Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
This should actually be an interesting one. These were both solid years, in my view.
The general consensus on this forum has favored 2013. 2014 has historically been lumped in with 2015 and 2016, often to make the point that the whole 2014-2016 period was pretty weak. But I actually think that 2013 has been overrated a little and 2014 underrated a bit. I find them to be pretty close, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. I'm inclined to think the top 2 was stronger in 2013 but the rest of the field was better in 2014.
Here are 2013's advantages, in my opinion:
- 2013 Nadal was certainly the best player from both years.
- 2013 Djokovic was a better #2 than 2014 Federer, and about as good as his 2014 self.
- Murray was much better than in 2014.
Here are 2014's advantages, in my opinion:
- Stan and Cilic stepped it up a lot in 2014, posing legitimate challenges to the Big 3 at 3/4 of the Slams.
- Federer was much better than in 2013.
- Dimitrov, Nishikori, and even Raonic from the lost gen made significant improvements, threatening and even, on a couple of occasions, beating the Big 3 in big matches.
The general consensus on this forum has favored 2013. 2014 has historically been lumped in with 2015 and 2016, often to make the point that the whole 2014-2016 period was pretty weak. But I actually think that 2013 has been overrated a little and 2014 underrated a bit. I find them to be pretty close, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. I'm inclined to think the top 2 was stronger in 2013 but the rest of the field was better in 2014.
Here are 2013's advantages, in my opinion:
- 2013 Nadal was certainly the best player from both years.
- 2013 Djokovic was a better #2 than 2014 Federer, and about as good as his 2014 self.
- Murray was much better than in 2014.
Here are 2014's advantages, in my opinion:
- Stan and Cilic stepped it up a lot in 2014, posing legitimate challenges to the Big 3 at 3/4 of the Slams.
- Federer was much better than in 2013.
- Dimitrov, Nishikori, and even Raonic from the lost gen made significant improvements, threatening and even, on a couple of occasions, beating the Big 3 in big matches.