If longevity is cited as a greatness attribute for Roger, the same should apply for Rafa

[terribleIVAN]

Slam victories by age:
Rafa:
32: beats Thiem at 2018 RG
33: beats Thiem at 2019 RG
34: beats Novak at 2020 RG

Roger:
32: loses to Novak in 2014 W final
33: loses to Novak in 2015 W final
34: loses to Raonic in 2016 W semis

Age-adjusted, Rafa shows greater dominance than Roger.

Now, it's true Roger won AO 2018 at 37.

Should Rafa win the next 3 editions of RG, he'll be definitely considered GOAT in the longevity category.

 

[Yugram]

but... but... physical game style... clay court grinder... won’t last till his 30’s... how can someone be better than maestro... was the media lying about who is the GOAT all along??

Was it a Fraud?

 

[aman92]

Rafa has a gap of over 15 years and 4 months for his first and latest slam win which is an open era record....if that doesn't scream longevity I don't know what will.

 

[Tennisbg]

The desire this man has is astonishing. I would never put myself into this though, leaving myself broken physically for the rest of my life. But I guess that's why I am not a BIG 3 or even not a professional tennis player.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Now, it's true Roger won AO 2018 at 37.

Should Rafa win the next 3 editions of RG, he'll be definitely considered GOAT in the longevity category.

Coz vulturing in Novak's absence... Defeating greats such as Cilic.

 

[PilotPete]

Thiem is not Djokovic.

 

[terribleIVAN]

Thiem is not Djokovic.

Thiem beat Djokovic at RG 2019 for the right to face Rafa in the finals.

He also beat him in the 2017 quarters.

Rafa beat the best of the two players.

 

[PilotPete]

Thiem beat Djokovic at RG 2019 for the right to face Rafa in the finals.

He also beat him in the 2017 quarters.

Rafa beat the best of the two players.

Wake me up when Thiem beats Djokovic at Wimbledon. The point is players care more about Wimbledon than FO (even Nadal), therefore competition at Wimbledon is higher, and higher chance of losing even for the top guys. You're comparing apples with oranges.

 

[GabeT]

but... but... physical game style... clay court grinder... won’t last till his 30’s... how can someone be better than maestro... was the media lying about who is the GOAT all along??

Was it a Fraud?

Yeah, I recall so many threads and comments stating that Nadal and Novak simply couldn’t play past 30 because of their physical style

 

[MeatTornado]

Rafa:
32: beats Thiem at 2018 RG
33: beats Thiem at 2019 RG
34: beats Novak at 2020 RG

Roger:
32: loses to Novak in 2014 W final
33: loses to Novak in 2015 W final
34: loses to Raonic in 2016 W semis

Nadal has plenty of longevity arguments to make.

But I think we all know why most of those were losses for Roger and wins for Nadal in the 6 events you just listed.

 

[zuluzazu]

Wake me up when Thiem beats Djokovic at Wimbledon. The point is players care more about Wimbledon than FO (even Nadal), therefore competition at Wimbledon is higher, and higher chance of losing even for the top guys. You're comparing apples with oranges.

There cannot be a more wrong statement than this. Currently or for that matter for few years now there are literally 3 players who know how to play on grass. I am including Nadal in the three as he has wimby titles. The competition on grass is the most abysmal. Man if RBA makes semi of Wimby you can understand the competition. During 2014-17 there was Murray who was a good grass court player. There must be a reason why only big 4 have won wimby since 2003. And please don't tell me that Raonic or Cilic were threat at wimby. They mostly always crumble in a final against big 3/4

 

[terribleIVAN]

Nadal has plenty of longevity arguments to make.

But I think we all know why most of those were losses for Roger and wins for Nadal in the 6 events you just listed.

Mind you, i left out Roger's losses at

28 to Berdych (2010 W)
29 to Tsonga (2011 W)
31 to Stakhovsky (2013 W)

because i couldn't find the equivalent for Rafa at RG for the same corresponding age.
He did lose at 29 to Novak (RG 2015) , but it was a totally out of form year. At RG 2016, he defaulted mid tournament.

 

[OldschoolKIaus]

Clay is not a real surface so the Nadal is a just a blip in the timeline of true great tennis players.

 

[RelentlessAttack]

The main thing this tells us is what we’ve already known, Nadal on Clay is in GOAT of GOATs territory. So much dominance over his peers in this context that it’s hard to find comparables. Wayne Gretzky in Hockey would be similar. Phelps in swimming?

 

[PilotPete]

There cannot be a more wrong statement than this. Currently or for that matter for few years now there are literally 3 players who know how to play on grass. I am including Nadal in the three as he has wimby titles. The competition on grass is the most abysmal. Man if RBA makes semi of Wimby you can understand the competition. During 2014-17 there was Murray who was a good grass court player. There must be a reason why only big 4 have won wimby since 2003. And please don't tell me that Raonic or Cilic were threat at wimby. They mostly always crumble in a final against big 3/4

Grass is still faster than clay. A hot hitter can blow you off of grass, see Nadal from 2012 and on. Clay, doesn't matter how hot you get, it's a game of attrition.

 

[DSH]

Coz vulturing in Novak's absence... Defeating greats such as Cilic.

In indoor conditions, thanks to his pal Tiley!

 

[DSH]

There cannot be a more wrong statement than this. Currently or for that matter for few years now there are literally 3 players who know how to play on grass. I am including Nadal in the three as he has wimby titles. The competition on grass is the most abysmal. Man if RBA makes semi of Wimby you can understand the competition. During 2014-17 there was Murray who was a good grass court player. There must be a reason why only big 4 have won wimby since 2003. And please don't tell me that Raonic or Cilic were threat at wimby. They mostly always crumble in a final against big 3/4

The young crop can't play on the grass!

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Wake me up when Thiem beats Djokovic at Wimbledon. The point is players care more about Wimbledon than FO (even Nadal), therefore competition at Wimbledon is higher, and higher chance of losing even for the top guys. You're comparing apples with oranges.

Sure it's not you?

 

[zuluzazu]

Grass is still faster than clay. A hot hitter can blow you off of grass, see Nadal from 2012 and on. Clay, doesn't matter how hot you get, it's a game of attrition.

Just take a look and other threads where people are discussing novak's future chances. Even Novak Fans feel that Wimby is a lock for Novak as nobody can play there. You literally now have just 3 players who can hold a racquet on grass currently. The grass competition is the worst now. See people don't have the means to practice on grass as it has become pretty much obsolete.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Just take a look and other threads where people are discussing novak's future chances. Even Novak Fans feel that Wimby is a lock for Novak as nobody can play there. You literally now have just 3 players who can hold a racquet on grass currently. The grass competition is the worst now. See people don't have the means to practice on grass as it has become pretty much obsolete.

Perhaps discussing surfaces with someone who has a vested interest in defending his fave player's lack of FO slams... is a waste of effort.

 

[Winners or Errors]

Mind you, i left out Roger's losses at

28 to Berdych (2010 W)
29 to Tsonga (2011 W)
31 to Stakhovsky (2013 W)

because i couldn't find the equivalent for Rafa at RG for the same corresponding age.
He did lose at 29 to Novak (RG 2015) , but it was a totally out of form year. At RG 2016, he defaulted mid tournament.

2013 Federer... not out of form? Please. I can excuse that one. 2013 was Fed's equivalent to Rafa's 2015.
2011 ...did you see that match? One of the rare times Tsonga actually managed to redline for 3 sets. No one was beating him that day.
2010 ...OK, no excuses for losing to his pigeon at W.

 

[Eren]

His longevity on clay is amazing. Again... on clay.

Doesn't diminish anything, but he didn't make consecutive finals at other majors in his 30s.

Federer reached consective finals at Wimbledon and the AO in his 30s, two surfaces.

Nadal's dominance in 30s is mostly based on clay, where he is better than anyone on any surface.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Thiem is not Djokovic.

You're right, he put up a better fight against Rafa, and beat Djokovic as well

 

[DSH]

His longevity on clay is amazing. Again... on clay.

Doesn't diminish anything, but he didn't make consecutive finals at other majors in his 30s.

Federer reached consective finals at Wimbledon and the AO in his 30s, two surfaces.

Nadal's dominance in 30s is mostly based on clay, where he is better than anyone on any surface.

He and Connors are the only two male tennis players in the Open Era to win the US Open twice being over 30!

 

[zuluzazu]

Thanks to Nadal, his haters have now disintegrated tennis into 2 different sports clay and non-clay. Some of these Djoko and Fed fans pretend like clay and non clay are completely different sports with different equipment and everything. Disgust

 

[zuluzazu]

He and Connors are the only two male tennis players to win the US Open twice being over 30!

Now nadal haters will swarm in and say oh but the draw was cupcake. There are no end to excuses from these so called fans of other players. Previously it was total slams and now everyday goalpost is being shifted. Disgusting

 

[Eren]

He and Connors are the only two male tennis players to win the US Open twice being over 30!

Yeah I know he won it twice, but IMO he didn't exactly dominate on HC in his 30s (no consecutive titles right?)

Obviously, he is an amazing player on all surfaces, even in his 30s. However, we were discussing dominance, not epicness and depending on one's definition of dominance you could say he lacked it on other surfaces.

I can see your point too though.

 

[Mike Sams]

but... but... physical game style... clay court grinder... won’t last till his 30’s... how can someone be better than maestro... was the media lying about who is the GOAT all along??

Was it a Fraud?

Nadal did suffer a lot of times in his career physically and did skip large parts of various seasons and skip many Slams to recover. He's been much smarter with his scheduling and Moya has helped tremendously.

 

[Red Rick]

Slam victories by age:
Rafa:
32: beats Thiem at 2018 RG
33: beats Thiem at 2019 RG
34: beats Novak at 2020 RG

Roger:
32: loses to Novak in 2014 W final
33: loses to Novak in 2015 W final
34: loses to Raonic in 2016 W semis

Age-adjusted, Rafa shows greater dominance than Roger.

Now, it's true Roger won AO 2018 at 37.

Should Rafa win the next 3 editions of RG, he'll be definitely considered GOAT in the longevity category.

Shouldn't longevity start from when they first start winning?

 

[Eren]

Now nadal haters will swarm in and say oh but the draw was cupcake. There are no end to excuses from these so called fans of other players. Previously it was total slams and now everyday goalpost is being shifted. Disgusting

A shame people always try to find the negative in everything. IMO, he did not dominate on HC in his 30s. Obviously, he played at very high level at USO in his 30s.

Where in my post did I say anything about his USO draws?

 

[DSH]

Now nadal haters will swarm in and say oh but the draw was cupcake. There are no end to excuses from these so called fans of other players. Previously it was total slams and now everyday goalpost is being shifted. Disgusting

It is much better than this:

 

[zuluzazu]

A shame people always try to find the negative in everything. IMO, he did not dominate on HC in his 30s. Obviously, he played at very high level at USO in his 30s.

Where in my post did I say anything about his USO draws?

I never mentioned you. I even liked your post. I was talking of some fans and not you. I think you misunderstood. I respect your opinion and thus I liked your post.