Rating the Athletic Ability of the Big Four

[Nadalgaenger]

There is a whole lot more to athletic ability than the "tests" that the OP suggests. How about:

Speed
Agility
Hand-Eye Coordination
Reflexes/Reaction Time
Power (explosive/speed strength)
Anaerobic Endurance
Aerobic Endurance
Analytic Aptitude
Flexibility
Durability
Strength
Nerves
...

How do you rate them in these categories?

 

[King No1e]

100M dash: Murray, Nadal, Djoker, Fed
5K run: Djoker, Fed, nadal, murray
Marathon, same
Bench: Murray, Federer(bigger chest), Nadal, Djoker
Chin Ups: Djoker, Nadal, Murray, Federer
Arm Wrestling, left arm it would go Nadal, Murray, Djoker, Fed
Right arm would go Murray, Nadal, Fed, Djoker.

Solid thread.

Fed's got good upper body strength but Nadal has.....even more upper body strength

 

[King No1e]

There is a whole lot more to athletic ability than the "tests" that the OP suggests. How about:

Speed
Agility
Hand-Eye Coordination
Reflexes/Reaction Time
Power (explosive/speed strength)
Anaerobic Endurance
Aerobic Endurance
Analytic Aptitude
Flexibility
Durability
Strength
Nerves
...

Speed: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer
Agility: Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray
Hand-Eye Coordination: Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Murray
Reactions: Federer, Murray, Djokovic, Nadal
Power (explosive strength): Nadal, Federer, Murray, Djokovic
Anaerobic: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer
Aerobic: Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Federer
Analytic Aptitude: Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Nadal
Flexibility: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray
Durability: Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Federer
Strength: Murray, Nadal, Federer, Djokovic
Nerves: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray

I've always maintained that Djokovic is the most athletic player of all time. He's exceptionally good in almost every aspect of athletic ability - Nadal's got him beat in strength and stamina, but that's about it. Speed, flexibility, explosive movement, endurance, prolonged intensity, he's got the whole package.

 

[Rosstour]

Clicked on this thread expecting to see Fed's athleticism getting totally slagged, leaving satisfied.

 

[Rosstour]

Speed: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer
Agility: Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray
Hand-Eye Coordination: Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Murray
Reactions: Federer, Murray, Djokovic, Nadal
Power (explosive strength): Nadal, Federer, Murray, Djokovic
Anaerobic: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer
Aerobic: Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Federer
Analytic Aptitude: Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Nadal
Flexibility: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray
Durability: Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Federer
Strength: Murray, Nadal, Federer, Djokovic
Nerves: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray

I've always maintained that Djokovic is the most athletic player of all time. He's exceptionally good in almost every aspect of athletic ability - Nadal's got him beat in strength and stamina, but that's about it. Speed, flexibility, explosive movement, endurance, prolonged intensity, he's got the whole package.

So Fed is the worst in anaerobic and aerobic. Makes perfect sense. He's clearly the least athletic of the four. lol

 

[King No1e]

So Fed is the worst in anaerobic and aerobic. Makes perfect sense. He's clearly the least athletic of the four. lol

All of them are incredibly athletic, but I can't really put Nadal, Djokovic, or Murray below Fed.

 

[socallefty]

All we can see is how well they play tennis in widely varying styles. Who knows what components of athletic ability contribute to their high standard of tennis excellence? You can’t be an all-time great dominating a physical sport like tennis any more unless you are a world-class athlete in every way and spend a lot of time trying to maintain that athletic ability as you age.

 

[JustMy2Cents]

Here's Roger on arm wrestling with Rafa... and Djoker [see clip to the end!

]

 

[Rosstour]

All of them are incredibly athletic, but I can't really put Nadal, Djokovic, or Murray below Fed.

I can see you're having a hard time with it, but putting Fed at or near the bottom of every category is delusional.

If he were that much worse of an athlete, he never would have become what he became.

 

[socallefty]

It’s like every other discussion - everyone puts the player they like at the top of every category and the one they don’t like at the bottom. Since it is a subjective opinion like the GOAT discussion, this thread could go on for years with no consensus possible without any metrics measuring any of their athletic skills.

 

[King No1e]

I can see you're having a hard time with it, but putting Fed at or near the bottom of every category is delusional.

If he were that much worse of an athlete, he never would have become what he became.

He's at the bottom for raw speed, stamina, flexibility compared to the others IMO. Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray are among the most gifted athletes in tennis history

 

[daphne]

Let's imagine a series of separate measures to rate the Big Four. Let's also assume the Big Four are in their absolute prime.

How would they stack up in the following?

100 M dash
5 K run
Marathon
Bench Press
Chin Up Competition
Arm Wrestling Competition

Here's how I would rate them:
100 M dash: 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Djokovic 4) Fed
5 K run 1) Djokovic 2) Federer 3) Murray 4 ) Nadal
Marathon 1) Djokovic 2) Federer 3) Murray 4) Nadal (knees)
Bench Press 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Fed 4) Djokovic
Chin Ups 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Djokovic 4) Fed
Arm Wrestling 1) Nadal 2) Murray 3) Fed 4) Djokovic

I disagree on a number of points. With an extensive background in running and coaching sprints one can not have Murray ahead of Nadal in a 100m dash. Then, one cannot have Murray ahead of Nadal in bench press. Nadal has shorter arms and his bar travels less than Murray's therefore Nadal should be able to lift more than any one of them. The same applies to chin ups. In arm wrestling Murray would win over Nadal, again because of their arm length difference. Any endurance Djok wins hands down. 400m Djok 800m Djok 1500m Djok 5000m Djok etc.

These basic tests make Fedr an ordinary athlete.

 

[Rosstour]

He's at the bottom for raw speed, stamina, flexibility compared to the others IMO. Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray are among the most gifted athletes in tennis history

You're going way too much on looks man. Or bias. Or something.

Murray is such a gifted athlete, why's his FH so wimpy compared to the others?

And if Fed was truly the worst athlete of the lot by far, his approach to the game would be different. He's not the hardest worker, because he doesn't need to be. Maybe you have him confused with Ferrer? I mean, really.

 

[King No1e]

You're going way too much on looks man. Or bias. Or something.

Murray is such a gifted athlete, why's his FH so wimpy compared to the others?

And if Fed was truly the worst athlete of the lot by far, his approach to the game would be different. He's not the hardest worker, because he doesn't need to be. Maybe you have him confused with Ferrer? I mean, really.

FH is not athleticism. That's hand-eye coordination and technique, where I did put him at #1

 

[Rosstour]

FH is not athleticism. That's hand-eye coordination and technique, where I did put him at #1

It's a lot more than that dude.

At Fed's peak, he was the best mover in the game. His movement is incredibly dynamic and explosive, it's just a bit deceptive because it's also graceful.

This reminds me of the debate the other day about Monfils, when someone really tried to argue that Nadal is way more athletically gifted. I just don't know what to say to stuff like that.

And yes the FH is also athletic. Murray has the worst FH in the group; also the worst second serve by far. Not a coincidence.

 

[King No1e]

It's a lot more than that dude.

At Fed's peak, he was the best mover in the game. His movement is incredibly dynamic and explosive, it's just a bit deceptive because it's also graceful.

This reminds me of the debate the other day about Monfils, when someone really tried to argue that Nadal is way more athletically gifted. I just don't know what to say to stuff like that.

And yes the FH is also athletic. Murray has the worst FH in the group; also the worst second serve by far. Not a coincidence.

Well I would say Nadal and Monfils are in the same league when it comes to athleticism, even if Monfils is more gifted.

And I'm not downplaying Fed's athleticism, I just think the other 3 are slightly more athletic than him

 

[skaj]

Let's imagine a series of separate measures to rate the Big Four. Let's also assume the Big Four are in their absolute prime.

How would they stack up in the following?

100 M dash
5 K run
Marathon
Bench Press
Chin Up Competition
Arm Wrestling Competition

Here's how I would rate them:
100 M dash: 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Djokovic 4) Fed
5 K run 1) Djokovic 2) Federer 3) Murray 4 ) Nadal
Marathon 1) Djokovic 2) Federer 3) Murray 4) Nadal (knees)
Bench Press 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Fed 4) Djokovic
Chin Ups 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Djokovic 4) Fed
Arm Wrestling 1) Nadal 2) Murray 3) Fed 4) Djokovic

In shape Monfls wins all of these

 

[skaj]

Hot dog eating competition :

Nalbandian>(Federer+Murray+Djokovic+Nadal)

Hot dog shot:
1. Federer
2. Nalbandian
3. Nadal
4. Djokovic
5 Murray(don't remember seeing him hit it)

 

[Swingmaster]

I think Borg or Federer would be strongest on a bike. Nadal and Sampras would be terrible.

Federer used to do Peleton, which posted his results for anyone to see. His numbers were insane.

 

[NatF]

Would put Federer above Murray clearly, Nadal as the best.

 

[ewiewp]

Let's imagine a series of separate measures to rate the Big Four. Let's also assume the Big Four are in their absolute prime.

How would they stack up in the following?

100 M dash
5 K run
Marathon
Bench Press
Chin Up Competition
Arm Wrestling Competition

Here's how I would rate them:
100 M dash: 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Djokovic 4) Fed
5 K run 1) Djokovic 2) Federer 3) Murray 4 ) Nadal
Marathon 1) Djokovic 2) Federer 3) Murray 4) Nadal (knees)
Bench Press 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Fed 4) Djokovic
Chin Ups 1) Murray 2) Nadal 3) Djokovic 4) Fed
Arm Wrestling 1) Nadal 2) Murray 3) Fed 4) Djokovic

I would add reflexes.
For example, Nadal has crazy quick hand and hand eye coordinations, demonstrated with his secure
finish of net points for example.
Djokovic also has extreme reflexes that turns offense from defensive positions.
These two are monster athelete beyond human ability, IMHO.

IMHO, Federer compensates the relative weakness of atheletic ability(compared to these other monsters) with his other abilities such as anticipation, space awareness, and so on.

 

[InsideOut900]

Nadal - explosivness, has basically the same peak speed or more than the others, even if he is bulkier

Murray - raw strangth, can probably lift more than the others.

Novak - agility, flexibility, possibly best stamina due to light body and conditioning, can beat the others in a marathon.

Federer - a more robust Djokovic (more power, less agility)

 

[skaj]

I would add reflexes.
For example, Nadal has crazy quick hand and hand eye coordinations, demonstrated with his secure
finish of net points for example.
Djokovic also has extreme reflexes that turns offense from defensive positions.
These two are monster athelete beyond human ability, IMHO.

IMHO, Federer compensates the relative weakness of atheletic ability(compared to these other monsters) with his other abilities such as anticipation, space awareness, and so on.

Reflexes are what Federer is the best at.

 

[ewiewp]

Reflexes are what Federer is the best at.

Watch his doubles and compre that to ther players'

 

[skaj]

Watch his doubles and compre that to ther players'

 

[skaj]

Speed: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer
Agility: Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray
Hand-Eye Coordination: Federer, Djokovic, Nadal, Murray
Reactions: Federer, Murray, Djokovic, Nadal
Power (explosive strength): Nadal, Federer, Murray, Djokovic
Anaerobic: Djokovic, Nadal, Murray, Federer
Aerobic: Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Federer
Analytic Aptitude: Federer, Djokovic, Murray, Nadal
Flexibility: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray
Durability: Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Federer
Strength: Murray, Nadal, Federer, Djokovic
Nerves: Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Murray

I've always maintained that Djokovic is the most athletic player of all time. He's exceptionally good in almost every aspect of athletic ability - Nadal's got him beat in strength and stamina, but that's about it. Speed, flexibility, explosive movement, endurance, prolonged intensity, he's got the whole package.

I understand that you are a fan, but Murray is surely better than Djoko in analytic aptitude. Also for the (maximum sprinting)speed Nadal should be 1st, also the nerves.

As for the most athletic, I guess you mean the best prepared. He doesn't have the whole package. For example, he misses core strength and balance.

 

[Feddelpo20]

100 M dash 1)Nadal 2)Murray 3)Djokovic)4)fed

5 K run 1)Djokvic 2)Nadal 3)Murray) 4)Fed

Marathon as above

Bench Press - 1)nadal 2)murray 3)djok 4)fed

Chin Up Competition - 1)djokovic 2)nadal 3)murray 4) fed

Arm Wrestling Competition 1)nadal 2)murray 3)djokovic 4)fed

Federer is just not the same level of athlete as the other 3, he makes up for it with skill and technique.