Maybe it's due to the competition he faced?Becker's first Wimbledon Championship in 1985 was a HUGE upset for an unseeded player. That match (and the effort leading up to it) doesn't get much respect these days.
Agassi v Medvedev 1999 RG final. At the time that match was getting more global attention than any Big 3 match ever, it was of epic historic proportions the way it was being hyped with Agassi going for a career slam.What matches, if any, do you think have lost some of their historical significance over time.
This match determines who is open era GOAT. Nuff Said NO EXCUSES!!!2017 AO is one of my very favorites of all time. But my guess is that this one has historically diminished somewhat since then, due to where the slam title race is now.
Disagree although i see why you say that. However, that AO 2017 match between them only elevates Federer to a higher plane regardless of the slam race. He is 5 years older than Nadal and to do what he did against the only player in history who actually troubled him at his very peak was the stuff of legend. From the Nadal perspective it is probably now less of a bitter pill than it could have been, but AO 2022 obviously exorcised his AO demons.2017 AO is one of my very favorites of all time. But my guess is that this one has historically diminished somewhat since then, due to where the slam title race is now.
This win is way up there on my personal list; right up there with the 1981 Wimbledon final.
Was that really the way it was? I remain to be convinced that the Australian Open can ever have that gravitas bestowed to any final there, in fact im not sure the FO and USO do either.This match determines who is open era GOAT. Nuff Said NO EXCUSES!!!
It is incredibly old fashioned, yes. All 4 majors have equal importance in this era. The total number was the only thing that mattered to the Big 3.Was that really the way it was? I remain to be convinced that the Australian Open can ever have that gravitas bestowed to any final there, in fact im not sure the FO and USO do either.
It may seem frightfully old fashioned but i think for stuff like GOAT face offs, Wimbledon will always be where such arguments are settled. Wimbledon finals to this day absolutely dwarf the other 3 slams for viewing figures globally and media attention.
The Soderling Shocker at RG2009 means nothing as Rafa literally won 10 RGs after that.
His own reaction to the win was hilarious.I think Murray ending Great Britain's drought at the 2012 USO was almost completely forgotten about once he snapped the streak at Wimbledon the next year. That's the one everyone remembers, even though it was a more straight forward match.
I kind of felt that Rafa winning the US Open in 2010 diminished Federer's 2009 French Open a bit.
It was like, we'd waited 10 years for someone else to join the Career Grand Slam club, after watching Federer get further and further away each passing year from possibly achieving it, then he achieves it and the whole tennis world celebrates like it's the final scene of Return of the Jedi...
15 months later Nadal has a Career Grand Slam too.
Wim 19 F
An interesting stat is, Djokovic has 15 consecutive quarterfinals at RG (and counting).But that's exactly why 2009RG is still so huge. It's peak/prime Rafa's sole loss at Roland Garros...one that prevented him from winning 10 consecutive RG titles.
I kind of felt that Rafa winning the US Open in 2010 diminished Federer's 2009 French Open a bit.
It was like, we'd waited 10 years for someone else to join the Career Grand Slam club, after watching Federer get further and further away each passing year from possibly achieving it, then he achieves it and the whole tennis world celebrates like it's the final scene of Return of the Jedi...
15 months later Nadal has a Career Grand Slam too.
Becker faced the hottest player in the draw in Kevin Curren. Curren defeated Connors (SF) and McEnroe (QF) in consecutive rounds as the #8 seed. With a deadly serve, forcing returns/groundies and excellent net game, Curren had momentum on his side up until he made the final. As the youngest winner (up to that point), Becker brought his physical, acrobatic game to the final and won 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-4Maybe it's due to the competition he faced?
Disagree although i see why you say that. However, that AO 2017 match between them only elevates Federer to a higher plane regardless of the slam race. He is 5 years older than Nadal and to do what he did against the only player in history who actually troubled him at his very peak was the stuff of legend. From the Nadal perspective it is probably now less of a bitter pill than it could have been, but AO 2022 obviously exorcised his AO demons.
Personally i thought the AO 2017 match was woeful quality by their standards but for Federer fans i think it should be a cherished match although i do think his greatest memories will always be at Wimbledon, perhaps none more so than his win over Sampras. The start of the Legend.
Djokovic Nishikori USOpen 2014
Same reason.
Djokovic actually went on a tear and Nishikori never threatened to win a slam again. Murray came back to the top and reached 4 slam finals in next 7. It became a Djokovic federer Murray show and Nishikori was complete nobody.
Why would that bother you when you think everyone in the sport is dopingI hate US2014 so much lol
Fed loses....to a doper
Why would that bother you when you think everyone in the sport is doping
"somehow, Nadal returned"I can get on board with a Nadal slam win being the moral equivalent of The Rise of Palpatine, for sure. At least they waited 36 years to release that dross!
I really wish Rafa won that match lol, the kit was so fuego2017 AO final, I remember Roy Emerson declaring that this match would decide who will be the GOAT. As AO 2017, it is one of Federer's most amazing triumphs and a comeback grandslam, but despite the win, both Rafa and Nole eventually overtook him.
Agassi v Medvedev 1999 RG final. At the time that match was getting more global attention than any Big 3 match ever, it was of epic historic proportions the way it was being hyped with Agassi going for a career slam.
Obviously now it is barely even remembered.
Becker v Curren 1985 W final. That was literally getting more attention than World Cup soccer matches did the following year, not only for Becker's age but also the whole German angle to it 40 years on from the end of hostilities in WW2. It was of monumental historic importance, but today is just it seems a footnote, and you can bet the British Government will ensure it stays that way given what eventually happened to Becker in England (unfairly i may add).
I'd say the opposite, every win of Nadal has heightened its significance.The Soderling Shocker at RG2009 means nothing as Rafa literally won 10 RGs after that
i am sure in 40 years or less all the great slam battles between the big 3 will also be barely remembered.Agassi v Medvedev 1999 RG final. At the time that match was getting more global attention than any Big 3 match ever, it was of epic historic proportions the way it was being hyped with Agassi going for a career slam.
Obviously now it is barely even remembered.
Becker v Curren 1985 W final. That was literally getting more attention than World Cup soccer matches did the following year, not only for Becker's age but also the whole German angle to it 40 years on from the end of hostilities in WW2. It was of monumental historic importance, but today is just it seems a footnote, and you can bet the British Government will ensure it stays that way given what eventually happened to Becker in England (unfairly i may add).
Sampras v Agassi 2022 USO final. Hyped up beyond belief and for a while was hailed (by some in the press) as the greatest match ever after their QF the year before i think it was, but now barely even remembered.
TRUE!It is incredibly old fashioned, yes. All 4 majors have equal importance in this era. The total number was the only thing that mattered to the Big 3.
When it comes to kits, Roger's zebra is more iconic to me.I really wish Rafa won that match lol, the kit was so fuego
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i am sure in 40 years or less all the great slam battles between the big 3 will also be barely remembered.
the only sport and tournament that produces eternal moments is the fifa world cup. moments like maradonas hand of god and goal of the century will be known by all football fans (and many many non football fans) even in 1000 years.
If anything, the Soderling match becomes even more memorable and historically significant because Nadal won the next 10.Any big match win by Fed, of course.
But seriously...The Djoko upsets at RG and AO seem like minor hiccups now.
The Soderling Shocker at RG2009 means nothing as Rafa literally won 10 RGs after that
If anything, the Soderling match becomes even more memorable and historically significant because Nadal won the next 10.
A blip for Nadal but in terms of historical significance, it'll be hard to ever forget the one time that somebody beat arguably the best player in sports history (Claydal) in his prime. Even casual tennis fans probably remember Soderling solely because of that one match. One of the greatest upsets in sports history tbh.I dunno. Think about the two Fed Wimbledon matches we talk about the most: 2008 and 40-15
Both are so celebrated because Fed was dethroned, finished, rendered completely impotent and worthless...whatever disparaging thing you want to say about him, those matches are your primary source of material.
But RG2009 ended up just being a blip for Rafa, excused bc of his parents' divorce. He wasn't done; in fact he was less than a third of the way through his RG haul.
Except Djokovic's first 17 slams. It got upgraded by Tennis Abstract, while the slams of the other Big3 got downgraded, especially Federer, whose slams got downgraded by more than 10%. Nadal got a 5% downgrade; Djokovic got a 6% upgrade.Most big 3 matches seem less significant now due to the amount of inflation that has happened over the last few years
I dunno. Think about the two Fed Wimbledon matches we talk about the most: 2008 and 40-15
Both are so celebrated because Fed was dethroned, finished, rendered completely impotent and worthless...whatever disparaging thing you want to say about him, those matches are your primary source of material.
But RG2009 ended up just being a blip for Rafa, excused bc of his parents' divorce. He wasn't done; in fact he was less than a third of the way through his RG haul.