The Sinner
Semi-Pro
2008-2010 Federer (age 27-29)
During these 3 seasons The Swiss Maestro won 4 slams and was runner-up 4 times (losing to Nadal, Nadal, Nadal, Del Potro respectively), in addition won 1 YEC, and had 1 YE No1.
2012-2014 Djokovic (age 25-27)
Albeit 2 years younger and still considered by most, as in the best years of a professional tennis player, Djoker won 3 slams and was runner-up 5 times (losing to Nadal, Murray, Murray, Nadal, Nadal respectively), in addition won 3 YECs, and had 2 YE No1s.
Despite being great years for most other players, they were still considered kinda mediocre for both Fed & Djoko, especially when comparing them to the heights of their 2004-07 & 2011/15 seasons respectively. Fedr gets a lot of flack for not winning as much (as in 2004-07)… his naysayers contributing it, NOT, to a slight decline, but to solely being the competition getting stronger, and that, because Federer is Federer, his peak of 2004-07 is expected to carry through all the way to 2019, at age 38.
Djokovic on the other hand, doesn’t really get as much flack for not winning as much as his other formidable two seasons, and instead, the reasoning behind the slight drop, is that it’s impossible to maintain the 2011/15 levels for so many years in a row, plus the competition was super strong. That said, the golden age of tennis is generally accepted as being 2008-13, or could be stretched even to 2007-14. So not much difference really, when we’re considering competition.
So who was better between the two? IMO, it is very close, and if I had to pick one, I’d give the edge to Federer by virtue of the extra slam won. But, is one extra slam more significant than two extra YECs, one more YE No1, and winning a few more Masters 1000?
Decide for yourselves.
During these 3 seasons The Swiss Maestro won 4 slams and was runner-up 4 times (losing to Nadal, Nadal, Nadal, Del Potro respectively), in addition won 1 YEC, and had 1 YE No1.
2012-2014 Djokovic (age 25-27)
Albeit 2 years younger and still considered by most, as in the best years of a professional tennis player, Djoker won 3 slams and was runner-up 5 times (losing to Nadal, Murray, Murray, Nadal, Nadal respectively), in addition won 3 YECs, and had 2 YE No1s.
Despite being great years for most other players, they were still considered kinda mediocre for both Fed & Djoko, especially when comparing them to the heights of their 2004-07 & 2011/15 seasons respectively. Fedr gets a lot of flack for not winning as much (as in 2004-07)… his naysayers contributing it, NOT, to a slight decline, but to solely being the competition getting stronger, and that, because Federer is Federer, his peak of 2004-07 is expected to carry through all the way to 2019, at age 38.
Djokovic on the other hand, doesn’t really get as much flack for not winning as much as his other formidable two seasons, and instead, the reasoning behind the slight drop, is that it’s impossible to maintain the 2011/15 levels for so many years in a row, plus the competition was super strong. That said, the golden age of tennis is generally accepted as being 2008-13, or could be stretched even to 2007-14. So not much difference really, when we’re considering competition.
So who was better between the two? IMO, it is very close, and if I had to pick one, I’d give the edge to Federer by virtue of the extra slam won. But, is one extra slam more significant than two extra YECs, one more YE No1, and winning a few more Masters 1000?
Decide for yourselves.