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We all know somebody will eventually mention "Federer", so it may as well be me this time. ;) In Federer's dominating 2006 season, his lone slam final loss was at RG to Rafael Nadal. In Djokovic's dominating 2015 season, his lone slam final loss was at RG to Stan Wawrinka.

It's apparent Rafa suffered an injury early in the final. But I don't think it was an injury serious enough to cause the loss, and think Rafa lost mainly because it's the Australian Open (where, after winning his lone title, he's suffered losses to Murray, Ferrer, Berdych, Wawrinka, Verdasco...

I hate when players applaud their opponents. I say it should only happen in exhibitions.

Yes, his name is said here more than anyone else, and we all know which fanbase is the reason for that. That said, Baghdatis was an exciting young presence. His run to the AO final has to be among the most impressive this century for a young player, and he backed it up with a run to the...

Ok, lets accept that Baghdatis is of Federer's generation. This means that Wawrinka (also born in 85) is of Federer's generation. Well, as I stated earlier, he's a player who would NEVER be a slam champion in Federer's generation. So, Djokovic's generation consisted of 2 past-generations (with...

At the AO and Wimbledon, we have not seen a better Rafa the past decade (no titles). He's lost to 8 different players in his last 8 AO appearances, and to 7 different players in his last 7 Wimbledon appearances. At the USO, Rafa and Djokovic haven't met for the past 7 years. Both Federer and...

Roddick

Baghdatis is not of Federer's generation. He was a strong NextGen of Federer's generation who failed to develop into a strong CurrentGen of Djokovic's generation.

Idiot. Unless they retired early, ALL past ATGs had their slam runs ended by their NextGens. Players of Connors generation had their slam runs slowed and eventually ended by players of Borg/Lendl/McEnroe's generation...whose slams runs were slowed by Willander/Edberg/Becker's generation...whose...

Lets compare. Federer: NextGen Nadal slowed Federer's Wimbledon run in 2008...5 years after Roger's first Wim. NextGen DelPotro stopped Federer's USO run in 2009...5 years after Roger's first USO. NextGen Djokovic slowed Federer's AO run in 2008...4 years after Roger's first AO. NextGen Nadal...

When exactly did Federer do it?

A win is a win perhaps, but it doesn't change the gist of the thoughts about Thiem. Struggling at the slams (physically and/or mentally) has been a chronic issue with the younger players for years. Hence the continued criticism.

Verdasco is definitely a Studliest Of All Times candidate.

I agree, but voted for Nishikori for one reason only: He has multiple wins over each Big-3.

How lucky it is for Djokovic that 13 years after winning his first AO title, there is still no strong NextGen to slow his run.

A who-can-choke-the-least final to win the 2020 USO. Blew a 2-1 set lead to lose to little Schwartzman in the QF of 2020 RG. Lost in straight sets to 1st-Generation LostGen Dimitrov in R4 of 2021 AO...bageled in the 3rd. These are not "eating their words" results.

My sentiments exactly. Nadal as the #3 seed would perhaps be the one thing about 2021 RG that isn't same-as-usual.

I think so. Put 2014-level Rafa at 2004 RG, and he likely wouldn't make the finals.

But we're talking young, peak Djokovic. Even with Nadal hampered during parts of 2012/2013/2014, Nole failed to maintain the dominance of 2011...allowing Federer to temporarily retain the #1 ranking in 2012, Nadal to be the YE#1 in 2013 (even without playing the AO), and Murray, Wawrinka, and...

Nadal's level of play had naturally decreased, and in 2014 he never got anywhere near his (decreased) top-level. Because of the level of competition faced at RG, his true quality/level is highly exaggerated.

Mens tennis has players from three generations of NextGens!

I'm considering current times. Three players (with an average age of 35) have won 15 of the last 16 slams; two players (with an average age of 33.5) have won 10 of the last 11 slams. At the most recent slam, a 33 year old with a muscle tear beat a 25 year old at his physical peak in straight...

If healthy, of course Federer can win Wimbledon. After Djokovic, who's favored next? Surely none of the sorry young players, who still can't win on their more favored hard and clay. 2019 showed that gramps still has the superior physical grass game over Nole, and I'm hoping the time off has...

Me too. Rafa cruised the first week, but mainly because of the competition (or lack thereof). When he faced competition in the QF vs Ferrer, he lost a set against him for the first time (and only) time at RG. I actually remember being impressed only by Ferrer at 2014 RG, as he seemed intent on...

Disagree. Neither Rafa nor Nole displayed top-level tennis during the 2014 clay season (including RG), and the FO final was a bust that ended with a double-fault. This doesn't top the depth/anticipation/excitement (with a bang final) of 2004 RG.

9-3 is the most unexplainable: 9-0 in AO finals but 3-5 in USO finals: 2-0 vs Rafa in AO finals but 1-2 in USO finals; 4-0 vs Murray in AO finals but 0-1 in USO finals; the losses to Wawrinka and Nishikori.

But twice he did what no younger player has done: beat a Big-3 in a slam final. And he did so when the Big-3 were 8 years fresher.

So because of this, today's younger players don't deserve to be trashed?

Pete. Djokovic has a great grass record (thanks to circumstances), but is not a great grass player.

I've always believed that this was a tank. Federer knew in 2013 that his chances of beating Nadal were zero, and no way was he going to allow their only USO matchup to happen that year.