So the GOAT debate may be settled by a few points?

Nadalgaenger

G.O.A.T.
Thinking about how the GOAT debate could come down to a few points:

2009 FO Fed was in serious trouble against Haas. Almost missed his one true shot at a FO.
2009 Wimbledon F Roddick chokes an easy volley that could have put him up 2 sets to love. He could have easily won this match.
2009 USOF Fed was two points away from being up two sets to love on Delpo. Seriously doubt Delpo would have come back from two sets to love against 5-time reigning USO champ.
2011 USO SF. Fed converts one of his service points at 40-15 and Nole is basically eliminated from the GOAT debate (at least for now). He or Nadal would have a 5 slam gap on him.
2012 AO F Nadal had solid chances that he missed in 5th set. This would mean double career slam for him had he won that one.
2013 FO SF Nole wins a few extra points in the 5th set and he topples the giant.
2017 AO F Nadal had broken Fed early in 5th. Had he somehow kept the pressure on, he gets a 2-slam bounce against Fed in current slam race. Fed had to come up with some amazing points to hold off the bull.
2018 W SF Nadal had chances against Nole in this 5th set as well. Djokovic was down 15-40 on serve at 7-7 in the 5th. Nadal wins a break point and it is hard to imagine him choking thereafter.
2019 W F Curse of Nole strikes again. One service point at 40-15 and Fed wins Wimbledon number 9 and a bigger edge against Nole in slam count.

Which others am I missing? I'm sure there are a few here...
 
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Standaa

G.O.A.T.
the GOAT debate will never be settled unless there comes a guy so good and so talented that he’ll never lose a match in his career and retire with 50-60 slams.
 

roysid

Legend
Thinking about how the GOAT debate could come down to a few points:

2009 FO Fed was in serious trouble against Haas. Almost missed his one true shot at a FO.
2009 Wimbledon F Roddick chokes an easy volley that could have put him up 2 sets to love. He could have easily won this match.
2009 USOF Fed was two points away from being up two sets to love on Delpo. Seriously doubt Delpo would have come back from two sets to love against 5-time reigning USO champ.
2011 USO SF. Fed converts one of his service points at 40-15 and Nole is basically eliminated from the GOAT debate (at least for now). He or Nadal would have a 5 slam gap on him.
2012 AO F Nadal had solid chances that he missed in 5th set. This would mean double career slam for him had he won that one.
2013 FO SF Nole wins a few extra points in the 5th set and he topples the giant.
2017 AO F Nadal had broken Fed early in 5th. Had he somehow kept the pressure on, he gets a 2-slam bounce against Fed in current slam race. Fed had to come up with some amazing points to hold off the bull.
2018 W SF Nadal had chances against Nole in this 5th set as well. Djokovic was down 15-40 on serve at 7-7 in the 5th. Nadal wins a break point and it is hard to imagine him choking thereafter.
2019 W F Curse of Nole strikes again. One service point at 40-15 and Fed wins Wimbledon number 9 and a bigger edge against Nole in slam count.

Which others am I missing? I'm sure there are a few here...
Very well written. While it shows that Fed pulled off some tough matches against Haas ans Roddick , he messed up two easy ones against Djokovic.

Djokovic is the one who won maximum of these tight matches while losing only a few. The wawrinka matches should be added.

Those matches are worth 1 slam each
 

ND-13

Legend
the GOAT debate will never be settled unless there comes a guy so good and so talented that he’ll never lose a match in his career and retire with 50-60 slams.

I agree. The differences are negligible that it is too difficult to anoint a single greatest . That said, I would always prefer the versatility of Djoker and Federer.
 

Nadalgaenger

G.O.A.T.
You could possibly add 2007 Wim where Nadal had 4 break point opportunities early in the 5th set. If he breaks Fed, good chance he holds his serve the rest of the set and wins.
Was thinking about that one too. Remember how vulnerable Roger looked early in 5th.
 

Krish872007

Talk Tennis Guru
I think that's a good list of matches, but my thoughts are as follows:

1. The "GOAT" debate won't ever be "settled", but yes in principle your ultimate success is determined by how opportunistic you are
2. A large proportion of matches between elite players are usually settled by a few points here and there - aside from the matches mentioned in the OP there are a number of other matches involving tight, competitive situations - even if the final score doesn't necessarily reflect that. The margins are razor thin
3. The further you are from the end of a match, the harder it is to extrapolate to a result. In fact it gets disproportionately harder as the number of eventualities increases rapidly. So the only matches we can clearly categorise here are the ones where the eventual loser held Match Point / Championship Point
 

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
So, Federer is not the "Choker" that many attributes, (even many of his fans think that) and Nadal is not the "Mental Giant" that many concede.
:sneaky:
 

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
the GOAT debate will never be settled unless there comes a guy so good and so talented that he’ll never lose a match in his career and retire with 50-60 slams.
Yeah but Fed would've won 70 somehow in that weak era you just described.
 

Nadalgaenger

G.O.A.T.
the GOAT debate will never be settled unless there comes a guy so good and so talented that he’ll never lose a match in his career and retire with 50-60 slams.
Fed was basically GOAT in 2009 and again in 2012. He also set himself apart In early 2017 but kudos to Djokodal for making it a controversy again.
 

Bamoos

Semi-Pro
Always worth looking at who was most dominant at the peak of their careers. In this scenario, Federer comes out the best ever.

If we resort to bean counting, then yeah one or two can surpass him as more accomplished as they inflate their totals aged 34 and 35.

Shame Fed choked so many matches or he’d have put the argument to bed.
 

Amritia

Hall of Fame
Always worth looking at who was most dominant at the peak of their careers. In this scenario, Federer comes out the best ever.

If we resort to bean counting, then yeah one of two can surpass him as more accomplished as they inflate their totals aged 34 and 35.

Shame Fed choked so many matches or he’d have put the argument tobed.
This has to actually be the dumbest argument I've ever seen on this forum. Amidst tough competition.
 
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