Tougher USO competition: New Balls+Federer era vs "career inflation era"

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Best (highest-level) opponents for the winner in each run:
2000 Safin - PETE (F)
2001 Hewitt - Roddick (QF)
2002 PETE - Agassi (F)
2003 Roddick - Nalbandian (SF)
2004 Federer - Agassi (QF)
2005 Federer - Hewitt (SF), Agassi (F)
2006 Federer - Roddick (F)
2007 Federer - Roddick (QF), Djokovic (F)
2008 Federer - Djokovic (SF)
...
2017 Nadal - del Potro (SF)
2018 Djokovic - del Potro (F)
2019 Nadal - Medvedev (F)
2020 Thiem - Zverev (F)
2021 Medvedev - Djokovic (F)
2022 Alcaraz - Sinner (QF)
2023 Djokovic - Medvedev (F) lol
2024 Sinner - Medvedev (QF)
2025 Alcaraz - Djokovic (SF), Sinner (F)

 

[GrassMasters]

Fedr

 

[DSH]

Best (highest-level) opponents for the winner in each run:
2000 Safin - PETE (F)
2001 Hewitt - Roddick (QF)
2002 PETE - Agassi (F)
2003 Roddick - Nalbandian (SF)
2004 Federer - Agassi (QF)
2005 Federer - Hewitt (SF), Agassi (F)
2006 Federer - Roddick (F)
2007 Federer - Roddick (QF), Djokovic (F)
2008 Federer - Djokovic (SF)
...
2017 Nadal - del Potro (SF)
2018 Djokovic - del Potro (F)
2019 Nadal - Medvedev (F)
2020 Thiem - Zverev (F)
2021 Medvedev - Djokovic (F)
2022 Alcaraz - Sinner (QF)
2023 Djokovic - Medvedev (F) lol
2024 Sinner - Medvedev (QF)
2025 Alcaraz - Djokovic (SF), Sinner (F)

Was the 38-year-old Djokovic a tough opponent?

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Sinmug did only slightly better than sextuple declined Djokovic, pathetically enough.

 

[MeatTornado]

2023 Djokovic - Medvedev (F) lol

The streets remember Laslo Djere

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

The streets remember Laslo Djere

Hence I said 'best opponent' rather than 'closest scoreline'. Noel was clowning around for quite a while vs Djere, none of that in the final.

 

[SonnyT]

Federer era was the 'ultimate' inflationary era! I documented yesterday how twelve of Federer's 20 slams could be considered super-easy! Whereas only five of Djokovic's 24 slams could be as such. No one protested!

 

[RS]

USO 07 QF

 

[NatF]

USO 07 QF

Would have beater Sinner in four at worst as well.

 

[buscemi]

In some order, Agassi 2002, Agassi 2004, Agassi 2005, Sampras 2000, Djokovic 2007, and Djokovic 2008 are probably the top 6 opponents on both of these lists.

What would even be the top opponent overall from the 2017-2025 list?

 

[mike danny]

The USO has been extremely weak in the last 10 years

 

[Hitman]

So, 2009 to 2016 period is exempt because it is seen as stronger?

 

[buscemi]

So, 2009 to 2016 period is exempt because it is seen as stronger?

I would think so. Top opponents beaten every year:

2009: Federer​

2010: Djokovic​

2011: Federer/Nadal​

2012: Djokovic​

2013: Djokovic​

2014: Federer​

2015: Federer​

2016: Djokovic​

 

[Hood_Man]

I'll say one thing for the 2000-2008 years, people can actually remember the names of the losing finalists, not just the player who won it.

 

[Breakpointerer]

In some order, Agassi 2002, Agassi 2004, Agassi 2005, Sampras 2000, Djokovic 2007, and Djokovic 2008 are probably the top 6 opponents on both of these lists.

What would even be the top opponent overall from the 2017-2025 list?

Guess it would have to be '22 Sinner

 

[ForehandCross]

I'll say one thing for the 2000-2008 years, people can actually remember the names of the losing finalists, not just the player who won it.

Oh Yes Thomas Johansson, he still is more remembered than the pope.

 

[Hood_Man]

Oh Yes Thomas Johansson, he still is more remembered than the pope.

Great bunch of lads.

Edit

Also, since when did Thomas Johansson reach a USO Final, dum dum?

 

[buscemi]

Oh Yes Thomas Johansson, he still is more remembered than the pope.

Johansson was never the losing finalist at a Major.

 

[buscemi]

Guess it would have to be '22 Sinner

Possibly. The match with Alcaraz was high quality, but young Jannik had to win five setters against Altmaier and Ivashka to get there.

 

[Hitman]

I would think so. Top opponents beaten every year:

2009: Federer​

2010: Djokovic​

2011: Federer/Nadal​

2012: Djokovic​

2013: Djokovic​

2014: Federer​

2015: Federer​

2016: Djokovic​

OK, but what about the form. The list is showing a lot of star power, but really nothing beyond that.

 

[Hood_Man]

Here's some data;

H

Thread 'Round of 32 by age'

Jun 1, 2017

I've done this for the last few Slams. Here it is this time:

21: Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov
22: Kyle Edmund
23: Jiri Vesely, Dominic Thiem, Lucas Pouille
24: Diego Schwartzman
25: Pablo Carreno Busta, Nikoloz Basilashvili
26: Milos Raonic, Grigor Dimitrov, David Goffin
27: Kei Nishikori, Steve Johnson
28: Juan Martin Del Potro, Marin Cilic
29: Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Roberto Bautista Agut
30: Andy Murray, Fabio Fognini, Richard Gasquet [turns 31 in June], Gael Monfils, Rafael Nadal [turns 31 on Saturday], Novak Djokovic
31: Pablo Cuevas, Kevin Anderson
32: Horacio Zeballos, Stan Wawrinka...

• helterskelter
• Replies: 620
• Forum: Pro Match Results and Discussion

• 

Players born in the 90s who were in their physical primes, having so little impact on slam tournaments that people were curious enough to start documenting it.

Also important to note, it was started when Djokovic was falling to pieces for 18 months, not when he came back and started winning again.

 

[Breakpointerer]

Possibly. The match with Alcaraz was high quality, but young Jannik had to win five setters against Altmaier and Ivashka to get there.

True..slim pickings however.
The next best would be..'19 Medvedev?

 

[mike danny]

2000-2009 all had top notch star power in the finals

 

[buscemi]

OK, but what about the form. The list is showing a lot of star power, but really nothing beyond that.

Looking at this list, I would say that all were in at least pretty good form:

2009: Federer: he was up-and-down throughout the five sets; 2009 was overall a great year, winning Wimbledon and the French Open.​

2010: Djokovic: nice stretch of play at the U.S. Open (beating Fed in the SF) and Beijing (taking the title), setting up the leap he'd take in 2011.​

2011: Federer/Nadal: both Roger and Rafa played pretty well in the SF & F and had good seasons overall.​

2012: Djokovic: Novak was in fine form from the U.S. Open until the end of the year, with wind being his biggest opponent outside Murray.​

2013: Djokovic: Solid, but not great level from Novak in the final against red hot Nadal. If he coverts 1 of his break points at 4-4 in the third, he might have won.​

2014: Federer: Fed was 24-1 from Cinci through the Bercy QF, w/the one loss to red hot Čilić.​

2015: Federer: Fed played quite well to get so many break points, but Djokovic was mentally tougher.​

2016: Djokovic: Novak had won Canada, but lost to del Potro at the Olympics. Weird path to the final led to some inconsistent but still pretty good play in the final.​

Overall, their forms look fine to me. I don't know that any of them were at the tops of their games, but this list compares favorably to the time periods in the OP, IMHO.

 

[Kralingen]

If I see Medvedev > Agassi takes in this thread I will have to take action

 

[SriVan90]

Federer’s Great Run at US Open : 1) 2003 - Roddick > Nalbandian > Federer 2) 2004 - Federer > Agassi & Hewitt 3) 2005 - Federer > Agassi, Hewitt & Nalbandian 4) 2006 - Federer > Roddick, Davydenko & Blake 5) 2007 - Federer > Djokovic, Roddick & Davydenko 6) 2008 - Djokovic & Murray 7) 2009 - del Potro > Federer > Djokovic & Hewitt 8) 2010 - Nadal > Djokovic > Federer 9) 2011 - Djokovic > Federer > Cilic

 

[ForehandCross]

Great bunch of lads.

Edit

Also, since when did Thomas Johansson reach a USO Final, dum dum?

Johansson was never the losing finalist at a Major.

I was thinking of obscure GS winners of early 2000s

 

[Third Serve]

Medvedev was way better than Agassi

 

[mike danny]

Medvedev was way better than Agassi

Huh?

 

[buscemi]

Medvedev was way better than Agassi

Andrei? Yeah, he was much better than Andre for 2.5 sets of their 1999 French final before Agassi came back.

Daniil? 2019/2023/2024 Medevdev would be lucky to win a set against 2002/2004/2005 Agassi.

 

[Jonas78]

If I see Medvedev > Agassi takes in this thread I will have to take action

Medvedev was way better than Agassi

Action is expected.

 

[Holmes]

Medvedev was way better than Agassi

Roddick was much stronger than Djokovic

 

[aldeayeah]

New Balls generation vs No Balls Generation?

I dunno, lol

 

[Kralingen]

The streets remember Laslo Djere

 

[Neptune]

So, 2009 to 2016 period is exempt because it is seen as stronger?

Maybe it would force people to ask why, after winning 5 in a row, Fed could barely reach some finals (let alone win it) despite spending the entire next decade near the top. Inconvenient, isn’t it?

 

[MichaelNadal]

80’s babies CLEAR any generation after in any field.

 

[manley0702]

So, 2009 to 2016 period is exempt because it is seen as stronger?

I would certainly think so. Would there even be an argument to the contrary?

 

[metsman]

USO 07 QF

A better version of Rod beat the pants off Alcaraz's now coach, and I have it on good authority his coaching is to blame for Steer's ups and downs because Carl struggles to win points against him in practice and it really dents his confidence.

 

[Sudacafan]

Was the 38-year-old Djokovic a tough opponent?

Almost unbeatable at slams today for all the tour except for two players.

 

[Kralingen]

Medvedev was way better than Agassi

I could see him getting a set from 06 Agassi.

it’s funny bc on a raw level Medvedev is still bad, but in a relative hypothetical matchup vs Agassi, he’s even worse considering his complete lack of attacking couldn’t expose Andre’s (major) defensive weaknesses, and his deep return position couldn’t put his middling serve under any pressure.

Allowing yourself to be a marionette on a string as Andre controls the centre of the court from the baseline is a literal 0/100 never-succeeded-once strategy. Andre would toy with him, and the crowd would laugh.

 

[messiahrobins]

Any era that has Zverev and Medvedev in it is evidently the weaker era

 

[darthrafa]

an aged djoker easily won slams and easily got into SFs in recent years
no matter how great he is, it is an undenially shxt era
fed's was not as shxt as the recent one but it is still difficult to win 5 consecutively as uso is the last slam after a long season