Did Tennis Peak Between 2008-2009?

Did tennis peak from 2008-2009 (level of play, anticipation, drama, history, rivalry)

  • Yes

    Votes: 14 23.7%

  • No

    Votes: 45 76.3%
  • Total voters
    59
REKX

REKX

Rookie
As a Federer and Nadal fan, I can only think back and remain grateful that it was these two that got me into tennis - which is a big part of my life. Many consider Wimbledon 2008 as the greatest match of all time because of so many factors.

I think tennis peaked during 2008-2009. What I mean by that it was at its best in terms of level of play, interest, story, drama and everything.

If we look at what we have now - Djokovic (as I predicted years ago) has a free run to stack up on grand slams. Federer is retired, Nadal is almost retired and Djokovic looks like he can be competitive at grand slam level for at least another 3 years, maybe more.

In contrast, 2008-2009 was full of huge anticipation and very big historical moments. Wimbledon 2008 was two players at their prime which produced an amazing match but it was the story of Nadal who broke Federer’s dominance on grass which added so much.

The match they played at the Australian in 2009 was superb. But, again, it was the heightened anticipation that was there then which isn’t present today. People who didn’t follow tennis knew about Federer and Nadal - this was great. We were so lucky to have lived through that mini era.

I don’t think there was any other period in tennis history that felt so important and generated this level of interest. Both sets of fans were on edge - so good.

How do you remember that period in tennis between 2008-2009?
 
2009 was insane, every tournament was memorable. Big 4 all young, the top 10 was very strong and they all had their moments. The entire top 10 was consistent or semi-consistent throughout the season. Lots os surprises and surprise winners, lots of upsets, lots of drama.

It was the equivalent of 1992, it won't be replicated for a very long time, if ever. Look at 2 examples from 2009:

2009 Miami:

Miami.png


2009 Canada:

Canada.png
 
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It never felt bigger. Tennis used to be all over the news and I knew people that didn't follow tennis that would tune into the GS finals. Every tournament was epic, there were great matches and stories every week, and the top guys all delivered consistency. Definitely the best times. Even matches like Nadal/Djokovic Hamburg 08 where Novak could have become #2 if he won, I was nervous the entire day before, Nadal had been #2 for so long that him slipping to 3 was a big deal. There's nothing like that now.

Nadal, Djokovic Fight it out For No. 2 in Hamburg Semifinals

Nadal, Djokovic Fight it out For No. 2 in Hamburg Semifinals - Tennis News at Tennis-X.com
www.tennis-x.com

36.jpeg
 
The 2009 was one of my favorite seasons, the top 10 players were able to challenge the Big guys on every level, including at Majors. Guys like Davydenko, Soderling, Delpo (Verdasco deserves to be mentioned, too) had their magical moments and impressive runs, so the outcome of a match wasn't as predictable as it has been for years now, the field was pretty deep.
 
Martin J said:
The 2009 was one of my favorite seasons, the top 10 players were able to challenge the Big guys on every level, including at Majors. Guys like Davydenko, Soderling, Delpo (Verdasco deserves to be mentioned, too) had their magical moments and impressive runs, so the outcome of a match wasn't as predictable as it has been for years, the field was pretty deep.
Click to expand...

Yes, the likes of Del Potro and Soderling were the side shows but were amazing players, high level - added to that period even more.
 
REKX said:
As a Federer and Nadal fan, I can only think back and remain grateful that it was these two that got me into tennis - which is a big part of my life. Many consider Wimbledon 2008 as the greatest match of all time because of so many factors.

I think tennis peaked during 2008-2009. What I mean by that it was at its best in terms of level of play, interest, story, drama and everything.

If we look at what we have now - Djokovic (as I predicted years ago) has a free run to stack up on grand slams. Federer is retired, Nadal is almost retired and Djokovic looks like he can be competitive at grand slam level for at least another 3 years, maybe more.

In contrast, 2008-2009 was full of huge anticipation and very big historical moments. Wimbledon 2008 was two players at their prime which produced an amazing match but it was the story of Nadal who broke Federer’s dominance on grass which added so much.

The match they played at the Australian in 2009 was superb. But, again, it was the heightened anticipation that was there then which isn’t present today. People who didn’t follow tennis knew about Federer and Nadal - this was great. We were so lucky to have lived through that mini era.

I don’t think there was any other period in tennis history that felt so important and generated this level of interest. Both sets of fans were on edge - so good.

How do you remember that period in tennis between 2008-2009?
Click to expand...

Tennis post Sampras, was boring as hell, until Djokovic and Nadal started to hit their strides......at about 2010-11.
And I say that as a lifelong tennis fan who remembers watching Lendl, McEnroe etc play at the AO. As someone old enough to witness Pat Cash win his maiden slam.
 
The era that the OP is describing is better known as the "weak era" period, where the likes of Bagdatis were reaching slam finals (no offence to Baggy), and Federer was vulturing against crippled Phillipousis, Hewitt, and old man Agassi.
 
I mean, it really begins in 2007 when Joe Kovic makes the finals at the Sunshine dub, ends the year making his first slam final, and then ends in 2012 with the Ringo of this John, Paul, George, and Ringo finally winning his first major.

I'd say if you wanted to be pickier you could consider 2012 a step down and say it really ended in 2011, if you wanted to be pickier still you could say it began in 2008, sure.

If you wanted to be really generous you could maybe extend it till 2013, where lots of very tasty tennis was certainly played, but throughout that 07-13 period things were pretty great.

2008-11 is definitely the real heart of it anyway. I think going any less than that is crazy.
 
I think it has to be 08-12 as a whole, in their totality they were wild.

There were lots of twists and turns:

08 - Fed’s insane dominance ends as first Djokovic and then Nadal take what had been “his” slams up until then, and Nadal grabs World No 1. The way Nadal beat Fed like a drum at RG had people questioning whether Fed would ever win RG in his career

09 - As Nadal reduces Fed to tears by taking the one surface left to him in their slam rivalry, he seemed set to dominate, and Fed looked in real trouble in the spring… then boom, Ned gets injured and before we know it, Fed has 14… at RG! And he’s knocking on the door of 15. Even that had a twist though with that crazy Roddick match. Just as we think Fed is going to do 6 USOs, up pops JMDP, another future ATG, or so it seems…

10 - now it’s Fed who looks set to dominate again as he takes the AO for his 4th slam in the last 5, while Nadal retires vs Murray injured, and JMDP starts to feel the injuries. People are writing a moratorium on Nadal with his injuries stacking up but lo and behold, he rebounds like a MF sweeping clay and RG, and now it’s Fed struggling with injury and not even making it to slam finals anymore. Nadal sweeps 3 slams in 3 surfaces in 3 months, and his own era is set to begin, except…

11 - peak Djokovic just appears. Straightaway. He’s ruining everyone, even Nadal on clay, and is set to win RG… but there’s Fed with the best match of his life on clay outta nowhere??? Damn. But Djoker rebounds to become a multi-surface slam winner. Fed doesn’t even make the SFs of Wimbledon this time as the strong era bites back… is he done on grass? Djoker finishes 10-1 vs Fedal. Has he figured Nadal out? And hang on, is Fed back in prime form as he dominates tournament after tournament to end the year?

12 - all hell breaks loose. This is the peak of tennis.

Nadal beats Fed, who hasn’t lost in ages, at the AO; people think Fed won’t win a slam ever again. Then Ned launches his counterattack on Djoker. First he almost beats him at the AO. But Djoker is a machine, RLA is his court. Then Ned roars back on clay to dominate the entire swing beating Djoker 3x. Wimbledon looks like it’s between the Big 3, probably Djokodal, but there’s ANOTHER twist - Nadal is not only out, he’s out for the year. Djoker suffers his 2nd defeat to Fed in their last 4 slam meetings and suddenly, Fed’s won his 1st slam in 2.5 years and is looking at World Number 1?! Where did that come from? He has a chance to win the Olympics on the same court but THIS IS REAL, MURRAY HAS JUST THRASHED FEDERER 3-0 ON CENTRE COURT. It’s Andy’s world. Fed and Djoker are in a battle for world Number 1 going into the US Open where they’ve played 5 years in a row, but the strong era is here and Fed is out before the SFs AGAIN and suddenly, Murray is beating Djokovic in a slam final. It’s a proper Big 4 now. Year ends with a classic Fedovic tussle down to the last point.
 
Last edited:
tennis_pro said:
2009 was insane, every tournament was memorable. Big 4 all young, the top 10 was very strong and they all had their moments. The entire top 10 was consistent or semi-consistent throughout the season. Lots os surprises and surprise winners, lots of upsets, lots of drama.

It was the equivalent of 1992, it won't be replicated for a very long time, if ever. Look at 2 examples from 2009:

2009 Miami:

Miami.png


2009 Canada:

Canada.png
Click to expand...
MuryGOAT.
 
Yes. That moment when Nadal beat Federer in the Wimbledon 08 final was the zenith of tennis.
It's why Nadal will go down as number 1. That is the prime, optimum moment for a tennis player and he lived it.
 
jl809 said:
I think it has to be 08-12 as a whole, in their totality they were wild.

There were lots of twists and turns:

08 - Fed’s insane dominance ends as first Djokovic and then Nadal take what had been “his” slams up until then, and Nadal grabs World No 1. The way Nadal beat Fed like a drum at RG had people questioning whether Fed would ever win RG in his career

09 - As Nadal reduces Fed to tears by taking the one surface left to him in their slam rivalry, he seemed set to dominate, and Fed looked in real trouble in the spring… then boom, Ned gets injured and before we know it, Fed has 14… at RG! And he’s knocking on the door of 15. Even that had a twist though with that crazy Roddick match. Just as we think Fed is going to do 6 USOs, up pops JMDP, another future ATG, or so it seems…

10 - now it’s Fed who looks set to dominate again as he takes the AO for his 4th slam in the last 5, while Nadal retires vs Murray injured, and JMDP starts to feel the injuries. People are writing a moratorium on Nadal with his injuries stacking up but lo and behold, he rebounds like a MF sweeping clay and RG, and now it’s Fed struggling with injury and not even making it to slam finals anymore. Nadal sweeps 3 slams in 3 surfaces in 3 months, and his own era is set to begin, except…

11 - peak Djokovic just appears. Straightaway. He’s ruining everyone, even Nadal on clay, and is set to win RG… but there’s Fed with the best match of his life on clay outta nowhere??? Damn. But Djoker rebounds to become a multi-surface slam winner. Fed doesn’t even make the SFs of Wimbledon this time as the strong era bites back… is he done on grass? Djoker finishes 10-1 vs Fedal. Has he figured Nadal out? And hang on, is Fed back in prime form as he dominates tournament after tournament to end the year?

12 - all hell breaks loose. This is the peak of tennis.

Nadal beats Fed, who hasn’t lost in ages, at the AO; people think Fed won’t win a slam ever again. Then Ned launches his counterattack on Djoker. First he almost beats him at the AO. But Djoker is a machine, RLA is his court. Then Ned roars back on clay to dominate the entire swing beating Djoker 3x. Wimbledon looks like it’s between the Big 3, probably Djokodal, but there’s ANOTHER twist - Nadal is not only out, he’s out for the year. Djoker suffers his 2nd defeat to Fed in their last 4 slam meetings and suddenly, Fed’s won his 1st slam in 2.5 years and is looking at World Number 1?! Where did that come from? He has a chance to win the Olympics on the same court but THIS IS REAL, MURRAY HAS JUST THRASHED FEDERER 3-0 ON CENTRE COURT. It’s Andy’s world. Fed and Djoker are in a battle for world Number 1 going into the US Open where they’ve played 5 years in a row, but the strong era is here and Fed is out before the SFs AGAIN and suddenly, Murray is beating Djokovic in a slam final. It’s a proper Big 4 now. Year ends with a classic Fedovic tussle down to the last point.
Click to expand...
Where is 13 with Nadal's comeback? Was good until that. Murray wins his first Wimbledon then Nadal swepts USO HC season. Also Wawrinka emerges in 13.

For me it's 07-13 or 08-13, but it's a bit longer period.
 
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2011-2014 was the peak of tennis. On the men tour, you had big 4. On the women side, you have Williams sisters, Sharapova & Li Na.
 
2008 -- no because of mono Fed

2009 -- yes: peak Fed, Nole, Nadal, Murray and Del Potro. You could clearly see Fed's peak is higher than the rest, but it was still a very competitive year of tennis overall and very exciting
 
Finalist of 2011-2012 vs Finalists of 2008-09 if they clash ....Guess who wins ?

Aus open - Djoker 2011-2012 wins
French open - I believe Nadal 2012 has the strength to beat Nadal 2008
Wimbledon - Djokovic/Federer from 11& 12 will beat Nadal 2008
US Open - This is the only slam where 08-09 could have some edge but that is debatable

So you see, 2011-2012 is the peak of the post Sampras era in 3 out of 4 slams
 
initialize said:
2008 -- no because of mono Fed

2009 -- yes: peak Fed, Nole, Nadal, Murray and Del Potro. You could clearly see Fed's peak is higher than the rest, but it was still a very competitive year of tennis overall and very exciting
Click to expand...
Mono Fed Alert!!! He’s appeared again!!! Sirens!!!!

b37485d7-0a8f-485a-b652-1ef5ec8d6323_thumb.jpg
 
Razer said:
Finalist of 2011-2012 vs Finalists of 2008-09 if they clash ....Guess who wins ?

Aus open - Djoker 2011-2012 wins
French open - I believe Nadal 2012 has the strength to beat Nadal 2008
Wimbledon - Djokovic/Federer from 11& 12 will beat Nadal 2008
US Open - This is the only slam where 08-09 could have some edge but that is debatable

So you see, 2011-2012 is the peak of the post Sampras era in 3 out of 4 slams
Click to expand...
Not even getting into Djoker but Federer from 2012 will beat 2008 Nadal????? He wouldn’t even beat his own self from 2009 lol
 
jl809 said:
Not even getting into Djoker but Federer from 2012 will beat 2008 Nadal????? He wouldn’t even beat his own self from 2009 lol
Click to expand...

He could beat, even if he cannot I can see Djoker beating Nadal which is enough.
 
Razer said:
He could beat, even if he cannot I can see Djoker beating Nadal which is enough.
Click to expand...
Even then there’s still an edge to 08/09 imo

Fed from 09 beats both 2011 Djoker and 2012 Fed / whoever

Nadal from 08 is 50/50 vs 2011 Djoker (would be 5 sets for sure) and would beat 2012 Fed
 
2007-2013 was really good. With improved Wawrinka you can extend it to 2016.

Tennis quality went down after that...
 
jl809 said:
Even then there’s still an edge to 08/09 imo

Fed from 09 beats both 2011 Djoker and 2012 Fed / whoever

Nadal from 08 is 50/50 vs 2011 Djoker (would be 5 sets for sure) and would beat 2012 Fed
Click to expand...

Federer 2009 was returning bad, thats why Roddick took it that far and Roddick himself is no genius at returning on any surface. Djokovic on the other hand is another level, he will beat both.
 
jl809 said:
I think it has to be 08-12 as a whole, in their totality they were wild.

There were lots of twists and turns:

08 - Fed’s insane dominance ends as first Djokovic and then Nadal take what had been “his” slams up until then, and Nadal grabs World No 1. The way Nadal beat Fed like a drum at RG had people questioning whether Fed would ever win RG in his career

09 - As Nadal reduces Fed to tears by taking the one surface left to him in their slam rivalry, he seemed set to dominate, and Fed looked in real trouble in the spring… then boom, Ned gets injured and before we know it, Fed has 14… at RG! And he’s knocking on the door of 15. Even that had a twist though with that crazy Roddick match. Just as we think Fed is going to do 6 USOs, up pops JMDP, another future ATG, or so it seems…

10 - now it’s Fed who looks set to dominate again as he takes the AO for his 4th slam in the last 5, while Nadal retires vs Murray injured, and JMDP starts to feel the injuries. People are writing a moratorium on Nadal with his injuries stacking up but lo and behold, he rebounds like a MF sweeping clay and RG, and now it’s Fed struggling with injury and not even making it to slam finals anymore. Nadal sweeps 3 slams in 3 surfaces in 3 months, and his own era is set to begin, except…

11 - peak Djokovic just appears. Straightaway. He’s ruining everyone, even Nadal on clay, and is set to win RG… but there’s Fed with the best match of his life on clay outta nowhere??? Damn. But Djoker rebounds to become a multi-surface slam winner. Fed doesn’t even make the SFs of Wimbledon this time as the strong era bites back… is he done on grass? Djoker finishes 10-1 vs Fedal. Has he figured Nadal out? And hang on, is Fed back in prime form as he dominates tournament after tournament to end the year?

12 - all hell breaks loose. This is the peak of tennis.

Nadal beats Fed, who hasn’t lost in ages, at the AO; people think Fed won’t win a slam ever again. Then Ned launches his counterattack on Djoker. First he almost beats him at the AO. But Djoker is a machine, RLA is his court. Then Ned roars back on clay to dominate the entire swing beating Djoker 3x. Wimbledon looks like it’s between the Big 3, probably Djokodal, but there’s ANOTHER twist - Nadal is not only out, he’s out for the year. Djoker suffers his 2nd defeat to Fed in their last 4 slam meetings and suddenly, Fed’s won his 1st slam in 2.5 years and is looking at World Number 1?! Where did that come from? He has a chance to win the Olympics on the same court but THIS IS REAL, MURRAY HAS JUST THRASHED FEDERER 3-0 ON CENTRE COURT. It’s Andy’s world. Fed and Djoker are in a battle for world Number 1 going into the US Open where they’ve played 5 years in a row, but the strong era is here and Fed is out before the SFs AGAIN and suddenly, Murray is beating Djokovic in a slam final. It’s a proper Big 4 now. Year ends with a classic Fedovic tussle down to the last point.
Click to expand...
This doesn't sound real ahaha
 
Kids: Tennis didn't exist before 2000

Tennis goes through peaks and valleys. It did so prior to the dates in this poll and it will do so after.
 
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