Ranking big 3 results by age

[SABRvolley]

As the title suggests, I’ll be doing an age comparison by comparing the seasons (or rather, ranking them) when each of the big 3 were certain ages. I’ll start with age 19:

Age 19: Federer 2000, Nadal 2005, Djokovic 2006.

Out of these years, 2005 Nadal was clearly the best, with Federer 2000 coming in second and Djokovic 2006 in third.

Nadal > Federer > Djokovic

Age 20: Federer 2001, Nadal 2006, Djokovic 2007:

2006 Nadal still takes it here, followed by Djokovic 2007 (for winning a masters and reaching a slam final) and Federer 2001 coming in third.

Nadal > Djokovic > Federer

Age 21: Federer 2002, Nadal 2007, Djokovic 2008:

2007 Nadal still takes the cake here, followed by 2008 Djokovic. Federer was not as good in 2002 and comes in third.

Nadal > Djokovic > Federer

Age 22: Federer 2003, Nadal 2008, Djokovic 2009:

Nadal still reigns supreme in 2008 at age 22, with Federer 2003 coming in second and Djokovic 2009 third.

Nadal > Federer > Djokovic

Age 23: Federer 2004, Nadal 2009, Djokovic 2010:

Federer 2004 takes this one quite comfortably, with 2009 Nadal coming in second and 2010 Djokovic coming in third

Federer > Nadal > Djokovic

Age 24: Federer 2005, Nadal 2010, Djokovic 2011:

Difficult to separate as all 3 had great years at 24. However, Djokovic 2011 clearly takes it here. I would say Fed 2005 is second due to more titles won and a higher win percentage than 2010 Nadal.

Djokovic > Federer > Nadal

Age 25: Federer 2006, Nadal 2011, Djokovic 2012:

Federer 2006 takes this one comfortably, a bit tighter between the bottom 2, but I would think Djokovic 2012 is second due to being year end number 1.

Federer > Djokovic > Nadal


Age 26: Federer 2007, Nadal 2012, Djokovic 2013:

Federer 2007 takes this one quite comfortably, with 2013 Djokovic coming in second. Nadal was unlucky in missing the second part of 2012.

Federer > Djokovic > Nadal

Age 27: Federer 2008, Nadal 2013, Djokovic 2014:

Nadal 2013 takes this comfortably, with Djokovic 2014 coming in second and Federer 2008 third.

Nadal > Djokovic > Federer

Age 28: Federer 2009, Nadal 2014, Djokovic 2015:

Djokovic takes this one comfortably, with Federer coming in second and Nadal third, again missing much of the season due to injury.

Djokovic > Federer > Nadal

Age 29: Federer 2010, Nadal 2015, Djokovic 2016:

Djokovic again takes this comfortably, followed by Federer 2010. Nadal had his worst year in 2015.

Djokovic > Federer > Nadal

Age 30: Federer 2011, Nadal 2016, Djokovic 2017:

Federer 2011 takes this one, as Nadal was still in a slump in 2016 and Djokovic had his worst ever year. Nadal would come in second due to a masters victory though.

Federer > Nadal > Djokovic

Age 31: Federer 2012, Nadal 2017, Djokovic 2018:

Very difficult to separate as all had good seasons. However, Nadal 2017 would take this and while Djokovic had a bad first half of 2018, his second half was enough to grant him second place.

Nadal > Djokovic > Federer

Age 32: Federer 2013, Nadal 2018, Djokovic 2019:

Djokovic takes this quite comfortably, with Nadal 2018 coming in second. Federer had his worst year in 2013.

Djokovic > Nadal > Federer

Age 33: Federer 2014, Nadal 2019, Djokovic 2020:

Nadal 2019 takes this comfortably. Difficult to rank the other 2 as 2020 was shortened by the pandemic, but Djokovic did prove ominous when he was playing so would take second place.

Nadal > Djokovic > Federer

Age 34: Federer 2015, Nadal 2020, Djokovic 2021:

Djokovic takes this comfortably. Again, difficult to rank 2020 due to covid, but given that Nadal barely played that year, I would actually rank 2015 Federer higher even though Nadal won a slam in 2020 and Federer did not.

Djokovic > Federer > Nadal

Age 35: Federer 2016, Nadal 2021, Djokovic 2022:

Djokovic takes this comfortably, even though he was not allowed to play in 2 of the slams. Federer missed most of 2016 due to injury and Nadal won a few events, so comes in second.

Djokovic > Nadal > Federer

Age 36: Federer 2017, Nadal 2022, Djokovic 2023:

Who would’ve thought these 3 would have some of their best seasons at this age? Anyway, Djokovic again takes it comfortably with Federer coming in second. Nadal tailed off in the second half and comes in third.

Djokovic > Federer > Nadal

So, to summarize, this is how each one ranked at their ages. It’s important to note that these comparisons only look at age and results, and not external factors like competition and level of play:

Age 19: Nadal > Federer > Djokovic
Age 20: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 21: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 22: Nadal > Federer > Djokovic
Age 23: Federer > Nadal > Djokovic
Age 24: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 25: Federer > Djokovic > Nadal
Age 26: Federer > Djokovic > Nadal
Age 27: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 28: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 29: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 30: Federer > Nadal > Djokovic
Age 31: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 32: Djokovic > Nadal > Federer
Age 33: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 34: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 35: Djokovic > Nadal > Federer
Age 36: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal

Federer: 4 first place, 7 second place and 7 third place finishes.

Nadal: 7 first place, 4 second place and 7 third place finishes.

Djokovic: 7 first place, 7 second place and 4 third place finishes.

Again, this excludes competition and such. Federer in his early- mid 30s dealt with Nadal and Djokovic in their mid-late 20s and in their primes, so it would be expected for him to finish third then. Likewise, Djokovic in his early twenties dealt with prime Federer in his mid-late 20s and prime Nadal too, who entered his prime in his early 20s. So the results might be skewed.

 

[Mazz Retic]

Age 24 I’d have Nadal ahead of Federer. Age 27 I’d have Federer ahead of Djokovic.

 

[The Sinner]

Age 24 is super close, the most interesting actually. All year in 2005 Fed was up there and if not for that epic AO SF loss to GOATing Safin, would have been a 3 slam year, and hands down The Suisse Maestro takes this. Because of that loss, I’d have to agree with OP, i.e. 2011 Djoko > 2010 Nads > 2005 Fedr, but the margins are slim.

 

[Third Serve]

Not sure where people are coming from with 2010 Nadal over 2005 Fed when Fed was better in three of the four Slams (or, at the very least, outright better in two and even at the US Open) and had a better performance in the Masters. I can accept the argument that Nadal was better at the YEC but any difference there is negligible and surely doesn’t outweigh Fed’s superiority elsewhere.

Vs. 2011 Novak is a more interesting comparison. Would give Novak the AO and RG but Fed with Wimbledon and the US Open. I’d say AO and Wimbledon are the only clear-cut winners though. Masters performance pretty similar but Djokovic gets the edge. Fed much better in the YEC despite the injury. Think Djokovic still narrowly edges this but it’s quite close. Both definitely ahead of 2010 Nadal.

 

[Neptune]

Age 19: Nadal > Federer > Djokovic

Nole ahead of Fed by 300 old points (1380 vs 1080)

Age 20: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer

Rafa Nole points very close, but Rafa has a slam

Age 21: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer

Rafa Nole points very close, but Nole has YEC

Age 22: Nadal > Federer > Djokovic
Age 23: Federer > Nadal > Djokovic
Age 24: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 25: Federer > Djokovic > Nadal
Age 26: Federer > Djokovic > Nadal
Age 27: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 28: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 29: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 30: Federer > Nadal > Djokovic
Age 31: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 32: Djokovic > Nadal > Federer
Age 33: Nadal > Djokovic > Federer
Age 34: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal
Age 35: Djokovic > Nadal > Federer
Age 36: Djokovic > Federer > Nadal

 

[Neptune]

Age 27 I’d have Federer ahead of Djokovic.

Both 1 slam, but Nole has YEC and 4 masters, so big titles 6 vs 1. Nole ahead of Fed.

 

[Neptune]

Federer: 4 first place, 7 second place and 7 third place finishes.

Nadal: 7 first place, 4 second place and 7 third place finishes.

Djokovic: 7 first place, 7 second place and 4 third place finishes.

Overall, an intriguing concept, but it's important to note that when Rafa is ahead, it's usually by a smaller margin, and when behind, it's more often by a larger margin.

 

[Biotic]

Not sure where people are coming from with 2010 Nadal over 2005 Fed when Fed was better in three of the four Slams

Maybe because this thread is ranking results, 2010 Nadal won 3 slams and 2005 Federer won 2 and 3>2. Funny how that works.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Overall, an intriguing concept, but it's important to note that when Rafa is ahead, it's usually by a smaller margin, and when behind, it's more often by a larger margin.

Thank you, this must be said a lot. He was a FREAK child but his peak remained behind fedkovic.

 

[Third Serve]

Maybe because this thread is ranking results, 2010 Nadal won 3 slams and 2005 Federer won 2 and 3>2. Funny how that works.

Not really taking about the OP which specifies results (though interestingly enough puts Fed over Nadal) but about the other posters. I assumed they were making a level argument since one of the other picks was 2008 Federer over 2014 Djokovic. A bit difficult to make that argument using only results. Looks like they later retracted it though.

 

[Jonas78]

This will get ugly.

According to his non-fans, Federer is the only player in history who won the most when he played the worst, and won the least when he played the best.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Not really taking about the OP but about the other posters. I assumed they were making a level argument since one of the other picks was 2008 Federer over 2014 Djokovic. A bit difficult to make that argument using only results.

2008 Federer was 10 ranking points behind 2008 Djokovic, he would be ranked 3rd.

Just comparing year vs year
Federer played better in slams
Djokovic played better outside slams

2014 Novak played less tournaments and won more points

 

[fedfan24]

I’d put 2005 Federer and 2017 Federer in 1st for those ages. 2012 Federer definitely above 2017 Nadal too. Favourite for 3 slams with the 2017 field.

 

[nolefam_2024]

2017 Federer pales in comparison to 2023 Djokovic

Djokovic 1 set away from CYGS vs Federer no show in entire clay season plus sore back in USopen, KO

 

[nolefam_2024]

2005 Federer pales in comparison with 2011 Djokovic

Djokovic winning 5 masters and going 62-2 by USOpen vs Federer getting beat by 18/19 year old Nadal ( birthdate so just turned 19) and Safin. He had no slam by Wimbledon, and people though what happened to his peak 2004 year.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Fedfans making it field based when their own field crumbled in front of Djokovic is very rich


Top 10 players in federers 2006, only Roddick barely leads Djokovic H2H

All others are so mercilessly destroyed by Djokovic. It's not pretty.

 

[fedfan24]

2017 Federer pales in comparison to 2023 Djokovic

Djokovic 1 set away from CYGS vs Federer no show in entire clay season plus sore back in USopen, KO

It’s close but 2023 Djokovic won 3 slams vs plumbers and farmers. Some of the worst competition we’ve seen in the open era.

2017 Federer better at AO/W. RG did not play and USO was injured. I guess Djokovic was healthy and showed up to 2 of those.

 

[fedfan24]

2005 Federer pales in comparison with 2011 Djokovic

Djokovic winning 5 masters and going 62-2 by USOpen vs Federer getting beat by 18/19 year old Nadal ( birthdate so just turned 19) and Safin. He had no slam by Wimbledon, and people though what happened to his peak 2004 year.

2011 Djokovic might not win a slam in 2005. His best chance is to take out a GOATing Safin. Fedal have the other slams boxed off.

 

[NoleFam]

Why would Federer be above Djokovic at 19? Djokovic won 2 titles, made a Slam QF, and finished the year in the top 20. Federer had yet to win a title. All the rest are ok but some debatable. Age 31 is hard to pick.

 

[DSH]

2005 Federer pales in comparison with 2011 Djokovic

Djokovic winning 5 masters and going 62-2 by USOpen vs Federer getting beat by 18/19 year old Nadal ( birthdate so just turned 19) and Safin. He had no slam by Wimbledon, and people though what happened to his peak 2004 year.

Nadal from RG 2005 was much better than Nadal from RG 2015, you know that, right?

 

[Jonesy]

2010 Nadal should be rated higher than 2005 Federer. Outside that nothing too controversial.

 

[SABRvolley]

Age 24 is super close, the most interesting actually. All year in 2005 Fed was up there and if not for that epic AO SF loss to GOATing Safin, would have been a 3 slam year, and hands down The Suisse Maestro takes this. Because of that loss, I’d have to agree with OP, i.e. 2011 Djoko > 2010 Nads > 2005 Fedr, but the margins are slim.

All 3 had epic seasons in their 24th year. However, 2005 Federer was better than 2010 Nadal results-wise. The only category in which 2010 Nadal was better is the number of slams won (3 vs 2).

2005 Federer:

Win/loss record: 81-4 (95.3%)
Titles won: 11
Slams won: 2
Masters won: 4
Record against top 10 players: 15-2 (88.2%)
Finals played: 12

2010 Nadal:

Win/loss record: 71-10 (87.7%)
Titles won: 7
Slams won: 3
Masters won: 3
Record against top 10 players: 11-5 (68.8%)
Finals played: 9

I think 2005 Federer clearly had the overall better season than Nadal 2010.

 

[GoatNo1]

Both 1 slam, but Nole has YEC and 4 masters, so big titles 6 vs 1. Nole ahead of Fed.

and nole YE#1

 

[GoatNo1]

Why would Federer be above Djokovic at 19? Djokovic won 2 titles, made a Slam QF, and finished the year in the top 20. Federer had yet to win a title. All the rest are ok but some debatable. Age 31 is hard to pick.

yes,
nole 2 titles, YE#16 and 68,97 W% in 2006
fed 0 titles, YE#29 and 54,55 W% in 2000

 

[SonnyT]

Not sure where people are coming from with 2010 Nadal over 2005 Fed when Fed was better in three of the four Slams (or, at the very least, outright better in two and even at the US Open) and had a better performance in the Masters. I can accept the argument that Nadal was better at the YEC but any difference there is negligible and surely doesn’t outweigh Fed’s superiority elsewhere.

You have to consider the opposition. Fed vs Roddick, Nalbandian, Hewitt... Nadal against Fed, Djokovic, JMDP...

 

[The Sinner]

All 3 had epic seasons in their 24th year. However, 2005 Federer was better than 2010 Nadal results-wise. The only category in which 2010 Nadal was better is the number of slams won (3 vs 2).

2005 Federer:

Win/loss record: 81-4 (95.3%)
Titles won: 11
Slams won: 2
Masters won: 4
Record against top 10 players: 15-2 (88.2%)
Finals played: 12

2010 Nadal:

Win/loss record: 71-10 (87.7%)
Titles won: 7
Slams won: 3
Masters won: 3
Record against top 10 players: 11-5 (68.8%)
Finals played: 9

I think 2005 Federer clearly had the overall better season than Nadal 2010.

I have no issues with giving the edge to Fed here. He’s ahead of Nadal in every stat except the slam count, so it all depends how important one values slams. That loss to Safin really hurts, if it wasn’t for that, 2005 would have been a greater year than 2006 when factoring in competition.

 

[SABRvolley]

You have to consider the opposition. Fed vs Roddick, Nalbandian, Hewitt... Nadal against Fed, Djokovic, JMDP...

2010 was actually a relatively weak year in men’s tennis (compared to 2007-2009 and 2011-2013). Djokovic was out of form for most of the year, Federer was poor between AO and Wim, Delpo was injured for most of the year.

Now, was it better than 2005? Maybe, maybe not. 2005 was a lot stronger than 2006 that’s fore sure.

 

[rixiang]

Pre-prime: Nadal
Prime: Federer
Post-prime: Djokovic