Want to see how close the slam race actually was?

Hitman

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Djokovic makes a clutch winner which lands in by mere inches at USO 2011. Misses this, he loses the match. Federer or Nadal wins USO 2011.


Djokovic down set point in third, makes a clutch dropshot that ultimately leads to him winning the set and the match. He loses this point, likely loses the match and Nadal wins Wimbledon 2018.


Djokovic down CP, makes a clutch pass to save it. Misses this, he loses the match and Federer wins W 2019


Djokovic down set point in the epic third set, makes a clutch dropshot that saves the set, and ultimately leads to him winning the third set and the match. He loses this point, he likely loses in four sets, and Nadal wins RG 2021.

 
Last edited:
Mainad said:
Well, 8 years later.............. :cool:
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That post-match interview after the 2011 US Open semi, Federer seemed baffled as to how Djokovic could try such a shot when match point down. I remember thinking "How could he NOT try such a shot?". There's something in a different mental approach there, as to why Federer has lost a lot more matches having had match points compared to Nadal and Djokovic. Federer does the practice and expects it to all come together in the match. Nadal and Djokovic are more point by point strong will players, Nadal as ordered will and Djokovic as chaotic will.
 
vokazu said:
Fed and Al Nadal busy chasing money, Djo busy helping lower ranked players to survive financially.
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Oh, it's just absolutely commendable how Djo renewed the ATP250 license this year and invested heavily in tennis infrastructure in Serbia, allowing lower-ranked players there to receive wildcards and play in front of home crowds. Truly a selfless act.
 
Djokovic was the only player who would've celebrated BEFORE the second BP. What gumption, what if Federer converted the 2nd BP?
 
Nadal fans say Nadal would have never won Wimbledon 2018 semi because of the closed roof and they say Nadal was so injured in the 2021FO semi that he could have never won it even if he had won the third set.
 
_phantom said:
Oh, it's just absolutely commendable how Djo renewed the ATP250 license this year and invested heavily in tennis infrastructure in Serbia, allowing lower-ranked players there to receive wildcards and play in front of home crowds. Truly a selfless act.
Click to expand...
Which lower ranked players? There is no one in Serbia who would take advantage of that opportunity.

Challengers are more important. A couple of those level 50 or 75 tournaments would help players a lot.
 
SonnyT said:
Djokovic was the only player who would've celebrated BEFORE the second BP. What gumption, what if Federer converted the 2nd BP?
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At 1995 Wimbledon, in the semi final, Agassi was blitzing Becker 6-2, 4-1 (2 breaks), and when Becker broke Agassi in the 6th game of the 2nd set, Becker held up his hands in triumph. It changed the momentum from being solidly in Agassi's favour to Becker gritting things out and eventually finding a way to win the match 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, with both tiebreak scores being 7-1. Becker hadn't beaten Agassi since 1989 before this match.
 
Hitman said:
Djokovic makes a clutch winner which lands in by mere inches at USO 2011. Misses this, he loses the match. Federer or Nadal wins USO 2011.


Djokovic down set point in third, makes a clutch dropshot that ultimately leads to him winning the set and the match. He loses this point, likely loses the match and Nadal wins Wimbledon 2018.


Djokovic down CP, makes a clutch pass to save it. Misses this, he loses the match and Federer wins W 2019


Djokovic down set point in the epic third set, makes a clutch dropshot that saves the set, and ultimately leads to him winning the third set and the match. He loses this point, he likely loses in four sets, and Nadal wins RG 2021.

Click to expand...

How Nole manage to win the SF at the USO in 2011, i’ll NEVER KNOW.
 
socallefty said:
Nadal was so injured in the 2021FO semi that he could have never won it even if he had won the third set.
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I've always said that Nadal's set point in the third set was the difference in the end result.

Nadal had foot issues when he won the 2022 French Open too.
 
There are a ton of moments... and they don't all involve Djokovic...

AO09 third set Fed had Nadal at 0-40... he breaks and likely wins the set and probably the match.
RG09 Fed down bp hits a fh that lands on the outside of the line against Haas in the 4th round... he misses that, Haas likely wins and no RG for Rogi
WIM07 Nadal early bps missed in the 5th set... who knows what happens if he converts those...
AO12 5th set, Nadal misses a sitter bh when he's up a break... lands that, likely holds and wins
WIM18 5th set, Nadal has a bp in the 5th, hits a brain dead approach shot, Djok cc fh pass just like he did one year later against Fed
AO05 Fed mp against Safin... had his chance to win that point, he wasn't losing to Hewitt in the final
WIM08 5th set Nadal serving at 3-4 30-40 Fed hits a solid return, had Nadal not responded Fed likely wins WIM08
AO13 Wawrinka robbed with a bs line call vs Djok
US13 Nadal down triple bp in the 3rd set, responds with ultra clutch play... Djok breaks there and he wins the match imo
RG13 Djok runs into the net

Probably heaps more
 
Mustard said:
At 1995 Wimbledon, in the semi final, Agassi was blitzing Becker 6-2, 4-1 (2 breaks), and when Becker broke Agassi in the 6th game of the 2nd set, Becker held up his hands in triumph. It changed the momentum from being solidly in Agassi's favour to Becker gritting things out and eventually finding a way to win the match 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, with both tiebreak scores being 7-1. Becker hadn't beaten Agassi since 1989 before this match.
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Like teacher, like pupil
 
SonnyT said:
Djokovic was the only player who would've celebrated BEFORE the second BP. What gumption, what if Federer converted the 2nd BP?
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Then Djokovic would have eggs all over his face. Djokovic doesn't worry about having eggs all over his face. That's why he's the clutchest player ever.
 
The_Order said:
There are a ton of moments... and they don't all involve Djokovic...

AO09 third set Fed had Nadal at 0-40... he breaks and likely wins the set and probably the match.
RG09 Fed down bp hits a fh that lands on the outside of the line against Haas in the 4th round... he misses that, Haas likely wins and no RG for Rogi
WIM07 Nadal early bps missed in the 5th set... who knows what happens if he converts those...
AO12 5th set, Nadal misses a sitter bh when he's up a break... lands that, likely holds and wins
WIM18 5th set, Nadal has a bp in the 5th, hits a brain dead approach shot, Djok cc fh pass just like he did one year later against Fed
AO05 Fed mp against Safin... had his chance to win that point, he wasn't losing to Hewitt in the final
WIM08 5th set Nadal serving at 3-4 30-40 Fed hits a solid return, had Nadal not responded Fed likely wins WIM08
AO13 Wawrinka robbed with a bs line call vs Djok
US13 Nadal down triple bp in the 3rd set, responds with ultra clutch play... Djok breaks there and he wins the match imo
RG13 Djok runs into the net

Probably heaps more
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RG 2022 QF and W2008F probably the most important matches between members of the Big 3. The shot from the RG 2022QF that always sticks with me was 1st poit of the 4th set TB, Djokovic missing a routine FHDTL. Had he gone 1-0 up i think he wins that TB and then the match and had he done so i think he would have been undisputed GOAT of his era.
W2023 may in the future be of huge significance as well and if so i think Djokovic failing to break 1st game of 5th set will be looked back on like your examples.
 
sportsfan1 said:
Yes Djokovic said in his 2011 uso sf post match interview that he closed his eyes and swung at the return. It doesn't get any luckier than that.
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Hmmm. He said that during the on-court interview after the 2010 semi, too (that he was closing his eyes and hitting forehands).
 
Not sure it was ever really close. Outside of last year . Feds record was gone after 2009 really. He didn’t do enough at the US open after his prime years. 2022 was really close Djoker had to dominate last year at an advanced age to surpass Nadal. If sinner and alcaraz peak a little early he would have found it very hard to surpass Nadal after 2022. Last year was looking like more of a lucky last hurrah by Djoker considering how bad he looks now

Even if Fed converted those Wimbledon and US open 40-15s he still would have lost the slam race
 
TheGoldenEra1990’s said:
Not sure it was ever really close. Outside of last years. Feds record was gone after 2009 really. He didn’t do enough at the US open after his prime years. 2022 was really close Djoker had to dominate last year at an advanced age to surpass Nadal. If sinner and alcaraz peak a little early he would have found it very hard to surpass Nadal after 2022
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The two recent losses to Alcaraz and Sinner at slams are very significant for the reason you state, and i think he himself thinks that.
 
TheGoldenEra1990’s said:
If they peaked a year earlier Nadal is no doubt GOAT right now or at least co GOAT tied with Nole. Djoker really avoided a bullet there.
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He basically had a free run to pileup as many slams as he wanted from 2015 to 2023. Minus 2017-2018 RG (6 slams) that’s 7 years with sub par competition and the worst gen of all time in his path (90s). No wonder he took all the records, they don’t call it the inflation era for nothing.

Federer matured in 2003 and had 1 and a bit years before Nadal came along on clay then grass, then 3 before Djokovic came along on HCs. And none of those years were as poor as likes of 2021 or 2023.
 
The_Order said:
There are a ton of moments... and they don't all involve Djokovic...

AO09 third set Fed had Nadal at 0-40... he breaks and likely wins the set and probably the match.
RG09 Fed down bp hits a fh that lands on the outside of the line against Haas in the 4th round... he misses that, Haas likely wins and no RG for Rogi
WIM07 Nadal early bps missed in the 5th set... who knows what happens if he converts those...
AO12 5th set, Nadal misses a sitter bh when he's up a break... lands that, likely holds and wins
WIM18 5th set, Nadal has a bp in the 5th, hits a brain dead approach shot, Djok cc fh pass just like he did one year later against Fed
AO05 Fed mp against Safin... had his chance to win that point, he wasn't losing to Hewitt in the final
WIM08 5th set Nadal serving at 3-4 30-40 Fed hits a solid return, had Nadal not responded Fed likely wins WIM08
AO13 Wawrinka robbed with a bs line call vs Djok
US13 Nadal down triple bp in the 3rd set, responds with ultra clutch play... Djok breaks there and he wins the match imo
RG13 Djok runs into the net

Probably heaps more
Click to expand...
Great memory, can't forget Roddick 6-2 2nd set tiebreak against Fed Wimbledon 09
 
big ted said:
the margins are so small i think the big 3 are about equal. if anyones ahead statistically i think its mainly from djokovic just being the youngest
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I don’t disagree that the differences are small

but where were the Fed fans saying they were all roughly the same when Fed was ahead 20-19-16? Or Nadal fans when Rafa was ahead 22-20-20?
:unsure: :unsure:
 
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