A Brief History of TTW and Alliances

[Nadalgaenger]

The Early Years: Fed ascendant, no genuine rival fan bases

2009-2011: Fedal wars (merciless attacks on both sides)

2011-The rise of Djokovic and the Brethren. Fed fans initially allies since common enemy (Nadal)

2012-2016-Fed fans increasingly quarrelsome with Djokovic Brethren as Nole becomes dominant 1. Djokodal fans and 90s mock Fed as weak era champ. Fed fans mock Next Gen and assert weakness of current era, turning the tables on Fed critics.

2017: 90s ousted after AO “Open Era GOAT” showdown. Fed fans come back in droves and sing Kumbaya after he’s undisputed GOAT.

2018-present: Nole the new main enemy of Fedal fanbases, who seem more unified than ever now that Fed has beaten Rafa in 2/3 most recent slam encounters but both essentially dominated by Nole.

 

[Bartelby]

So matters wax and wane depending on who is winning? Hardly surprising! My only thought is that the Djokovic fanbase is substantially lower than either of the other two regardless of who is winning.

 

[Antonio Puente]

the Brethren

When F1Bob initially created the Brethren thread, there were about 7 Djoker fans on this forum - F1Bob, Hitman and about 5 other guys. Seven Djoker fans, 4 Murray fans.

 

[Mustard]

The Early Years: Fed ascendant, no genuine rival fan bases

2009-2011: Fedal wars (merciless attacks on both sides)

2011-The rise of Djokovic and the Brethren. Fed fans initially allies since common enemy (Nadal)

2012-2016-Fed fans increasingly quarrelsome with Djokovic Brethren as Nole becomes dominant 1. Djokodal fans and 90s mock Fed as weak era champ. Fed fans mock Next Gen and assert weakness of current era, turningthe tables on Fed critics.

2017: 90s ousted after AO “Open Era GOAT” showdown. Fed fans come back in droves and sing Kumbaya after he’s undisputed GOAT.

2018-present: Nole the new main enemy of Fedal fanbases, who seem more unified than ever now that Fed has beaten Rafa in 2/3 most recent slam encounters but both essentially dominated by Nole.

Fedal wars were going on on this forum back in 2006. I was reading them. That was the peak of it I'd say, because at the time of 2006 Rome Federer was denying that Nadal was a rival of his, so Federer fans weren't prepared to admit that Nadal was a rival either, more like a threat to be squashed immediately before the all conquering Federer.

I'd also say that Djokovic 2012-2014 was underachieving in the majors by dominance standards, winning 1 per year. After the 2014 French Open, Federer had 17 majors, Nadal had 14 majors, Djokovic had 6 majors. Djokovic had not won a major since the 2013 Australian Open, and wasn't the reigning champion of any of them, even though he was doing the best week to week after Nadal's 2013 US Open win. This underachievement in the majors is why Djokovic hired Becker as coach in December 2013, because not only had Nadal been number 1 in 2013 and won 2 majors that year, but Murray had also won a couple of majors against Djokovic (2012 US Open, 2013 Wimbledon). 2015 therefore is when Federer fans start to become concerned about Djokovic to the point of "Hang on here, Djokovic is dominating like Federer used to, could actually win all the majors, and even the all-time record is not safe". This sentiment is a part of the reason why the 2015 US Open final crowd was so hostile to Djokovic. Nadal fans in 2015 (like myself) had bigger concerns, like Nadal's poor results and mostly mediocre form, or players like Fognini playing their peak level against him. I thought Nadal's days of winning majors were over. 2015 Hamburg seemed like a big triumph for goodness sake, an ATP 500. Watch Nadal's celebration when he won it.

 

[King No1e]

From 2010-14 (Big 4 era) both Fedal fanbases generally seemed to like Djokovic - Fed fans because he was challenging Nadal, and Nadal fans because he had the same fighting spirit as Nadal. He wasn't an equal to them just yet.

 

[Sabrina]

2008-2009 Was actually Federer-Sampras wars

 

[Kralingen]

There are no alliances in reality, but the Fedal one will probably persist due to the players’ closeness. I do think anti-Djokovic sentiment is pervasive throughout casual fanbases (not on TTW) after the whole saga, and thus a Fedal alliance is the natural conclusion of this.

 

[King No1e]

There are no alliances in reality, but the Fedal one will probably persist due to the players’ closeness. I do think anti-Djokovic sentiment is pervasive throughout casual fanbases (not on TTW) after the whole saga, and thus a Fedal alliance is the natural conclusion of this.

I miss the times when calling Djokovic "anti-establishment" just referred to his never-say-die attitude and not being afraid of Federer.

 

[King No1e]

2015-16:
Nole fans: "He's #1, he won 3 Slam titles, he's the favorite for every tournament he enters, and he's closing in on NCYGS. This is our moment!"
Fed fans: "Your boy may be winning right now, but we still have the major record, #1 record, CGS, and 4 years of dominance that you could only dream of"
Nadal fans: *crying silently in the corner*

 

[Mustard]

2015-16:
Nole fans: "He's #1, he won 3 Slam titles, he's the favorite for every tournament he enters, and he's closing in on NCYGS. This is our moment!"
Fed fans: "Your boy may be winning right now, but we still have the major record, #1 record, CGS, and 4 years of dominance that you could only dream of"
Nadal fans: *crying silently in the corner*

We were crying at Nadal's form and results. Federer fans at least had their guy playing well, even if Djokovic was thwarting him time and time again in majors (2015 Wimbledon, 2015 US Open, 2016 Australian Open). Nadal fans were wondering if he'd ever get back to the big time matches at all.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Me vs boring people

 

[Deleted member 788697]

What happens next?

 

[Babolatlover100]

2008-2009 Was actually Federer-Sampras wars

True, even on other social media platforms 06-09 was Sampras fans vs Fed fans with many choosing camp Nadal.

Lot of people did not like to see Federer dominate 03-05 period the way he did, they were searching an alternative hero and they found that in the Spaniard.

Thus started the 2 rival camps of Federer and Nadal which exists to this day.

 

[King No1e]

We were crying at Nadal's form and results. Federer fans at least had their guy playing well, even if Djokovic was thwarting him time and time again in majors (2015 Wimbledon, 2015 US Open, 2016 Australian Open). Nadal fans were wondering if he'd ever get back to the big time matches at all.

Oh, I remember. It was ugly. I cringed with the rest of yall.

 

[Deleted member 788697]

True, even on other social media platforms 06-09 was Sampras fans vs Fed fans with many choosing camp Nadal.

Lot of people did not like to see Federfer dominate 03-05 period the way he did, they were searching an alternative hero and they found that in the Spaniard.

Thus started the 2 rival camps of Federer and Nadal which exists to this day.

And I'm the opposite, I was an Agassi fan, and then became a Nadal fan toward the end of Agassi's career.
I was completely against Sampras/Federer always, I just don't find service-winners entertaining.

 

[King No1e]

True, even on other social media platforms 06-09 was Sampras fans vs Fed fans with many choosing camp Nadal.

Lot of people did not like to see Federfer dominate 03-05 period the way he did, they were searching an alternative hero and they found that in the Spaniard.

Thus started the 2 rival camps of Federer and Nadal which exists to this day.

Same except I wanted someone more exciting. My favorite kinda players are athletic HC clean-hitters with good 2HBH's. Basically looked for a replacement to Safin and got it in Djokovic.

 

[Babolatlover100]

Same except I wanted someone more exciting. My favorite kinda players are athletic HC clean-hitters with good 2HBH's. Basically looked for a replacement to Safin and got it in Djokovic.

Yup Agassi, Safin, Novak all play the kind of stuff which people like.

I loved watching Roger destroy Roddick, Hewitt, Blake, Bjorkman, Ljubicic, Keifer, Gonzo etc etc with a divine smile on his face, it was a fun period which made me a Fed fan

Later obviously after seeing Novak's mental toughness I became his fan, sadly Fed camp and Novak camp don't see eye to eye though I kinda like both players.

 

[NeutralFan]

I don't care for any alliance . I was indifferent when Rafa was as good as gone during 2015-2016 period .

 

[Poisoned Slice]

The Early Years: Fed ascendant, no genuine rival fan bases

2009-2011: Fedal wars (merciless attacks on both sides)

2011-The rise of Djokovic and the Brethren. Fed fans initially allies since common enemy (Nadal)

2012-2016-Fed fans increasingly quarrelsome with Djokovic Brethren as Nole becomes dominant 1. Djokodal fans and 90s mock Fed as weak era champ. Fed fans mock Next Gen and assert weakness of current era, turning the tables on Fed critics.

2017: 90s ousted after AO “Open Era GOAT” showdown. Fed fans come back in droves and sing Kumbaya after he’s undisputed GOAT.

2018-present: Nole the new main enemy of Fedal fanbases, who seem more unified than ever now that Fed has beaten Rafa in 2/3 most recent slam encounters but both essentially dominated by Nole.

Kumbaya belongs to Djokovic.

 

[Russeljones]

Can't believe this omits next gen entirely. It's a crap dish without all those veggies.

 

[Anurag Kashyap]

Have heard that a Sabratha discord alliance exists with a few esteemed posters here.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

I'm part of the federer and del potro alliance. Keeps me sharp, on the edge and exactly where I need to be to arrest the bad guys.

 

[Bender]

I'm part of the federer and del potro alliance. Keeps me sharp, on the edge and exactly where I need to be to arrest the bad guys.

 

[Purestriker]

What about the Suresh alliance? You are missing a big part of TTW.

 

[ADuck]

When I first joined in 2017-2018, it was really toxic towards Nadal, especially after AO2018. Only after 2018 Wimbledon it actually started to get better. And I might like Djokovic the least out of the Big 3, but he arguably saved TTW as who knows what the forum would have looked liked had he not won W2019? The only negative is that this place seems far more boring now, but that's probably just me as I always get bored of everything after a while.