vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
may sound unlikely after the biblical mugshow we witnessed in the last years, but you know what they say...
This is incredibly misleading.
Murray was a non factor post back surgery and didn’t reach Djokovic on grass once since 2013.
Nadal was past his prime after 2014 RG and from 2015-2023 you can count on one hand the amount of times he was a legit contender vs djokovic - 2018 W, 2020 RG, 2022 Rg and arguably 21 RG where he was injured. That’s still 15 slams Djokovic hoarded since 2015 with no ATG level opponent in sight.
The list of quality players with an age advantage born 5 years after Djokovic is very short and disappointing lol. Federer played them all anyway at an even older age so it’s a moot point. Djokovic played the quality players up to 5 years younger than him with an age advantage and Federer played those same guys with an age disadvantage. Like I said, it's done and dusted at this point...Djokovic pretty much won his last 12 slams vs 90s gen + ancient Federer and post prime Nadal.
Federer lost to Tsitsipas aged 37. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 AO forms doesn’t lost there in a million years. He also had 15+ average to high level runs in his 30s and was stopped by some very good players. Of course he has a few bad defeats but they’re irrelevant in the overall picture.
Tough to argue against this.The list of quality players born 5 years after Djokovic is very short and disappointing lol. Federer played them all anyway at an older age lol.
Can we imagine an era worse than this where Casper Ruud makes multiple finals, Stef makes multiple finals , Kyrgios and Berettini makes final? That too in span of 4 years .so out of 16 slams we had these clowns making 7 finals and then add Meddy to the mix, Albiet 2 tiers above them but not an ATG making 4 finals. That's total of 11 finals and then add Z and theim lol.
Djokovic pretty much won his last 12 slams vs 90s gen + ancient Federer and post prime Nadal.
Federer lost to Tsitsipas aged 37. 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 AO forms doesn’t lost there in a million years. He also had 15+ average to high level runs in his 30s and was stopped by some very good players. Of course he has a few bad defeats but they’re irrelevant in the overall picture.
It was really bad, yes, I'm not going to deny it.
I am bad for doing this but I edited my post to add a bit more detail.Tough to argue against this.
Years without any prime ATG level opponents:
Federer - arguably 2003/2004
Djokovic - 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023
2001-2002 don’t count for Federer as 1 he was pre prime and 2 Pete and Agassi were still knocking around. 2005-2006 doesn’t count as nadal was there on clay and from 2007 grass. 2017-2020 are excluded thanks to excellent clay showings from Nadal.
It’s clear to see Djokovic benefitted the most from poor competition.
I am bad for doing this but I edited my post to add a bit more detail.
Murray wasn’t a threat at slams vs djokovic post 2013. They played 0 times on grass.Murray was not a factor post back surgery ?!?!?!?!? He was #1 in 2016 and 2017, he was a factor until mid-2017 so he was a rival to Djokovic most of his career.
Who cares if he is "past his prime" or not. He won EIGHT slams after 2014 RG. That's 3 fewer than half his total. And what about AO 2019? Or it doesn't count because Djokovic won convincingly? Should he have dropped a few more games or a set for it to count? And if Nadal loses early it is Djokovic's fault? Djokovic was not past his prime most of this period since he is only one year younger than Nadal? Why can Djokovic win past his prime and Nadal cannot? We discount Federer's wins over Nadal at the AO 2017 and Wimbledon 2019 since Nadal was past his prime? How many slams did Federer win then beating ATG if "past his prime" doesn't count? Because if past his prime doesn't count then before your prime doesn't count either? What are the slams Federer won beating ATGs in their prime? Nadal was a top player until 2022. He won multiple slams that year and almost finishes #1. Last year yes, he wasn't around. If he was not in his prime it's not Djokovic's fault. Not to mention that's ignores he won a huge chunk of his slams in that period.
Yes exactly. Federer barely made a dent, playing well for 2 sets at best. Murray was an auto win and Stan is not an ATG no matter how you spin it.This is hilarious. In 2015-2016 Djokovic had to face Murray, Federer and Wawrinka but it was weak competition. Federer doesn't count apparently because he was old. But Agassi counts as rival for Federer. And Nadal in 2021 and 2022 doesn't count as a rival for Djokovic.
Now do the other way around, don't focus on when they faced weak competition, focus on when they faced strong, which is what matters. Even if Djokovic won more than Federer vs weak competition, it doesn't change the fact he also won more vs strong competition.
Murray wasn’t a threat at slams vs djokovic post 2013. They played 0 times on grass.
2019 AO final was a beat down. Nadal’s true level was exposed in the final.
Djokovic had won 17 slams since 2015 and only a handful had some legit top end competition.
I think Alcaraz and Sinner have shown they are on a totally different level then 90s gen at this point but they need to keep beating old Djokovic to prove themselves further. It is definitely much stronger now they are hitting their prime. I'm really hoping Alcaraz will recover from his ankle injury quickly and start winning again as soon as possible.Do you think Sinner and Carlos entering their prime will make post 2023 era stronger than 2020-2023? With Djokovic going slamless
Tsitsipas has 2-1 lead combined vs Fedal in slams. They aren't good enough plain and simple.
Uh oh, someone's edgy.Thanks for pointing out my typo, son! You're a genius, wish someone gives you a medal .
Fed was older than how Djokovic is today. That is beside the pt.
Problem is not with Djokovic winning 17 slams post 2015, problem is he won merely 7 slams before it, if he was that good to win 17 slams post 28 then what stopped him from winning even 10 before 2015? That's my point and a very valid one.
Murray was a non factor post back surgery and didn’t reach Djokovic on grass once since 2013.
Yes but Wimbledon is grass. Fed would smoke tsitsipas at Wimbledon in 2019.Federer reached Wimbledon final 6 months later.
Before 2011 he was not that good. In 2011 he dominated. In 2012-2014 he won one slam per year in a competition that included Federer, Nadal, Murray, Wawrinka, Tsonga, Berdych, Ferrer, Soderling, del Potro, etc. Who won more during that period? Only Nadal and it was ONE more slam but with no YECs.
Nadal also had one-slam years in 2011, 2012, 2009 and 2014 during his prime (and you can include 2007 too).
A valid point is also Federer winning one slam between AO 2010 and AO 2017.
Murray wasn’t a threat at slams vs djokovic post 2013. They played 0 times on grass.
2019 AO final was a beat down. Nadal’s true level was exposed in the final.
Djokovic had won 17 slams since 2015 and only a handful had some legit top end competition.
troll commentTsitsipas has 2-1 lead combined vs Fedal in slams. They aren't good enough plain and simple.
2020 AOHe didn't win 12 slams vs 90s gen.
non factor vs Djokovic yes.Non-factor post back surgery? Since that happened (end of 2013) he won another Slam, a WTF, an Olympics, 5 more Masters and became world #1! Those are SOME non-factors!!!
Plus I think you will find it was Djokovic who failed to reach Murray at 2016 Wimbledon.
Essentially he wasn’t good enough to dominate in his prime years and needed the competition to soften. He wasn’t quite as good as Federer was.Before 2011 he was not that good. In 2011 he dominated. In 2012-2014 he won one slam per year in a competition that included Federer, Nadal, Murray, Wawrinka, Tsonga, Berdych, Ferrer, Soderling, del Potro, etc. Who won more during that period? Only Nadal and it was ONE more slam but with no YECs.
Nadal also had one-slam years in 2011, 2012, 2009 and 2014 during his prime (and you can include 2007 too).
A valid point is also Federer winning one slam between AO 2010 and AO 2017.
Good fight once again.
Next goal is get you doing hypothetical matches OP.![]()
2020 AO
2021 AO
2021 RG
2021 W
2022 W
2023 AO
2023 RG
2023 USO
8 /12 vs 90s gen. All weak apart from 1-2.
non factor vs Djokovic yes.
Ruud gets no love here. Agree he played well in these tournaments and deserves better feedback. Hard working pro.
Okay so he wasn't good enough to win more than 7 slams and had just one multi slam season before 2015, what hanged post 2015?? Anyone can tell me?
In BO3 of course he did very well but wasn’t a factor in slams sadlyWell, let's see. Beat Djokovic in the finals of 2015 Canada, 2016 Rome, 2016 WTF and beat him for the #1 ranking. Now that's SOME non-factor!![]()
But he’s not a mug lolNo mugs should get any love on this forum.
But he’s not a mug lol
I think pre and post 2015 makes sense. Nadal’s prime ended after 14 RG. Federer’s last prime ish year was 2012. Murray wasn’t a threat at slams post back surgery. The weak times started post 2015 and he’s pretty much continuously dominated apart from the injured 17-mid 18 and covid shenanigans in 2020 and 2022.It's hilarious how you lump all post-2015 and pre-2015 together as if every year is the same lol. I already gave you a detailed explanation as to before 2015 and you still come up with this oNlY seVeN slAmS bEfOrE 2015. As if that was bad anyway. Of course, the line is drawn at 2015 right before he won 5 out of 6 slams, for some reason.
From 2011 to 2014 he won 6. Given that's a four-year period and 2015-2023 is a 9-year period it's pretty logical he'll win more, we are talking about a more than double of years. And he won one slam in 2020, and one slam in 2022 and zero in 2017, so it's not like he was dominating every year in that period. Players have up and downs. You don't win on a line. Why did Wawrinka win zero before 2014 and 3 from 2014 to 2017?
But you don't seem to ask why Federer won ONE from AO 2010 to AO 2017? Or why Nadal won 8 outside Roland Garros in his whole career? You can ask questions about any player.
Essentially he wasn’t good enough to dominate in his prime years and needed the competition to soften. He wasn’t quite as good as Federer was.
No, he wasn’t good enough aged 29-35 to consistently defeat 23-28 years old Nadal / Djokovic. He either needed softer competition or to be at his very best. He certainly was as good as Djokovic at many events in his 30s and on aggregate better at more events in his 20s.Federer couldn't win as much from AO 2010 to AO 2017, he wasn't good enough to win, let alone dominate, and needed the competition to be soft as before. He wasn't quite as good as Djokovic was.
Ferrero and Coria don't belong in that list, especially Ferrero.Yes...
Juan Carlos Ferrero, Martin Verkerk, Rainer Schüttler, Mark Philippoussis, Gastón Gaudio, Guillermo Coria, Mariano Puerta, Marcos Baghdatis, Fernando González
Guess the years...
You are very harsh on him ... he is a very good pro who is labelled by throw away names like mug because he didn't beat the big 3 and dominate those at his level. Mostly nobody did up until now with Fed retired, Nadal injured and Novak starting to creak with age. Substitute Mug with Top Pro whose made the most of his talent ... we good Sonshine ... see what I did thereIf he plays like a mug, choke like a mug and lose every slam final like a mug then he's a mug.
It's hilarious how you lump all post-2015 and pre-2015 together as if every year is the same lol. I already gave you a detailed explanation as to before 2015 and you still come up with this oNlY seVeN slAmS bEfOrE 2015. As if that was bad anyway. Of course, the line is drawn at 2015 right before he won 5 out of 6 slams, for some reason.
From 2011 to 2014 he won 6. Given that's a four-year period and 2015-2023 is a 9-year period it's pretty logical he'll win more, we are talking about a more than double of years. And he won one slam in 2020, and one slam in 2022 and zero in 2017, so it's not like he was dominating every year in that period. Players have up and downs. You don't win on a line. Why did Wawrinka win zero before 2014 and 3 from 2014 to 2017?
But you don't seem to ask why Federer won ONE from AO 2010 to AO 2017? Or why Nadal won 8 outside Roland Garros in his whole career? You can ask questions about any player.
Ferrero and Coria don't belong in that list, especially Ferrero.
Phillippoussis > guys like Berrettini and Ruud
And Baghdatis and Gonzalez only reached 1 final each as opposed to 3 for Ruud and 2 for Anderson in this one.
Which was not great for his standards. I can easily see Fed do better than that.Before 2011 he was not that good. In 2011 he dominated. In 2012-2014 he won one slam per year in a competition that included Federer, Nadal, Murray, Wawrinka, Tsonga, Berdych, Ferrer, Soderling, del Potro, etc. Who won more during that period? Only Nadal and it was ONE more slam but with no YECs.
Nadal also had one-slam years in 2011, 2012, 2009 and 2014 during his prime (and you can include 2007 too).
A valid point is also Federer winning one slam between AO 2010 and AO 2017.
You are very harsh on him ... he is a very good pro who is labelled by throw away names like mug because he didn't beat the big 3 and dominate those at his level. Mostly nobody did up until now with Fed retired, Nadal injured and Novak starting to creak with age. Substitute Mug with Top Pro whose made the most of his talent ... we good Sonshine ... see what I did there![]()
You are very harsh on him ... he is a very good pro who is labelled by throw away names like mug because he didn't beat the big 3 and dominate those at his level. Mostly nobody did up until now with Fed retired, Nadal injured and Novak starting to creak with age. Substitute Mug with Top Pro whose made the most of his talent ... we good Sonshine ... see what I did there![]()
You could’ve put a cardboard cutout on the other side of the court and the finals would play out the same. He’s basically a walkover for any half decent ATG playing their C+ game. No weapons, not a great serve.You are very harsh on him ... he is a very good pro who is labelled by throw away names like mug because he didn't beat the big 3 and dominate those at his level. Mostly nobody did up until now with Fed retired, Nadal injured and Novak starting to creak with age. Substitute Mug with Top Pro whose made the most of his talent ... we good Sonshine ... see what I did there![]()
And who benefitted more in the end? Djokovic or Federer? And don't forget that only 3 of Djokovic's last 18 slams have come against Nadal despite being the same age as him. Just because they're the same age doesn't mean their rivalry hasn't been scarce after 2013/2014.And? 90s generation was not Djokovic's main competition for a long time, only a very brief period. Federer had NO ATG being born for 10 years before him and for 5 years after him. Djokovic had an ATG being born basically at the same time as him and one 6 years before. Though the first sentence here is pretty ironic because that is what people try to do to diminish Djokovic's current competition lol, just dropping names.
Did he now? He had Agassi in 2003-2005 and Nadal from 2005 and Djokovic from 2007.Yes, Djokovic didn't have to face Nadal and Murray during his whole career who are the same age as him. Nadal was a top player until 2022, only last year Djokovic finally had a a year with no ATG around. Federer had more.
The Raonic loss was in 2016 and we know the story about that one.Federer in his mid-30s was losing to the kind of players that Djokovic would get mocked for winning slams against. Cilic, Seppi, Gulbis, Raonic, Millman, TSITSIPAS. And that's excluding 2013, and not playing RG for three straight years.
Djokovic's competition was tougher in his prime, but overblown in some instances. USO 2012, Wimb 2013, AO 2014 and USO 2014 were all winnable and he won none.Federer had tougher competition post-prime. Djokovic had tougher competition in his prime and pre-prime.
2020 AO
2021 AO
2021 RG
2021 W
2022 W
2023 AO
2023 RG
2023 USO
8 /12 vs 90s gen. All weak apart from 1-2.
non factor vs Djokovic yes.