Best rivalry of 2021?

Which was the best rivalry of 2021?

  • Total voters
    54
  • Poll closed .
Aabye5

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
According to the ATP website these are the four best rivalries of 2021:

Novak Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-djokovic-medvedev

Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-medvedev-zverev

Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-djokovic-zverev

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Alexander Zverev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-tsitsipas-zverev



Which do you think is the best rivalry of 2021, and which are you most looking forward to next year?
 
Third Serve

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
hate Zverev and I'm ambivalent towards Djokovic but you really can't argue against their rivalry this year.

All of their matches except for the Olympics one have been quite close and even entertaining. Yes, there was some disgusting choking going on in some of them, but the whole thing was still okay.
 
S

Sampras-Bruguera 1993

Legend
Wasn't much of a rivalry anywhere this year IMO as Zverev sucks in slams, and Djoker really doesn't care much about non-slam events now. And Med could only score a big win over Djoker when it mattered when Djoker was gassed after a long year
 
Tennisfan339

Tennisfan339

Professional
Hard not to pick Djokovic/Zverev here.
They had 5 matches and 4 of them went to thelimits (5 or 3 sets). Only 1 didn't, and it ended in an epic 4th set tie-break.
Easily in the top-2 of the greatest USO matches i, with Alcaraz-Tsitsipas.
Best match of the WTF in terms of level of play.
Best match at the ATP Cup in Sydney.
Best match of the OG in terms of twists and drama and historical significance for both players.
Only the AO match was a bit inferior, neither player was at his best, but still a decent level of play overall.
We have to remember that it weren't for Zverev, Djokovic might have a perfect year. He would have the Olympics gold, (very probably) a 6th WTF and would have been a lot fresher for the USO final. Not saying Djokovic would have won but it his long and intense SF sure had a huge impact in the final.

For me the other rivalries listed don't come close.
2 of the 3 Djokovic-Medvedev were disappointing, one-sided Grand slam finals. 1 great match is not enough.
Same for Zverev-Medvedev. 2 of the 4 matches were one-sided, 1 was a RR match that had zero impact in the final result
Zverev Tsitsipas's match in RG is very forgettable. The 2 HC matches were ok but not enough...
 
Aabye5

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
Really? Fascinating that it's so one-sided.

I picked Medvedev vs Zverev because Med clearly turned the tide in his favor up until the last match of the year.
 
Aabye5

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
Sampras-Bruguera 1993 said:
Wasn't much of a rivalry anywhere this year IMO as Zverev sucks in slams, and Djoker really doesn't care much about non-slam events now. And Med could only score a big win over Djoker when it mattered when Djoker was gassed after a long year
Click to expand...

Yes, I still think that win by Med is a turning point. I don't think the Original NextGen are going to run away with the Slams quite yet, but if Djoker had won the Grand Slam at his age by beating these youngsters it would have brought dishonor on the whole group. They are clearly inching closer. As quick as molasses, but closer nonetheless.
 
Kralingen

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
I think Nadal Tsitsipas had real potential if they didn’t both become citizens of Finland post-RG btw. Their AO match was a ridiculous comeback and I thought Barcelona was one of the best matches of the year. If I had to pick just a two-pack of matches it could very well be those two. FO final likely would have been bonkers as well. Both guys bring a rare intensity against each other.

Hope they can recover for 2022.
 
The Big Foe fan

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
Aabye5 said:
According to the ATP website these are the four best rivalries of 2021:

Novak Djokovic vs Daniil Medvedev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-djokovic-medvedev

Daniil Medvedev vs. Alexander Zverev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-medvedev-zverev

Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-djokovic-zverev

Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Alexander Zverev - https://www.atptour.com/en/news/best-rivalries-2021-tsitsipas-zverev



Which do you think is the best rivalry of 2021, and which are you most looking forward to next year?
Click to expand...
DjokoRev
 
N

Nadal_King

Hall of Fame
Nadal vs Djokovic 2021 was miles better than a couple of ones mentioned here which are given just to fillup spots and high ranking
 
Tennisfan339

Tennisfan339

Professional
Kralingen said:
Zverev Djokovic by a large distance.

i have a feeling we’ll be viewing the quality of the ‘21 USO SF in a more positive light in a few years. In fact Novak holding off Zverev in both HC Slams this year isn’t really getting enough credit.
Click to expand...

The current Djokovic/Medvedev lead really boggles my mind. Based on what match?
The AO and USO final were epic flops in terms of level of play and lack of drama. I still don't know what happened to Medvedev in Melbourne, but it was plausibly his worst hard court GS match ever (at least since his breakthrough in 2019). And the USO final couldn't have been a bigger letdown.
Paris was one of the best Masters match of the year, but I don't see how this one off-slam match can possibly rival with 5 long, intense, dramatic battles, including 4 in Majors (GS, WTF, OG). Even Djokovic and Zverev's worst match (AO) was much better than Djokovic and Medvedev's one-sided finals.

This forum must truly dislike Zverev more than I thought. Funny because when I visit other forums or read Youtube or Facebook comments, he seems to have a lot of passionate devotees. Nobody takes him seriously here. He can straight set Nadal on clay, breadstick Djokovic on hard courts, obliterate Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Rublev in 65 minutes in big finals, it will never be enough. :eek:
 
Kralingen

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
I would rather insert needles in my eyes than willingly watch the AO or USO final again, lol. Unless you really love Novak or really hate him (or love Medvedev, I guess) there was very little to be excited about in those two matches. Paris was cool but imo the Zverev WTF SF was better, honestly so was the ATP Cup one.
 
The Big Foe fan

The Big Foe fan

Hall of Fame
Kralingen said:
I would rather insert needles in my eyes than willingly watch the AO or USO final again, lol. Unless you really love Novak or really hate him (or love Medvedev, I guess) there was very little to be excited about in those two matches. Paris was cool but imo the Zverev WTF SF was better, honestly so was the ATP Cup one.
Click to expand...
I want to know who the f**k voted for Djokovic vs Medvedev..
 
Third Serve

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
I don't really understand voting Djokovic-Medvedev here tbh. They had one good match and two blowouts featuring very substandard play from the loser. If you look past the "Slam final" stuff, there's really not much behind it.
 
Aabye5

Aabye5

G.O.A.T.
Third Serve said:
I don't really understand voting Djokovic-Medvedev here tbh. They had one good match and two blowouts featuring very substandard play from the loser. If you look past the "Slam final" stuff, there's really not much behind it.
Click to expand...

I agree, but I think they were clearly the most important of any of the matches played in any of the other rivalries. So there is also historical importance, especially given that Med managed to win after his awful performance in January.
 
Picmun

Picmun

Hall of Fame
Djoke Vs court furniture and officials etc.
2_TENNIS-OLY-2020-2021-TOKYO.jpg
 
beard

beard

Legend
Best rivalries?
Everything changes, but Novak is always around when we talk best rivalries...

Best rivalry ever... Novak-Rafa...
Second best rivalry ever... Novak - Fed...

At the moment best is... Novak - Med...
Second best... Novak - Zve...

Class is eternal...
 
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