Gilbert calling this the biggest match of the open era
- Thread starter bjsnider
- Start date
agree, but i think the same will be said of any GS final that involves any combination of Fed-Nadal-Djoko, from now until they hang up their sticks
every final involving that combo has massive implications for the GOAT title (which to me is synonymous for most GS titles, no other criteria in my mind)
every final involving that combo has massive implications for the GOAT title (which to me is synonymous for most GS titles, no other criteria in my mind)
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Which shows how much (or little) the media/experts really know about anything. And here we are again and he's doing his civic duty at his present job to make sure eyeballs are on this match. They hyped up AO 2017 beyond belief and now they look like complete idiots. Not surprising, but the worst part is the call to authority on this forum that happens when a big wig in tennis says anything at all. It's taken as gospel when it really isn't that special.
WildRevolver
Rookie
Totally agree.
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Gilbert needs to stop snorting that stuff. This is in no way the biggest open era match, or has the potential or implication of being one. He sounds like all of the ESPN propagandists who claim every new event is the "biggest". Nonsense.
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Pablo1989
Professional
It's not going to be one of the most important tennis matches ever then?
yokied
Hall of Fame
Not to diminish my agreement with the above, but I think the opinions of bigwigs present a much more solid platform for disgustation than the OPs from the usual suspects around here. This thread, for instance, has gone some several replies without invoking TTW Godwin's Law.
NoleFam
Talk Tennis Guru
I like Gilbert's tennis insight and I have to agree that at the very least, this is a bigger match than AO 2017 because both guys are going for records. At AO 2017, Federer already had the Slam record and would still have had it if he lost. Nadal was going for the DCGS. Now this time, Nadal is trying to tie the Slam record and Djokovic is going for the DCGS. There's slightly more at stake.
socallefty
Hall of Fame
There will be another RG in May just eight months from now. Looking at how they both played in this tournament, there is a decent chance that it will be a repeat Djokodal final. There‘s a good chance that Djokovic and Federer might be in next year’s Wimbledon final also - who is better than them on grass? How is Gilbert going to hype those matches?
We‘ve had a Slam final involving two of the Big3 in 2017, 2019 and now in 2020 - no reason to think it won’t happen next year also. With the way that Nadal and Djokovic have been dominating the younger players, there’s no reason to think they can‘t keep playing at a Top 5 level for several years. Federer is still in the top 5 and he is 5 years older than them and won 3 Slams just three years ago. With Djokovic dominating the AO/Wimbledon for most of the last decade and Nadal crushing everyone at RG for 15 years, why would we think that this match will be one of the last few of their Slam rivalry?
We‘ve had a Slam final involving two of the Big3 in 2017, 2019 and now in 2020 - no reason to think it won’t happen next year also. With the way that Nadal and Djokovic have been dominating the younger players, there’s no reason to think they can‘t keep playing at a Top 5 level for several years. Federer is still in the top 5 and he is 5 years older than them and won 3 Slams just three years ago. With Djokovic dominating the AO/Wimbledon for most of the last decade and Nadal crushing everyone at RG for 15 years, why would we think that this match will be one of the last few of their Slam rivalry?
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Dragan
Semi-Pro
Definitely one of the biggest matches ever in terms of significance and impact on tennis records. Rafael Nadal has a chance to equal Roger's all-time record, and to do so he needs to defeat not just any player, but his greatest rival Novak Djokovic.
On the other hand, Novak Djokovic has a chance to achieve Double Career Grand-Slam (a historic achievement by itself) and to close the gap between him and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. However, he needs to defeat Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros final - which is probably the toughest imaginable challenge in this sport (nobody ever managed to do it).
On the other hand, Novak Djokovic has a chance to achieve Double Career Grand-Slam (a historic achievement by itself) and to close the gap between him and Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. However, he needs to defeat Rafael Nadal in the Roland Garros final - which is probably the toughest imaginable challenge in this sport (nobody ever managed to do it).
Whatever the outcome, once this match starts i will be staying off this forum for next few days.
It would be great if fans of either player could respect each other and while celebrating victory they would offer regards to the loser.
in reality we will have people on here tomorrow gloating, rubbing the result in other people's faces. Not jus RAFA/Novak fans but also some of the more extreme Fed fans who will no doubt show sour grapes to the winner, whoever it turns out to be.
For the record i am a Novak fan but totally respect both Rafa and Roger as they are tennis legends also. But is suspect tomorrow will see this forum explode into a sea of name calling and bitterness.
I am just hoping for some great tennis, I am just happy i can say i was able to watch all of these tennis legends in their prime.
It would be great if fans of either player could respect each other and while celebrating victory they would offer regards to the loser.
in reality we will have people on here tomorrow gloating, rubbing the result in other people's faces. Not jus RAFA/Novak fans but also some of the more extreme Fed fans who will no doubt show sour grapes to the winner, whoever it turns out to be.
For the record i am a Novak fan but totally respect both Rafa and Roger as they are tennis legends also. But is suspect tomorrow will see this forum explode into a sea of name calling and bitterness.
I am just hoping for some great tennis, I am just happy i can say i was able to watch all of these tennis legends in their prime.
yep, anyone denying that this match is historic is either delusional or a devout Fed fan who thinks he’s still going to be considered the GOAT when he no longer leads the slam race
they both have a tremendous amount to gain with a win (Nadal would become co-GOAT for now by way of a win against his most difficult rival)
I personally think Djoko has more to lose (missing out in both USO and RG titles in such a short span, being several GSs behind two different players with a lot of work left to be done to get to 21)
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Sure it is, but Gilbert is basically calling it the most important match in tennis history (which it may be), but without factoring in that there will be more of these as long as the Big 3 are still playing.
He'll only look back on RG 2020 in a couple years and say that the most recent match between 2 members of the Big 3 is bigger than this one.
It's just hype of everything that's the most recent event in history. Presentism at its finest.
well, presentism may be appropriate here, since the GS race is being decided presently
it’s not like these guys are battling for fifth place on the all-time GS list, they’re deciding the most accomplished men’s tennis player ever, right now and over the next couple years
N
Nole14_15NoPressure
Guest
Biggest, Greatest, Toughest etc.. doesn't exist.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
Yes it is appropriate here. I just think there will be more huge matches in future, and I'm remarking that right now a lot of media/experts look foolish for hyping up AO 2017 as the most important match ever.
Mostly I just laughed after Federer won that match when almost everyone thought otherwise (myself included to be fair), and the Nadal trolls here were all ready to throw the "Federer lost the most important match of all time" line at us. But we all know what happened.
Steve0904
Talk Tennis Guru
This is true, but at the time, Federer losing yet another huge match to Nadal would've been enough for many to proclaim Nadal as the greatest. Gilbert himself did a top 10 all time list on ESPN pre final and had the top 2 spots reserved for the winner/loser of AO 2017. He didn't care much about the slam count then.
And it's the same with this match. We have people making threads here saying Novak beating Rafa in a RG Final makes him the greatest ever despite what the slam count will be if that happens. Of course Novak has a lot going for him re: versatility, and it would be a huge win of monumental proportions especially if it turns into a 5 set battle, but it just shows you how readily some people will throw away the slam count altogether to suit some agenda or another.
A Nadal win is different for sure with Nadal tying the record, but the takes I'm getting from some people regarding Djokovic's standing after this match are a bit funny to me considering he won't have the slam record if he wins.
I’m with you that it won’t ultimately be the most important match, there will likely be another in a year or so between some combo of Fed-Nadal-Djoko
but I cannot point to a previous match with more important men’s tennis implications - so for now, I’d agree with Gilbert
Nobody can predict the future for sure. I was reasonably sure AO 17 was the most significant match in Tennis history. Federer won it hence sealing GOAT debate. Then Federer went to win 2 more Slams yet after 3 years he finds himself in losing position in Slam race. The race has become so tight that every Slam final they've played since 2017 or will play in future could prove "most important" match in history. It will depend upon who wins the race. So far we think W19 was the match and AO 17 has lost its value but things may change in future. May be today's match will be discussed forever for its historic value. Who knows - only time will tell.
UnderratedSlam
Legend
Yes, but he never said this is the biggest slam finale of the future. Just until now.
albatros_forehand
Professional
Biggest match of the open era will be in January in AO final when Fedal meet to decide once and for all who the RealGOAT is 
Djokovic long forgotten by then, smashed by SinGoat in the QF
Djokovic long forgotten by then, smashed by SinGoat in the QFwill be remembered for a long time - Nadal ties Fed for most accomplished men’s player of all time, in dominant fashion, against the world number 1 and his most difficult opponent
Djoko has his work cut out for him over the next couple years - I suspect he’ll have to get to 22 if he wants to lead the GS race when all is said and done - almost no chance Fed and Nadal both stay at 20 until retirement
bjsnider
Hall of Fame
I agree about Nadal, because I don't think anyone can beat him as long as he's fresh for the finals, but Federer? we don't even know if he's coming back. He's already had two surgeries and he's 39.
i’m not ruling out 1 last W or USO for Fed - Sampras had looked like garbage on and off for a while when he won his last USO (second round loss to LL Bastl at Wimbledon before that) - the greats often have one last run up their sleeve
bjsnider
Hall of Fame
Sampras was 31 at the time, right?