What year was the Big 3 at the combined best?

Connor35

Connor35

Semi-Pro
What season, or short span of tennis seasons, would you consider Roger, Rafa and Novak to be at their highest combined peak?

I supposed Im asking like which year was the worst year of a Big at their best?

For example 2008 and 2018 all 3 won a major.

I'd probably say 2008, but y'all know the game and its history better than me.
 
pedro94

pedro94

Semi-Pro
Probably 2012 for me, closely followed by 2011 (just a "shame" Novak managed to be head and shoulders above everyone that year lol). And it'd have been 2012 by a landslide probably had Rafa not gotten injured
 
itrium84

itrium84

Hall of Fame
2011/2012
Novak and Rafa both on their absolute peaks + Federer in his high prime with flashes of brilliance, it was a delight.
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
2011 2012 for sure.

Then closest would be 2007 2008

Apart from these years no other year all were playing at their peak. Closest next is directly 2019.
 
CoolCoolCool

CoolCoolCool

Hall of Fame
2011 and 2012 stand out. Hard to pick between the two because Rog makes it hard, he was a bit more consistent in 2012 but reached a higher level of play in 2011.
 
Neptune

Neptune

Hall of Fame
2011, all big 4 had more than 7380 points, Rafa actual level was higher than his own 2010, and Nole went insane. Only 2 SF spots (Tsonga and Ferrer, lost in SF) out of the 16 not occupied by big 4.

2008, all big 3 had more than 10000 points
 
Last edited:
Federev

Federev

Legend
Connor35 said:
What season, or short span of tennis seasons, would you consider Roger, Rafa and Novak to be at their highest combined peak?

I supposed Im asking like which year was the worst year of a Big at their best?

For example 2008 and 2018 all 3 won a major.

I'd probably say 2008, but y'all know the game and its history better than me.
Click to expand...

2012 or 2011.

Feds being so much older peak wise makes it hard to figure it out though.
 
R

Robert F

Hall of Fame
Yet off group peak, they still managed to have a stranglehold on the tour since 2012. Obviously Djoker doing most of the work now.
 
President

President

Legend
I like Fed and Nadal so much more tha. Novak, but 2011 IMO. Federer was still at a very good level and Nadal was prime, with a gradually developing mental block and matchup issue. IMO, the first 3/4 or 2/3 of Novak’s 2011 is the most impressive sustained period I’ve seen on a tennis court. To beat THAT Nadal so many times as well as beating a semi prime Federer in most matches is just insane. 2012 comes close though with great levels from all 3.
 
jl809

jl809

Hall of Fame
I think it’s 2011/2012, but could it be 2008?

Let’s go player by player, Federer was in his prime, even with mono still reached AO SF then had a very strong clay season right up to that disasterclass in the RG final (for the season as a whole, 2008 clay > 2011 clay or 2012 clay). Wimbledon he was still prime, which is a nasty af proposition, and he reached the final without dropping a set I think?. Then USO he won playing well.

Nadal was taken out by a GOATing Tsonga at the AO, reached the Miami F and then went completely crazy losing 2 matches in his next 10 tournaments winning multiple big events on multiple surfaces, pretty much peaking as he won RG, Wimbledon and the Olympics. Like this is considered the best Nadal by some people. Ran out of steam by the US Open but still reached the SF and at least he was playing, unlike in 2012

Then you have one of Nole’s best levels at the AO, a win at IW, plus a strong clay season where he forced PeakDal to play at a top level to beat him - no shame in losing there. Sure he sucked at Wimbledon but had been great at Queens beforehand, then had another great run in the US Open series - good stuff at Cincy, the Olympics and the USO - before winning the WTF at the end of the year
 
RS

RS

Bionic Poster
Can't imagine what the field must have felt like playing the big 3 in these periods. Guessing happy but terrified at the same time.
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
2008 Federer made all 4 slam semis
2008 Nadal made all 4 slam semis
2008 Djokovic made 3 slam semis

2011 Federer made 3 slam semis
2011 Nadal made 3 slam semis
2011 Djokovic made all 4 slam semis

2012 Federer made 3 slam semis
2012 Nadal made only 2 slam semis
2012 Djokovic mass all 4 slam semis

2012 would be best if Nadal was there.
 
Underdog

Underdog

Professional
1. 2008
2. 2012
3. 2011
4. 2007

Had to chose those two first because they were the seasons in which they were 2/3 in prime and they all won at least one Major.
2012 would maybe be first if Nadal didn’t get injured.
Close call, honestly
 
B

ballamaz

Rookie
OP instinct is right in terms of ATP points. 2008 has the most combined points.

2011 a close 2nd. 2012 is good but doesn't reach 30K.

2018 is off the mark. Shows there's more to tennis than slams.
 
Backspin1183

Backspin1183

Talk Tennis Guru
Pity Rafa missed the second half of 2012. He was super strong that year, almost beating Djokovic in the Aussie final and dominating the clay season.

I don't know how good Federer and Murray were in 2011 but Rafa was very good and consistent. Novak was on another level that year which is why to me this was his highest level, not 2015. Beating 2011 Rafa was a difficult task for anyone else.
 
Mazz Retic

Mazz Retic

Hall of Fame
2010 deserves a mention. Obviously not the best but you have Rafa peaking, Djokovic arguably peaking by the end and winning Davis Cup, and Roger still playing well despite disappointing results Post AO.
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
Mazz Retic said:
2010 deserves a mention. Obviously not the best but you have Rafa peaking, Djokovic arguably peaking by the end and winning Davis Cup, and Roger still playing well despite disappointing results Post AO.
Click to expand...
Lol no

2010 doesn't even deserve a mention. It was weak year in smack dab in the middle of big 3 era.

Federer flopping on Wimbledon of all places. He barely made it to QF at rg and Wimby. Djokovic a shadow of his past losing to players tsonga Berdych and melzer.

Federer went awol after Australia. He came back right near the year end. Who cares about year end if he was a disaster in slams.
 
T

tudwell

G.O.A.T.
I'd go with 2012 over 2011. Nadal missed half the year, of course, but was phenomenal when he actually played. Big step up from 2011, I'd say. One of his most dominant clay seasons and one of his strongest hard court slams performances at the Aussie, despite missing out on the title. Fed had a great year – a slight step up in consistency from 2011, with big titles on all three surfaces and not far away from ending the year number one. Djokovic of course was the man on top, though down a bit from the previous year.

2008 and 2007 also right in contention as well. Any of those four years seems reasonable.
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
tudwell said:
I'd go with 2012 over 2011. Nadal missed half the year, of course, but was phenomenal when he actually played. Big step up from 2011, I'd say. One of his most dominant clay seasons and one of his strongest hard court slams performances at the Aussie, despite missing out on the title. Fed had a great year – a slight step up in consistency from 2011, with big titles on all three surfaces and not far away from ending the year number one. Djokovic of course was the man on top, though down a bit from the previous year.

2008 and 2007 also right in contention as well. Any of those four years seems reasonable.
Click to expand...
2012 USOpen was first time only 1 big 3 made to final. I don't think we can go with 2012.

2008 AO - big 3 made semis
2008 RG - big 3 semis
2008 Wimby - fedal semis at least
2008 USO - big 3 semis

2011 AO - fedkovic semis
2011 RG - big 3 semis
2011 Wimbledon - Rafole semis
2011 USOpen - big 3 semis

2012 AO - big 3 semis
2012 rg - big 3 semis
2012 Wimbledon - fedkovic semis
2012 USOpen - Djokovic semis

Every year there were slams which had at least 1 big 3 match except 2012. In fact in 2008/2011 only big 3 won a slam. 2012 was when only Nole made slam semis in USopen and lost.

Big 3 matches in slams
2008 - 4
2011 - 6
2012 - 5

In every case 2011 is better. Most big 3 matches. In fact the only 2 other missed opportunities were in AO if Nadal qualified and Wimby if Federer qualified..

2012 USOpen is big hole in the year. I am not sure if andy Murray is big 3 comparison ever.

2008 also was a bit weaker considering Nadal never played fedkovic on hc and Djokovic never made past r2 in Wimby. But with Olympics it was at least somewhat mitigated.
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
2012 is only for consideration if we believe big 3 can be changeable and we can add Andy Murray in big 3.

Because Andy Murray won Wimbledon. Fedal didn't even make semis.

2011 was when Federer was mp away from beating Djokovic in 2/3 slams and Djokovic was able to beat Federer at 2/3 slams.
Fedal was put on back burner but not for long. They made to RG finals again and it was great match until set 3.

Fedkovic and Rafole matches were at their peak in 2011.
For 2012 season, Djokovic backslid a bit post Australian open, Nadal skipped everything post frankly RG and Federer was good in patches only. It was federer's 2011 year end performance followed by huge peak at Wimbledon which pushed him to number 1. He wasn't beating Rafole H2H.

Till then.
 
B

buscemi

Hall of Fame
Maybe we should use the 2007 French Open-Rome 2008 instead of 2007 or 2008 as a whole.

This lets us

-sub out Federer's performance in the 2008 French final for his performance in the 2007 French final; and​
-sub out Djokovic's 2nd round loss at Wimbledon 2008 for his run to the SF at Wimbledon 2008.​
 
nolefam_2024

nolefam_2024

Talk Tennis Guru
buscemi said:
Maybe we should use the 2007 French Open-Rome 2008 instead of 2007 or 2008 as a whole.

This lets us

-sub out Federer's performance in the 2008 French final for his performance in the 2007 French final; and​
-sub out Djokovic's 2nd round loss at Wimbledon 2008 for his run to the SF at Wimbledon 2008.​
Click to expand...
How about 2011 Roland Garros to 2012 Rome. This would give Federer 1 ATP finals and 1 masters in Madrid. Along with 1 Bercy open I think. 1 slam finals and 2 slam semis.

Nadal 2 masters and 1 slam along with 3 more slam finals.

Djokovic 3 slams 2 masters and 1 final.

Pretty fairly balanced.

Also we would not exclude huge epic matches like 2011 RG semis final, 2011 USOpen semis finals 2012 AO semis finals 2012 Nadal run of form on clay and 2011 Federer post USOpen.

It also doesn't overrepresent Djokovic. Especially out of slams.
 
Pheasant

Pheasant

Legend
2008. Djoker had just ended Fed's record streak of 10 straight slam finals. And I remember being upset, because I HATE the fact that a #1 seed can play a #3 seed in the semis(should be #1 vs #4 and #2 vs#3). Immediately after that loss to the AO goat, Fed reeled off another 8 straight slam finals. After 2009, Fed became much more beatable by far lesser players than Nadal and Djoker. Djoker was excellent at the slams and Nadal peaked at RG and Wimbledon. The only perceived black mark was Djoker's loss to a very dangerous Marat Safin; a guy who could bomb 135 mph serves at Wimbledon while playing the net well. Let's not let his win tarnish Djoker's year. Safin could pull up a very high level match out of nowhere. This was one of those instances.
 
Neptune

Neptune

Hall of Fame
Pheasant said:
2008. Djoker had just ended Fed's record streak of 10 straight slam finals. And I remember being upset, because I HATE the fact that a #1 seed can play a #3 seed in the semis(should be #1 vs #4 and #2 vs#3)
Click to expand...
From 2008-11, all the 3x4=12 nonclay slam draws, Fed-Nole on same half, that is 12 in a row, did you notice it?
 
Neptune

Neptune

Hall of Fame
2008, 2011 and 2015
The only years big 3 combined more than 30,000 Atp points, AND big4 combined more than 38,750
 
T

tudwell

G.O.A.T.
nachiket nolefam said:
2012 USOpen was first time only 1 big 3 made to final. I don't think we can go with 2012.

2008 AO - big 3 made semis
2008 RG - big 3 semis
2008 Wimby - fedal semis at least
2008 USO - big 3 semis

2011 AO - fedkovic semis
2011 RG - big 3 semis
2011 Wimbledon - Rafole semis
2011 USOpen - big 3 semis

2012 AO - big 3 semis
2012 rg - big 3 semis
2012 Wimbledon - fedkovic semis
2012 USOpen - Djokovic semis

Every year there were slams which had at least 1 big 3 match except 2012. In fact in 2008/2011 only big 3 won a slam. 2012 was when only Nole made slam semis in USopen and lost.

Big 3 matches in slams
2008 - 4
2011 - 6
2012 - 5

In every case 2011 is better. Most big 3 matches. In fact the only 2 other missed opportunities were in AO if Nadal qualified and Wimby if Federer qualified..

2012 USOpen is big hole in the year. I am not sure if andy Murray is big 3 comparison ever.

2008 also was a bit weaker considering Nadal never played fedkovic on hc and Djokovic never made past r2 in Wimby. But with Olympics it was at least somewhat mitigated.
Click to expand...
I mean there are raw results and then there's level, and the two don't always perfectly align. I think Nadal's level on both hard and clay was a considerable step up in 2012 from 2011. Fed was clearly much better on grass and had similar, though more frequent, peaks on hard courts (the only real advantage 2011 has here is the US Open, a better hard court slam campaign than either of 2012 Fed's, but conversely 2011 Fed had nothing as dominant as IW or Cincinnati). I mean, it's all small margins and it's a weird thing to try to quantify anyway. 2011 is a perfectly fine choice.
 
F

FedeRadi

Rookie
Losses by non-Big 3 in GS:
2008: 3 (Djokovic vs Safin, Nadal vs Murray/Tsonga)
2011: 2 (Federer vs Tsonga, Nadal vs Ferrer)
2012: 3 (Federer vs Berdych, Djokovic vs Murray, Nadal vs Rosol)*
*Nadal didn't play USO

Losses by non-Big 3 in Masters:
2008:
6 Federer (Stepanek, Karlovic, Roddick, Murray, Simon, Fish)
4 Nadal (Davydenko x2, Ferrero Simon)
5 Djokovic (Murray x2, Karlovic, Tsonga, Anderson)
Total: 15 (On combined 27 Masters, 0.55 per tournament)

2011:
4 Federer (Tsonga, Berdych, Gasquet, Melzer)
3 Nadal (Fish, Mayer, Dodig)
1 Djokovic (Murray)
Total: 8 (On combined 23 Masters, 0.35 per tournament)

2012:
2 Federer (Murray, Roddick)
1 Nadal (Verdasco)
3 Djokovic (Tipsarevic, Querrey, Isner)
Total: 6 (On combine 20 Masters, 0.3 per tournament)

World Tour Finals:
2008:
Federer RR: 1/3
Nadal DNP
Djokovic W: 4/5
Total: 5/8 - 62,5%

2011:
Federer W: 5/5
Nadal RR: 1/3
Djokovic RR: 1/3
Total: 7/11 - 63,6%

2012:
Federer F: 3/5
Nadal DNP
Djokovic W: 5/5
Total 8/10 - 80,0%

ATP Points:
2008(Comp): 10.079(Federer) + 12.682(Nadal) + 10.060(Djokovic) = 32.821
2011: 8.170(Federer) + 9.595(Nadal) + 13.630(Djokovic) = 31.395
2012: 10.265(Federer) + 6.690(Nadal) + 12.920(Djokovic) = 29.875

Win %:
2008: 81,5% Federer, 88,2% Nadal, 79,0% Djokovic. COMBINED 83,1%
2011: 84,2% Federer, 82,1% Nadal, 92,1% Djokovic. COMBINED 86,0%
2012: 85,5% Federer, 87,5% Nadal, 86,2% Djokovic. COMBINED 86,2%

Conclusion:
2012 vs 2011. 2011 They were better in slams, but 2012 they were better outside them.
2008 is clearly behind. It has only ATP pounts combined, but probably x1.9 compensation is generous.
 
Neptune

Neptune

Hall of Fame
FedeRadi said:
Losses by non-Big 3 in GS:
2008: 3 (Djokovic vs Safin, Nadal vs Murray/Tsonga)
2011: 2 (Federer vs Tsonga, Nadal vs Ferrer)
2012: 3 (Federer vs Berdych, Djokovic vs Murray, Nadal vs Rosol)*
*Nadal didn't play USO

Losses by non-Big 3 in Masters:
2008:
6 Federer (Stepanek, Karlovic, Roddick, Murray, Simon, Fish)
4 Nadal (Davydenko x2, Ferrero Simon)
5 Djokovic (Murray x2, Karlovic, Tsonga, Anderson)
Total: 15 (On combined 27 Masters, 0.55 per tournament)

2011:
4 Federer (Tsonga, Berdych, Gasquet, Melzer)
3 Nadal (Fish, Mayer, Dodig)
1 Djokovic (Murray)
Total: 8 (On combined 23 Masters, 0.35 per tournament)

2012:
2 Federer (Murray, Roddick)
1 Nadal (Verdasco)
3 Djokovic (Tipsarevic, Querrey, Isner)
Total: 6 (On combine 20 Masters, 0.3 per tournament)

World Tour Finals:
2008:
Federer RR: 1/3
Nadal DNP
Djokovic W: 4/5
Total: 5/8 - 62,5%

2011:
Federer W: 5/5
Nadal RR: 1/3
Djokovic RR: 1/3
Total: 7/11 - 63,6%

2012:
Federer F: 3/5
Nadal DNP
Djokovic W: 5/5
Total 8/10 - 80,0%

ATP Points:
2008(Comp): 10.079(Federer) + 12.682(Nadal) + 10.060(Djokovic) = 32.821
2011: 8.170(Federer) + 9.595(Nadal) + 13.630(Djokovic) = 31.395
2012: 10.265(Federer) + 6.690(Nadal) + 12.920(Djokovic) = 29.875

Win %:
2008: 81,5% Federer, 88,2% Nadal, 79,0% Djokovic. COMBINED 83,1%
2011: 84,2% Federer, 82,1% Nadal, 92,1% Djokovic. COMBINED 86,0%
2012: 85,5% Federer, 87,5% Nadal, 86,2% Djokovic. COMBINED 86,2%

Conclusion:
2012 vs 2011. 2011 They were better in slams, but 2012 they were better outside them.
2008 is clearly behind. It has only ATP pounts combined, but probably x1.9 compensation is generous.
Click to expand...
Bad approach because DNP skew
 
Kralingen

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
FedeRadi said:
Losses by non-Big 3 in GS:
2008: 3 (Djokovic vs Safin, Nadal vs Murray/Tsonga)
2011: 2 (Federer vs Tsonga, Nadal vs Ferrer)
2012: 3 (Federer vs Berdych, Djokovic vs Murray, Nadal vs Rosol)*
*Nadal didn't play USO

Losses by non-Big 3 in Masters:
2008:
6 Federer (Stepanek, Karlovic, Roddick, Murray, Simon, Fish)
4 Nadal (Davydenko x2, Ferrero Simon)
5 Djokovic (Murray x2, Karlovic, Tsonga, Anderson)
Total: 15 (On combined 27 Masters, 0.55 per tournament)

2011:
4 Federer (Tsonga, Berdych, Gasquet, Melzer)
3 Nadal (Fish, Mayer, Dodig)
1 Djokovic (Murray)
Total: 8 (On combined 23 Masters, 0.35 per tournament)

2012:
2 Federer (Murray, Roddick)
1 Nadal (Verdasco)
3 Djokovic (Tipsarevic, Querrey, Isner)
Total: 6 (On combine 20 Masters, 0.3 per tournament)

World Tour Finals:
2008:
Federer RR: 1/3
Nadal DNP
Djokovic W: 4/5
Total: 5/8 - 62,5%

2011:
Federer W: 5/5
Nadal RR: 1/3
Djokovic RR: 1/3
Total: 7/11 - 63,6%

2012:
Federer F: 3/5
Nadal DNP
Djokovic W: 5/5
Total 8/10 - 80,0%

ATP Points:
2008(Comp): 10.079(Federer) + 12.682(Nadal) + 10.060(Djokovic) = 32.821
2011: 8.170(Federer) + 9.595(Nadal) + 13.630(Djokovic) = 31.395
2012: 10.265(Federer) + 6.690(Nadal) + 12.920(Djokovic) = 29.875

Win %:
2008: 81,5% Federer, 88,2% Nadal, 79,0% Djokovic. COMBINED 83,1%
2011: 84,2% Federer, 82,1% Nadal, 92,1% Djokovic. COMBINED 86,0%
2012: 85,5% Federer, 87,5% Nadal, 86,2% Djokovic. COMBINED 86,2%

Conclusion:
2012 vs 2011. 2011 They were better in slams, but 2012 they were better outside them.
2008 is clearly behind. It has only ATP pounts combined, but probably x1.9 compensation is generous.
Click to expand...
2008 has a great case looking at this one, you forgot to include Olympics which Nadal won.

08 Djokovic was really good, obviously so was 08 Nadal and when Federer got into swing of things so was he.
 
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