Djokovic is unique in the history of tennis

[Spencer Gore]

Djokovic has taken us into uncharted territory in tennis history. Never before has a player attained the increased wisdom, improvement in specific strokes, ability to analyse an opponent, reading of the game, coolness in crunch moments etc that comes with age -and combined that with fitness levels that have barely dipped in a decade. That is a combination we have NEVER seen before.

There have been players like Ken Rosewall who have played brilliantly into their late 30s due to an increasingly sophisticated ability to read and control a match, but they have always ultimately been let down by their ageing bodies (Rosewall was destroyed by the 18 years younger Connors in the Wimbledon final because of an unbelievably gruelling five set semi-final against Stan Smith. He had nothing left by the final). Djokovic is one of a kind. Who knows if he is the first of a new breed?

Any way you look at it, it's extraordinary. And unprecedented.

 

[Sport]

Novak is the LeBron James of tennis. Both refuse to age!

King James is one month away from turning 39 and he still dominates the sport of basketball:

 

[Jonas78]

You say the player holding all the major records is unique? Thats bold!

 

[tex123]

I have another obvious theory - the generation is crap.

 

[weakera]

Novak is the LeBron James of tennis. Both refuse to age!

King James is one month away from turning 39 and he still dominates the sport of basketball:

There are many similarities for sure

 

[Kralingen]

Novak is the LeBron James of tennis. Both refuse to age!

King James is one month away from turning 39 and he still dominates the sport of basketball:

@Sport knows ball.

 

[Rosstour]

Novak is the LeBron James of tennis. Both refuse to age!

King James is one month away from turning 39 and he still dominates the sport of basketball:

And anyone who knows anything about bball knows LeBron is juiced to the gills.

 

[Fabresque]

Novak is the LeBron James of tennis. Both refuse to age!

King James is one month away from turning 39 and he still dominates the sport of basketball:

The greatest of all time, both of them.

 

[MichaelNadal]

And anyone who knows anything about bball knows LeBron is juiced to the gills.

Phew, Kralingen is about to come RUNNING lol

 

[D.Nalby12]

This man has defeated age factor in Tennis..

 

[Fabresque]

And anyone who knows anything about bball knows LeBron is juiced to the gills.

Cry more, pal.

 

[Jonas78]

This man has defeated age factor in Tennis..

Yeah its strange; Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, 2 of them still playing.

While DelPo, Cilic, Nishikori, Thiem, Raonic barely could play post 30.

What happened?

 

[weakera]

It would be nice if Djokovic had to face the tennis equivalent of what LeBron has to face

 

[Spencer Gore]

You say the player holding all the major records is unique? Thats bold!

That's not what I said. Maybe read the post next time.

 

[Jonas78]

That's not what I said. Maybe read the post next time.

Just joking

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

I have another obvious theory - the generation is crap.

Harder to prove that the whole professional tennis world just happens to be terrible at the moment.
That's trying to explain the exceptional with an even more exceptional theory.

 

[DSH]

Novak is the LeBron James of tennis. Both refuse to age!

King James is one month away from turning 39 and he still dominates the sport of basketball:

Both masters in the art of 'playing possum'!

 

[helterskelter]

Yeah its strange; Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, 2 of them still playing.

While DelPo, Cilic, Nishikori, Thiem, Raonic barely could play post 30.

What happened?

Couldn't afford such good medical treatment? Tennis isn't the only sport in which the very top players are going on longer than even the players just one tier down.

 

[duaneeo]

Yes, Djokovic is unique in the history of tennis. There have been players who've played brilliantly into their 30s, but they have always ultimately been let down by their aging bodies and strong young players. Djokovic is one of a kind. He's yet to face strong young players.

 

[Kralingen]

And anyone who knows anything about bball knows LeBron is juiced to the gills.

He probably is, at the very least is on some semi-legal advanced stuff. On the other hand, he was the most athletically gifted player in the NBA at age 18… and if you watch his high school film he looks like a ridiculous genetic freak at 15. So when exactly did he start juicing… middle school?

 

[DSH]

He probably is, at the very least is on some semi-legal advanced stuff. On the other hand, he was the most athletically gifted player in the NBA at age 18… and if you watch his high school film he looks like a ridiculous genetic freak at 15. So when exactly did he start juicing… middle school?

When will LJ reach 40k points in the regular season?

 

[tex123]

Harder to prove that the whole professional tennis world just happens to be terrible at the moment.
That's trying to explain the exceptional with an even more exceptional theory.

You are seriously deluded.

Here's an example. Nadal comes back from a long injury and wins the AO which he had no right to do so. That's how bad they are.

Novak should've had 2 x CYGS by now but he decided to deprive himself. That's how bad they are.

Novak literally gave Alcaraz no 1. What does he do? He loses 8 consecutive tournaments. That's how bad they are.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

You are seriously deluded.

Here's an example. Nadal comes back from a long injury and wins the AO which he had no right to do so. That's how bad they are.

Novak should've had 2 x CYGS by now but he decided to deprive himself. That's how bad they are.

Novak literally gave Alcaraz no 1. What does he do? He loses 8 consecutive tournaments. That's how bad they are.

What's more likely? That the proven GOAT is the GOAT and can do things nobody else can or that the entire playing field has been absolutely terrible for years when the sport itself has never been as competitive or played by as many people?

 

[Kralingen]

When will LJ reach 40k points in the regular season?

Hopefully this season - 2024 definitely

 

[itrium84]

Djokovic has taken us into uncharted territory in tennis history. Never before has a player attained the increased wisdom, improvement in specific strokes, ability to analyse an opponent, reading of the game, coolness in crunch moments etc that comes with age -and combined that with fitness levels that have barely dipped in a decade. That is a combination we have NEVER seen before.

There have been players like Ken Rosewall who have played brilliantly into their late 30s due to an increasingly sophisticated ability to read and control a match, but they have always ultimately been let down by their ageing bodies (Rosewall was destroyed by the 18 years younger Connors in the Wimbledon final because of an unbelievably gruelling five set semi-final against Stan Smith. He had nothing left by the final). Djokovic is one of a kind. Who knows if he is the first of a new breed?

Any way you look at it, it's extraordinary. And unprecedented.

GOAT stuff

 

[itrium84]

I have another obvious theory - the generation is crap.

This is one of the strongest generations in past 30 years.

 

[tex123]

This is one of the strongest generations in past 30 years.

 

[itrium84]

I smell salt in those tears

 

[tex123]

What's more likely? That the proven GOAT is the GOAT and can do things nobody else can or that the entire playing field has been absolutely terrible for years when the sport itself has never been as competitive or played by as many people?

It's not a game of "likelihoods". It is a fact. Weakest generation in the history of tennis.

 

[tex123]

I smell salt in those tears

I'm not even teary eyed. Just amused.

 

[Bambooman]

Yeah its strange; Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, 2 of them still playing.

While DelPo, Cilic, Nishikori, Thiem, Raonic barely could play post 30.

What happened?

The others had soft bodies. DelPo and Cilic have the muscle tone of a jellyfish.

Raonic is like a Budweiser Clydesdale trying to run the Derby.

 

[Jonas78]

The others had soft bodies. DelPo and Cilic have the muscle tone of a jellyfish.

Raonic is like a Budweiser Clydesdale trying to run the Derby.

That leads to the next question; why arent players with strong bodies born after 1987?

 

[Jonas78]

Couldn't afford such good medical treatment? Tennis isn't the only sport in which the very top players are going on longer than even the players just one tier down.

Except most (if not all) of the late players went out with injuries, so retiring wasnt a choice. Thiem is still playing, but he is more of a challenger player now.

 

[Bambooman]

That leads to the next question; why arent players with strong bodies born after 1987?

Diet and exercise play a big part in developing strength as a kid. There was a turning point when facebook and unlimited exciting video games took over a whole generation.

 

[Pinocchio]

The truth is not pretty: newer generations don't have access to the proper PEDs to get you and more importantly keep you at an insane level physically with zero chance of detection.
Of course one can always believe that Djokovic, James, et al have bodies not subject to the laws of physics instead. But I wouldn't count on it.

 

[davced1]

We have seen it before not that many years ago.

 

[Neptune]

The truth is not pretty: newer generations don't have access to the proper PEDs to get you and more importantly keep you at an insane level physically with zero chance of detection.
Of course one can always believe that Djokovic, James, et al have bodies not subject to the laws of physics instead. But I wouldn't count on it.

How stupid can one be to bring up PED without considering:
"the chosen/pumped one" vs the opposite

 

[thrust]

Djokovic has taken us into uncharted territory in tennis history. Never before has a player attained the increased wisdom, improvement in specific strokes, ability to analyse an opponent, reading of the game, coolness in crunch moments etc that comes with age -and combined that with fitness levels that have barely dipped in a decade. That is a combination we have NEVER seen before.

There have been players like Ken Rosewall who have played brilliantly into their late 30s due to an increasingly sophisticated ability to read and control a match, but they have always ultimately been let down by their ageing bodies (Rosewall was destroyed by the 18 years younger Connors in the Wimbledon final because of an unbelievably gruelling five set semi-final against Stan Smith. He had nothing left by the final). Djokovic is one of a kind. Who knows if he is the first of a new breed?

Any way you look at it, it's extraordinary. And unprecedented.

Ken had to come from 2 sets down to beat Stan Smith in the 74 Wimbledon semifinal at 39.8 years old. Ken also beat Newcombe in a 4-set quarterfinal that same year.

 

[helterskelter]

Except most (if not all) of the late players went out with injuries, so retiring wasnt a choice. Thiem is still playing, but he is more of a challenger player now.

Right, so my hypothesis was that the very best players can afford such good medical treatment that fewer injuries will force their retirement than with even the best of the rest.

 

[Tennfan123]

This reads like a Marvel Comic synopsis.

 

[FeroBango]

He's the Virat Kohli of this sport in a way. Still super physical, still the best in the world, and not getting any younger.

 

[Spencer Gore]

This reads like a Marvel Comic synopsis.

Some of the rallies looked like bad Marvel CGI ignoring the laws of physics.

 

[Mazz Retic]

10char

 

[duaneeo]

Djokovic has won a slam 7 times without facing any of the big 4, final or before.

Federer has won a slam 12 times without facing any of the big 4, final or before.

"Without facing any of the big 4", lol...as if facing Murray at a slam is a bigger deal than facing Safin/Hewitt/Roddick at a slam.

Regardless, Djokovic/Nadal/Murray are three of Federer's NextGens. Strong younger generations end the slam runs of the older generations, and Federer faced Nole/Rafa/Andy 32 times at the slams.

But with Djokovic, as my initial post said, he's unique in that he hasn't yet faced a strong younger generation. That's why his slam run keeps going and going and going...

 

[Texas Tennis Fan]

It's not a game of "likelihoods". It is a fact. Weakest generation in the history of tennis.

You don't know the definition of "fact." I am amused also.

 

[Mazz Retic]

"Without facing any of the big 4", lol...as if facing Murray at a slam is a bigger deal than facing Safin/Hewitt/Roddick at a slam.

Regardless, Djokovic/Nadal/Murray are three of Federer's NextGens. Strong younger generations end the slam runs of the older generations, and Federer faced Nole/Rafa/Andy 32 times at the slams.

But with Djokovic, as my initial post said, he's unique in that he hasn't yet faced a strong younger generation. That's why his slam run keeps going and going and going...

Well it is. Murray is greater than all of them.

Alcaraz is already greater or at the very least soon to be greater than Roddick.

 

[Alcawrath]

And anyone who knows anything about bball knows LeBron is juiced to the gills.

What?

 

[duaneeo]

Alcaraz is already greater or at the very least soon to be greater than Roddick.

Sticking to the topic of my initial post, let's say Alcaraz is a strong NextGen. It still means that the now 36 year old Djokovic has only faced one strong NextGen at the slams...a player he's only met twice, and a player who hasn't yet peaked.

 

[Bambooman]

Sticking to the topic of my initial post, let's say Alcaraz is a strong NextGen. It still means that the now 36 year old Djokovic has only faced one strong NextGen at the slams...a player he's only met twice, and a player who hasn't yet peaked.

Just use their H2H

 

[jm1980]

Yes, Djokovic is unique in the history of tennis. There have been players who've played brilliantly into their 30s, but they have always ultimately been let down by their aging bodies and strong young players. Djokovic is one of a kind. He's yet to face strong young players.

Or it could be that Djokovic (with Nadal and Federer's help) has prevented strong young players from emerging.