eldanger25
Hall of Fame
With Djokovic's win this year, he joins Edberg and Newcombe as 2x SW19 winners in three title round appearances. Who among this great trio has had the best Wimbledon record, given a combination of stats and context surrounding each of their careers?
Here's the tale of the tape:
John Newcombe
Appearances, Open Era: 7 (between ages 24-34)
Titles: 2 (1970, d. Rosewall, 5 sets; 1971, d. Smith, 5 sets)
Finalist: 1 (1969, l. Laver, 4 sets)
Semifinals reached: 0
Quarterfinals reached: 1 (1974, l. Rosewall, 4 sets)
Fourth round reached: 2 (1968, l. Ashe, 5 sets; 1978, l. Ramirez, 3 sets)
Win-loss record (Open Era): 32-5 (86.5%)
Relevant facts: 1967 Wimbledon champ (amateur era); Banned from 1972 Wimbledon (WCT) when 2x defending champ; skipped 1973 Wimbledon as part of ATP player strike; finalist appearance during Laver's 1969 GS season; 24-2 at event between 1969-1974.
Stefan Edberg
Appearances, Open Era: 14 (between ages 17-30)
Titles: 2 (1988, d. Becker, 4 sets; 1990, d. Becker, 5 sets)
Finalist: 1 (1989, l. Becker, 3 sets)
Semifinals reached: 3 (1987, l. Lendl, 4 sets; 1991, l. Stich, 4 sets; 1993, l. Courier, 4 sets)
Quarterfinals reached: 1 (1992, l. Ivanisevic, 5 sets)
Fourth Round reached: 1 (1985, l. Curren, 3 sets)
Win-loss record: 49-12 (80.3%)
Relevant facts: Part of only two consecutive trilogies of title fights in Wimbledon Open Era history (v. Becker, 1988-90; Federer-Nadal 2006-08 is other); 30-3 at event between 1987-1991.
Novak Djokovic
Appearances, Open Era: 10 (between ages 18-27)
Titles: 2 (2011, d. Nadal, 4 sets; 2014, d. Federer, 5 sets)
Finalist: 1 (2013, l. Murray, 3 sets)
Semifinals reached: 3 (2007, l. Nadal, retirement in 3rd set; 2010, l. Berdych, 3 sets; 2012, l. Federer, 4 sets)
Quarterfinals reached: 1 (2009, l. Haas, 4 sets)
Fourth Round reached: 1 (2006, l. Ancic, 5 sets)
Win-loss record: 45-8 (84.9%)
Relevant facts: Defeated defending champion and 5x finalist Nadal in 2011 title round; defeated Wimbledon Open Era king Federer in 2014 title round; 30-3 at event between 2010-2014.
I'd lean toward Newcombe, then Djokovic, then Edberg in order of best resume at the moment - all three won their two titles against impressive competition, but Newk's finalist loss was to Laver in his GS season (though 1989 Becker was scary good as well), and Newk also lost two prime opportunities to add to his Wimbledon tally due to early Open Era politics. I suppose one could mention his amateur era Wimbledon crown as well.
Thoughts?
Here's the tale of the tape:
John Newcombe
Appearances, Open Era: 7 (between ages 24-34)
Titles: 2 (1970, d. Rosewall, 5 sets; 1971, d. Smith, 5 sets)
Finalist: 1 (1969, l. Laver, 4 sets)
Semifinals reached: 0
Quarterfinals reached: 1 (1974, l. Rosewall, 4 sets)
Fourth round reached: 2 (1968, l. Ashe, 5 sets; 1978, l. Ramirez, 3 sets)
Win-loss record (Open Era): 32-5 (86.5%)
Relevant facts: 1967 Wimbledon champ (amateur era); Banned from 1972 Wimbledon (WCT) when 2x defending champ; skipped 1973 Wimbledon as part of ATP player strike; finalist appearance during Laver's 1969 GS season; 24-2 at event between 1969-1974.
Stefan Edberg
Appearances, Open Era: 14 (between ages 17-30)
Titles: 2 (1988, d. Becker, 4 sets; 1990, d. Becker, 5 sets)
Finalist: 1 (1989, l. Becker, 3 sets)
Semifinals reached: 3 (1987, l. Lendl, 4 sets; 1991, l. Stich, 4 sets; 1993, l. Courier, 4 sets)
Quarterfinals reached: 1 (1992, l. Ivanisevic, 5 sets)
Fourth Round reached: 1 (1985, l. Curren, 3 sets)
Win-loss record: 49-12 (80.3%)
Relevant facts: Part of only two consecutive trilogies of title fights in Wimbledon Open Era history (v. Becker, 1988-90; Federer-Nadal 2006-08 is other); 30-3 at event between 1987-1991.
Novak Djokovic
Appearances, Open Era: 10 (between ages 18-27)
Titles: 2 (2011, d. Nadal, 4 sets; 2014, d. Federer, 5 sets)
Finalist: 1 (2013, l. Murray, 3 sets)
Semifinals reached: 3 (2007, l. Nadal, retirement in 3rd set; 2010, l. Berdych, 3 sets; 2012, l. Federer, 4 sets)
Quarterfinals reached: 1 (2009, l. Haas, 4 sets)
Fourth Round reached: 1 (2006, l. Ancic, 5 sets)
Win-loss record: 45-8 (84.9%)
Relevant facts: Defeated defending champion and 5x finalist Nadal in 2011 title round; defeated Wimbledon Open Era king Federer in 2014 title round; 30-3 at event between 2010-2014.
I'd lean toward Newcombe, then Djokovic, then Edberg in order of best resume at the moment - all three won their two titles against impressive competition, but Newk's finalist loss was to Laver in his GS season (though 1989 Becker was scary good as well), and Newk also lost two prime opportunities to add to his Wimbledon tally due to early Open Era politics. I suppose one could mention his amateur era Wimbledon crown as well.
Thoughts?