What are those Djokovic prime matches?

[Spin Diesel]

I'm watching tennis for a while now but am following really passionately for about 5 years and often read about Djokovic's prime years here. I've watched all sorts of past highlights and am wondering what you think are the matches and phases where he played his highest level? And what do you think, would be the results of that prime version against the current one at different slams?

I'm especially wondering, because since those 5 years of watching tennis regularly, I feel like his level rather increased than declined. I think there was no noticeable decline in physical ability but an improvement in tennis iq, shot selection and mental strength. And I have the feeling that his current serving is more dangerous. Though, I didn't try and find any stats about that.

 

[travlerajm]

US Open 2011 final was the Rocky II heavyweight championship bout of tennis. Last man standing.

 

[tennis_pro]

Your avatar is messing with my head.

 

[Beerus]

USO 2012 QF Djokovic

 

[Oceans II]

AO19 QF-F, even AO20, 21 and 23
RG21 QF-F
W15, even W18, 19 and 21
USO18 QF-F, even USO21

 

[aldeayeah]

His serving has definitely improved in the last few years. The degree of decline in other aspects is arguable.

 

[TheNachoMan]

USO 2012 QF Djokovic

Not as good as USO 2007 QF Roddick

 

[jl809]

Some prime Djoker:

- AO 11 vs Fed, Murray
- Miami 11 F vs Nadal
- Rome 11 vs Murray, Nadal
- Wimbledon 11 F vs Nadal
- USO 11 F vs Nadal
- USO 12 QF vs DP
- ATPF 2012 F vs Federer
- AO 13 4R vs Stan
- AO 13 SF vs Ferrer
- MC 13 F vs Nadal
- FO 13 SF vs Nadal
- Shanghai 13 F vs DelPo
- Rome 2014 F vs Nadal
- Wimbledon 14 F vs Federer
- Beijing 14 F vs Berdych
- MC 15 SF vs Nadal
- RG 15 QF vs Nadal
- Wimbledon 15 F vs Federer
- Shanghai 15 F vs Tsonga
- Paris 15 F vs Murray
- ATP 15 F vs Federer
- Doha 16 F vs Nadal
- AO 16 SF vs Federer
- Rome 16 SF vs Nadal

The idea that he has been consistently outperforming the level from the matches above in the last 5 years is way, way off. The quality particularly of some of the clay and HC matches from 11-13 is light years ahead of what the tour has produced since 2019

- 2011, 2013 or 2015 Djoker beats recent Djoker on clay EASILY
- 2011 or 2014-15 Djoker beats recent Djoker in 4 sets on grass
- 2011, 2012, 2014, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Djoker (1st half of year) all beat recent Djoker on hard court, the only recent Djoker that would stand a chance is 2018 USO and 2019 AO, but even then I think 2013 AO Djoker, 2011 Djoker, 2016 Djoker etc etc etc are all miles clear

 

[Dominic & Andrey]

An underrated match to me is Djokovic vs Nishikori Rome 2016.

 

[CoolCoolCool]

USO 2012 QF Djokovic

 

[Tennfan123]

How long did the whatsapp group spend cooking this thread up?

 

[weakera]

His highest level was Roland Garros 2011 semi final

 

[CoolCoolCool]

His highest level was Roland Garros 2011 semi final

No. Doesn't even make it to the top 10.

 

[initialize]

How long did the whatsapp group spend cooking this thread up?

The Nolebots have a WhatsApp group? LMAO


Actually can I join? I'm offended I wasn't invited

 

[WeekendTennisHack]

His highest level was Roland Garros 2011 semi final

I'll probably regret this, but have to agree with the Nadal fan.

 

[Spin Diesel]

Alright, thanks to all of you! Will watch some of that.
I didn't quite get the whatsapp group-thing but I assume people misinterpret this thread as me being a Djokovic fan but I'm not! Though it would be silly not to acknoledge his tennis.

And I'm trying to find out these things, so I hava a better insight when discussions, where someone beats Djokovic, go "but he wouldn't stand a chance against prime-novak"

Did he never get those questions in interviews? I'd be really interested in how he would answer that himself.

 

[Kralingen]

2007 Miami/Canada Djokovic
2008 AO/IW Djokovic
2008 Hamburg Djokovic
2008 YEC Djokovic
2009 MC/Madrid/Rome Djokovic
2009 Basel Djokovic

 

[weakera]

I'll probably regret this, but have to agree with the Nadal fan.

Join me

 

[weakera]

No. Doesn't even make it to the top 10.

But he was on a 100-match win streak?

 

[MeatTornado]

Anything from 2011 Australia to Rome.

 

[WeekendTennisHack]

Anything from 2011 Australia to Rome.

In other words, Nadal only loses when he doesn't win.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

2013 AO QF vs Ferrer
2019 AO F vs Nadal
2016 Doha F vs Nadal

Several matches from between AO and RG 2011.