Better Wimbledon Resume, Open Era - Djokovic, Edberg, or Newcombe?

Better Wimbledon resume, Newcombe/Edberg/Djokovic


  • Total voters
    8

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?
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
You can include Nadal as well in this thread. He has 2 more finals, but the other players are more consistent have gone deeper consistently.
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Like you said Newcombe by a hair. Lost to Laver. Win percent and Rosewall and Smith were great grass court players in their own right.
I could choose Djokovic tho 45 wins is really nice.
 

eldanger25

Hall of Fame
You can include Nadal as well in this thread. He has 2 more finals, but the other players are more consistent have gone deeper consistently.

I thought about it, but wanted to respect the two extra finals reached (which is meaningful - might've included Nadal if he was only one extra final from this group). I also thought there was an interesting symmetry to three guys from different decades each with two titles and a runner-up appearance.
 

eldanger25

Hall of Fame
Like you said Newcombe by a hair. Lost to Laver. Win percent and Rosewall and Smith were great grass court players in their own right.
I could choose Djokovic tho 45 wins is really nice.

Yeah, looking at the three guys seemed to make it clear that Novak is past Edberg at this point, and right on Newcombe's tail. I definitely think he'll be past both when all is said and done.
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
I thought about it, but wanted to respect the two extra finals reached (which is meaningful - might've included Nadal if he was only one extra final from this group). I also thought there was an interesting symmetry to three guys from different decades each with two titles and a runner-up appearance.

But that is not fair to the three players here.

Nadal's best performance is reaching 4R once and littered with 1R and 2R losses when not reaching the finals.
 

tipsa...don'tlikehim!

Talk Tennis Guru
newcombe is underrated
GigaSmiley.6210aa58cc830a74f4d626435db90d0c.gif
 

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
I'd say Djokovic's resume is slightly more impressive but I think we all know who the greater grass court player was.
 

jg153040

G.O.A.T.
I'd say Djokovic's resume is slightly more impressive but I think we all know who the greater grass court player was.

Djokovic is greater than Edberg, since Edberg was giving advice to Federer and Djokovic beat his advice.

And what the hell is Becker doing there? I feel Nole has gotten worse since Becker.

Nole was great on grass before Becker, but then he was great at AO and FO too.

Now, he lost AO, and gap at the FO is wider , and he lost USO 13 too and USO 14.
 
Top