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Even if he serves as well as he did today, he'll need to return much better than he did during last year's final if he's to stand a realistic chance.

I do think Federer's overall level today is being slightly overhyped. It was certainly one of his best (probably the best) serving day he's ever had, which allowed him to ratchet up the pressure on Murray at the end of each set. The rest of his game was very good, and it was a very clean match...

He has a hell of a lot to defend, though. Indian Wells (will be tough) Madrid, Rome, French Open (75% chance he defends RG and at least one of those Masters events) Montreal and Cincy (I can't see him retaining both of those) US Open (several other players could win here) I agree he's...

Well, it sort of renders your previous point useless. I understand that you're looking at this from a very Nadalcentric viewpoint, but it seems ridiculous to claim that 2013 was a more exciting slam year than 2012. Not sure how this is relevant, either. I'm pretty sure Bartleby's point was...

Eh? There were two five-set slam finals in 2012 and two tightly-contested four-setters. In 2013 you had an anticlimactic Aus Open final, blowouts at RG and Wimbledon and a disappointing US Open final.

Sure. Dominance over one guy you match up favourably against trumps dominance over everybody else. Okay.

Are you from Britain? You can't be if you're seriously trying to claim that Murray winning Wimbledon lacked fire or passion, regardless of how comprehensive his victory over Djokovic. His match with Baghdatis was one of my favourite matches from 2013.

He looked good against Roger, despite looking about as 60% as sharp as normal. Assuming his back's okay and he gets a few matches under his belt, I think he wins Miami and goes on to retain his Wimbledon title.

At least Fed's honest. Rafa's so unbearably saccharine - aided by his broken English - it makes me feel queasy.

Brilliant streak. He's the benchmark for hard work and persistence.

2011 seemed pretty bridesmaidy to me. And Rafa didn't seem to enjoy it all that much.

It certainly seems an odd record to celebrate given what else he's achieved.

Thomas Johannson. Beat Safin for the 2002 Aus Open title. Edit: Wow - I really did not read the OP.

It's this sort of pointless speculation that irritates people. Rafael Nadal - the hypothetical champion of the world. He wasn't 100%. Keeping yourself fit is part of being a great champion; it's not blind luck. You also have no idea that Wawa wouldn't have been able to sustain that level...

Yes. Because the media and certain fans will bleat about it until the end of time. Despite the fact that Stan more than proved himself against Djokovic and during the first set and a half of the final.

The Federer match at Indian Wells maybe casts doubt on that, but I do remember Nadal playing a brilliant match in the wind against Murray once (maybe IW 2009?). Either way, I think Agassi's probably the best wind player I've seen.

I fail to see how this changes the fact that Dimitrov is by far the weakest QF opponent. I can guarantee Rafa would rather face him than Stan.

Tsonga seemed a little disinterested at times. Federer played well, but I'm not getting too excited just yet. Next round should be interesting.

Fairly amusing that the "brutal draw" has been decimated to the extent that Rafa now has by FAR the easiest QF.

He's won a slam and has five-set semi-final appearances at others. Overhyped?

Le Monf is about as capable of taking out Rafa at a slam as I am. I don't think any of the top guys - Tsonga aside - have a particularly worrying 3rd round.

Raonic and Monfils do not a tough draw make...

This is looking rather prescient right now...

Concerning for Roger, but personally happy to see Hewitt playing well again.

Have actually been surprised by how much harder Fed seems to be hitting the ball with the new stick. The slice seems markedly worse, though. A lot floatier.

I thought his movement looked a bit sharper, but still too many UEs for my liking. Just looks like he could lose to anyone at the moment.

Sounds dodgy, but 18 months is a long ban for someone who's not actually tested positive for anything. Unfortunately for Victor, it seems as if he's something of a sacrificial lamb. The ITF need to make a bold, token statement to show that they're serious about tackling doping, and Victor's not...

Why is it? He's no pusher and, other than Federer, has the best hands in the top 10.

Nadal is the greatest, but Djokovic was still in a position to put him away. I was surprised he didn't - as surprised as I was by his subdued performance during Sunday's final.

If you'd said that to me late on in 2009 I'd have been inclined to agree, but his game is great to watch nowadays. He can still defend as well as ever, but his attacking tennis has improved no end. You seriously thought watching Murray during Wimbledon was boring?