What player is the best at making other greats look bad?

[wy2sl0]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg0Z55crWGE

Had never seen the match or 03-07 Fed. That makes Agassi look very average to me, although I know he was older here.

I know on clay Nadal has made Federer look average a few times.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Really the top 4 (you know who I mean) all have the ability to do it. There's such slim margins separating these guys it's hard to say. Federer in his prime however is the epitome of this on all surfaces.

 

[MonkeyBoy]

 

[Bobby Jr]

Federer has handed out the biggest whippings of the other greats in this era even if he's also been on the receiving end of one of the worst himself courtesy of Nadal at that French Open final.

One of his best efforts at making another great look bad is the 2011 WTF match vs Nadal. 6-3 6-0.

 

[Tony48]

Murray and Tomic

 

[President]

Federer, he takes so much time away from you (doesn't let offensive players play their game) and is good at neutralizing weapons because his toolkit is so large and his reflexes are amazing. I think it was Robin Soderling who said that he thought he always played bad against Federer, but eventually realized it was because Federer MADE him look bad.

 

[Le Master]

Federer has handed out the biggest whippings of the other greats in this era even if he's also been on the receiving end of one of the worst himself courtesy of Nadal at that French Open final.

One of his best efforts at making another great look bad is the 2011 WTF match vs Nadal. 6-3 6-0.

Cincinnati last year, also. He made Djokovic look like a player well out of the top 10.

 

[NEW_BORN]

On a few occasions, Hewitt made Sampras look pretty clueless out there.

 

[Talker]

Del Potro played Nadal at the 2009 USO SF. Up to that match Nadal was looking about the best he ever has at the USO, then BAM.
Total destruction.

 

[papertank]

Nadal. His deep topspin shots and excellent defense puts so much pressure on an opponent to stay in the rally. He makes them go for way too much and they start spraying UEs everywhere. Djokovic is really the first person to be able to consistently hit through his topspin with ease.

 

[Clay lover]

Federer made everyone look bad. Then out came Nadal who made Federer look bad. Then Djokovic improved and started to make Nadal look bad. Life is only fair.

 

[Sky Fire]

Djokovic made Nadal look very average in their Madrid, Rome and Wimbledon 2011 encounters.

 

[NLBwell]

Federer, because of his variety. He can attack you at your weakest point and make you seem like you have no strengths.

 

[OddJack]

Rosol for sure

 

[forzamilan90]

Rogi of course...then Nadal

 

[uliks]

Cincinnati last year, also. He made Djokovic look like a player well out of the top 10.

Nahh,Fed didn't even played great in this match. Djokovic was horrible that day...

 

[Steve0904]

Nahh,Fed didn't even played great in this match. Djokovic was horrible that day...

It's probably somewhere in the middle. Djokovic was bad especially in the first set, but Federer played great that day. That whole Cincinnati tournament actually.

I agree with the people who said Federer. Nadal is second.

If I could nominate a match for Federer it would be this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ikx0Du735Y

 

[sbengte]

If I could nominate a match for Federer it would be this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ikx0Du735Y

Without clicking on the link , can I take a guess on which match that might be ? Is it the Roddick demolition job at AO 2007 ? It was a classic case of making a good player look bad.

 

[Blinkism]

I remember Federer reducing Gaudio to tapas at the Master's Cup once with the score 6-0, 6-0... made the French Open champ look like a hitting partner for someone qualifying for a Challenger event.

Oh wait, this is about making other greats look bad.

2004 US Open final sets 1 and 3? Hewitt didn't even deserve to ballboy that day.

 

[Jeffrey573639]

Without clicking on the link , can I take a guess on which match that might be ? Is it the Roddick demolition job at AO 2007 ? It was a classic case of making a good player look bad.

Is it USO? 04

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Del Potro played Nadal at the 2009 USO SF. Up to that match Nadal was looking about the best he ever has at the USO, then BAM.
Total destruction.

same with Tsonga at Australien open 2008

 

[mightyrick]

The best in history at making great players look bad were:

Fabrice Santoro and Brad Gilbert

These two players would beat the best opponents with low pace, odd spinning, pusher style strokes. Their opponents would spray unforced errors all over the place trying to create their own pace and hit winners off of no-pace balls.

 

[Steve0904]

Without clicking on the link , can I take a guess on which match that might be ? Is it the Roddick demolition job at AO 2007 ? It was a classic case of making a good player look bad.

Nice guess! You win the internetz.

 

[Steve0904]

Is it USO? 04

Never thought about that one honestly, but it's right up there. I have a one track mind you see.

 

[sbengte]

Is it USO? 04

I did think of the Hewitt double bagel too, but the Roddick match is quoted by most people when they talk of God mode Fed, so went with it

 

[Lukhas]

If I could nominate a match for Federer it would be this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ikx0Du735Y

:shock: God mode indeed. The worst part being when I realize Roddick's attacks at the net are very good moves with proper execution. The opponent was just too damn strong.

Nadal is second in my book, especially when he loses a set: he makes sure his opponent wins the least points possible in the following sets or matches. Besides few times, like every great players: AO 08 vs. Tsonga, USO 09 vs. Del Potro, WTF 2011 vs. Federer.

 

[jaggy]

Earnest Ernests

 

[merwy]

It's probably somewhere in the middle. Djokovic was bad especially in the first set, but Federer played great that day. That whole Cincinnati tournament actually.

I agree with the people who said Federer. Nadal is second.

If I could nominate a match for Federer it would be this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ikx0Du735Y

That match was just incredible from Federer. I can't imagine someone playing the match better than he did there. It's good that we have so many prime-Fed videos on youtube, because no other player is more fun to watch than him. That match also produced the best press conference ever. So funny when the journalist said "Your performance here is better than on court"

 

[Relinquis]

Federer... easily... has done it more often and to more great players then anyone has...

Yes, Nadal has made him look bad quite regularly, but even then, Federer has done it to him at WTF.

Federer Vs. Djokovic at Cincy is another relatively recent example.

 

[Towser83]

Depends how you mean. Nadal makes federer look bad with the overall head to head but he hasn't really slaughtered federer that many times. a couple of times in Miami and the rg final in 2008, also iw recently but considering his age now and his physical issues i don't think its a terrible loss.

Fed has some total demolition jobs vs hewitt and Roderick but are those great of the game? Depends what you mean by great. he also has some heavy wins over Nadal and djokovic - the 4 matches where he bagelled them spring to mind.

Djokovic and Murray have points in their favour too. djokovic his whole 7 match run vs Nadal and Murray has that Olympics final and a couple other matches vs fed and Nadal.

Overall in terms of head to head Nadal is the best at making great look bad, in match play possibly federer who is nearly always competitive vs any players but can totally outplay rivals when he's on form even recently.

Special mention for nalbandian who made fed, Nadal and djokovic all look bad in Paris and Madrid 2007.

 

[Steve0904]

That match was just incredible from Federer. I can't imagine someone playing the match better than he did there. It's good that we have so many prime-Fed videos on youtube, because no other player is more fun to watch than him. That match also produced the best press conference ever. So funny when the journalist said "Your performance here is better than on court"

The most telling part of the match is this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=7ikx0Du735Y#t=534s.

He has Roddick so frustrated he's cursing god. That's pretty funny.

 

[Anaconda]

Safin perhaps, but only on occasion. Most of his best wins have came in 4 sets or 5 set thrillers. Of course, he had days where he would win in straights, but it's obviously difficult to do it consistently.

 

[Steve0904]

Safin perhaps, but only on occasion. Most of his best wins have came in 4 sets or 5 set thrillers. Of course, he had days where he would win in straights, but it's obviously difficult to do it consistently.

USO 2000 win over Sampras maybe?

 

[Anaconda]

USO 2000 win over Sampras maybe?

Yes, that was impressive, but Safin normally had to win in 4 or 5 sets against Sampras, Federer, Agassi, Kuerten, Ferrero, Roddick, Hewitt, Nalbandian etc in the slams. He did manage to school Djokovic (the second best player at that time) in straights at Wimbledon 2008 too.

 

[uliks]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPUhGNmW4Pc

This was pretty nasty beatdown also. Murray was sublime that day...

 

[RF20Lennon]

Federer..no doubt.

 

[malbaker86]

I legit would of gotten into a fight with Federer if I was Roddick right at the net after AO 2007

 

[Nitish]

Federer for sure,when he was on he made everyone look bad(hence the weak era argument).Nadal made fed look bad few times as well.

 

[spinovic]

Any Big 4 member vs. David Ferrer (excluding Murray on clay).

 

[Mike Sams]

Nadal. His deep topspin shots and excellent defense puts so much pressure on an opponent to stay in the rally. He makes them go for way too much and they start spraying UEs everywhere. Djokovic is really the first person to be able to consistently hit through his topspin with ease.

Nah, a lot of players can handle Nadal's topspin. They just don't have the total package needed to win, nor the mindset.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Any Big 4 member vs. David Ferrer (excluding Murray on clay).

:lol:

well except Murray on any surface, remember wimbledon? tough, very tough match, and a few weeks ago in Miami :razz:

 

[kalyan4fedever]

Rogi without a doubt he crushed the field, anyone can tell by looking at his era players slam count. Total annihilation...and he has the best variety and shot selection of all the atp still. I think we dont see any other player like Fed, just the grinders...

 

[mozzer]

Rosol 5th set looool, what a tank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRBRcoP2F38

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Rosol 5th set looool, what a tank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRBRcoP2F38

this last set is one of the greatest display of tennis i have ever watched

 

[spinovic]

:lol:

well except Murray on any surface, remember wimbledon? tough, very tough match, and a few weeks ago in Miami :razz:

Ahh...it was just a joke anyway. The statement is obviously not factual. Yes, short of Murray on clay, they do almost always beat Ferrer. But, it isn't always a route. He has played some very, very competitive matches with those guys on various surfaces, even Nadal on clay. Just watched the 2012 Barcelona final recently and that was about as tight as a two-set loss can get. Ferrer had tons of chances. That's the difference though. He either 1) get blown off the court or 2) can't convert enough of the big points to get a W.

 

[Federer20042006]

Makes them look bad by comparison, or makes them play bad?

Look bad by comparison, Federer. When he's rolling, it's a beatdown.

Makes them play badly, Nadal...Ferrer...Simon...Montanes.

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Rosol 5th set looool, what a tank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRBRcoP2F38

Haha. Always a pleasure to be reminded how the number 100 in the world ....

Those, who are saying, that Nadal was injured in that match, are out of their minds.

Nice to see a player, who wasn't impressed with Nadal's "repertoir".