If at the end of their careers, Rafael Nadal finishes with more US Open title than Novak Djokovic?

[Djokovic2011]

Djokovic is one of the greatest hard court players of all time, and a US Open underachiever at the moment.

Nadal is a hard court all time great and a US Open overachiever if he wins tonight.

Pretty much this.

 

[Roddick85]

Who would've thought Djokovic, arguably one of the greatest hard court players of all time, would have as many if not less USO than Nadal who's never managed to defend a hard court title in his career? Hats off to Nadal for improving his hard court game enough over the years to be able to compete for big titles on that surface with those guys. With that being said, it still puzzles me to this day that Djokovic doesn't have more USO titles. I never would've thought that he would have at some point, more Wimbledon titles than USO. Another GOAT that disappoints me at the USO is none other than Federer. I mean the guy has won the event 5 years in a row, no USO title for him in almost 10 years now? That's pretty lackluster for someone who like Djokovic is an all time great on hard courts.

 

[dropshotlikeitshot]

If Djokovic had had Nadal's baby draws he'd have 10 USO's now.

He had one last year and still lost in the finals ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[swordtennis]

He had one last year and still lost in the finals ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

True I'll give 2016 he was not in great form but do you actually believe if you switched out either fed nadal murray and even Stan with anderson in any of those final losses that he would not pull at least one of those out? Heck I think 2016 he would of pulled it out against Anderson he had a ton of breakpoints and almost eked it out if he converted one or two. Are you implying Anderson while a solid pro is on the same level of fed nadal murray and Stan?

 

[dropshotlikeitshot]

True I'll give 2016 he was not in great form but do you actually believe if you switched out either fed nadal murray and even Stan with anderson in any of those final losses that he would not pull at least one of those out? Heck I think 2016 he would of pulled it out against Anderson he had a ton of breakpoints and almost eked it out if he converted one or two. Are you implying Anderson while a solid pro is on the same level of fed nadal murray and Stan?

Absolutely not. I agree that Anderson is far off from those 4 and I think he would've at least won 3 of those finals he lost had Novak played an Anderson-level opponent. But outside of the finals opponents, would you say that Novak's 2016 draw was easier than Nadal's draw this year due to all the walkovers/retirements?

 

[BringBackSV]

Fed has Basel slam.



Nadal lost many times early to mugs/pigeons etc. He's had it easiest out of Fedalovic both of whom smash him in consistency.

Nadal won't be making slam finals aged 33-36 like Fed, you can bookmark this. 2018 is his last chance to add 2+ and reach 18, solidifying himself as 2nd best behind Fed the GOAT.

Fed regularly smashes Rafa ?? Hahahaha

 

[KINGROGER]

Fed regularly smashes Rafa ?? Hahahaha

In consistency like I said? Yes.

At his peak on fast HC and grass? Yes also.

 

[mistik]

Pretty much this.

Djokovic overachieved on grass. He would never played at the same level 2007 and 2008 Rafa on grass.

 

[metsman]

Absolutely not. I agree that Anderson is far off from those 4 and I think he would've at least won 3 of those finals he lost had Novak played an Anderson-level opponent. But outside of the finals opponents, would you say that Novak's 2016 draw was easier than Nadal's draw this year due to all the walkovers/retirements?

doesn't matter. 2016 Djokovic wins with this draw, 2016 Stan is a far tougher opponent than anyone Nadal faced. Yes, Djokovic got all the walkovers, but it's not like facing guys like Rublev in that form or Delpo the last 3 sets would have been any tougher.

Nadal played phenomenal tennis and made very few mistakes so perhaps Djokovic would not have won as easily, but I see no way he, or most champions, lose vs this slate of opponents.

 

[swordtennis]

Absolutely not. I agree that Anderson is far off from those 4 and I think he would've at least won 3 of those finals he lost had Novak played an Anderson-level opponent. But outside of the finals opponents, would you say that Novak's 2016 draw was easier than Nadal's draw this year due to all the walkovers/retirements?

Not sure. Maybe. It is darn close. Due to the walkovers and retirements 2016 prob is weaker. But the final opponent in 2016 was much tougher so it prob evens out.

 

[ChaelAZ]

It's kind of embarrassing that Djokovic has won only 2 out of 7 USO finals.2010,2012,2013 and 2016 have been highly disappointing,but I still think he'll win a couple more

Agree except not sure how many more he can win. But yeah, as a Bills fan being able to say you are the best second place team ever isn't a good thing and Djo has come up short too many times to be considered dominant in any way.

 

[swordtennis]

Djokovic overachieved on grass. He would never played at the same level 2007 and 2008 Rafa on grass.

Keep the hypocrisy and hypothetical's coming. It is what Vamos Brigada does best. All of you are epic professionals in what you do!
I will see you all at AO 2018. Unless Nadal loses then prob not.

 

[BringBackSV]

In consistency like I said? Yes.

At his peak on fast HC and grass? Yes also.

Mental gymnastics bud

 

[KINGROGER]

Mental gymnastics bud

How mate? Out of the big 3 Nadal has the most embarrassing losses. His fans can't use "strong competition" card when he's losing to likes of Rosol, Darcis, Ferrer x2, Murray x2, Tsonga, Gonzalez (so called weak era mug lol).

 

[topspin007]

In consistency like I said? Yes.

At his peak on fast HC and grass? Yes also.

THats the point though. Overall nadal is the goat in terms of ability across surfaces. No doubt on a faster court bouncing low (AO this year and obviously wimbledon) federer is better than nadal. The question is who is better, nadal on fast courts or federer on slow courtz? Id say nadal on fast courts. Nadal 2 wimbledons v federer 1 FO is telling

 

[topspin007]

How mate? Out of the big 3 Nadal has the most embarrassing losses. His fans can't use "strong competition" card when he's losing to likes of Rosol, Darcis, Ferrer x2, Murray x2, Tsonga, Gonzalez (so called weak era mug lol).

HE has never skippes an entire season on his weakest surface!! Federer by doing that this year by default has the most embarrasing resume on his worse surface.

 

[KINGROGER]

THats the point though. Overall nadal is the goat in terms of ability across surfaces. No doubt on a faster court bouncing low (AO this year and obviously wimbledon) federer is better than nadal. The question is who is better, nadal on fast courts or federer on slow courtz? Id say nadal on fast courts. Nadal 2 wimbledons v federer 1 FO is telling

Fed on slow courts:

4 AO
1 RG
6 clay masters
5 IW
3 Miami

Nadal on fast courts:

2 Wimbledon
2 USO
2 Canada
1 Cincy
1 Madrid indoors

LOL

HE has never skippes an entire season on his weakest surface!! Federer by doing that this year by default has the most embarrasing resume on his worse surface.

So? He's 36. Rafa's indoor record is what's embarrassing. Fed's clay record is very good.

 

[metsman]

Nadal on fast courts:

One small edit: "fast courts".

 

[BringBackSV]

How mate? Out of the big 3 Nadal has the most embarrassing losses. His fans can't use "strong competition" card when he's losing to likes of Rosol, Darcis, Ferrer x2, Murray x2, Tsonga, Gonzalez (so called weak era mug lol).

My mistake, might have skimmed that. They are both more consistent, that is correct. If Rafa gets ahead of Fed in the slam count, he'd have a good argument, especially if he wins more slams off of clay and picks up more weeks at number 1. I dont think particular losses matter much, we'll see. I don't really subscribe to the notion of a goat but there is reasonable debate for best of their era. Novak might have something to say about this too if he rediscovers his top form.