Best slam winner in each year since big 3 era started?

[abmk]

Any years in the 80s and 90s up with it?

haven't really compared that way
just comparing within a decade
for the 80s: 80-82, 87-89 all pretty good years
for the 90s: 95 stands out (not saying there weren't other good years)

 

[RS]

haven't really compared that way
just comparing within a decade
for the 80s: 80-82, 87-89 all pretty good years
for the 90s: 95 stands out (not saying there weren't other good years)

2012 2nd and 2007 3rd in this era for you?

 

[Mustard]

2003: Federer (Wimbledon)
2004: Federer (Wimbledon)
2005: Federer (Wimbledon)
2006: Federer (Wimbledon)
2007: Nadal (French Open)
2008: Nadal (French Open)
2009: Nadal (Australian Open)
2010: Nadal (US Open)
2011: Djokovic (Australian Open)
2012: Nadal (French Open)
2013: Nadal (French Open)
2014: Nadal (French Open)
2015: Djokovic (Wimbledon)
2016: Djokovic (Australian Open)
2017: Nadal (French Open)
2018: Nadal (French Open)
2019: Djokovic (Australian Open)
2020: Nadal (French Open)
2021: Djokovic (Australian Open)

 

[abmk]

Forgot about Djokovic AO 14 and should have put Stan.

Rest is fine I guess not much in it. Think 12 Nadal is ahead because of the final but pre final can be debated.

there are some more. Re-check.
pre-final USO 2012 djoko is ahead of 2012 AO nadal, but nadal's final just puts him over I think.

 

[RS]

there are some more. Re-check.
pre-final USO 2012 djoko is ahead of 2012 AO nadal, but nadal's final just puts him over I think.

I saw the rest of the edit as I said the rest is fine. Roddick would have been 5th but wanted to see if somebody noticed

 

[RS]

AO 12 Murray or Wim 12 Murray
AO 13 Murray or Wim 13 Murray
AO 15 Murray or Wim 15 Murray
?

 

[abmk]

I saw the rest of the edit as I said the rest is fine. Roddick would have been 5th but wanted to see if somebody noticed

2003 - Nalby beat fed in USO 03. played Roddick tough (though Roddick wasn't at his best).
might want to check out Verkerk's play at RG before the final.

2006 - apart from some difference in Fed RG final and nadal Wim final, I missed another point. Nadal going 2 sets to love down vs Kendrick and 2 points from defeat (IIRC). Definitely goes to fed RG 06 over Nadal Wim 06
2007 RG fed vs 2007 Wim fed is closer for tournament - nadal final clearly better, but 1st week jitters vs youzh/Sod. I guess you can put both.

 

[SamprasisGOAT]

Highest level
03 weak ass federer wimbledon
04 federer USO
05 federer wim
06 federer Wim
07 Federer AO
08 Nadal RG
09 Nadal AO
10 Nadal USO
11 Djokovic AO but USO close for me
12 Djokovic AO but Nadal RG is close
13 Djokovic AO
14 Djokovic Wim
15 Djokovic Wim
16 Djokovic AO
17 Nadal RG
18 Easily Djokovic Wim so underated on TW
19 Djokovic AO
20 Nadal RG
21 Djokovic RG
22 Djokovic AO

 

[Beerus]

 

[abmk]

AO 12 Murray or Wim 12 Murray - potayto , potahto
AO 13 Murray or Wim 13 Murray - just about Wim 13 for the final, tipping over -ve of QF vs dasco
AO 15 Murray or Wim 15 Murray - probably potayto, potahto, but giving benefit of doubt to AO 15 for making final
?

see in bold

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Fedr > all
Nadal at RG > all
Djokovic = roflmao
The real truth. Thank me for my service.

 

[abmk]

You know I don't quite rate Fed as high as you do so I think it is not out of reach.

Probably less so for Safin for that reason.

nothing wrong with AO 04/05/07 Fed.
5/10 is a stretch, but maybe maybe, you could say that's possible.
6/10 is just too far.
maybe a little focus more on AO 09 or non-prime losses vs Djoko from your side?

 

[abmk]

2012 2nd and 2007 3rd in this era for you?

2012 is 2nd.
Pick one of 2007/08/11 after that.

Edit: 2005 had potential for being the best in the 1st half. went down in the 2nd half.

 

[RS]

Fedr > all
Nadal at RG > all
Djokovic = roflmao
The real truth. Thank me for my service.

 

[RS]

nothing wrong with AO 04/05/07 Fed.
5/10 is a stretch, but maybe maybe, you could say that's possible.
6/10 is just too far.
maybe a little focus more on AO 09 or non-prime losses vs Djoko from your side?

I think Nadal and Fed is 5-5 about. I would be fine to give Fed the 6-4 vs Safin and Agassi.

Probably a bit more AO 09 not so much the losses vs Djoko. But not fully

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

I'm saying based on reasoning.
Safin's focus is bound to drift over a 10 match series. was a point away from losing to AO 05 fed in 4 sets.
Agassi's focus/mental strength is again less than fed's. peak a little worse IMO. .
Nadal's peak is by some distance behind. matchup makes it closer. Still he barely beat AO 09 lower prime fed.

the possibility of them winning 6/10 isn't realistic.
Think about it instead of just agreeing to placate me (or anyone else)

Imagined as a long H2H series, sure. What about a single career best match? Can anyone beat Fred? Agassi, Sampras (1994 SF babeh), Djokovic? Mythical 1990 SF Edberg?

 

[RS]

Higher level slam run?

1. Murray Wim 12 or Fed Wim 15
2. Murray Wim 09 or Nadal USO 19
3. Nadal Wim 11 or Djokovic RG 12
4. Hewitt Wim 05 or Murray AO 10
5. Agassi USO 04 or Federer RG 05
6. Safin AO 05 or Nadal USO 10
7. Nadal USO 11 or Nadal AO 17

 

[abmk]

Imagined as a long H2H series, sure. What about a single career best match? Can anyone beat Fred? Agassi, Sampras (1994 SF babeh), Djokovic? Mythical 1990 SF Edberg?

they could. doesn't mean they have the edge though.
nothing mythical about AO 90 SF from Edberg. it was a masterclass.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

they could. doesn't mean they have the edge though.
nothing mythical about AO 90 SF from Edberg. it was a masterclass.

*smirks in Djokovic's peak AO level not being top 3 OE*

 

[abmk]

*smirks in Djokovic's peak AO level not being top 3 OE*

for a one match, I'd put Djokovic at #3
for whole AO, #2 (2011). Agassi's 95 close, AO 05 Safin as well.
extended prime #1

 

[zuluzazu]

for a one match, I'd put Djokovic at #3
for whole AO, #2 (2011). Agassi's 95 close.
extended prime #1

You think Fed's peak AO level is better than the AO GOAT? For 1 match I think AO 2011 SF Djoko beats AO 07 Fed in 5 sets. Have not seen much of Agassi, so no clue

 

[abmk]

You think Fed's peak AO level is better than the AO GOAT? For 1 match I think AO 2011 SF Djoko beats AO 07 Fed in 5 sets. Have not seen much of Agassi, so no clue

for a one match, yes, a bit higher
for one run - AO 07 over AO 11 by a bit
where Djokovic wins out is higher # of prime/prime-ish runs (8 to 6)
AO 08, AO 11-16, AO 19 for Djoko
AO 04-07, 09-10 for Fed
Fed lost that one year at AO for prime level thanks to mono.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

for a one match, I'd put Djokovic at #3
for whole AO, #2 (2011). Agassi's 95 close, AO 05 Safin as well.
extended prime #1

Above Sampras?! Such disrespect to PETE, unbelievable.

Safin isn't really close for the whole AO run considering how many sets he dropped / played close, it's just propaganda based on over-weighting the semifinal.

 

[zuluzazu]

for a one match, yes, a bit higher
for one run - AO 07 over AO 11 by a bit
where Djokovic wins out is higher # of prime/prime-ish runs (8 to 6)
AO 08, AO 11-16, AO 19 for Djoko
AO 04-07, 09-10 for Fed
Fed lost that one year at AO for prime level thanks to mono.

Problem is level depends on who you play as well. We have seen many times a player looks like God against one opponent but a better opponent exposes them. However good Gonzales was playing, he would not have exposed any weaknesses in the Fed game and I believe Djoko 2011 would have made AO 07 Fed look much worse. I understand Gonzales was in good form but he is no Djokovic. The sheer pressure of getting back everything with interest from Djoko 11 would have led Fed to play worse than what he did against Gonzo. That is just my opinion

 

[abmk]

Above Sampras?! Such disrespect to PETE, unbelievable.

Pete's at #5 after Fed/Safin/Djoko/Agassi IMO. Question of sustainability on slower court for Bo5 even with SF vs Courier.

Safin isn't really close for the whole AO run considering how many sets he dropped, it's just propaganda based on over-weighting the semifinal.

only match for Safin you can quibble about is the Rochus one.
Losing one set to Ancic/Hewitt is fine.

 

[abmk]

Problem is level depends on who you play as well. We have seen many times a player looks like God against one opponent but a better opponent exposes them. However good Gonzales was playing, he would not have exposed any weaknesses in the Fed game and I believe Djoko 2011 would have made AO 07 Fed look much worse. I understand Gonzales was in good form but he is no Djokovic. The sheer pressure of getting back everything with interest from Djoko 11 would have led Fed to play worse than what he did against Gonzo. That is just my opinion

Same applies to Djoko of AO 11.
Fed 11 was just not as fast or consistent or explosive enough. not really better than gonzo of AO 07 final by much, if at all.
peak fed had the offense as well as the variety to trouble Djoko. was an insane mover himself including defense. he'd have made 11 djoko look much worse.
This isn't just fed offense vs Djoko defense.

Edit: you could see Tsonga AO 08 final, Murray/Nadal AO 12, Wawa AO 13, even Murray AO 13, Wawa AO 14 and even AO 15 wawa/murray and 16 Simon exposing some chinks even though Djoko had his best run in AO 11

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Pete's at #5 after Fed/Safin/Djoko/Agassi IMO. Question of sustainability on slower court for Bo5.

Poor PETE gets snubbed so badly once again. @metsman do your job here.

Peak Agassi was this close to going two sets to one down to non-peak Sampras, with the draw advantage too. Some serious underrating of Petros going on.

only match for Safin you can quibble about is the Rochus one.
Losing one set to Ancic/Hewitt is fine.

Struggling with Rochus is pretty big, no?
It would be quite a gymnastic exercise to say Safin played clearly better than Djokovic in the last three matches. A little better in QF/SF perhaps, worse in the final thanks to the first set even if that seven-game stretch was unparalleled.

 

[RS]

see in bold

Probably all similar that was a tough set.

 

[abmk]

Poor PETE gets snubbed so badly once again. @metsman do your job here.

Peak Agassi was this close to going two sets to one down to non-peak Sampras, with the draw advantage too. Some serious underrating of Petros going on.

eh, Sampras was comfortably outplayed from the ground and got breadsticked in 2nd set with a triple break.
1st set: saved 3 BPs at 4 all and got 2 DFs from agassi at 4-5.
3rd set: they broke each other once. But Agassi had BPs in 2 other games, Sampras in one.
4th set: agassi outplayed Sampras.

obviously Sampras could play better than that and it'd be closer, but I think Agassi just edges this one out.

Struggling with Rochus is pretty big, no?
It would be quite a gymnastic exercise to say Safin played clearly better than Djokovic in the last three matches. A little better in QF/SF perhaps, worse in the final thanks to the first set even if that seven-game stretch was unparalleled.

I didn't say that.
I said: "for whole AO, #2 (2011). Agassi's 95 close, AO 05 Safin as well. "

means AO 2011 djoko is #2. Agassi AO 95 and Safin AO 05 are close behind.

 

[RS]

Higher level slam run?

1. Murray Wim 12 or Fed Wim 15
2. Murray Wim 09 or Nadal USO 19
3. Nadal Wim 11 or Djokovic RG 12
4. Hewitt Wim 05 or Murray AO 10
5. Agassi USO 04 or Federer RG 05
6. Safin AO 05 or Nadal USO 10
7. Nadal USO 11 or Nadal AO 17

I should have done same surface

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

eh, Sampras was comfortably outplayed from the ground and got breadsticked in 2nd set with a triple break.
1st set: saved 3 BPs at 4 all and got 2 DFs from agassi at 4-5.
3rd set: they broke each other once. But Agassi had BPs in 2 other games, Sampras in one.
4th set: agassi outplayed Sampras.

obviously Sampras could play better than that and it'd be closer, but I think Agassi just edges this one out.

That's the point, man. Comfortably outplayed yet almost manages to go 2-1 up despite facing a losing position in every set. Pete's mentality is clearly getting underrated by a lot here. I don't think Agassi wins a career best peak-to-peak match anywhere except maybe at RG and even then he could totally lose.

I didn't say that.
I said: "for whole AO, #2 (2011). Agassi's 95 close, AO 05 Safin as well. "

means AO 2011 djoko is #2. Agassi AO 95 and Safin AO 05 are close behind.

I would think the clear difference between the Rochus match (close for the entire four-set match) and the Dodig match (close for two sets then Djok runs away with it) can't be nearly counterbalanced by Safin's entirely arguable slight advantage over the last three matches, so it's not that close. Agassi could be close since he dominated the draw up to the final, which was needlessly close but then so was the Djok-Fed semi (and the scoreline difference owes to PETE's stronger mentality & peak within the match compared to Fed there, which makes sense since he was still prime and Fed was not).

 

[Sudacafan]

Which has been best slam winning version of each year since big 3 era, I will list down mine. You all can join in for your picks although I could be wrong for pre 2015 ones as I wasn't as big fan then.

2003- Federer (Wimbledon)
2004- Federer (Wimbledon)
2005- Federer (Us open)
2006 - Nadal (Rg)
2007- Nadal( Rg)
2008- Nadal (Rg)
2009- Nadal (Ao)
2010- Nadal( UO)
2011- Djokovic (Ao)
2012- Djokovic (Ao)
2013- Nadal (Rg)
2014- Djokovic ( Wimbledon)
2015- Djokovic (Ao)
2016- Djokovic (Ao)
2017- Nadal(Rg)
2018- Nadal (Rg)
2019- Djokovic (Ao)
2020- Nadal (Rg)
2021- Djokovic (Rg)

So clear. Federer was finished in 2005. You are not wrong before 2021.

 

[metsman]

Poor PETE gets snubbed so badly once again. @metsman do your job here.

Peak Agassi was this close to going two sets to one down to non-peak Sampras, with the draw advantage too. Some serious underrating of Petros going on.



Struggling with Rochus is pretty big, no?
It would be quite a gymnastic exercise to say Safin played clearly better than Djokovic in the last three matches. A little better in QF/SF perhaps, worse in the final thanks to the first set even if that seven-game stretch was unparalleled.

Who cares about Rochus, you try playing a guy a foot and a half shorter than you, it's probably tough to even see where he's hitting the ball from.

 

[Biotic]

2003: Agassi AO
2004: Federer USO
2005: Federer Wimbledon
2006: Federer Wimbledon
2007: Nadal FO
2008: Nadal FO
2009: Nadal AO
2010: Nadal FO
2011: Djokovic AO
2012: Nadal FO
2013: Djokovic AO
2014: Wawa/Nadal/Djoko/Cilic
2015: Djokovic Wimbledon
2016: Djokovic AO
2017: Nadal FO
2018: Nadal/Djokovic
2019: Djokovic AO
2020: Nadal FO
2021: Djokovic AO

 

[RS]

2003: Agassi AO
2004: Federer USO
2005: Federer Wimbledon
2006: Federer Wimbledon
2007: Nadal FO
2008: Nadal FO
2009: Nadal AO
2010: Nadal FO
2011: Djokovic AO
2012: Nadal FO
2013: Djokovic AO
2014: Wawa/Nadal/Djoko/Cilic
2015: Djokovic Wimbledon
2016: Djokovic AO
2017: Nadal FO
2018: Nadal/Djokovic
2019: Djokovic AO
2020: Nadal FO
2021: Djokovic AO

Agassi AO 03 being better Fed Wim 03 is a interesting one.

 

[maratha_warrior]

Why is noone selecting Del potro for US Open 2009 when he defeated Nadal and Fed back to back ??

 

[RS]

Why is noone selecting Del potro for US Open 2009 when he defeated Nadal and Fed back to back ??

You could put him 2nd over both Fed’s with a bit of a push but not putting him above AO 09 Nadal

 

[ForehandRF]

2009 - Djokovic (Belgrade)
2010 - Querrey (Belgrade)
2011 - Djokovic (Belgrade)
2012 - Seppi (Belgrade)
2021 - Berrettini (Belgrade)/Djokovic (Belgrade 2)
2022 - Rublev (Belgrade)

Winning Belgrade is the ultimate glory in tennis

 

[mehdimike]

Level wise:

2003 - Federer at Wimbledon
2004 - Federer at Wimbledon (USO/AO close)
2005 - Federer at Wimbledon
2006 - Federer at Wimbledon/USO - tie
2007 - Nadal at RG (Fed at AO close)
2008 - Nadal at RG
2009 - Nadal at AO/Fed at Wimbledon
2010 - Nadal at RG
2011 - Djokovic at AO
2012 - Nadal at RG
2013 - Djokovic at AO
2014 - all 4 close enough interestingly
2015 - Wawa at RG/Djoko at Wim
2016 - Djokovic at AO
2017 - Nadal at RG
2018 - Nadal at RG
2019 - Djoko at AO
2020 - Nadal at RG
2021 - ehhh

RG 2010 is so underrated. IMO, It was one of those years that Rafa could both attack and defend amazingly. To me just in 2008, 2010 and 2012 Rafa had balanced level in terms of attack and defence.

 

[abmk]

RG 2010 is so underrated. IMO, It was one of those years that Rafa could both attack and defend amazingly. To me just in 2008, 2010 and 2012 Rafa had balanced level in terms of attack and defence.

2007 RG is up there with those.
I am also a bit amused by people putting 2010 USO Nadal over 2010 RG Nadal.

 

[InsideOut900]

no, just 1.

Safin?

 

[abmk]

That's the point, man. Comfortably outplayed yet almost manages to go 2-1 up despite facing a losing position in every set. Pete's mentality is clearly getting underrated by a lot here. I don't think Agassi wins a career best peak-to-peak match anywhere except maybe at RG and even then he could totally lose.

Pete's mental strength was up at top level in that match.
and yet Agassi did edge him out in the AO 95 3rd set in the end.
even in AO 2000 4th set when conditions were clearly faster.
Just that vibe of comfort for Agassi at the AO.
With Sampras in better game form, he'd have made 2nd set closer, but still probably lost by a break. Agassi's return was bazooka in that set. Maybe wins set1 without Agassi's help. good chance he takes one of set 3 or set 4, but don't see both. The way I see it they were going to split it when close, but agassi's was a little better game wise at AO, so he'd edge it out, IMO.

As far as RG goes, no. for a single match, Agassi definitely takes it.
Over a 10 match Bo5 series, maybe 2, 3 tops.

I would think the clear difference between the Rochus match (close for the entire four-set match) and the Dodig match (close for two sets then Djok runs away with it) can't be nearly counterbalanced by Safin's entirely arguable slight advantage over the last three matches, so it's not that close. Agassi could be close since he dominated the draw up to the final, which was needlessly close but then so was the Djok-Fed semi (and the scoreline difference owes to PETE's stronger mentality & peak within the match compared to Fed there, which makes sense since he was still prime and Fed was not).

Later rounds take precedence.
Earlier rounds if you are under clear threat. Don't think Safin was vs Rochus.
So yeah, I think Safin AO 05 was a little behind Djoko AO 11.

 

[abmk]

Safin?

baggioppoussis AO 2006

 

[TheNachoMan]

Level wise:

2003 - Federer at Wimbledon
2004 - Federer at Wimbledon (USO/AO close)
2005 - Federer at Wimbledon
2006 - Federer at Wimbledon/USO - tie
2007 - Nadal at RG (Fed at AO close)
2008 - Nadal at RG
2009 - Nadal at AO/Fed at Wimbledon
2010 - Nadal at RG
2011 - Djokovic at AO
2012 - Nadal at RG
2013 - Djokovic at AO
2014 - all 4 close enough interestingly
2015 - Wawa at RG/Djoko at Wim
2016 - Djokovic at AO
2017 - Nadal at RG
2018 - Nadal at RG
2019 - Djoko at AO
2020 - Nadal at RG
2021 - ehhh

I am shocked you named Nadal more than Federer.

 

[RS]

Who played better Fed Wim 04 final or Safin AO 05 SF?

 

[jl809]

Level wise:

2003 - Federer at Wimbledon
2004 - Federer at Wimbledon (USO/AO close)
2005 - Federer at Wimbledon
2006 - Federer at Wimbledon/USO - tie
2007 - Nadal at RG (Fed at AO close)
2008 - Nadal at RG
2009 - Nadal at AO/Fed at Wimbledon
2010 - Nadal at RG
2011 - Djokovic at AO
2012 - Nadal at RG
2013 - Djokovic at AO
2014 - all 4 close enough interestingly
2015 - Wawa at RG/Djoko at Wim
2016 - Djokovic at AO
2017 - Nadal at RG
2018 - Nadal at RG
2019 - Djoko at AO
2020 - Nadal at RG
2021 - ehhh

Are there threads somewhere which explain why it is worth rating this Federer? Am so far from being able to do so rn

 

[abmk]

I am shocked you named Nadal more than Federer.

Just stating it as I see it.

 

[abmk]

Are there threads somewhere which explain why it is worth rating this Federer? Am so far from being able to do so rn

The Haas SF was fed's best match on grass after Wim 06. played well from all over the court. served and backed up his serve so well that Haas didn't even have a BP.
Karlovic was on his best serving form on grass - unbroken in 8 mathches - beating Dasco and Tsonga. Fed broke him clean once each in first 2 sets.
Fed also beat Sod fresh off his RG run in straights no less.

and finally played well in the final, close to 2008 final form. under-rated performance. served great, played well off the ground, returned ok by normal top player standards, though obviously not what most expected from him vs Roddick. problem was him not clustering return points optimally. Roddick saved most of BPs with clutch play.

Roddick served extremely well, played well off the ground incl net play. only -ve was below par returning, but he clustered return points well enough to get 2 breaks. most people who've watched it 2nd time will realize it was better than what you'd think 1st time around because of expectations from Fed.
Oh and people going hurr durr Roddick can take a hike.

 

[jl809]

The Haas SF was fed's best match on grass after Wim 06. played well from all over the court. served and backed up his serve so well that Haas didn't even have a BP.
Karlovic was on his best serving form on grass - unbroken in 8 mathches - beating Dasco and Tsonga. Fed broke him clean once each in first 2 sets.
Fed also beat Sod fresh off his RG run in straights no less.

and finally played well in the final, close to 2008 final form. under-rated performance. served great, played well off the ground, returned ok by normal top player standards, though obviously not what most expected from him vs Roddick. problem was him not clustering return points optimally. Roddick saved most of BPs with clutch play.

Roddick served extremely well, played well off the ground incl net play. only -ve was below par returning, but he clustered return points well enough to get 2 breaks. most people who've watched it 2nd time will realize it was better than what you'd think 1st time around because of expectations from Fed.
Oh and people going hurr durr Roddick can take a hike.

Cheers, appreciate you giving proper detail here. Will check out the Haas match again

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Pete's mental strength was up at top level in that match.
and yet Agassi did edge him out in the AO 95 3rd set in the end.
even in AO 2000 4th set when conditions were clearly faster.
Just that vibe of comfort for Agassi at the AO.
With Sampras in better game form, he'd have made 2nd set closer, but still probably lost by a break. Agassi's return was bazooka in that set. Maybe wins set1 without Agassi's help. good chance he takes one of set 3 or set 4, but don't see both. The way I see it they were going to split it when close, but agassi's was a little better game wise at AO, so he'd edge it out, IMO.

As far as RG goes, no. for a single match, Agassi definitely takes it.
Over a 10 match Bo5 series, maybe 2, 3 tops.

Agassi was in clearly better form than Sampras in either 95/00 encounter yet needed a netcord return in crunch time to edge Pete, meh. Reverse the form advantage and I reckon the matches are less close in Sampras's favour than they were in Agassi's favour as they happened. All this 'comfort' dissipates when PETE is involved. We've seen that in Mugiami, Agassi leads 6 titles to 2 but no question whose peak is higher and it's not Andre. (Darkly hilarious how much more you're willing to grant Federer than anyone else, reasonably unbiased truth-seeking dude.)

Yeah I'd forgotten about Agassi's 1988 RG, his first top season would actually be his best form there I suppose (can't say much of 1999 due to being stomped for the first two sets by Medvedev, try that against Wilander and you lose in four sets max), pushed Wilander well for four sets before petering out but Sampras would still have more trouble if it reached the fifth set and most likely loses in four anyway, so yes.

@metsman what are you doing standing by while PETE is being slandered so help me restore some justice in these godforsaken lands.

Later rounds take precedence.
Earlier rounds if you are under clear threat. Don't think Safin was vs Rochus.
So yeah, I think Safin AO 05 was a little behind Djoko AO 11.

Losing the first set + three tiebreaks means no threat, interesting. Rochus was up 4-1 in the third set according to a match report. Safin was always the better player but made a show of wasting opportunities, 1/18 on BPs lal. Good thing he broke exactly when needed most.