but it had the dynamic of surface tug of war.

 

[DJTaurus]

Greatest rival till now is fedal. In terms of tennis quality djokodal. Isn’t that obvious ? Nadal by himself has named nole on his prime best tennis player he has ever faced. End of story.


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[CentreCourt]

Djokovic v Nadal is more unpredictable. Each player can beat the other, any day on any given surface. Forehand v backhand. Hard to even say who is better at what at times. In terms of a head to head matchup, it is the best tennis has to offer.

Federer v Nadal is a greater match though, invariably. But there are more blowouts due to other factors; surface, court speed, weather, indoor v outdoor, etc. It really depends what you're looking for.

Nadal v Djokovic are similar players and it's sheer brutality.

Nadal v Federer is like a meeting of styles

 

[DJTaurus]

those who are watching the match now. Fedal who? This is stroke of genius on steroids!!!!!!


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[sredna42]

djokadal

 

[TJfederer16]

Nothing will ever beat the mystique and aura behind a fedal match but djokodal has definitely earned its place alongside the greats for sure, amazing match today