Tomorrow's Final ... and a Big 3 Appreciation

RaulRamirez

Legend
After tomorrow's Federer-Djokovic final, we will have witnessed three slams this year, all captured by a member of The Big 3, and they will have occupied 5 of the 6 finalists' spots and most impressively, owned the last 11 slams. 11! Perhaps, this is partially due to "Lost Gen" and "Not-ready-for-primetime Gen", but ...most of it is due to the sheer greatness, drive and resilience of the three greatest players of the Open Era, and I would think, of all-time.

Why is it that a community of (alleged?) tennis fans can't better appreciate this?
Yes, many of us (I suspect this is mostly Federer fans, though I may be mistaken) want to see other players fulfill their potential, or the next great one(s) come along, but these three are freakish in their ability and drive. Perhaps, mostly Fed in this regard as he's the oldest and has been doing it the longest.

But really, it's still a treat for me to watch these guys do their thing. I have huge respect for all of them - as players, sportsmen, and from what I know about them as human beings. How many sports offer its fans a dynamic like this?

I have evolved into a dual Rafa/Novak fan, but I still like Roger, and absolutely marvel at his play. Even if it's not "peak" (one of the most overused terms here), it's of a high, sometimes sublime level. I wanted Rafa to defeat him, but Federer was better Friday. Plain and simple. And if Fed takes out Novak tomorrow, more power to him.

What I can't understand is how fans seem to tie their sense of self-esteem into their favorite players' achievements. Yes, I've been in several threads and sometimes have strong opinions, but I get no joy out of seeing any poster or player demeaned.
(And believe me: I have been a tennis fan and a rabid fan of (American) football, baseball, basketball and hockey for a lonnnng time!)

Lastly, while I would like either Rafa or Novak to equal or surpass Roger's achievement (as rationally defined), if it doesn't happen, there are a whole lot worse things - even in vicarious sports life - than Roger Federer being the most accomplished tennis player of all. And I would hope that most fans would come to this realization about their favorite player(s)' rival(s).

That's all...enjoy the match tomorrow!
 

Newballs

Professional
I was once an ignorant short sighted fed fan with a built in allergic reaction to Rafa and others, I've since moved onto being a full blown Fedal fan with at least some perspective (or so I like to think).
I've stopped hoping for a given player to lose and instead try to focus on more positive thoughts.
I think this is a wonderful time to be watching tennis, we're seeing the most amazing tennis players who also happen to be some of the most amazing athletes to ever walk the earth.
I say we do what we can to enjoy it.
(even if Novak wins):giggle:
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
The big 3 should be at home changing diapers and doings school work with the kids.

Two whole next generations are useless and the big 3 have made a mockery of the sport . It is cringeworthy seeing this , Only glory hunters can enjoy this period when the good thing for the sport is to see new blood.
 

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
The big 3 should be at home changing diapers and doings school work with the kids.

Two whole next generations are useless and the big 3 have made a mockery of the sport . It is cringeworthy seeing this , Only glory hunters can enjoy this period when the good thing for the sport is to see new blood.

If anything, I want to see the next gen regularly competing with the Big 3 and not the Big 3 competing against each other. If we had a prominent and promising next gen, a solid current gen, and the Big 3 still in the mix, the era would be the greatest it's been in a long time.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
The big 3 should be at home changing diapers and doings school work with the kids.

Two whole next generations are useless and the big 3 have made a mockery of the sport . It is cringeworthy seeing this , Only glory hunters can enjoy this period when the good thing for the sport is to see new blood.

If the Big 3 were all to retire to take up domestic duties, how would that make the next generations look? They would still have to live with the knowledge that they were never good enough to replace them!
 

NEW_BORN

Hall of Fame
When i'm my usual, calm and logical-minded self, i do appreciate all 3 of them.
But when i log onto TTW, that mask gets torn off and the inner demon is unleashed.
 

Lleytonstation

Talk Tennis Guru
I was once an ignorant short sighted fed fan with a built in allergic reaction to Rafa and others, I've since moved onto being a full blown Fedal fan with at least some perspective (or so I like to think).
I've stopped hoping for a given player to lose and instead try to focus on more positive thoughts.
I think this is a wonderful time to be watching tennis, we're seeing the most amazing tennis players who also happen to be some of the most amazing athletes to ever walk the earth.
I say we do what we can to enjoy it.
(even if Novak wins):giggle:
They all grow on you. I have always liked Rafa a bit, but he and Djoker (not as much) are growing on me, whether it be through nostalgia, continued greatness, or simply there is no one else worthy to root for.

I could conceivably see a day when Djoker is the last one standing and he is ranked outside the top 10 trying to go on one last run, that I could, possibly, just a bit, maybe, root for him...



nah.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
They all grow on you. I have always liked Rafa a bit, but he and Djoker (not as much) are growing on me, whether it be through nostalgia, continued greatness, or simply there is no one else worthy to root for.

I could conceivably see a day when Djoker is the last one standing and he is ranked outside the top 10 trying to go on one last run, that I could, possibly, just a bit, maybe, root for him...



nah.


Egg is my third favorite now. Ralph has never grown on me but getting older makes me less salty than before about sports
 

GabeT

G.O.A.T.
LOL at this one below ...

Perhaps, this is partially due to "Lost Gen" and "Not-ready-for-primetime Gen", but ...most of it is due to the sheer greatness, drive and resilience of the three greatest players of the Open Era, and I would think, of all-time.
If the Big 3 had never existed we would be talking of an incredibly strong era where no one player could dominate the rest for long and of giants like Stan and Murray. :rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
Why is it that a community of (alleged?) tennis fans can't better appreciate this?
Yes, many of us (I suspect this is mostly Federer fans, though I may be mistaken) want to see other players fulfill their potential, or the next great one(s) come along, but these three are freakish in their ability and drive.

I have evolved into a dual Rafa/Novak fan, but I still like Roger,

Lastly, while I would like either Rafa or Novak to equal or surpass Roger's achievement

That's all...enjoy the match tomorrow!

giphy.gif
 

BHud

Hall of Fame
Too much thought and objectivity has been put into your post OP. You will be crucified by the black/white, yell it loud over and over, fanbois on this forum. I wish I could be more objective, but everytime I move in that direction, irrational fanbois suck me in to an argument I cannot refuse. :confused: Perhaps it’s not the players I dislike, but rather the blind fan bases.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Roger extremely classy, gracious and with good humor just now. I was rooting for Novak, but Fed (I was only able to watch the last set from 6-all) was brilliant. I'm a little gutted for him just the same. It's hard to see anyone lose a match like this.
 
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