Berrettini_Fan
Professional
John McEnroe, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic each won 4 titles. But who was the best with 4 titles in order to take 4th place on the Mount Rushmore of the US Open?
But... 2-1, budDjokovic is already very much ahead of both with 6 finals. If he wins 1 more USOpen, he is best ever at USOpen. So this is no brainer to me.
Between McEnroe and Nadal I would go with McEnroe barely.
I mean this is again emotion vs logic. Rafa fans are very insecure as they don't have number at any slam outside rg so of course 2-1 peak and such words will be used.But... 2-1, bud![]()
Lmao, how typical for Djokovic fans to talk about matches in Nadal's worst year as an indicator of something. As if Djokovic didn't get enough free wins over a terrible Nadal in 2014-2016. How about we judge by matches where both were at least in decent form?Semi big 3. LOL
McEnroe gets it for me, his dominance in 84, after those three titles in a row seal the deal.
Djokovic second, his 2011 is the biggest win of the 20 or so years, beating Federer and Nadal back to back and oldest ever winner with 10 finals.
Nadal third, played fantastic tennis at times, but doesn't have the consistency, and the 2-1 doesn't work for me, had he not choked to Fognini in 2015, Djokovic would have roasted him in the quarters.
Lmao, how typical for Djokovic fans to talk about matches in Nadal's worst year as an indicator of something. As if Djokovic didn't get enough free wins over a terrible Nadal in 2014-2016. How about we judge by matches where both were at least in decent form?
Defending a title is key. McEnroe just happened to have a 3-peat. Also, winning bundle of slam titles was tougher in the 1980s. I'll easily take Mac here. As for Djokodal, Djoker had the tougher path. And they played in the same era. The edge clearly goes to Djoker.
Mac > Djoker > Nadal
Mac and Federer has my head spinning. I can't pick one there. And I'm serious! I don't do ties. I'll give Federer the nod now over Mac. But I'll likely change my mind there. 4 titles in the 1980s is probably more impressive than 5 in this century; given the much shorter careers.
Mac beat Connors, Gerulaitis, Lendl, Connors, Borg, Gerulaitis, Borg, Connors, and Lendl during his run to 4 titles
Federer beat Agassi, Hewitt, Nalbandian, Hewitt, Agassi, Blake, Davydenko, Roddick, Roddick, Davydenko, Djokovic, Djokovic, and Murray during his run to 5 titles.
This BS was discussed way too many times here. I don't remember 2010 Djokovic losing to the likes of Brown and Fognini at slams, or getting completely destroyed at his favorite slam, hitting just 3 forehand winners. If anything, losing a close 1/4 final match was his worst slam result that year. And he did put up a big fight in the USO 2010 final. Their other USO finals were not tougher than that.The point is simple, H2H no matter which way is a very deceptive thing, something you know a lot about.
The 2010 edition is counted despite Djokovic not having won a single match against a top ten player all season until he finally beat Federer after literally having to save MPs, and a season where he served more double faults than aces. I mean, why don't you talk about that?![]()
This BS was discussed way too many times here. I don't remember 2010 Djokovic losing to the likes of Brown and Fognini at slams, or getting completely destroyed at his favorite slam, hitting just 3 forehand winners. If anything, losing a close 1/4 final match was his worst slam result that year. And he did put up a big fight in the USO 2010 final. Their other USO finals were not tougher than that.
But I'm not surprised. I mean, last year we had Djokovic fans at all seriousness claiming that 2024 Nadal was a tough draw at the Olympics.
We have to wait at least 4 more years.JANNIK SINNER WILL JOIN THIS LIST
yes, despite bans and disqualificationDjokovic is already very much ahead of both with 6 finals. If he wins 1 more USOpen, he is best ever at USOpen. So this is no brainer to me.
Between McEnroe and Nadal I would go with McEnroe barely.
Exactly. Anyone choosing someone above Djokovic has very little case imo. If he somehow wins 1 more title, he will be greatest uso player of all time despite missing 2 usopens while being fit 2020 and 2022yes, despite bans and disqualification
also
The point is simple, H2H no matter which way is a very deceptive thing, something you know a lot about.
The 2010 edition is counted despite Djokovic not having won a single match against a top ten player all season until he finally beat Federer after literally having to save MPs, and a season where he served more double faults than aces. I mean, why don't you talk about that?![]()
What is it about this thread you don't understand?Gee, what about Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger F., all at 5 each. Where are they on the Mount Rushmore of the US Open? I'd put them on top.
I believe the OP has them on top already, thus the title "semi-big-3...".Gee, what about Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras and Roger F., all at 5 each. Where are they on the Mount Rushmore of the US Open? I'd put them on top.
Interesting that this keeps getting brought up... yet Roddick in the 2006 final, there's hardly a peep about the amount of top 10 wins he had prior to that final (and iirc across 2 seasons 05&06, he didn't have many top 10 wins something like only 3! ).
It's ok though, in 2013 Djok had something like 20+ top 10 wins (12 at the time of the US Open final) and Nadal still beat him...
Nadal cops it for 2017, but 2018 was just as weak.
Nadal cops it for 2019, 2023 was a weaker draw.
Saying that Djok would have spanked him in a potential 2015 qf really doesn't add anything to Djok's case at all... the h2h is in finals.
Djok's 2016 run counts as a final... we all know that's a joke.
First and foremost, the comparison should be on the quality of their title wins and Nadal edges him out there and the finals h2h is a big reason why.
H2H are H2H as far as I am concerned. You may see it different, but I don't. I value the H2H of Nadal and Djokovic's RG 2013 and W 2018 semis just as much as any other round.
I look at the whole body of work, and Djokovic beat four USO winners for his title, plus his USO 2011 trumps any of Nadal's wins there. And for me, finals do count, you know I have been consistent on that, because you will remember very clearly that I always had Nadal over Djokovic while they had two W titles each purely because I value finals also.
Agree with you on the Roddick thing though.
I do too, common sense they were the pseudo finals. But 2015 Nadal? That's a big stretch to say that would carry the same weight as meetings when they were both in title winning form...
Fair enough, we will have differing opinions on this.
I get your point my brother. But come on, don't we hear 11-7 all the time?How many of those wins, and that is wins both ways, against poor versions of both Nadal and Djokovic are overlooked? In the context of that, it all gets glossed over, you're not a Johnny Come Lately to this party, just like me, you have been in the trenches since day one, so its nothing new I am telling you.
Is this a joke? If I had a nickel for every time the 2006 field was put down here, I could retire. We hear about what a joke opponent he was every single time the 06 final is brought up.Interesting that this keeps getting brought up... yet Roddick in the 2006 final, there's hardly a peep about the amount of top 10 wins he had prior to that final (and iirc across 2 seasons 05&06, he didn't have many top 10 wins something like only 3! ).
LOL a lot of the times, things like this are used to get under the skins of certain posters (ofc it's on a forum for every one to read).
We also hear about Djok's overall h2h lead despite him racking up 7 wins against Nadal from 15-16 whilst no showing in 2017... so naturally, the slam h2h gets brought up without context at times as well.
Is this a joke? If I had a nickel for every time the 2006 field was put down here, I could retire.
Mac may have skipped Australia, but it wasn't to take a vacation. Players like him just attended different, better paying tournaments in Dec/Jan.To make many uso titles in a row one major flaw for rafole is how the calendar is scheduled today. They play Australia every year at least Djokovic does. And then having gruelling schedule from early Jan to uso. Many of the times they have not been fit enough to play being the last slam of the FOUR NOT THREE.
I think Melbourne used to take place in December those days and mcenroe barely ever played in it meaning he was very fresh for uso being his ultimate prize post Wimbledon.
I agree. But what is different in today's game is the focus on all slams equally. There is a reason no one is able to defend usopen since 2009. It's not like uso is so different than AO. It's a fitness issue as much as it was never before.Mac may have skipped Australia, but it wasn't to take a vacation. Players like him just attended different, better paying tournaments in Dec/Jan.
Mac had a full schedule every season that he won the USO.
1984: 85 matches
1981: 86 matches
1980: 103 matches
1979: 110 matches
Things were just different back then. It wasn't any harder or easier, it was just different.
Thats how i have it. McEnroe got his 4 in a shorter time span as well so have to Put Mac top of this list.In terms of peakness: JMac > RAFA > Joker
Thats the order i have it. I think McEnroe winning 4 in a shorter space of time gives him the edge.Easily McEnroe > Nadal > Djokovic
The player many call the HC GOAT never defended the USO and lost in the final six times...twice to CC GOAT Nadal, twice to non-ATGs, and to a 90s-born. That definitely knocks him down several notches.
I think it's a factor, but sometimes a little overblown. Djokovic continued to be great throughout the indoor season post-USO every year, so I don't think his lack of title defenses was because he burned out in September. And Nadal is injured all the time (outside of April-May), so he missed a bunch of US Opens, but he was also injured for just as many AOs at the beginning of the season before the tour could grind him down.I agree. But what is different in today's game is the focus on all slams equally. There is a reason no one is able to defend usopen since 2009. It's not like uso is so different than AO. It's a fitness issue as much as it was never before.
Yeah, you are basically summing up fanwars LOL
On that topic, you will get context and glossing over used by the same people, just depending on which one suits their agenda the most. Speaking about fans in general here, and that is why it gets heated quite often.
For me, I have always stuck to my consistent ways, all the way back when Sampras was dominating, and that is I value all slams equally, that is just me and that works for me. Did I luck out with Djokovic ending up on top? I guess so, but considering I always said this, long before Djokovic was ever considered a contender for the record, it feels like I might have peered into the future and then picked my horse.![]()
Everyone values things differently, and players are no different. I would not swap Nadal's career for anyone's, i was happy with his career in 2010 when he had the Golden Slam in truth and thought he was finished in 2014 so everything that came post 2014 to me was icing on the cake. Obviously 2022 was huge and for me put to bed a few demons to an extent in that he got the slam record outright at the AO where had so much bad luck then obviously the match at the FO 2022 with Novak sort of was a bit beyond tennis to a degree so that was satisfying but looking back those 2022 matches he won are not ones i would choose to watch again if i had a spare afternoon as it was not the real Rafa then, he was heavily declined by that point and although there was a lot of history on the line in 2022, the Rafa i want to watch back time and time again was him at his very best which to me was 2008-2009 before he got injured.Yeah, you are basically summing up fanwars LOL
On that topic, you will get context and glossing over used by the same people, just depending on which one suits their agenda the most. Speaking about fans in general here, and that is why it gets heated quite often.
For me, I have always stuck to my consistent ways, all the way back when Sampras was dominating, and that is I value all slams equally, that is just me and that works for me. Did I luck out with Djokovic ending up on top? I guess so, but considering I always said this, long before Djokovic was ever considered a contender for the record, it feels like I might have peered into the future and then picked my horse.![]()
The nadal AO 2022 point is well made ive just done a post sort of saying the same thing.Yeah my stance never changed either. I always put a premium on slam wins v stronger competition.
Your way is unbiased, numbers don't lie. For me, it lacks context to just look at numbers. Even take Nadal's AO22 into consideration... great achievement for him, but his level was less than a shell of his 2012 form for example...
Thomas Johansson probably wouldn't make it past the quarters at a slam in the big 4 era... yet he's an AO champ and Berdych retired with zero... who's the better player?
Yeah my stance never changed either. I always put a premium on slam wins v stronger competition.
Your way is unbiased, numbers don't lie. For me, it lacks context to just look at numbers. Even take Nadal's AO22 into consideration... great achievement for him, but his level was less than a shell of his 2012 form for example...
Thomas Johansson probably wouldn't make it past the quarters at a slam in the big 4 era... yet he's an AO champ and Berdych retired with zero... who's the better player?
Everyone values things differently, and players are no different. I would not swap Nadal's career for anyone's, i was happy with his career in 2010 when he had the Golden Slam in truth and thought he was finished in 2014 so everything that came post 2014 to me was icing on the cake. Obviously 2022 was huge and for me put to bed a few demons to an extent in that he got the slam record outright at the AO where had so much bad luck then obviously the match at the FO 2022 with Novak sort of was a bit beyond tennis to a degree so that was satisfying but looking back those 2022 matches he won are not ones i would choose to watch again if i had a spare afternoon as it was not the real Rafa then, he was heavily declined by that point and although there was a lot of history on the line in 2022, the Rafa i want to watch back time and time again was him at his very best which to me was 2008-2009 before he got injured.
For Djokovic, while not a fan obviously i still love the guy as he was a part of my tennis watching life for more than half of it, 2011 is when i watch his matches back and for Federer 2004 for me personally when he was more aggressive. Sampras its 1994 and McEnroe 1984 just for reference and Becker 1989. I have digressed a bit there but thought its an interesting sub-discussion.
The bit that gets me is when clown interviewers bring up the GOAT issue when interviewing current players when they are/were playing Nadal or Djokovic or Federer after the match in the stadium referencing one of the Big 3 when you have Laver or Borg sat there in the stadium as a guest. So damn disrespectful.Yes, I understand this, but to answer your question at the end....well, that is why I say that there cannot be a GOAT.
Here I am, my player has all the numbers, yet I know the truth....we cannot compare eras and players across time. We simply don't and will never know who is the the greatest. The moment this clicks for everyone, is the moment the arguing stops.
Yeah i can see why and it is an achievement grossly undervalued in my view (for banter i have often said,'oh it wasnt in the same year blah blah') but the fact is nobody has done it on 3 surfaces, and unless Alcaraz does it (i hope he does the Calendar Slam) i dont think anyone else can do it.Back in 2016, when Djokovic won RG I said the very day that I am content as a fan and he doesn't need to win anything else as far as I am concerned. For me, he completed his trophy cabinet that day. And this was when he was still clearly behind Federer, Nadal AND Sampras in the slam count. I honestly at moment didn't really care, he got what I wanted him to get, which was all four slams.
The bit that gets me is when clown interviewers bring up the GOAT issue when interviewing current players when they are/were playing Nadal or Djokovic or Federer after the match in the stadium referencing one of the Big 3 when you have Laver or Borg sat there in the stadium as a guest. So damn disrespectful.
I am glad the Big 3 have always played down the GOAT point. They are so dismissive of interviewers when it is brought up. Polite always but the dismissiveness is funny to see.
Yeah i can see why and it is an achievement grossly undervalued in my view (for banter i have often said,'oh it wasnt in the same year blah blah') but the fact is nobody has done it on 3 surfaces, and unless Alcaraz does it (i hope he does the Calendar Slam) i dont think anyone else can do it.
I remember seeing fans celebrating like mad when Novak lost to Querrey at W, and i sat there thinking hang on, they guy has just created history 2 weeks ago whats the big deal him losing now as he probably is still high off that history. Then i remembered it was a Wimbledon crowd so obviously most wouldnt have been aware what happened anyway!
Although you may be to an extent wrong here about the no one player has played against every other player in every condition. Do you not think with the move to AI that at some point that is exactly what will happen and they will say in 30-40 years time have that ability to pit players from different eras against each other? It sounds crazy, but i can see that happening where they actually have events literally set up where you attend a proper stadium and watch a match between past ATGs, the way the world is going i can see it being a billion dollar industry. I think Rocky VI sort of touched on the idea didnt it?If Nadal is your GOAT, then all the more power to you, if Federer is your GOAT likewise, and the same goes for Laver, Sampras. No one player has played across time against every other player in every possible condition, so how can we ever truly know? This is why outside of this site, I never talk about GOAT, because no one outside in the real world really cares, speaking of casuals here. Here, if you are not talking GOAT, no one is really interested.
Elon Musk, if you are reading the above thats MY idea and i am patenting the idea mate.Although you may be to an extent wrong here about the no one player has played against every other player in every condition. Do you not think with the move to AI that at some point that is exactly what will happen and they will say in 30-40 years time have that ability to pit players from different eras against each other? It sounds crazy, but i can see that happening where they actually have events literally set up where you attend a proper stadium and watch a match between past ATGs, the way the world is going i can see it being a billion dollar industry. I think Rocky VI sort of touched on the idea didnt it?