We are now in the post-GOAT era

[beltsman]

I have been thinking about this for a while. Statistically, no one in the foreseeable future is going to touch Nadal, Federer, or Djokovic in terms of achievements. Heck, those three probably won't even be pushed out of the game. They can keep dominating as long as they want.

So what's the point? What does another slam, or two, or ten even matter at this point for any of them? Bull is going to pass 20 now - that is a given. Djokovic will most likely pass 20 as well. Federer is 99% done at 20. So yes the argument can continue about slam weighting, easy draws, injuries, YE #1, weeks @ #1, WTF, etc. But really, who cares at this point? The 2010s decade will be known as the Inflation Decade (particularly from 2014 onwards). Should these guys really be absolutely crushing all young competition? No. It's making a farce of the sport.

So, we must move on. We must find new ways to enjoy tennis. I have now concluded that, without a doubt, Bull is going to finish well beyond 20 slams. I have been saying this for a while, but it is now confirmed. It's all icing on the cake at this point. I don't really care if he gets 21, 25, or 30. No one is going to catch him. Fans will still argue about who is GOAT no matter what, even if he wins 30.

I should have enjoyed tonight's demolition of a rising nextgen star, but it felt hollow. Am I really supposed to be enjoying this? Would tennis be well served if Sampras whipped Fed 7-6 6-4 6-1 in the 2004 US Open? I don't think so.

Bull will get his 21, but at this point there is no enjoyment left. I am moving on to the post-GOAT era and embrace the new players in whatever way possible, even though they will never be in the conversation for GOAT.

I hereby retire Bull, and embrace the one young player doing something interesting at the moment - Medvedev.

Congratulations Bull, we did it.

 

[Standaa]

 

[Benoit Kyrgios]

Thread about the goats>Scrolled down>saw Nadals's photo with"bull, we did it">nope, not reading that. Another toxic Nadal fan woken up from hybernation

 

[yokied]

OP moving on from GOAT VB troll to fan of the troll GOAT. I used to say never change OP in all your threads but for the first time I agree with you.

Meles is the one true TTW visionary and we're all just catching up.

 

[SumYungGai]

The tragedy of it all is how his hair's life was cut short. They say the brightest stars burn out the fastest.

 

[Lebsta]

He hasn’t done it yet and the big 3 should be appreciated whilst they’re still around. There’s going to be a huge void when they’re gone that’s for sure.

 

[EdSWright]

They're greedy billionaires chasing more billions for the sake of ego.

 

[Spencer Gore]

Anyone who doesn't enjoy watching three of the greatest players of all time fight it out for the slam record simply isn't a real tennis fan.

We've been blessed that these guys keep bringing it -slam after slam.

 

[KINGROGER]

Spot on. If anyone surpasses Fed... it’s in their 30s, past their best vs mug/iPhone/losers/mentally weak/pathetic/non existent last 2-3 gens with no upcoming ATG challengers.

Fed has the highest peak and dominance of all time, it’s a fact. Nadalovic will probably have highest longevity ever due to career inflation.

 

[Spencer Gore]

Federer's "dominance" coincided with a transitional weak period in tennis.

He got lucky. So what. Good for him. He's an all-time top ten player who deserves nothing but praise for following Rosewall as a late 30s champion.

Nadal and Djokovic have won the vast majority of their titles in a field containing two other double digit slam-winning all-time greats. Their achievement is extraordinary.

 

[KINGROGER]

Federer's "dominance" coincided with a transitional weak period in tennis.

He got lucky. So what. Good for him. He's an all-time top ten player who deserves nothing but praise for following Rosewall as a late 30s champion.

Nasal and Djokovic have won the vast majority of their titles in a field containing two other double digit slam-winning all-time greats. Their achievement is extraordinary.

2014-2019 is far far weaker than 2004-2006...
Djokovic won most his slams facing 0 prime ATG. 11/16.

Federer got decidedly unlucky that they slowed the tour down to medium levels all round, and he had 2 ATG following him. If the ages were flipped, he’d be on 25 slams and out of sight.

 

[ChrisRF]

IMO you can and should enjoy it as a Nadal fan. Not only him but all of the Big 3 are now (or soon) in an age where young contenders will have clear physical advantages over them. So if they still get thrashed, then skill has prevailed. Nothing wrong about that. Why should anyone root for young players over old players just because they are young? Because they want to see physical advantage with less skills see triumphant over bigger skills? I don’t get that.

And to your Sampras example. Yes, that would have been great. Because considering how good Federer was as the 2004 US Open, what a level of tennis would we have seen from that hypothetical Sampras with physical disadvantages who was still crushing Federer nevertheless?

One could say though that today’s Big 3 don’t fall behind in physical attributes longer than they "should". But that’s again an achievement of them, and they deserve full credit for their professionalism as well.

 

[ABCD]

“I always believe that I have improved over the last 10 years, you know, that I’ve not gone backwards, and I’ve been able to win (the Open) 10 years ago, so I always feel as I move forward I am a more complete player, a better player,” Federer said. (December, 2013).


“I think I’m a better player now than when I was at 24 because I’ve practiced for another 10 years and I’ve got 10 years more experience,” Federer said. “Maybe I don’t have the confidence level that I had at 24 when I was winning 40 matches in a row, but I feel like I hit a bigger serve, my backhand is better, my forehand is still as good as it’s ever been, I volley better than I have in the past. I think I’ve had to adapt to a new generation of players again.” (August, 2015)


Question:

In 2003 you won your first title in Dubai. How much chances would the Federer of 2003 have against the Federer of today?

Answer from Federer:

Not many chances I believe. The game has extremely changed. It is more dynamic, faster and has become somewhat ruthless. The players are more athletic and the material makes the game faster. I myself have become better. In fact, I had to become better because I had new opponents and new challenges. Tennis on this level doesn’t allow you stagnancy. (March, 2019)

 

[BringBackSV]

2014-2019 is far far weaker than 2004-2006...
Djokovic won most his slams facing 0 prime ATG. 11/16.

Federer got decidedly unlucky that they slowed the tour down to medium levels all round, and he had 2 ATG following him. If the ages were flipped, he’d be on 25 slams and out of sight.

Can we stick to reality instead of your fantasies?

 

[KINGROGER]

Can we stick to reality instead of your fantasies?

Only delusional fantasy is the “03-07 weak era” myth that the trolls keep trying to peddle.

14-19 makes 03-07 look like a golden era.

Facts remain, Federer has the highest level of dominance ever when he was at his best. Nadalovic are inflation their slam count in their 30s while declining vs a bunch of mugs lol.

 

[True Fanerer]

Only delusional fantasy is the “03-07 weak era” myth that the trolls keep trying to peddle.

14-19 makes 03-07 look like a golden era.

Facts remain, Federer has the highest level of dominance ever when he was at his best. Nadalovic are inflation their slam count in their 30s while declining vs a bunch of mugs lol.

No run will ever match Fed's 48/49 slam match wins between 2005 Wimby and 2007 AO. Djokovic had a decent run here that ended with Stan. That ship has sailed. Federer is the BOAT. Neither Djokovic or Nadal will ever come close to that again.

 

[stringertom]

Thread about the goats>Scrolled down>saw Nadals's photo with"bull, we did it">nope, not reading that. Another toxic Nadal fan woken up from hybernation

You have the most Ionescoesque username in TTW history! Well done, sir or madam! Are you @Red Rick ’s bro???

 

[alexio]

No run will ever match Fed's 48/49 slam match wins between 2005 Wimby and 2007 AO.

excluding clay

 

[Tennisbg]

Only delusional fantasy is the “03-07 weak era” myth that the trolls keep trying to peddle.

14-19 makes 03-07 look like a golden era.

Facts remain, Federer has the highest level of dominance ever when he was at his best. Nadalovic are inflation their slam count in their 30s while declining vs a bunch of mugs lol.

And Federer is also inflation

 

[True Fanerer]

excluding clay

Obviously.

 

[alexio]

Obviously.

it's 61 match wins between wimby 05 and AO 08

 

[Red Rick]

You have the most Ionescoesque username in TTW history! Well done, sir or madam! Are you @Red Rick ’s bro???

I believe my brother from the same mother would make his nickname BetterThanHewitt cause he said so when he was 14.

 

[stringertom]

No run will ever match Fed's 48/49 slam match wins between 2005 Wimby and 2007 AO. Djokovic had a decent run here that ended with Stan. That ship has sailed. Federer is the BOAT. Neither Djokovic or Nadal will ever come close to that again.

Nobody will ever eclipse this GOAT reaction from an opponent to facing The Mighty fedr during his Beast Mode that you refer to:

This is after a SF vs a rival that was ranked #6 before a 4,0,&2 thrashing and on the way to a slam win without dropping a set. Roddick was coming off a demolition of his buddy Mardy Fish In the QFs so he wasn’t out of form and knew SexiRogi’s game at slam level.

 

[Shaolin]

Anyone who doesn't enjoy watching three of the greatest players of all time fight it out for the slam record simply isn't a real tennis fan.

We've been blessed that these guys keep bringing it -slam after slam.

Don't act like some saintly tennis fan. You're one of the biggest trolls to ever post here. Practically every one of your posts is made to disparage Federer.

If you were a "real tennis fan" you wouldn't post garbage constantly.

 

[Red Rick]

Nobody will ever eclipse this GOAT reaction from an opponent to facing The Mighty fedr during his Beast Mode that you refer to:

This is after a SF vs a rival that was ranked #6 before a 4,0,&2 thrashing and on the way to a slam win without dropping a set. Roddick was coming off a demolition of his buddy Mardy Fish In the QFs so he wasn’t out of form and knew SexiRogi’s game at slam level.

3 Slams in a year is peasant stuff compared to getting destroyed in a Slam semi, then doing such a legendary press conference it leads to you marrying a swimsuit model

 

[ABCD]

Nobody will ever eclipse this GOAT reaction from an opponent to facing The Mighty fedr during his Beast Mode that you refer to:

This is after a SF vs a rival that was ranked #6 before a 4,0,&2 thrashing and on the way to a slam win without dropping a set. Roddick was coming off a demolition of his buddy Mardy Fish In the QFs so he wasn’t out of form and knew SexiRogi’s game at slam level.

 

[BringBackSV]

Only delusional fantasy is the “03-07 weak era” myth that the trolls keep trying to peddle.

14-19 makes 03-07 look like a golden era.

Facts remain, Federer has the highest level of dominance ever when he was at his best. Nadalovic are inflation their slam count in their 30s while declining vs a bunch of mugs lol.

Can't you keep track of your bs?

 

[True Fanerer]

Nobody will ever eclipse this GOAT reaction from an opponent to facing The Mighty fedr during his Beast Mode that you refer to:

This is after a SF vs a rival that was ranked #6 before a 4,0,&2 thrashing and on the way to a slam win without dropping a set. Roddick was coming off a demolition of his buddy Mardy Fish In the QFs so he wasn’t out of form and knew SexiRogi’s game at slam level.

 

[Shaolin]

Great match and moment. One of the greatest shots ever by Fed (and in tennis history).

Roddick was really fun to watch back then...killed the ball from everywhere on court.

 

[stringertom]

Yes, this is where it began! The era of SexiRogi’s magic bag of tricks that still entertains us two decades laterer!

 

[stringertom]

3 Slams in a year is peasant stuff compared to getting destroyed in a Slam semi, then doing such a legendary press conference it leads to you marrying a swimsuit model

A big a fan of Silver Linings Playbook as I am m, I see! You would fit in in Philadelphia with all the Dutch heritage there!

 

[True Fanerer]

Yes, this is where it began! The era of SexiRogi’s magic bag of tricks that still entertains us two decades laterer!

Federer doesn't even flinch. Never stops walking

 

[Mike Sams]

I have been thinking about this for a while. Statistically, no one in the foreseeable future is going to touch Nadal, Federer, or Djokovic in terms of achievements. Heck, those three probably won't even be pushed out of the game. They can keep dominating as long as they want.

So what's the point? What does another slam, or two, or ten even matter at this point for any of them? Bull is going to pass 20 now - that is a given. Djokovic will most likely pass 20 as well. Federer is 99% done at 20. So yes the argument can continue about slam weighting, easy draws, injuries, YE #1, weeks @ #1, WTF, etc. But really, who cares at this point? The 2010s decade will be known as the Inflation Decade (particularly from 2014 onwards). Should these guys really be absolutely crushing all young competition? No. It's making a farce of the sport.

So, we must move on. We must find new ways to enjoy tennis. I have now concluded that, without a doubt, Bull is going to finish well beyond 20 slams. I have been saying this for a while, but it is now confirmed. It's all icing on the cake at this point. I don't really care if he gets 21, 25, or 30. No one is going to catch him. Fans will still argue about who is GOAT no matter what, even if he wins 30.

I should have enjoyed tonight's demolition of a rising nextgen star, but it felt hollow. Am I really supposed to be enjoying this? Would tennis be well served if Sampras whipped Fed 7-6 6-4 6-1 in the 2004 US Open? I don't think so.

Bull will get his 21, but at this point there is no enjoyment left. I am moving on to the post-GOAT era and embrace the new players in whatever way possible, even though they will never be in the conversation for GOAT.

I hereby retire Bull, and embrace the one young player doing something interesting at the moment - Medvedev.

Congratulations Bull, we did it.

Gosh! Nadal hasn't aged well at all from this photo

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[UnderratedSlam]

And after Rafa loses the USO finale and finishes with 19 slams and Djokovic with 18 you will sing a different tune...