BGod
G.O.A.T.
I have some really old threads I started about this I'd rather not unearth due to other content. Plus it's time for a fresh discussion after Novak's latest failure which like Federer he had two bites at the apple.
The Curse
1926-Bill Tilden fails to defend his USO title for a 7th consecutive time losing in the Quarterfinals to Henri Cochet
Nobody manages to win 5 consecutive Slams until Roy Emerson at the AO from 63-67 and the Open Era begins.
Emerson did not defend his AO title signing a pro contract and would lose in the 3rd Round in 1969.
Nobody manages to win 4 consecutive Slams until Borg accomplishes this and extends to 5 at Wimbledon from 1976-1980.
Borg loses the 1981 Final up a set in the tiebreak, the following year he's done dirty by the ITF and effectively pushed out of Slams where he is the 4 time defending French Open champion.
Nobody manages to win 4 consecutive Slams until Sampras at Wimbledon from 97-00, he loses in 5 to Federer at the R16 in 2001.
Federer finally matches the feat of 5 consecutive Slams at both Wimbledon and USO but loses in 5 set finals going for a 6th title at both events.
Nadal manages three separate streaks of 4 consecutive French Open titles and 5. In 2015 going for his 6th he's clearly just string out and has two plagued seasons.
Due to Covid cancellations and regulations, Novak had the opportunity to win 5 consecutive titles at both AO and Wimbledon but lost in 5 at Wimbledon in the Final and 4 at Semifinal stage in Australia
Now, since the Tilden Curse began I know many might assume the obvious that winning 4 and 5 consecutive titles is just plain difficult. However behold the following notes on 3-4-5 title runs for your consideration.
3-Peat done twice (one ended on player turning pro*Fred Perry)
5-Peat done once (ended on player turning pro*Roy Emerson)
>>>OPEN ERA<<<
3-Peat done four times (F, SF, QF, QF stage)
4-Peat done six times (twice each by Djokovic and Nadal ended in F, SF, QF & R16*Nadal has stated tendonitis and pulled out of Wimbledon, Sampras in R16, *Borg ended by regulations dispute then retirement)
5-Peat done four times (Federer twice ended in Finals, Borg ended in Final, Nadal ended in QF)
Now right away what should be quite remarkable is how there were a total more 4-peats than 3-peats, additionally boosted by notable disclaimers and same amount of 5-peats. Borg's 4-peat at the French was ended by regulatory mandates that were only briefly instituted. While Djokovic's runs were affected by Covid cancellation and regulatory mandates instituted for a single edition stretching his window at an advanced age already. Moreover we can now look at the closeness of so many streaks ending instead of just a passing of the torch.
FOUR PEAT ATTEMPT 2/4:
Lendl in 5th set of Final by a break
Novak in 5th set 7-9
FIVE PEAT ATTEMPT 2/5:
Sampras losing in the 5th set 5-7
Djokovic in the 5th set by a break
*Borg regulatory mandate
SIX PEAT ATTEMPT 3/4:
Federer at 7-9 in the 5th set of 2008 Wimbledon Final.
Federer in the 5th set of 2009 USO Final after being up 2-1 (ridiculous 2-1 record at that point though I don't recall exact).
Borg up 1-0 losing consecutive tiebreaks then by a break in the 4th in Wimbledon Final.
Now with injuries part of the game I get it, but think back to since Tilden's time the notable Perry and Emerson (who was at 5) turning pro and in Emerson's case the year before the tour going Pro. I know it's easy to say Emerson would not have won AO at that level being a lower tier champion but the timing is pretty damn coincidental. Then with injuries Nadal could have easily suffered slightly later and then been plausible 6+ time champion. His testimony is having the tendonitis be noticeable aggravated after the Madrid Final prior to the French Open. Federer's Wimbledon run saw long delays and as evidenced lower visibility which is all sorts of crazy coincidence. Statistically the only ones that saw expected turns were Nadal losing due to age and decline at the French in 2015. Borg has been cited as dealing with depression and feeling nothing left to gain after winning 5 in 1980 in a close contest. Now we also can look back at the 4-Peats and how they came about with Borg's at the French being stopped not of his will and Novak affected by a one in a hundred years pandemic. Sampras too in 2001 is often forgotten as likely winning the tournament if not for the Federer battle and on the famed cursed court which has its own aura. Seriously though given Sampras' track record against Goran I certainly don't think he'd have lost to him, only Rafter in the Final could have taken him.
The Curse
1926-Bill Tilden fails to defend his USO title for a 7th consecutive time losing in the Quarterfinals to Henri Cochet
Nobody manages to win 5 consecutive Slams until Roy Emerson at the AO from 63-67 and the Open Era begins.
Emerson did not defend his AO title signing a pro contract and would lose in the 3rd Round in 1969.
Nobody manages to win 4 consecutive Slams until Borg accomplishes this and extends to 5 at Wimbledon from 1976-1980.
Borg loses the 1981 Final up a set in the tiebreak, the following year he's done dirty by the ITF and effectively pushed out of Slams where he is the 4 time defending French Open champion.
Nobody manages to win 4 consecutive Slams until Sampras at Wimbledon from 97-00, he loses in 5 to Federer at the R16 in 2001.
Federer finally matches the feat of 5 consecutive Slams at both Wimbledon and USO but loses in 5 set finals going for a 6th title at both events.
Nadal manages three separate streaks of 4 consecutive French Open titles and 5. In 2015 going for his 6th he's clearly just string out and has two plagued seasons.
Due to Covid cancellations and regulations, Novak had the opportunity to win 5 consecutive titles at both AO and Wimbledon but lost in 5 at Wimbledon in the Final and 4 at Semifinal stage in Australia
Now, since the Tilden Curse began I know many might assume the obvious that winning 4 and 5 consecutive titles is just plain difficult. However behold the following notes on 3-4-5 title runs for your consideration.
3-Peat done twice (one ended on player turning pro*Fred Perry)
5-Peat done once (ended on player turning pro*Roy Emerson)
>>>OPEN ERA<<<
3-Peat done four times (F, SF, QF, QF stage)
4-Peat done six times (twice each by Djokovic and Nadal ended in F, SF, QF & R16*Nadal has stated tendonitis and pulled out of Wimbledon, Sampras in R16, *Borg ended by regulations dispute then retirement)
5-Peat done four times (Federer twice ended in Finals, Borg ended in Final, Nadal ended in QF)
Now right away what should be quite remarkable is how there were a total more 4-peats than 3-peats, additionally boosted by notable disclaimers and same amount of 5-peats. Borg's 4-peat at the French was ended by regulatory mandates that were only briefly instituted. While Djokovic's runs were affected by Covid cancellation and regulatory mandates instituted for a single edition stretching his window at an advanced age already. Moreover we can now look at the closeness of so many streaks ending instead of just a passing of the torch.
FOUR PEAT ATTEMPT 2/4:
Lendl in 5th set of Final by a break
Novak in 5th set 7-9
FIVE PEAT ATTEMPT 2/5:
Sampras losing in the 5th set 5-7
Djokovic in the 5th set by a break
*Borg regulatory mandate
SIX PEAT ATTEMPT 3/4:
Federer at 7-9 in the 5th set of 2008 Wimbledon Final.
Federer in the 5th set of 2009 USO Final after being up 2-1 (ridiculous 2-1 record at that point though I don't recall exact).
Borg up 1-0 losing consecutive tiebreaks then by a break in the 4th in Wimbledon Final.
Now with injuries part of the game I get it, but think back to since Tilden's time the notable Perry and Emerson (who was at 5) turning pro and in Emerson's case the year before the tour going Pro. I know it's easy to say Emerson would not have won AO at that level being a lower tier champion but the timing is pretty damn coincidental. Then with injuries Nadal could have easily suffered slightly later and then been plausible 6+ time champion. His testimony is having the tendonitis be noticeable aggravated after the Madrid Final prior to the French Open. Federer's Wimbledon run saw long delays and as evidenced lower visibility which is all sorts of crazy coincidence. Statistically the only ones that saw expected turns were Nadal losing due to age and decline at the French in 2015. Borg has been cited as dealing with depression and feeling nothing left to gain after winning 5 in 1980 in a close contest. Now we also can look back at the 4-Peats and how they came about with Borg's at the French being stopped not of his will and Novak affected by a one in a hundred years pandemic. Sampras too in 2001 is often forgotten as likely winning the tournament if not for the Federer battle and on the famed cursed court which has its own aura. Seriously though given Sampras' track record against Goran I certainly don't think he'd have lost to him, only Rafter in the Final could have taken him.
