Nikolay Davydenko says the current ATP Generation aren’t as strong as in the ‘Big 3’ Era

[weakera]

Nikolay Davydenko says the current ATP Generation aren’t as strong as in the ‘Big 3’ Era, and that many players are mentally defeated before they actually face World #1 Novak Djokovic:

“The generation alongside the Big Three used to be a little stronger. Now, even Alcaraz, who, like Nadal in his youth, is a good runner, in tennis terms I can't say that he exceeds expectations [historically].

Djokovic also beats the younger generation with his head - they are already psychologically losing to him. 'Ah, Djokovic, that’s all!' And Novak dominates thanks to this”

Source: Campionat

 

[alexio]

Championat, not campionat..

— Why then is Djokovic still at the top?
- This person is unique to me. He plays with the skill that he has accumulated over the entire time when he even played with us - with Federer, Nadal, with me. Novak always adhered to his physical characteristics, tried to maintain strength and concentration. And he understood that he was beating everyone with his tennis. The Big Three generation used to be a little stronger. Even Alcaraz, who, like Nadal in his youth, is a good runner, in tennis terms I can’t say that he exceeds expectations.

If Djokovic gets into shape, even without playing a few tournaments, without injury, he is physically ready. It’s more important that you have enough strength for every match. And if it is, his concentration will be much higher than others. That's why they are afraid of him. Plus, the fear remains: Djokovic also beats the younger generation with his head - they are already psychologically losing to him: “Ah, Djokovic, that’s all!” And Novak dominates thanks to this. What he does is unique. One might say, the only one like this so far.

 

[3loudboys]

I think we all figured this already … but thanks Nik

 

[L4S10s]

what it tell us about player losing to the likes of mackenzie mcdonald, borna coric, and tommy paul?

 

[jm1980]

Davydenko has repeatedly expressed this opinion:

"In my opinion, tennis is not making much progress. The players who are at the top now – not Nadal and Djokovic, but the younger generation –are not that good technically. I got surprised by that. It’s more physical – big serves, hitting hard–, but we still see that Nadal and Djokovic can control all this power over the new generation. They are still winning Slams and beating guys who are ten years younger than them, which is amazing. Anyway, I do not feel that the new generation is playing on an unbelievable level." (June 2022)

Davydenko: The top players of the younger generation are not that good technically.

What would you say are the biggest differences in tennis now compared to when you were a top player? In my opinion, tennis is not making much progress. The players who are at the top now – not Nadal and Djokovic, but the younger generation –are not that good technically. I got surprised by...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

"And eight years after his retirement, the Russian was in disbelief as the two tennis icons kept on winning at the biggest events. Davydenko continued: “It turns out that young players are so weak? Because I also played with [Nadal], and then he won everything. And now there are young, physically strong, drummers - and he still beats them. It turns out that the tennis of that generation is still stronger than the current one.”" (December 2022)

Nikolay Davydenko calls NextGen weak - again, and is surprised at Alcaraz' injuries

"And eight years after his retirement, the Russian was in disbelief as the two tennis icons kept on winning at the biggest events. Davydenko continued: “It turns out that young players are so weak? Because I also played with [Nadal], and then he won everything. And now there are young...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

It's interesting that Nadal is often used as a reference by Davydenko. It might have something to do with his 6-5 H2H over the "good runner" Rafa

 

[The Blond Blur]

what it tell us about player losing to the likes of mackenzie mcdonald, borna coric, and tommy paul?

Probably the same thing about players who lost to the likes of Denis Istomin, Hyeon Chung, Tarro Daniel, Marco Cecchinato, and Jeri Vesley etc.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Its because all of them are technically flawed to the core, even Alcaraz but he has shown signs of improving that.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Probably the same thing about players who lost to the likes of Denis Istomin, Hyeon Chung, Tarro Daniel, Marco Cecchinato, and Jeri Vesley etc.

Add Dan Evans, Aslan Karatsev, Pablo Carreno Busta to the list as well

 

[DSH]

That an elderly player dominates the tour says a lot about the low level of the new generations.

 

[jm1980]

Probably the same thing about players who lost to the likes of Denis Istomin, Hyeon Chung, Tarro Daniel, Marco Cecchinato, and Jeri Vesley etc.

Who are "Tarro Daniel" and "Jeri Vesley"?

 

[The Blond Blur]

Who are "Tarro Daniel" and "Jeri Vesley"?

Exactly, couldn’t even be bother to get their names right lol.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Who are "Tarro Daniel" and "Jeri Vesley"?

Jeez, surely we'll need the greatest minds of our time to crack this one.

 

[TMF]

Davydenko has repeatedly expressed this opinion:

"In my opinion, tennis is not making much progress. The players who are at the top now – not Nadal and Djokovic, but the younger generation –are not that good technically. I got surprised by that. It’s more physical – big serves, hitting hard–, but we still see that Nadal and Djokovic can control all this power over the new generation. They are still winning Slams and beating guys who are ten years younger than them, which is amazing. Anyway, I do not feel that the new generation is playing on an unbelievable level." (June 2022)

Davydenko: The top players of the younger generation are not that good technically.

What would you say are the biggest differences in tennis now compared to when you were a top player? In my opinion, tennis is not making much progress. The players who are at the top now – not Nadal and Djokovic, but the younger generation –are not that good technically. I got surprised by...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

"And eight years after his retirement, the Russian was in disbelief as the two tennis icons kept on winning at the biggest events. Davydenko continued: “It turns out that young players are so weak? Because I also played with [Nadal], and then he won everything. And now there are young, physically strong, drummers - and he still beats them. It turns out that the tennis of that generation is still stronger than the current one.”" (December 2022)

Nikolay Davydenko calls NextGen weak - again, and is surprised at Alcaraz' injuries

"And eight years after his retirement, the Russian was in disbelief as the two tennis icons kept on winning at the biggest events. Davydenko continued: “It turns out that young players are so weak? Because I also played with [Nadal], and then he won everything. And now there are young...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

It's interesting that Nadal is often used as a reference by Davydenko. It might have something to do with his 6-5 H2H over the "good runner" Rafa

At least Rafa fans acknowledged that Davy is a hell of a tennis player. Djoker fans aren't man enough to admit that Roddick is a hell of a tennis player, it might have something to do with his 5-4 H2H over Djokovic

 

[jm1980]

Djoker fans aren't man enough to admit that Roddick is a hell of a tennis player, it might have something to do with his 5-4 H2H over Djokovic

I'll do it when Fed fans admit players like Thiem (5-2 against Fed) and Zverev (4-3 against Fed), or the literal dozens of players with a winning H2H over Fed are "a hell of a tennis player"

 

[alexio]

Exactly, jm..its a great way to prove that that funny 5-4 junk lol..dont work at all

 

[Fabresque]

At least Rafa fans acknowledged that Davy is a hell of a tennis player. Djoker fans aren't man enough to admit that Roddick is a hell of a tennis player, it might have something to do with his 5-4 H2H over Djokovic

Roddick was good but this idea that he's somehow better than Medvedev, Stanimal, etc.. is absurd.

 

[Lauren_Girl']

At least Rafa fans acknowledged that Davy is a hell of a tennis player. Djoker fans aren't man enough to admit that Roddick is a hell of a tennis player, it might have something to do with his 5-4 H2H over Djokovic

But even Rafa fans know Davydenko isn't a better player than Nadal. They refuse to acknowledge Djokovic is better, though. Djokovic has a positive H2H ALL his main rivals. Federer, Nadal, Murray, Wawrinka, Thiem, Zverev, Medvedev and now we can even add Alcaraz, Sinner and Rune.
Federer will always have a negative H2H over Federer and Nadal
Nadal will always have a negative H2H over Djokovic (despite their very clay sided history, which makes it even more embarrassing for Nadal... SO MANY matches in RG and Rome and yet he still ends up with a losing H2H)
Thoses 5 losses against Roddick all happened before Djokovic got rid of his respiratory issues and reached his full potential. Hell of a tennis player or not, he was never close to Djokovic at his best, lol. Their only complete Slam match showed it in USO2008. Sure you can always cherry pick random H2H and draw childish conclusions... Nadal has negative H2H against guys like Brown or more recently Coric. Federer against Thiem or Zverev. Does it mean anything? Nope.

Regarding what Davydenko says, I'm not sure what's his point. He may not be completely wrong but who is he to judge Alcaraz? He won 0 Slam. Roddick only won 1. They can criticize the 2023 era all they want. Alcaraz is only 20 and already has more Slams than Roddick and Davydenko combined. Something tells me Medvedev and Sinner may also win more Slams than all any player Fedal were facing in the 2003-2007 era... We will judge how weak/strong the 2023 era was when Alcaraz/Sinner/Rune/Medvedev/Zverev are all retired and we know exactly how many Slams they won.

 

[SonnyT]

The Big3 time was glorious. They played each other tic for tat. Now nobody made Djokovic pay like Federer at '12 WB, or Nadal at '13 US.

Oops, Medvedev at '21 UO and Alcaraz at '23 WB won over Djokovic.

Oh yep, but they didn't prevent him from making runs at other slams in general, like Federer and Nadal stopped him in his tracks.

 

[NedStark]

Davydenko totally nailed the point with one word: control. The NextGen is simply unable to hit with control.

 

[TMF]

I'll do it when Fed fans admit players like Thiem (5-2 against Fed) and Zverev (4-3 against Fed), or the literal dozens of players with a winning H2H over Fed are "a hell of a tennis player"

LOL

Zverev is 16 years younger and Thiem is 12 years younger than ancient Federer, but to expect Federer to score some wins over them is a testament the incredibly weak era

 

[TMF]

Roddick was good but this idea that he's somehow better than Medvedev, Stanimal, etc.. is absurd.

Nope. Roddick is much better than them. He's just unlucky to be born at the same time as Federer when both of them met peak/prime at the same time. Medvedev face OLD Djokovic in a weak era.

Just because Wawrinka humbled Djokovic at the AO, FO, and USO doesn't mean he's better than Roddick. Djokovic wasn't good enough. No way Wawrinka is beating prime Federer anywhere

 

[mike danny]

I'll do it when Fed fans admit players like Thiem (5-2 against Fed) and Zverev (4-3 against Fed), or the literal dozens of players with a winning H2H over Fed are "a hell of a tennis player"

Are you really bringing up guys who are over a decade younger than Fed and played him when he was in his mid 30's?

 

[mike danny]

Roddick was good but this idea that he's somehow better than Medvedev, Stanimal, etc.. is absurd.

I mean, I don't see anything wrong with saying he's better than Med.

And Stan's H2H with Fed is worse than Roddick's.

 

[Mustard]

Davydenko totally nailed the point with one word: control. The NextGen is simply unable to hit with control.

Control should be relatively easy with poly strings, i.e. any given shot has more topspin, therefore more margin for error with a given amount of power.

 

[mike danny]

Control should be relatively easy with poly strings.

Tell that to Zverev who can't even control his serve.

 

[jackson vile]

The math simply doesn’t checkout as we should see all of the players of Novak’s age having more wins and making more money than ever just like Novak, but that’s not what’s happening and it never will because the new field isn’t weak.

All of these young guys are ranked far and above all of Novak’s peers, because they are superior players in every shape and form when compared to the old guard.

Novak’s success is within the fact that Novak has not had any injuries, he increased his mental and court game, he carefully chooses his tournaments, and finally accumulated knowledge and experience.

These new players have showed multiple times that they’re 100% capable of defeating Novak at the biggest tournaments and the games become very tight.

The great part about tennis is, there’s so many different ways to leverage your strengths and win.

But haters gonna hate, so…

 

[jm1980]

LOL

Zverev is 16 years younger and Thiem is 12 years younger than ancient Federer, but to expect Federer to score some wins over them is a testament the incredibly weak era

Federer has more negative H2H records than Nadal and Djokovic combined

So I wouldn't bring up H2H if I were a Fed fan

 

[TMF]

Federer has more negative H2H records than Nadal and Djokovic combined

So I wouldn't bring up H2H if I were a Fed fan

Most of the Fed/Nole meeting when Federer was past his prime, despite those matches were very close.

Djokovic has a negative H2H against Roddick

 

[jm1980]

Most of the Fed/Nole meeting when Federer was past his prime, despite those matches were very close.

Djokovic has a negative H2H against Roddick

Even if you exclude the Fed/Djokovic rivalry, Rogie still has 27 other losing H2H records

If you keep bringing up Roddick, I'll start posting the 28 players with a winning record over Fed

 

[TMF]

Even if you exclude the Fed/Djokovic rivalry, Rogie still has 27 other losing H2H records

If you keep bringing up Roddick, I'll start posting the 28 players with a winning record over Fed

You were the one who bought up H2H in the first place in post #5, not me. You said Davy is 6-5 against Nadal, so it's fair to say Roddick has a 5-4 over your boy.


I personally believe H2H against the entire field annually is the real deal, the stats that measure one's ability and completeness.

Highest Season Winning Percentage
1. John McEnroe (1984) .965 82–3
2. Jimmy Connors (1974) .959 93–4
3. Roger Federer (2005) .953 81–4
4. Roger Federer (2006) .948 92–5
5. Björn Borg (1979) .933 84–6
6. Novak Djokovic(2015) .932 82-6
7. Roger Federer (2004) .925 74–6
= Ivan Lendl (1986) .925 74–6
9. Ivan Lendl (1985) .923 84–7
10. Ivan Lendl (1982) .922 106–9
11. Björn Borg (1980) .921 70–6
= Novak Djokovic (2011) 0.921 70-6
13. Ivan Lendl (1989) .919 79-7
= Jimmy Connors(1975) .919 79-7
15. Jimmy Connors(1976) .918 90-8
16. Jimmy Connors(1978) .917 66-6
17. Björn Borg(1977) .916 76-7
18. Rafael Nadal (2013) .915 75-7
= Roger Federer(2017) .915 54-5
20. Ivan Lendl (1987) .914 74-7

 

[BorgTheGOAT]

I'll do it when Fed fans admit players like Thiem (5-2 against Fed) and Zverev (4-3 against Fed), or the literal dozens of players with a winning H2H over Fed are "a hell of a tennis player"

Kafelnikov, Enqvist, Rafter, Bruguera, Kuerten Corretja, Ferreira all hell of players not to forget the mighty Hrbaty.

 

[jm1980]

You were the one who bought up H2H in the first place in post #5, not me. You said Davy is 6-5 against Nadal, so it's fair to say Roddick has a 5-4 over your boy.

What does Roddick have to do with this thread?

I brought up the Nadal-Davydenko H2H because Davydenko said the quote in the OP, and he frequently mentions Nadal

I personally believe H2H against the entire field annually is the real deal, the stats that measure one's ability and completeness.

Highest Season Winning Percentage
1. John McEnroe (1984) .965 82–3
2. Jimmy Connors (1974) .959 93–4
3. Roger Federer (2005) .953 81–4
4. Roger Federer (2006) .948 92–5
5. Björn Borg (1979) .933 84–6
6. Novak Djokovic(2015) .932 82-6
7. Roger Federer (2004) .925 74–6
= Ivan Lendl (1986) .925 74–6
9. Ivan Lendl (1985) .923 84–7
10. Ivan Lendl (1982) .922 106–9
11. Björn Borg (1980) .921 70–6
= Novak Djokovic (2011) 0.921 70-6
13. Ivan Lendl (1989) .919 79-7
= Jimmy Connors(1975) .919 79-7
15. Jimmy Connors(1976) .918 90-8
16. Jimmy Connors(1978) .917 66-6
17. Björn Borg(1977) .916 76-7
18. Rafael Nadal (2013) .915 75-7
= Roger Federer(2017) .915 54-5
20. Ivan Lendl (1987) .914 74-7

With some of the weakest years on record (04-06)

 

[jm1980]

Kafelnikov, Enqvist, Rafter, Bruguera, Kuerten Corretja, Ferreira all hell of players not to forget the mighty Hrbaty.

Fed's loss at 2004 RG to a Kuerten with a broken hip was the cherry on top

 

[TMF]

What does Roddick have to do with this thread?

I brought up the Nadal-Davydenko H2H because Davydenko said the quote in the OP, and he frequently mentions Nadal


With some of the weakest years on record (04-06)

LOL, that would be the CIE, the wost era in history

 

[Aestheticsaboveallelse]

Roddick was good but this idea that he's somehow better than Medvedev, Stanimal, etc.. is absurd.

He's clearly better than Medvedev, stanimal is a mythical entity that describes only his few amazing grand slam forms, outside of those rare occasions roddick is usually better than wawrinka

 

[pirhaksar]

Nope. Roddick is much better than them. He's just unlucky to be born at the same time as Federer when both of them met peak/prime at the same time. Medvedev face OLD Djokovic in a weak era.

Just because Wawrinka humbled Djokovic at the AO, FO, and USO doesn't mean he's better than Roddick. Djokovic wasn't good enough. No way Wawrinka is beating prime Federer anywhere

lol

 

[martinezownsclay]

Well duh that goes without saying. Prime Davydenko would probably even win atleast 6 slams today, LOL!

 

[SonnyT]

Nope. Roddick is much better than them. He's just unlucky to be born at the same time as Federer when both of them met peak/prime at the same time. Medvedev face OLD Djokovic in a weak era.

Just because Wawrinka humbled Djokovic at the AO, FO, and USO doesn't mean he's better than Roddick. Djokovic wasn't good enough. No way Wawrinka is beating prime Federer anywhere

Roddick had no BH. all he had was the serve. Med, Wawrinka and many slam winners were much better than him.

 

[NoleFam]

Davydenko has a lot to say about the younger generation but I'd like him to answer why he had a dismal 2-19 record against Federer although he won 4 Masters and the WTF, and had been deep in multiple Slams. Why couldn't he make progress?

 

[Phoenix*]

Add Dan Evans, Aslan Karatsev, Pablo Carreno Busta to the list as well

Relax.

 

[Garro]

Roddick was good but this idea that he's somehow better than Medvedev, Stanimal, etc.. is absurd.

I don't think saying he's better than either is absurd, but especially not Medvedev.

Both Roddick and Med are good but limited players that have won 1 slam, made 4 other finals, and won a handful of masters series events.

Med has 1 more masters event and a WTF title, but Roddick has more overall titles...it is VERY close between them.

 

[Neptune]

It's interesting that Nadal is often used as a reference by Davydenko.

Davydenko is one of Rafa's masters on hardcourt.

 

[Dwell]

Davydenko is one of Rafa's masters on hardcourt.

what do the stats in your signature tell us?

 

[Garro]

Even if you exclude the Fed/Djokovic rivalry, Rogie still has 27 other losing H2H records

If you keep bringing up Roddick, I'll start posting the 28 players with a winning record over Fed

If we just count H2H's with at least 2 matches played, it's 12 losing H2Hs for Fed, vs 6 for Djoko and Nadal each.

But it's a moot point either way: Fed had a lot of losing H2H's from very early in his career, with players who retired before he could catch up, that's all.

Pretty much the same situation as Djokovic vs Roddick....except Fed had more of them.

 

[Neptune]

what do the stats in your signature tell us?

Rigged Slam draws, designed to facilitate a Fed-Rafa final (we know who needs more help to reach final, Fed clay and Rafa non-clay) in early years, and to hinder Nole after 2011 (they don't want Nole to win slam race). The signature is just tip of the iceberg.

 

[Dwell]

Rigged Slam draws, designed to facilitate a Fed-Rafa final (we know who needs more help to reach final, Fed clay and Rafa non-clay) in early years, and to hinder Nole after 2011 (they don't want Nole to win slam race). The signature is just tip of the iceberg.

I never thought of that. I should discuss it with my friend PavvyG

 

[Neptune]

I never thought of that. I should discuss it with my friend PavvyG

Sure, also this post and some of my other posts in the thread.