More proof of the effect of the lost 90's generation.

[Day_Tripper]

Today was more proof that the main reason Nadal and Djokovic managed to surpass Federer's record is due to the lost 90's generation. Both Nadal and Djokovic played almost their entire careers (over 15 years) without having to face a younger all time great. Federer spent most of his career facing two.

With the emergence of Alzcaraz and Sinner we are finally seeing how well Djokovic would have fared had he had anything approaching comparable competition to Federer. Had Sinner and Alcaraz been born in the 90's neither Nadal nor Djokovic would have surpassed Federer's Grand slam record. Their careers would look very different.

The popular belief on this forum that Federer faced the weaker competition of the three is a myth. The 2004-2007 era was stronger than anything we have seen from 2015 - 2024.

 

[mike danny]

Today was more proof that the main reason Nadal and Djokovic managed to surpass Federer's record is due to the lost 90's generation. Both Nadal and Djokovic played almost their entire careers (over 15 years) without having to face a younger all time great. Federer spent most of his career facing two.

With the emergence of Alzcaraz and Sinner we are finally seeing how well Djokovic would have fared had he had anything approaching comparable competition to Federer. Had Sinner and Alcaraz been born in the 90's neither Nadal nor Djokovic would have surpassed Federer's Grand slam record. Their careers would look very different.

The popular belief on this forum that Federer faced the weaker competition of the three is a myth. The 2004-2007 era was stronger than anything we have seen from 2015 - 2024.

It had more credence back in, say, 2013. But today? They're only saying it just because it has become tradition and an axiom and even new tennis fans buy into it.

 

[Day_Tripper]

It had more credence back in, say, 2013. But today? They're only saying it just because it has become tradition and an axiom and even new tennis fans buy into it.

I am convinced that most posters on this forum didn't even follow tennis 2004-2007. The takes I have been reading today that Alzcaraz is better than Federer on grass are laughable.

 

[mike danny]

I am convinced that most posters on this forum didn't even follow tennis 2004-2007. The takes I have been reading today that Alzcaraz is better than Federer on grass are laughable.

I'm sure they did, but they just didn't like Federer and were bored by his dominance, which is totally fine.

But the new fans treat 2004-2007 as weak era like water being wet because of a decade+ of this being propagated.