Andre Agassi Reveals The GOAT Between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
“I’d put Nadal number one, Federer number two. It’s just remarkable to me what he has done, and he has done it all during Federer’s prime. Nadal had to deal with Federer, Djokovic, Murray in the golden age of tennis. He has done what he has done, and he’s not done yet,” Agassi to Bild.



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EdSWright

Professional
“I’d put Nadal number one, Federer number two. It’s just remarkable to me what he has done, and he has done it all during Federer’s prime. Nadal had to deal with Federer, Djokovic, Murray in the golden age of tennis. He has done what he has done, and he’s not done yet,” Agassi to Bild.



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It’s a weird drug, that one.
 

myth

Professional
“I’d put Nadal number one, Federer number two. It’s just remarkable to me what he has done, and he has done it all during Federer’s prime. Nadal had to deal with Federer, Djokovic, Murray in the golden age of tennis. He has done what he has done, and he’s not done yet,” Agassi to Bild.



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Totally agree.

 

DjokoGOAT

Semi-Pro
GOAT owned by Nole on all surfaces peak for peak? 29-26 h2h. 13-2 on hc’s since 2011. 2-0 on grass. Only 7-8 on clay. Won Nole slam 4 in a row vs 2 peak ATG Federer murray, highest ELO and prize money ever, highest atp points ever. Faced strongest opponents ever.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
GOAT owned by Nole on all surfaces peak for peak? 29-26 h2h. 13-2 on hc’s since 2011. 2-0 on grass. Only 7-8 on clay. Won Nole slam 4 in a row vs 2 peak ATG Federer murray, highest ELO and prize money ever, highest atp points ever. Faced strongest opponents ever.

Blah blah blah lol. All because of the inflated number of times they met during Nadal's downturn versus Nole's. You shouldn't cry like this, it's a bad look, especially considering Nadal having the clearly superior legacy at the US Open.
 

adil1972

Hall of Fame
there is one lendl record which even sampras couldnt surpass or tie, but all BIG 3 (fed, nadal djkovic) surpassed it

there is another lendl record which is still unbroken not even tied
 

myth

Professional
Blah blah blah lol. All because of the inflated number of times they met during Nadal's downturn versus Nole's. You shouldn't cry like this, it's a bad look, especially considering Nadal having the clearly superior legacy at the US Open.

Nadal was at his absolute best in 2011. He was playing as well as he ever did.....and he lost on every surfaces. He was only saved by Fed at the FO.
Nadal's dowturn has been going on forever on HC. The last set he got from Novak on that surface dates way back at the USO 2013.

Your GOAT was utterly destroyed at the AO 2019. 1 forehand winner+ 3 aces to finish the 2nd set. :p :p :-D:-D He was even straight setted by Darcis in the first round of Wimbledon in 2013.

 

ChrisG

Professional
Nadal had more injuries than the others, yet he’s 1 slam away from tying with Fed. In the Head to head debate, a lot of his losses came while injured or recovering
 

AceSalvo

Legend
Fed played with a 90 inch frame, yet he's still 1 slam ahead. In the head to head debate, a lot of his losses came while he was playing with a 90 inch frame. :-D :-D

This is officially the "Excuses" thread. Lets keep going. Both sides can play right?

I thought we were done with these kind of threads after the famous "No More Excuses!" thread. :rolleyes:
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
You're right. Fed would have like 8 slams
I know you're responding to a ridiculous post, but I don't buy the myth that Federer would be the least accomplished of the 3 if all were of the same age.

Contrary to popular belief, it would benefit Federer more if all 3 of the Big 3 were of the same age.
 

octogon

Hall of Fame
Nadal was at his absolute best in 2011. He was playing as well as he ever did.....and he lost on every surfaces. He was only saved by Fed at the FO.
Nadal's dowturn has been going on forever on HC. The last set he got from Novak on that surface dates way back at the USO 2013.

Your GOAT was utterly destroyed at the AO 2019. 1 forehand winner+ 3 aces to finish the 2nd set. :p :p :-D:-D He was even straight setted by Darcis in the first round of Wimbledon in 2013.


9-6
 

zagor

Bionic Poster
Nadal is number one while Fed is number two but Fed is still the GOAT and...

Is Dre using again?
 

RelentlessAttack

Hall of Fame
I know you're responding to a ridiculous post, but I don't buy the myth that Federer would be the least accomplished of the 3 if all were of the same age.

Contrary to popular belief, it would benefit Federer more if all 3 of the Big 3 were of the same age.

It would be a bit of rock paper scissors really
 

Nole_King

Hall of Fame
I know you're responding to a ridiculous post, but I don't buy the myth that Federer would be the least accomplished of the 3 if all were of the same age.

Contrary to popular belief, it would benefit Federer more if all 3 of the Big 3 were of the same age.

I can see from where you are coming. Fed may lose some in the early years but he stands to win a lot between 2015 - till date and he would be still 33 "only".

But why I agree to a certain extent only is because are we sure Fed would have made changes that he has to extend himself till 38? With changing results many other things may change.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
I can see from where you are coming. Fed may lose some in the early years but he stands to win a lot between 2015 - till date and he would be still 33 "only".

But why I agree to a certain extent only is because are we sure Fed would have made changes that he has to extend himself till 38? With changing results many other things may change.
True, but if he had been pitted against Djokodal from the start, he might have switched to a bigger racquet from the very beginning for example, because he would realize that change is necessary to combat Nadal.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
It's going to be a salt mine if the opposing fanbase is brave enough to post here.
It's ok. It's pretty clear these experts change their opinions not just every week, but every day too. So this proves that their words should not be taken as gospel.
 

RelentlessAttack

Hall of Fame
The most interesting thing in a simulation of the big three all being the same age is that Federer bloomed a little bit later than the other two. You have to wonder what effect that would have
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
The most interesting thing in a simulation of the big three all being the same age is that Federer bloomed a little bit later than the other two. You have to wonder what effect that would have
That's why I think it would have benefited him. It would have forced him to make the changes that he has much earlier and it would have made him realize that his usual game will not always be enough and thus cut down on his arogance too.

He would know Djokodal are the guys he would have to overcome and would model his game accordingly.
 

Nole_King

Hall of Fame
True, but if he had been pitted against Djokodal from the start, he might have switched to a bigger racquet from the very beginning for example, because he would realize that change is necessary to combat Nadal.

Might be. I too thought that Federer didnt change much earlier because he was still winning so much despite losing to Nadal often.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Agassi said last week it was Federer, when asked who was GOAT:

“Federer, without doubt. Nobody stood out from their opponents on the court as much as he did. I don't think I would have had a chance against him at my best. I played against him in the final of the 2005 US Open. I won a set – more was not possible."

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/federer-without-doubt-best-time-112608964.html

The OP omits that the Agassi quote he used was years ago, prior to Fed winning three slams after the age of 35. Not that it matters, who cares what Andre says, it’s hardly thread worthy.
 
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mike danny

Bionic Poster
Might be. I too thought that Federer didnt change much earlier because he was still winning so much despite losing to Nadal often.
I don't blame him. Up until mid 2010, his game was good enough to beat everyone except Rafa. Knowing that, why would Roger try to make any significant changes just for 1 guy?

Especially since Nadal wasn't a complete threat on all surfaces until 2009.
 

DjokoGOAT

Semi-Pro
Blah blah blah lol. All because of the inflated number of times they met during Nadal's downturn versus Nole's. You shouldn't cry like this, it's a bad look, especially considering Nadal having the clearly superior legacy at the US Open.
Nadal was fully fit for 2015 but the game evolved too much for him he had to retool his game.

USO won vs Federer, nadal, Federer, Del Potro + 5 more meetings with Federer.
Vs
USO won vs pre gluten baby Djokovic, Berrerini, medvedev, Anderson LOL

less top 10 wins, less top opponents faced at USO, less finals etc.
Novak is the GOAT.
 

Nole_King

Hall of Fame
Agassi said last week it was Federer, when asked who was GOAT:

“Federer, without doubt. Nobody stood out from their opponents on the court as much as he did. I don't think I would have had a chance against him at my best. I played against him in the final of the 2005 US Open. I won a set – more was not possible."

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/federer-without-doubt-best-time-112608964.html

He has come a full circle. I still remember around 2005-06 he made a comment about how he had nowhere to go against Federer while he felt he had some chance against Sampras.
 

Nole_King

Hall of Fame
I don't blame him. Up until mid 2010, his game was good enough to beat everyone except Rafa. Knowing that, why would Roger try to make any significant changes just for 1 guy?

Especially since Nadal wasn't a complete threat on all surfaces until 2009.

But it took him still 4 more years to make changes. I think 2013, in hindsight, was a good year for him. He was so low in form and physical fitness that it allowed him to give himself a chance of changing things.
 

Nole_King

Hall of Fame
Nadal was fully fit for 2015 but the game evolved too much for him he had to retool his game.

USO won vs Federer, nadal, Federer, Del Potro + 5 more meetings with Federer.
Vs
USO won vs pre gluten baby Djokovic, Berrerini, medvedev, Anderson LOL

less top 10 wins, less top opponents faced at USO, less finals etc.
Novak is the GOAT.

With genuine curiosity I ask what major re-tooling you think Nadal has done to his game since 2015?
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
But it took him still 4 more years to make changes. I think 2013, in hindsight, was a good year for him. He was so low in form and physical fitness that it allowed him to give himself a chance of changing things.
Fed was still arrogant and didn't want to accept he had to change until he was too old.

And besides, change takes time and changing racquets can be a risky move. He probably didn't want to lose his edge over the field by making such a drastic change at that time after playing the way he had been playing for so long.

But if he had been forced to compete with Djokodal from the beginning, he would have made those changes earlier, like switching to a bigger racquet. As a hunter instead of the hunted, he would have approached things differently.
 
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J

joohan

Guest
Nadal did have the hardest comp, playing peak Fed and then peak Nole. Nole and Federer never met peak for peak.

You mean peak Fed who couldn't solve Rafa until early 2017? I know it's not Rafa's problem Roger's backhand disintegrated more often than not when they faced each other but the fact he did not have to do anything extra special apart from bringing in his bread and butter cross court forehand does take away some shine off of that "beating peak Fed" gloriole. Novak vs. Rafa is much more evenly balanced match-up.

I think Nole has had the hardest competition and I also think he will end up with most majors in the end. Unless he refuses the vaccine and calls it a career...
 

metsman

Talk Tennis Guru
Fed was still arrogant and didn't want to accept he had to change until he was too old.

And besides, change takes time and changing racquets can be a risky move. He probably didn't want to lose his edge over the field by making such a drastic change at that time after playing the way he had bern playing for so long.

But if he had been forced to compete with Djokodal from the beginning, he would have made those changes earlier, like switching to a bigger racquet. As a hunter instead of the hunted, he would have approached things differently.
Bigger racket would have made him worse besides return. And sure, his return could definitely have used a boost in the 2008-2012 years, but a lot of that was mentality, nothing was really stopping him from trying to flatten out more 2nd serve BH returns or take more risks running around in those years.
 

Noleberic123

G.O.A.T.
I know you're responding to a ridiculous post, but I don't buy the myth that Federer would be the least accomplished of the 3 if all were of the same age.

Contrary to popular belief, it would benefit Federer more if all 3 of the Big 3 were of the same age.
All I know is that we don't know.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
You mean peak Fed who couldn't solve Rafa until early 2017? I know it's not Rafa's problem Roger's backhand disintegrated more often than not when they faced each other but the fact he did not have to do anything extra special apart from bringing in his bread and butter cross court forehand does take away some shine off of that "beating peak Fed" gloriole. Novak vs. Rafa is much more evenly balanced match-up.

I think Nole has had the hardest competition and I also think he will end up with most majors in the end. Unless he refuses the vaccine and calls it a career...
I think competition has evened out for all of the Big 3. Neither of them is in front of the others in this front as things currently stand.

I disagree with Djokovic having the tiughest competition. Until the end of 2013, that's true. But after that not so much.
 

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
It's really important to me what these people say about my male tennis idols.

When famous man says nice thing about my male tennis idol, i feel warm and fuzzy feeling inside, as if the glory cast upon my male idol rubs off on me a little, leaving me with a light tan of greatness to cover over the pale mediocrity.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Well he currently has it right.
Yeah, a day ago he said there is no doubt thrre is Roger and suddenly he has had an epiphany in the last 24 hours...

Proof that the words of the experts aren't these solid unbreakable stones people make them out to be.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Bigger racket would have made him worse besides return. And sure, his return could definitely have used a boost in the 2008-2012 years, but a lot of that was mentality, nothing was really stopping him from trying to flatten out more 2nd serve BH returns or take more risks running around in those years.
If he had had Djokodal from the start, those mental problems woukd have been remedied.
 
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