ghostofMecir
Legend
Most players wind up having their biggest H-H battles against players within 2 years their age. Obviously, earlier success as a teen and then not being able to stay on tour past 30 will mean fewer matches against younger players, but Federer has played the most matches against two players 5 and 6 years younger than he.
—49 semis, 59 Finals against Djokovic, Nadal, Berdych, Del Potro, and Murray;
—50 Finals against Rafa, Nole, Murray
—16 slam finals, 17 slam SFs, 9 QFs
He had already played 27 matches vs. Djokovic before at 30 years or younger and 28 vs. Nadal.
The only player who comes close is Connors who played his most H-H matches at even greater age disadvantage than Federer has, but also played them fewer times when older as an actual slam contender.
Given historical precedence, Federer should have won a lot less than he has but has wound up battling against a generation younger of players 5-6 years younger than he.
Roger Federer (born 1981)
Most matches played against:
50 Finals against Rafa, Nole, Murray
16 slam finals, 17 slam SFs, 9 QFs
27 matches vs. Djokovic before at 30 years or younger, 28 vs. Adan.
Rafael Nadal (born 1986)
Most matches played against:
Novak Djokovic (born 1987)
Most matches played against:
Pete Sampras (born 1971)
Most matches played against:
Most matches played against:
Most matches played against:
Most matches played against:
Most matches played against:
Most matches played against:
Mats Wilander (born 1964)
Most matches played against:
Boris Becker (born 1967)
Most matches played against:
Most matches played against:
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—49 semis, 59 Finals against Djokovic, Nadal, Berdych, Del Potro, and Murray;
—50 Finals against Rafa, Nole, Murray
—16 slam finals, 17 slam SFs, 9 QFs
He had already played 27 matches vs. Djokovic before at 30 years or younger and 28 vs. Nadal.
The only player who comes close is Connors who played his most H-H matches at even greater age disadvantage than Federer has, but also played them fewer times when older as an actual slam contender.
Given historical precedence, Federer should have won a lot less than he has but has wound up battling against a generation younger of players 5-6 years younger than he.
Roger Federer (born 1981)
Most matches played against:
- Djokovic, 47, born 1987, opponent 6 years younger
- Nadal, 38, born 1986, opponent 5 years younger
- Berdych, 26, born 1985, opponent 4 years younger
- Hewitt, 26, born 1981, same age
- Del Potro, 25, born 1988, opponent 7 years years younger
- Murray, 25, born 1987, opponent 6 years younger
50 Finals against Rafa, Nole, Murray
16 slam finals, 17 slam SFs, 9 QFs
27 matches vs. Djokovic before at 30 years or younger, 28 vs. Adan.
Rafael Nadal (born 1986)
Most matches played against:
- Djokovic, 53, born 1987, opponent 1 year younger
- Federer, 38, born 1981, opponent 5 years older
- Ferrer, 31, born 1982, opponent 4 years older
- Berdych, 24, born 1985, opponent 1year younger
- Murray, 24, born 1987, opponent 1 year younger
Novak Djokovic (born 1987)
Most matches played against:
- Nadal, 53, born 1986, opponent 1 years older
- Federer, 47, born 1981, opponent 6years older
- Murray, 36, opponent same age
- Berdych, 26, born 1985, opponent 2 years older
- Wawrinka, 25, born 1985, opponent 2years older
Pete Sampras (born 1971)
Most matches played against:
- Agassi, 33, born 1970, opponent 1 years older
- Todd Martin, 22, born 1970, opponent 1 year older
- Chang, 20, born 1972, opponent 1 year younger
- Courier, 20, born 1970, opponent 1 years older
- Becker, 19, born 1967, opponent 4 years older
Most matches played against:
- Connors, 23, born 1952, opponent 4 years older
- Vilas, 22, born 1952, opponent 4 years older
- Gerulitis, 14, born 1954, opponent 2years older
- Panatta, 16, born 1950, opponent 6 years older
- Orantes, 16, born 1949, opponent 7 years older
Most matches played against:
- Sampras, 33, born 1971, opponent 1 years younger
- Chang, 22, born 1972, opponent 2 years younger
- Todd Martin, 18, born 1970, opponent same age
- Rafter, 15, born 1972, opponent 2 years younger
- Jan Michael Gambill, 13, born 1977, opponent 7 years younger
- Becker, 13, born 1967, opponent 3 years older
Most matches played against:
- McEnroe, 36, born 1959, opponent 1 years younger
- Connors, 35, born 1952, opponent 8 years older
- Edberg, 25, born 1966, opponent 7 years younger
- Wilander, 22, born 1964, opponent 4 years younger
- Becker, 20, born 1967, opponent 7 years younger
Most matches played against:
- Lendl, 36, born 1960, opponent 1 years younger
- Connors, 34, born 1952, opponent 7 years older
- Kriek, 17, born 1958, opponent 1 years older
- Gerulitis, 14, born 1954, opponent 5 years older
- Borg, 14, born 1956, opponent 4 years older
Most matches played against:
- Lendl, 35, born 1960, opponent 8 years younger
- McEnroe, 34, born 1959, opponent 7 years younger
- Nastase, 24, born 1946, opponent 6 years older
- Borg, 23, born 1956, opponent 4 years younger
- Tanner, 21, born 1951, opponent 1 years older
Mats Wilander (born 1964)
Most matches played against:
- Lendl, 22, born 1960, opponent 4 years older
- Edberg, 20, born 1966, opponent 2 years older
- Chang, 21, born 1972, opponent 8 years younger
- Leconte, 13, born 1963, opponent 1 years older
- Nystrom, 13, born 1963, opponent 1 years older
- McEnroe, 13, born 1959, opponent 5 years older
Boris Becker (born 1967)
Most matches played against:
- Edberg, 35, born 1966, opponent 1 years older
- Lendl, 20, born 1960, opponent 7 years older
- Ivanisevic, 19, born 1971, opponent 4 years younger
- Sampras, 19, born 1971, opponent 4 years younger
- Agassi, 13, born 1971, opponent 3 years younger
- Forget, 13, born 1965, opponent 2 years older
Most matches played against:
- Becker, 35, born 1967, opponent 1 years younger
- Lendl, 25, born 1960, opponent 6 years older
- Chang, 21, born 1972, opponent 6 years younger
- Wilander, 20, born 1964, opponent 2 years older
- Ivanisevic, 19, born 1971, opponent 5 years younger
- Gilbert, 19, born 1961, opponent 5 years older
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