Feliciano Lopez on Novak & Co.

Elessar

Rookie
The only truth is that Djokovic is MUCH better than the current field. I don't know if he is better than, say 2005 Fed, or 2008 Rafa. Nobody knows, and nobody ever will.
We can only speculate. And for every Lopez, there is a Safin saying the opposite thing. Who's opinion is more valid? Players, even the great ones, have differing opinions. And opinions are just like a.....s, everybody's got one.
 

dr325i

G.O.A.T.
I agree that Federers game 2015 has been better than at least 2013 and 2014. My point is even though he has improved, age 34 is still a disadvantage. That is partly my subjective meaning, but all tennis history supports it; players do worse past 29-30. I dont like the who is best of peak Fedalovic discussion, and i really dont have any problem with peak-Nole being better than peak-Fed. It doesnt take away any glory from Federer in my eyes. What i protest against, is people who mean that Nole being better than Federer at age 34, proves that Nole is the greatest. Being 28 vs 34 is an advantage, noone can change my meaning regarding that. Nole said so himself prior to the US OPEN 2015 final. One must be aware of the recency bias. If a new player dominates tennis in 2026, and people generally agree he plays the best game ever, it wont take away any glory from Novak, Rafa and Federer in my eyes. As i have said before; enjoy Nole dominate, no need to insult players who dominated earlier and their fans:)
History shows it???
History was also showing that no one was able to reach 14 slams before and that the top service speed was 125mph and that no one will ever reach 27 M1000 titles, and that tennis players retire by the age of 32.
This has nothing to do with the history. Federer is not slow or bothered by the age. Novak will also be able to last longer than the historical averages... As pointed above, Federer can still win at the BO5 against Murray, Wawrinka, Nishikori, Berdych, etc.
I disagree that Novak is winning because 34-yo Federer is slower or out of breath. He is winning because he is peaking at the age of 28/29, - again, against your "historical" argument where he was supposed to peak 5 years ago...
 

Urkezi

Semi-Pro
Enough with the "old age" nonsense.
Federer is not old, not slow, not tired, not more prone to injuries. He is not Agassi or Sampras or Nadal... Novak will endure longer than average, obviously, too.
SABR is not the game change.
Yes, Roger was playing very close to his best tennis in 2015...

Well, you might have seen one too many chick flick where they keep repeating things like "Age is just a number" and "You're only as old as you feel". It's a real thing. History and common knowledge about the human body makes your argument look pretty bad. As for the game change, you haven't read my post closely enough. I said Roger plays completely different from 2014 than before. And I do agree he played very well in 2015, but that is still not close to his best tennis.

For some reasons I like you so I will bother to respond:
1) Did I tell you that I know something about ageing (I just given an invited lecture about that at the Mayo Clinic)?
2) I said to Jonas78 (as he is a nice guy) what I had to say about Federer; I have nothing else to add.
3) I embedded the video as I like the point. I am not saying anything, it shows what it shows.

I am also growing fond of you for some reason even though we rarely agree :)
As for ageing, in one of the previous age debates I pulled out a research paper by some well known PhD from Pittsburgh University who did a research (in 1998, admittedly) and found out that tennis players peak performance is at age 24. Something, curiously enough, that fits quite well when you apply it to all three GOAT candidates. Sure there are exceptions but a 10 year difference or, even more outrageous, a 10 year peak? I just don't buy it and I certainly don't see it. I also refer you to the ATP history books and perhaps other comparable sports that combine physical attributes with skill (soccer, basketball, handball) - although this one is just as a brain teaser.
 
Great point, and amazing scrambling by RF.
HOWEVER, do you think that Djokovic of today would play it the same way Agassi did then? I can tell you that Djokovic would have finished that point at least twice before that lob...
That is the difference. Federer still walks over the competition at most of the tournaments today - W2015, USO2015 he looked so unstoppable...until the final. The ball coming at him, the returns, hitting the ball on the rise, deep balls is all that is different when he plays against Novak. On top of that - there is also some of the mental component on both sides.
Just like Djokovic finished the AO point before that BH.
 

Jonas78

Legend
History shows it???
History was also showing that no one was able to reach 14 slams before and that the top service speed was 125mph and that no one will ever reach 27 M1000 titles, and that tennis players retire by the age of 32.
This has nothing to do with the history. Federer is not slow or bothered by the age. Novak will also be able to last longer than the historical averages... As pointed above, Federer can still win at the BO5 against Murray, Wawrinka, Nishikori, Berdych, etc.
I disagree that Novak is winning because 34-yo Federer is slower or out of breath. He is winning because he is peaking at the age of 28/29, - again, against your "historical" argument where he was supposed to peak 5 years ago...
I said it was partly my subjective meaning. Most meanings on this forum are highly subjective. And i dont see your 14 slams argument comparable to the age argument. There are just 3 players in the world who has reached 14 slams, that is statistically irrelevant. Many players have played past 30, its a much larger material, still noone has won more 2 slams past 30. Novak might change history radically, and i will be the first to say i was wrong. But until it happens, ill stick to statistics.
 

ABCD

Hall of Fame
I agree that Federers game 2015 has been better than at least 2013 and 2014. My point is even though he has improved, age 34 is still a disadvantage. That is partly my subjective meaning, but all tennis history supports it; players do worse past 29-30. I dont like the who is best of peak Fedalovic discussion, and i really dont have any problem with peak-Nole being better than peak-Fed. It doesnt take away any glory from Federer in my eyes. What i protest against, is people who mean that Nole being better than Federer at age 34, proves that Nole is the greatest. Being 28 vs 34 is an advantage, noone can change my meaning regarding that. Nole said so himself prior to the US OPEN 2015 final. One must be aware of the recency bias. If a new player dominates tennis in 2026, and people generally agree he plays the best game ever, it wont take away any glory from Novak, Rafa and Federer in my eyes. As i have said before; enjoy Nole dominate, no need to insult players who dominated earlier and their fans:)
I described to you what I see and this is coincidentally in accord with Federer's self-assessment. Regarding ageing-associated alterations, I would suggest that we probably see it differently due to different level of involvement in this issue. I believe that one should never have any pre-conceived ideas or make conclusions based solely on the past while excluding potential novel factors that have never been present before. I believe that in understanding the reality, being open minded is the key.
 

Jonas78

Legend
Well, you might have seen one too many chick flick where they keep repeating things like "Age is just a number" and "You're only as old as you feel". It's a real thing. History and common knowledge about the human body makes your argument look pretty bad. As for the game change, you haven't read my post closely enough. I said Roger plays completely different from 2014 than before. And I do agree he played very well in 2015, but that is still not close to his best tennis.



I am also growing fond of you for some reason even though we rarely agreķe :)
As for ageing, in one of the previous age debates I pulled out a research paper by some well known PhD from Pittsburgh University who did a research (in 1998, admittedly) and found out that tennis players peak performance is at age 24. Something, curiously enough, that fits quite well when you apply it to all three GOAT candidates. Sure there are exceptions but a 10 year difference or, even more outrageous, a 10 year peak? I just don't buy it and I certainly don't see it. I also refer you to the ATP history books and perhaps other comparable sports that combine physical attributes with skill (soccer, basketball, handball) - although this one is just as a brain teaser.
Mostly agree.
I described to you what I see and this is coincidentally in accord with Federer's self-assessment. Regarding ageing-associated alterations, I would suggest that we probably see it differently due to different level of involvement in this issue. I believe that one should never have any pre-conceived ideas or make conclusions based solely on the past while excluding potential novel factors that have never been present before. I believe that in understanding the reality, being open minded is the key.
Yup;). It sure will be interesting. Nothing will really surprise me with Novak. He might get two more slams and he might get 12 more. But i really cant see him holding a peak-level for 5 more years. Slam-wise, he really only has two outstanding seasons, 2011/2015. I think it is unlikely that he will repeat this for several more years.
 

ABCD

Hall of Fame
Well, you might have seen one too many chick flick where they keep repeating things like "Age is just a number" and "You're only as old as you feel". It's a real thing. History and common knowledge about the human body makes your argument look pretty bad. As for the game change, you haven't read my post closely enough. I said Roger plays completely different from 2014 than before. And I do agree he played very well in 2015, but that is still not close to his best tennis.



I am also growing fond of you for some reason even though we rarely agree :)
As for ageing, in one of the previous age debates I pulled out a research paper by some well known PhD from Pittsburgh University who did a research (in 1998, admittedly) and found out that tennis players peak performance is at age 24. Something, curiously enough, that fits quite well when you apply it to all three GOAT candidates. Sure there are exceptions but a 10 year difference or, even more outrageous, a 10 year peak? I just don't buy it and I certainly don't see it. I also refer you to the ATP history books and perhaps other comparable sports that combine physical attributes with skill (soccer, basketball, handball) - although this one is just as a brain teaser.
We can agree to disagree. Federer (and he other 2) has access to novel, recently-developed, anti-ageing strategies that general public can't even imagine. I would put to you that you can be optimistic regarding Federer's future and that he will play successfully in years to come. For me, Djokovic2015 is much better than Djokovic2011, which, also coincidentally, is in accord with his self-assessment.
 
Since no player is able to challenge Novak, the only way for them to stop Novak's dominance is to give him a dogfight of a physical grueling battle every match. Forget about winning and just make each rally, each point, and each game an endurance test. Soften him up for the next round the way Murray did in the RG '15 SF. Easier said than done of course but don't see another way.
 

RSH

Professional
Take Lopez’s silly comment that Djokovic is only playing at 50%. Clearly, he’s just being hyperbolic, but some people will take that literally. Anyway, the fact that Lopez is a player does not mean his opinion is closer to the truth than non-professional players who are knowledgeable fans.
It's not really hyperbole. The last two masters, AO '16, YEC '15, USO '15, and Wimby '16 were all tournaments he played at an average to sub average level until the finals.
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
Wait what?! :D :eek: All this players, ex pros, commentators, coaches are getting paid now to say nice things about Novak. :D
It now has reached global conspiracy levels now. The hatred for djokovic is greater than the love for fedal. Lmao maybe not but it does seem that way.
 
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