Age distribution of all Open Era major finalists

[Zhilady]

1990s players are still young.

No ATG was born in 1972-80

And when they get old and achieve more, they’ll be better. Let’s not put the cart before the horse.

 

[TheMaestro1990]

Great thread

 

[Zhilady]

Still waiting on Lew II to explain how results tell him that Djokovic’s generation is better than Federer’s generation while the same results don’t tell him that Federer is better than Djokovic.

 

[Druss]

I’m confused! So there have been 26 twenty-year-old finalists (babies), and only 4 thirty-four-year-old finalists (peak age)?

How is that possible?

 

[Lew II]

Still waiting on Lew II to explain how results tell him that Djokovic’s generation is better than Federer’s generation while the same results don’t tell him that Federer is better than Djokovic.

Better results against worse opponents, yes.

 

[Zhilady]

Federer faced stronger clay competition than Nadal. After all, Federer faced Nadal 5 times at the French Open, and we know Nadal is the best.

That means Nadal has better clay results than Federer against worse competition. And that means Federer > Nadal on clay, because he faced stronger competition even though he has worse results!

 

[Soundog]

"No my point was simply that Federer's generation seemed to be particularly unlucky with regards to injuries and their fall wasn't due to the rise of the generation that came after them - which is what you said.

I would agree. The generation that came after them has had the benefit of huge advances in medicine. Without stem cell technology, Nadal would have been FINNISH a couple of years ago.

 

[helterskelter]

One more 25-year-old finalist and one more 33-year-old finalist. 25 now overtakes 24 for most finalists in the open era.

 

[thrust]

Federer faced stronger clay competition than Nadal. After all, Federer faced Nadal 5 times at the French Open, and we know Nadal is the best.

That means Nadal has better clay results than Federer against worse competition. And that means Federer > Nadal on clay, because he faced stronger competition even though he has worse results!

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! WRONG IN EVERY WAY.

 

[helterskelter]

Federer was only the second 37-year-old to make a Slam final in the open era. Need to add one more 32-year-old too. So, one addition each to these ages to make the table accurate after Wimbledon 2019:

25, 32, 33, 37

 

[xFedal]

Federer was only the second 37-year-old to make a Slam final in the open era. Need to add one more 32-year-old too. So, one addition each to these ages to make the table accurate after Wimbledon 2019:

25, 32, 33, 37

Djokovic 2nd oldest player to win Wimbledon? Oldest to defend Wimbledon ?

 

[thrust]

Djokovic 2nd oldest player to win Wimbledon? Oldest to defend Wimbledon ?

Oldest Wimbledon finalist? Rosewall, 39.8

 

[helterskelter]

Djokovic 2nd oldest player to win Wimbledon? Oldest to defend Wimbledon ?

I think so, yes. Although he was only about eight weeks older than Ashe in 1975. Ashe turned 32 five days after winning the title. Djokovic turned 32 less than two months before winning the title (53 days to be exact).

 

[helterskelter]

Oldest Wimbledon finalist? Rosewall, 39.8

Federer to better that in 2021?

 

[xFedal]

Oldest Wimbledon finalist? Rosewall, 39.8

Not finalist... i was asking is Djokovic the 2nd oldest to win Wimbledon also is Djokovic the oldest player to defend/retain Wimbledon title?

 

[xFedal]

I think so, yes. Although he was only about eight weeks older than Ashe in 1975. Ashe turned 32 five days after winning the title. Djokovic turned 32 less than two months before winning the title (53 days to be exact).

Novak starting to make some inroads into the longevity realm.... nice.

 

[xFedal]

Federer to better that in 2021?

So Federer is the oldest Wimbledon, Rosewall oldest Australian Open Champion.... Nadal oldest French Open Champion....OLDEST USO Champion?

 

[helterskelter]

Novak starting to make some inroads into the longevity realm.... nice.

Put it this way: I started following tennis in 1986/87 (watched the Wimbledon final in 86, but didn't follow again until the Roland Garros final in 87). From then until 2017, the only man to win a Slam aged 32+ was Agassi. Since then, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic have all done it. Until then, Agassi and Federer were the only men to make a Slam final aged 32+. Since then, Wawrinka, Anderson, and Djokovic have all done it, too. Until the US Open 2016, Agassi and Sampras had each won one Slam aged 31+ and that was it for the 31+ crowd. Starting with the US Open 2016, the last 12 Slams have all been won by men aged 31+.

 

[xFedal]

Put it this way: I started following tennis in 1986/87 (watched the Wimbledon final in 86, but didn't follow again until the Roland Garros final in 87). From then until 2017, the only man to win a Slam aged 32+ was Agassi. Since then, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic have all done it. Until then, Agassi and Federer were the only men to make a Slam final aged 32+. Since then, Wawrinka, Anderson, and Djokovic have all done it, too. Until the US Open 2016, Agassi and Sampras had each won one Slam aged 31+ and that was it for the 31+ crowd. Starting with the US Open 2016, the last 12 Slams have all been won by men aged 31+.

Big 3 must have looked at Rosewall for inspiration?

 

[helterskelter]

Big 3 must have looked at Rosewall for inspiration?

I'd have thought Serena Williams would be more immediate inspiration. She held the #1 ranking continuously for most of the first half of her 30s - from February 18, 2013 through September 11, 2016, and then again for a few weeks in early 2017. She has won 10 Slams in her 30s (Wimbledon 2012, US Open 2012, Roland Garros 2013, US Open 2013, US Open 2014, Australian Open 2015, Roland Garros 2015, Wimbledon 2015, Wimbledon 2016, Australian Open 2017). That includes winning each Slam at least twice: she was twice champion at the Australian Open and Roland Garros, and thrice champion at Wimbledon and the US Open. I know many posters here at the time insisted that her success was irrelevant to the men's game, but I doubt that the male players thought that. Also, there have been men at lower ranks doing better than for decades for some years, and it was only a matter of time before that filtered up to the top ranks. For example, in late 2012 and early 2013, Tommy Haas was doing great for someone of 34/35 - made it back to around #10 or #11, beat Djokovic in Miami, and reached his first Roland Garros quarter-final.

 

[veroniquem]

We live in the age of the dinosaurs. I have done the stats for all tier 1 events, not just slams. Players winning Masters (or super 9), Slams or ATP Finals at 30+ by year:

1970: Rosewall (USO, 35), Laver (5 masters, 31/32)
1971: P. Gonzales (1 master, 43), Rosewall (AO + 2 masters, 36), Laver (1 master, 32)
1972: Rosewall (AO, 37), Gimeno (RG, 34), Laver (1 master, 33)
1973: none
1974: Laver (2 M, 35), Ashe (1M, 31)
1975: Riessen (1M, 33), Ashe (W, 31), Newcombe (AO, 30)
1976: Cox (1M, 33)
1977: none
1978: none
1979: none
1980: none
1981: none
1982: Connors (USO, 30)
1983: Connors (USO, 31)
1984: Connors (1M, 32)
1985: none
1986: none
1987: none
1988: none
1989: none
1990: Gomez (RG, 30) (Agassi's wig-gate )
1991: none
1992: none
1993: Pernfors (1M, 30)
1994: none
1995: none
1996: none
1997: none
1998: Korda (AO, 30)
1999: none
2000: Pioline (1M, 30)
2001: Agassi (AO + 2M, 30)
2002: Agassi (3M, 31/32), Sampras (USO, 31)
2003: Agassi (AO + 1M, 32)
2004: Agassi (1M, 34)
2005: none
2006: none
2007: none
2008: none
2009: none
2010: Ljubicic (1M, 31)
2011: Federer (1M + 1F, 30) 1st time ever - and still only time- a player wins WTF at 30+
2012: Federer (W + 3M, 30/31), Ferrer (1M, 30)
2013: none
2014: Federer (2M, 33)
2015: Federer (1M, 34), Wawrinka (RG, 30)
2016: Wawrinka (USO, 31)
2017: Federer (AO, W + 3M, 35/36), Nadal (RG, USO + 2M, 30/31) 2017 marks the beginning of the mega free for all dinosaur party
2018: Federer (AO, 36) Not the record since Rosewall won it at 37, Isner (1M, 32), Nadal (RG + 3M, 31/32), Djokovic (W, USO + 2M, 31)
2019 (so far): Federer (1M, 37), Nadal (RG + 1M, 32/33), Djokovic (AO, W + 1M, 31/32)

"Bouquet final" of the big 3 end of career fireworks and it's a huuuuge one
Anybody young in the house???? Hellooooo? Nope, all gone, busy admiring those fireworks, no doubt
(Hang on Fed, you still have to beat the Pancho's super 9 title at 43 years old. Good luck )

 

[zvelf]

The stats here are nice, but clearly the 2010s have experienced an advancement in sports medicine, training, and equipment that allows many current players and not just Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic to keep playing well past their primes.

 

[Gary Duane]

We live in the age of the dinosaurs. I have done the stats for all tier 1 events, not just slams. Players winning Masters (or super 9), Slams or ATP Finals at 30+ by year:

1970: Rosewall (USO, 35), Laver (5 masters, 31/32)
1971: P. Gonzales (1 master, 43), Rosewall (AO + 2 masters, 36), Laver (1 master, 32)
1972: Rosewall (AO, 37), Gimeno (RG, 34), Laver (1 master, 33)
1973: none
1974: Laver (2 M, 35), Ashe (1M, 31)
1975: Riessen (1M, 33), Ashe (W, 31), Newcombe (AO, 30)
1976: Cox (1M, 33)
1977: none
1978: none
1979: none
1980: none
1981: none
1982: Connors (USO, 30)
1983: Connors (USO, 31)
1984: Connors (1M, 32)
1985: none
1986: none
1987: none
1988: none
1989: none
1990: Gomez (RG, 30) (Agassi's wig-gate )
1991: none
1992: none
1993: Pernfors (1M, 30)
1994: none
1995: none
1996: none
1997: none
1998: Korda (AO, 30)
1999: none
2000: Pioline (1M, 30)
2001: Agassi (AO + 2M, 30)
2002: Agassi (3M, 31/32), Sampras (USO, 31)
2003: Agassi (AO + 1M, 32)
2004: Agassi (1M, 34)
2005: none
2006: none
2007: none
2008: none
2009: none
2010: Ljubicic (1M, 31)
2011: Federer (1M + 1F, 30) 1st time ever - and still only time- a player wins WTF at 30+
2012: Federer (W + 3M, 30/31), Ferrer (1M, 30)
2013: none
2014: Federer (2M, 33)
2015: Federer (1M, 34), Wawrinka (RG, 30)
2016: Wawrinka (USO, 31)
2017: Federer (AO, W + 3M, 35/36), Nadal (RG, USO + 2M, 30/31) 2017 marks the beginning of the mega free for all dinosaur party
2018: Federer (AO, 36) Not the record since Rosewall won it at 37, Isner (1M, 32), Nadal (RG + 3M, 31/32), Djokovic (W, USO + 2M, 31)
2019 (so far): Federer (1M, 37), Nadal (RG + 1M, 32/33), Djokovic (AO, W + 1M, 31/32)

"Bouquet final" of the big 3 end of career fireworks and it's a huuuuge one
Anybody young in the house???? Hellooooo? Nope, all gone, busy admiring those fireworks, no doubt
(Hang on Fed, you still have to beat the Pancho's super 9 title at 43 years old. Good luck )

Good post, poor appreciation of it.

You have to hand it to Pancho, and what would he have done in the Open Era if he had been say 35 when it started?

He was really the first real dinosaur. You aren't counting SFs, but he made the SF of RG in 68. With modern training information, who know what he could have done. There are a lot of comparisons between the early Open Era and today.

 

[veroniquem]

Good post, poor appreciation of it.

You have to hand it to Pancho, and what would he have done in the Open Era if he had been say 35 when it started?

He was really the first real dinosaur. You aren't counting SFs, but he made the SF of RG in 68. With modern training information, who know what he could have done. There are a lot of comparisons between the early Open Era and today.

Thank you
I also did : most tier 1 titles per age (starting in 1970 when super 9 began):

17: Boris Becker: 2 (1 slam + 1 master)
18: Boris Becker: 3 (1S + 2M)
19: Nadal: 5 (1S + 4M)
20: Nadal/Djokovic: 4 (1S + 3M) - Becker: 4 (WTF + 3 M)
21: Edberg: 4 (1S + 3M)
22: Nadal: 7 (3S + 4M)
23: Borg: 7 (2S + WTF + 4M)
24: Federer: 6 (3S + 3M)
25: Federer: 7 (3S + WTF + 3M) - John McEnroe: 7 (2S + WTF + 4M) - Lendl: 7 (1S + WTF + 5M)
26: Nastase: 6 (2S + WTF + 3M) - Djokovic: 6 (WTF + 5M)
27: Djokovic: 8 (2S + WTF + 5M)
28: Djokovic: 9 (3S + WTF + 5M)
29: Murray: 5 (1S + WTF + 3M) - Lendl: 5 (1S + 4M)
30: Federer: 5 (1S + WTF + 3M)
31: Djokovic: 6 (3S + 3M)
32: Agassi: 4 (1S + 3M)
33: Federer: 2 (2M)
34: Gimeno: 1 (1S) - Agassi/Federer: 1 (1M)
35: Federer: 4 (2S + 2M)
36: Rosewall: 3 (1S + 2M)
37: Rosewall: 1 (1S) - Federer: 1 (1M)

Nobody won a tier 1 after 37. I bet Fed would love that record
Rosewall and Fed have the most extraordinary longevity.
However, the one who boggles the mind is Djokovic: he has the 2 top records (absolute) but the most amazing about it is that he did it at an age (27 and 28) when other players typically start winning less. His pattern goes against the flow. Also remember he's going to be 32 until next May. I would not be surprised if he ended up with the record for 32/33 as well. The big 3 are the only ones with 3 slams at same age (69 excluded): Nadal did it once, Fed did it twice consecutively and Djoko did it twice overall (and the 2nd time was at 31 ). Djoko is the master of the masters, got 5, 3 years in a row again AFTER 25 (26, 27, 28) and he got WTF on top all 3 times. Way to dominate the bet of 3 format!
Becker was the most precocious teenager and Nadal the most successful young player. Notice that all of Nadal's record years happened between 19 and 22.

 

[xFedal]

Thank you
I also did : most tier 1 titles per age (starting in 1970 when super 9 began):

17: Boris Becker: 2 (1 slam + 1 master)
18: Boris Becker: 3 (1S + 2M)
19: Nadal: 5 (1S + 4M)
20: Nadal/Djokovic: 4 (1S + 3M) - Becker: 4 (WTF + 3 M)
21: Edberg: 4 (1S + 3M)
22: Nadal: 7 (3S + 4M)
23: Borg: 7 (2S + WTF + 4M)
24: Federer: 6 (3S + 3M)
25: Federer: 7 (3S + WTF + 3M) - John McEnroe: 7 (2S + WTF + 4M) - Lendl: 7 (1S + WTF + 5M)
26: Nastase: 6 (2S + WTF + 3M) - Djokovic: 6 (WTF + 5M)
27: Djokovic: 8 (2S + WTF + 5M)
28: Djokovic: 9 (3S + WTF + 5M)
29: Murray: 5 (1S + WTF + 3M) - Lendl: 5 (1S + 4M)
30: Federer: 5 (1S + WTF + 3M)
31: Djokovic: 6 (3S + 3M)
32: Agassi: 4 (1S + 3M)
33: Federer: 2 (2M)
34: Gimeno: 1 (1S) - Agassi/Federer: 1 (1M)
35: Federer: 4 (2S + 2M)
36: Rosewall: 3 (1S + 2M)
37: Rosewall: 1 (1S) - Federer: 1 (1M)

Nobody won a tier 1 after 37. I bet Fed would love that record
Rosewall and Fed have the most extraordinary longevity.
However, the one who boggles the mind is Djokovic: he has the 2 top records (absolute) but the most amazing about it is that he did it at an age (27 and 28) when other players typically start winning less. His pattern goes against the flow. Also remember he's going to be 32 until next May. I would not be surprised if he ended up with the record for 32/33 as well. The big 3 are the only ones with 3 slams at same age (69 excluded): Nadal did it once, Fed did it twice consecutively and Djoko did it twice overall (and the 2nd time was at 31 ). Djoko is the master of the masters, got 5, 3 years in a row again AFTER 25 (26, 27, 28) and he got WTF on top all 3 times. Way to dominate the bet of 3 format!
Becker was the most precocious teenager and Nadal the most successful young player. Notice that all of Nadal's record years happened between 19 and 22.

Djokovic won 6 masters in 2015 and he won 5 masters in 2011 and djokovic is already 32!!!!

 

[veroniquem]

Djokovic won 6 masters in 2015 and he won 5 masters in 2011 and djokovic is already 32!!!!

Yes, I know. Unreal! The reason why it was 5 and not 6 in my tally is because I was doing it by age, not by season.

 

[TripleATeam]

Djokovic won 6 masters in 2015 and he won 5 masters in 2011 and djokovic is already 32!!!!

He did it by absolute age - meaning every year RG to next year's RG for Djokovic.

 

[veroniquem]

He did it by absolute age - meaning every year RG to next year's RG for Djokovic.

Yes, Djoko's birthday is right after Rome. So 1 year age-wise is from beginning of RG to end of Rome the following year. (Same as Nadal whose birthday is during RG.)

 

[helterskelter]

Federer was only the second 37-year-old to make a Slam final in the open era. Need to add one more 32-year-old too. So, one addition each to these ages to make the table accurate after Wimbledon 2019:

25, 32, 33, 37

Another addition to the 33 and 23 columns from yesterday. So, all in since AO 2019 when the table was last updated, there should be one more 23, one more 25, one more 32, two more 33, and one more 37.

 

[falstaff78]

Another addition to the 33 and 23 columns from yesterday. So, all in since AO 2019 when the table was last updated, there should be one more 23, one more 25, one more 32, two more 33, and one more 37.

End of decade is a good time to update methinks

 

[helterskelter]

End of decade is a good time to update methinks

When did you last update the second table in the OP, the one that only lists major winners? I hadn't noticed until now that the first table includes runners-up and also includes year-end winners and runners-up.

Incidentally, does it include the WCT and the Grand Slam Cup, or only the World Tour Finals and its predecessors?

 

[thrust]

Another addition to the 33 and 23 columns from yesterday. So, all in since AO 2019 when the table was last updated, there should be one more 23, one more 25, one more 32, two more 33, and one more 37.

Ken Rosewall reached the Wimbledon and USO finals in 1974, at age 39

 

[helterskelter]

Ken Rosewall reached the Wimbledon and USO finals in 1974, at age 39

I know. @falstaff78 lists there being two major winners/finalists at 39 in the original table.