Is Federer v Djokovic the GOAT rivalry on HC?

[Deleted member 77403]

Roger Federer is seen as the HC GOAT, and Djokovic is seen as an ATG on HC, who could possibly challenge for the HC GOAT title, but that is for another thread.

These two have met an incredible nine times in HC majors, 5-4 in favour of Novak. They are 3-3 at the US Open, both of them with two semi wins against each other, and also a slam final win. They are 2-1 at AO, with Roger winning the match on rebound ace, and Novak winning the two semis on plexicushion.

Coupled with all those HC slam encounters, they have competed for several WTF.

Can it be said that these two have had and continue to have the greatest rivalry the sport has ever seen on HC?

 

[BeatlesFan]

I would put Pete and Agassi above them, also Lendl-McEnroe, Edberg-Lendl and Lendl-Becker.

I realize Fed-Djoker have contested more big matches on HC, but the rivalries above produced much more interesting tennis, with a much greater variance in style. I think that just because Fed-Djoker have played 44 matches elevates their rivalry to a higher standing than it deserves. For most of their HC matches, Roger just stayed back and ball bashed with Djoker. That never happened with the contrasting styles of the Pete-Andre, Ivan-Mac and Ivan-Boris.

 

[torpantennis]

Is it a rivalry? The guys are of two totally different generations. The outcome has been so predictable, based only on age advantage in big matches (Federer advantageous up to 2009, past that Djokovic).

 

[SublimeTennis]

Roger Federer is seen as the HC GOAT, and Djokovic is seen as an ATG on HC, who could possibly challenge for the HC GOAT title, but that is for another thread.

These two have met an incredible nine times in HC majors, 5-4 in favour of Novak. They are 3-3 at the US Open, both of them with two semi wins against each other, and also a slam final win. They are 2-1 at AO, with Roger winning the match on rebound ace, and Novak winning the two semis on plexicushion.

Coupled with all those HC slam encounters, they have competed for several WTF.

Can it be said that these two have had and continue to have the greatest rivalry the sport has ever seen on HC?

Simple, very simple. Federer is far superior on FAST HARD COURTS, Djoker on Slow hard courts.

 

[duaneeo]

Can it be said that these two have had and continue to have the greatest rivalry the sport has ever seen on HC?

No, because a peak Federer never faced a peak Djokovic on the surface.

 

[Djokovic2011]

No, because a peak Federer never faced a peak Djokovic on the surface.

I don't see why that should preclude it from being considered one of the all time great rivalries.

 

[upchuck]

Peaks are so overrated and have such an overinflated relevance in discussions. Sigh.

 

[duaneeo]

I don't see why that should preclude it from being considered one of the all time great rivalries.

Ok. But I do.

 

[Djokovic2011]

Ok. But I do.

Tetchy!

 

[duaneeo]

Tetchy!

Well, if you read the original post, it doesn't call Djokovic/Federer "one of the all time great rivalries", but "the greatest rivalry the sport has ever seen on HC."

 

[veroniquem]

I would put Pete and Agassi above them, also Lendl-McEnroe, Edberg-Lendl and Lendl-Becker.

I realize Fed-Djoker have contested more big matches on HC

They've contested many more matches on hard, period. 33 total. 20 for Sampras/Agassi. 14 for Edberg/Lendl. 12 for Lendl/McEnroe and a measly 7 for Lendl/Becker (hardly a rivalry at all).
Also Djoko/Fed have met more than twice in 6 different events (AO, USO, IW, Cincy, WTF and Dubai) whereas Sampras/Agassi (surprisingly maybe) met more than twice in only 1 event where outcome was hopelessly one sided: USO (4-0 Sampras). Edberg/Lendl in 2: AO and USO, Lendl/McEnroe in 2: Canada/USO (and was only really interesting in USO). Lendl/Becker didn't meet more than twice at any event.
Edberg/Lendl offered a nice contrast of style for sure. I hated Sampras/Agassi, by far the most irritatingly predictable: fast belonged to Sampras (USO/Cincy: 5-0 Sampras, same as W). Slow was Agassi's territory (AO/Canada: 4-0 Agassi, same as RG surely but they only met once there due to Sampras being so clueless on clay). Sampras had to rely on his serve, got outplayed in rallies.
Agassi could do nothing against Sampras's serve at USO (or on grass). So annoying. I would have loved to see Djoko vs Sampras. Djoko may have found the antidote that Agassi failed to nail throughout his career. Quality or not, if the outcome is too predictable, it's boring.
I do agree that the age difference between Djoko and Fed is a problem, especially in the best of 5 format. I think Djokodal is more interesting for that reason. Djokodal have met more often than Agassi/Sampras: 23 times! It is the 2nd hard court rivalry of open era after Djoko/Fed in terms of # of encounters and it has produced some riveting classics. My biggest regret is that they've met only once at AO. Terrible shame if one is to judge by their one epic clash there.

 

[WhiskeyEE]

Is it a rivalry? The guys are of two totally different generations. The outcome has been so predictable, based only on age advantage in big matches (Federer advantageous up to 2009, past that Djokovic).

This imo. Fed dominated the h2h early on and Novak has had the upper hand for a long time now. It's a good rivalry, but it can't be the best considering they're from different generations.

 

[Djokovic2011]

They've contested many more matches on hard, period. 33 total. 20 for Sampras/Agassi. 14 for Edberg/Lendl. 12 for Lendl/McEnroe and a measly 7 for Lendl/Becker (hardly a rivalry at all).
Also Djoko/Fed have met more than twice in 6 different events (AO, USO, IW, Cincy, WTF and Dubai) whereas Sampras/Agassi (surprisingly maybe) met more than twice in only 1 event where outcome was hopelessly one sided: USO (4-0 Sampras). Edberg/Lendl in 2: AO and USO, Lendl/McEnroe in 2: Canada/USO (and was only really interesting in USO). Lendl/Becker didn't meet more than twice at any event.
Edberg/Lendl offered a nice contrast of style for sure. I hated Sampras/Agassi, by far the most irritatingly predictable: fast belonged to Sampras (USO/Cincy: 5-0 Sampras, same as W). Slow was Agassi's territory (AO/Canada: 4-0 Agassi, same as RG surely but they only met once there due to Sampras being so clueless on clay). Sampras had to rely on his serve, got outplayed in rallies.
Agassi could do nothing against Sampras's serve at USO (or on grass). So annoying. I would have loved to see Djoko vs Sampras. Djoko may have found the antidote that Agassi failed to nail throughout his career. Quality or not, if the outcome is too predictable, it's boring.
I do agree that the age difference between Djoko and Fed is a problem, especially in the best of 5 format. I think Djokodal is more interesting for that reason. Djokodal have met more often than Agassi/Sampras: 23 times! It is the 2nd hard court rivalry of open era after Djoko/Fed in terms of # of encounters and it has produced some riveting classics. My biggest regret is that they've met only once at AO. Terrible shame if one is to judge by their one epic clash there.

I take it you weren't a big fan of Pistol Pete back in the day vero?

 

[veroniquem]

I take it you weren't a big fan of Pistol Pete back in the day vero?

Ha ha but Novak was! As an Agassi fan, it was absolutely gut-wrenching the way Sampras owned Agassi at USO. Hated Sampras's serve with a passion. I think Agassi resented Sampras too. All those losses in his home slam were soooooooooo hard to take. Every single one of them hurt like hell (and unfortunately every single one of them- except for the first one- seemed like a foregone conclusion).

 

[Backspin1183]

I love this Balboa-Dixon rivalry in best of 3 on hard court.

 

[Nachiket Nolefam]

I loved their matches a lot. Both are not pushing the balls mostly like Rafa-Murray (search for 2011 SF between Murray-Rafa, where both were playing like its clay court).
In last 10 years, I think this is the best rivalry. On slower courts like AO, Fed can't keep up with Novak and on fast courts like Cincy, Novak can't keep up with Fed. But for rest of the tournaments, their matches are great. Both are great BASELINERS who are not afraid to take risks.

I wouldn't like them meeting Next year, though. Fed is 34 and can't keep up with Novak in BO5. He is just boring nowadays but before 2013 there matches were great.