When do you think each game component of the Big 3 and Murray peaked?

[mike danny]

Mind you, they don't all have to peak at the same time in the same season. Some elements surely reached their apex in certain years while others reached theirs in others.

So the game areas I'm focusing on are (and you can add others that you think I've missed):

1. FH
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category)
3. Serve
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense)
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.)
6. Net game
7. Slice
8. Mental strength
9. Passing shots

You can split net game into every shot you can think of and judge each individual one accordingly like FH volley, BH volley, drop volley, overhead etc. I found it easier to bundle all of them together into just net play.

Discuss.

 

[RS]

Something different.

 

[mike danny]

Something different.

Thank you, thinking it was worth a shot. And what inspired me was all the youtube videos in which pros were asked to build their perfect player.

 

[Born_to_slice]

People think about these things?

 

[Deleted member 758560]

why is murray here, i thought it should be a big gap between him and big apple, oops sorry..big three

 

[Dwell]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2023
2. BH - 2016
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2023
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2006
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2017
4. Movement - 2006
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2014
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2005
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2012
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2013
9. Passing shots - 2008

Shoutout to Hugh Clarke's substack in your signature. If that's you, then I just want to let you know that you're GOATED

 

[itrium84]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2023
2. BH - 2016
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2023
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2006
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2017
4. Movement - 2006
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2014
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2005
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2012
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2013
9. Passing shots - 2008

1. Novak's FH in 2011 was pretty potent, I guess you didn't choose it because of less precision?

2. Novak already had amazing BH before 2016, why did you choose that year?

 

[mike danny]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2023
2. BH - 2016
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2023
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2006
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2017
4. Movement - 2006
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2014
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2005
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2012
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2013
9. Passing shots - 2008

Thank you for your contribution.

But you don't think Novak's mental strength peaked earlier than 2023?

 

[StrongRule]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2023
2. BH - 2016
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2023
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2006
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2017
4. Movement - 2006
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2014
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2005
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2012
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2013
9. Passing shots - 2008

Yeah, when you face Tsitsipas and Ruud, that can make you look mentally strong.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Something different.

Exactly, great thread Mikey

 

[Fabresque]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2023
2. BH - 2016
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2023
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2006
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2017
4. Movement - 2006
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2014
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2005
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2012
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2013
9. Passing shots - 2008

Djok forehand peaked in 2011.

 

[mike danny]

Exactly, great thread Mikey

Thank you, Mikey

 

[mike danny]

People think about these things?

Why wouldn't people on a tennis forum discuss about technical aspects of tennis players? There is more to tennis than just constant GOAT discussions.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Yeah, when you face Tsitsipas and Ruud, that can make you look mentally strong.

Gotta agree with you on this one. The only time Djokovic faced someone more or less decent in a slam he messed up and lost, some mental strength.

 

[Born_to_slice]

Why wouldn't people on a tennis forum discuss about technical aspects of tennis players? There is more to tennis than just constant GOAT discussions.

Well, no one on here has close enough expertise to correctly answers your questions.

 

[mike danny]

Well, no one on here has close enough expertise to correctly answers your questions.

It's subjective anyway, it's not like I'm asking for expert analysis.

 

[fedfan24]

Federer

1. FH - 2004-2006
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category) 2017
3. Serve 2015
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense) 2003-2006
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.) 2004-2007
6. Net game 2003
7. Slice 2003-2007
8. Mental strength 2017
9. Passing shots 2006

 

[fedfan24]

By year
DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2011
2. BH - 2015
3. Serve - 2021
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2015
6. Net game - 2015
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2011
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2005
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2015
4. Movement - 2004
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2003
7. Slice - 2006
8. Mental strength - 2017
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2012
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2005
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2008
9. Passing shots - 2008

 

[Third Serve]

People think about these things?

fellas, is it weird to talk about tennis on a tennis forum?

 

[jl809]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2011
2. BH - 2015
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2022
7. Slice - 2015
8. Mental strength - 2011
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2004
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2015
4. Movement - 2005
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2015
7. Slice - 2007
8. Mental strength - 2017
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2013
2. BH - ????
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2008
9. Passing shots - 2008

 

[NeutralFan]

fellas, is it weird to talk about tennis on a tennis forum?

Talking about poisonous vaccine and other conspiracy theory on conspiracy theories is normal.

 

[Sudacafan]

Well, no one on here has close enough expertise to correctly answers your questions.

I have, but I will not answer now.

 

[SpinWizard]

Nadal
1. FH - 2013
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2013
8. Mental strength - 2013
9. Passing shots - 2012

Djokovic
1. FH - 2011
2. BH - 2011
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2011
9. Passing shots - 2016

Federer
1. FH - 2005
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2015
4. Movement - 2005
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2015
7. Slice - 2012
8. Mental strength - 2017
9. Passing shots - 2006

 

[The Sinner]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2015
2. BH - 2015
3. Serve - 2021
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2021
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2011
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2006
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2005
4. Movement - 2005
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2014
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2005 (took a seriously big dent after Rome 2006)
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2008
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2017
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2010
9. Passing shots - 2010

 

[RS]

Murray

FH - 2012
BH - unclear
Serve - 2010/2016
Movement - 2009
Footwork - 2012
Net - 2012
Slice - 2012
Mental - 2012
Passing - 2009

 

[NatF]

Murray

FH - 2012
BH - unclear
Serve - 2010/2016
Movement - 2009
Footwork - 2012
Net - 2012
Slice - 2012
Mental - 2012
Passing - 2009

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

Mind you, they don't all have to peak at the same time in the same season. Some elements surely reached their apex in certain years while others reached theirs in others.

So the game areas I'm focusing on are (and you can add others that you think I've missed):

1. FH
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category)
3. Serve
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense)
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.)
6. Net game
7. Slice
8. Mental strength
9. Passing shots

You can split net game into every shot you can think of and judge each individual one accordingly like FH volley, BH volley, drop volley, overhead etc. I found it easier to bundle all of them together into just net play.

Discuss.

Rafa -
FH - 2008 RG, just wicked what shapes he was giving to the ball
BH - 2009 AO
Serve - 2010 USO
Movement - 2005 (upto Canada)
Footwork - 2012 RG
Net game - 2018 Wimbledon
Slice - 2013 USO
Mental strength - 2013 RG SF 5th set
Passing shots - 2008 RG

Roger -
FH - 2005 USO
BH - 2006 ATP Finals F
Serve - 2015 Cincinnati
Movement - 2003 Wimbledon
Footwork - 2006 Clay court swing
Net game - 2014 Shanghai v/s Djokovic
Slice - 2004 Wimbledon
Mental strength - 2011 RG SF
Passing shots - 2007 AO SF

Djokovic -
FH - 2011 AO - USO
BH - 2011 AO - USO
Serve - 2021 AO
Movement - 2008
Footwork - 2011
Net game - no idea
Slice - no idea
Mental strength - 2011 USO SF
Passing shots - 2011 AO

 

[Pheasant]

Federer

FH-2004. This was his very best year, IMHO.
BH- 2017, thanks to new coach and modern racket
Serve- 2004, 2015(new racket)
Movement-2004-2006
Footwork- 2004-2006
Net game- 2003
Slice- 2004-2012
Mental strength-2004-2006.
Passing shots- 2004-06

I saw an interview with Agassi in 2005. He was asked what improved the most with Federer. He said that it was all in his movement and footwork. He mentioned nothing else. To be fair, I only started watching Fed regularly in 2005; the first year I was a fan of his. I have gone back and watched a lot of his matches from 2004 on YouTube. It took a while for him to grow on me. I was a fellow-American Roddick fan before. Quite honestly, I was only a fan of my countrymen before Fed. Fed allowed me to turn that corner with his exquisite game. He also single-handedly got my wife back into tennis as well. He will always be the goat in her eyes; even if somebody comes along and wins 10 consecutive CYGSs. As for me, he’s my 2nd favorite player of all time; trailing only McEnroe.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Nadal
1. FH - 2008
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category) - 2013
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense) - 2005
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.) - 2010
6. Net game - 2017 (bit arbitrary this but I feel like post Moya Nadal found the incentive to hone his net game even more for efficiency reasons, even though his hands at net have always been great.
7. Slice - 2008
8. Mental strength - 2008
9. Passing shots - 2010

Federer
1. FH - 2004
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category) 1.0 backhand - 2003. 2.0 backhand - 2017
3. Serve - 2006
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense) - 2004
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.) - 2006
6. Net game - 2017
7. Slice - 2010/2011
8. Mental strength - 2017
9. Passing shots - 2008

Murray
1. FH - 2012
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category) - 2016
3. Serve - 2013
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense) - 2010
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.) - 2016
6. Net game - 2013
7. Slice - 2016
8. Mental strength - 2012/2013
9. Passing shots - 2012

Djokovic
1. FH - 2015
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category) - 2011
3. Serve - 2016
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense) - 2008
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.) - 2009
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2008
8. Mental strength - 2021
9. Passing shots - 2018

 

[Jonesy]

DJOKOVIC

1. FH - 2023
2. BH - 2016
3. Serve - 2023
4. Movement - 2011
5. Footwork - 2011
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2023
8. Mental strength - 2023
9. Passing shots - 2011

FEDERER

1. FH - 2006
2. BH - 2017
3. Serve - 2017
4. Movement - 2006
5. Footwork - 2006
6. Net game - 2014
7. Slice - 2017
8. Mental strength - 2005
9. Passing shots - 2006

NADAL

1. FH - 2012
2. BH - 2008
3. Serve - 2010
4. Movement - 2008
5. Footwork - 2008
6. Net game - 2019
7. Slice - 2019
8. Mental strength - 2013
9. Passing shots - 2008

Zoid always with the king takes.

 

[RS]

I guess sliding and balanced movement would be 2015/2016 for Murray because he started to play better on clay.

 

[Mivic]

I guess sliding and balanced movement would be 2015/2016 for Murray because he started to play better on clay.

I would probably pick 2015 for Djokovic in the movement department for the same reason if explosiveness wasn’t listed as a subcategory (because 2011 Djokovic clearly has him beat there and as a result I do think that particular version of Novak bests 2015 as an overall movement package, although separating footwork from movement makes it close). In terms of his lateral movement and ability to recover balls on the full stretch though 2015/early 2016 Novak had the perfect blend of flexibility, core stability, technical prowess in terms of his balance and capacity to slide into balls on any surface and what was still more or less peak foot speed to go along with it too.

 

[Mivic]

Djokovic
1. FH - 2015
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category) - 2011
3. Serve - 2016
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense) - 2008
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.) - 2009
6. Net game - 2023
7. Slice - 2008
8. Mental strength - 2021
9. Passing shots - 2018

No clue how you’ve arrived at some of these.

 

[RS]

I would have thought FH for Nadal would be 2010.

 

[StrongRule]

I would have thought FH for Nadal would be 2010.

You think it was better than in 2012-2013? I remember in 2013 it was really a big weapon.

 

[dking68]

Zoid always with the king takes.

The real answer for mental strength for Djokovic was 2011/2019 - the matches against Federer

 

[itrium84]

Zoid always with the king takes.

One of the guys I respect most on this forum

 

[Kralingen]

Federer - 2015/2017/2019
Djokovic - 2021/2023
Nadal - 2020/2022

Did I do it right

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Maybe. I think now he has the added bonus of experience. A couple of times this year he has been in tough situations and had the ability to step back and laugh off big situations. The first set against Casper Ruud at the french was a prime example; tight, Ruud playing great, misses an overhead, and just laughs it off. Then goes on to play one of the best tie-breakers of his year and kill any hope for Ruud.

Plus, just actively leaning into the "F U's" to the crowd in Paris and Davis Cup. He just relishes challenge in his twilight.

Dumbfounding how a person with as much apparent expertise as yourself has this sort of take, I wonder what you all are seeing.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Ok i'll bite. What's your take?

The first set was pretty messy. A decent standard of hitting I suppose but too many UEs from both and not too deep into the rallies at that. Strong tiebreak from Djokovic though, true.

 

[The Guru]

People are looking at 2010 Nadal's serve through rose colored glasses. He only served big for a small portion of the season and it wasn't actually all that effective. Olddal the best serving Nadal across a season easily.

 

[metsman]

For Federer everything is easy besides the serve (i.e. 03-06)

On paper, everyone would of course say 15/17, but much of those stats were padded in the early rounds and the field was weak. Technically, to my eye test, Federer's serve and serve+1 play got more efficient from 05 to 06, and stayed around that level from 06-12. But the numbers don't really point to any serve improvement from 04/05 to 06 and subsequent years on the largest sample (HC). Instead, it's likely that the perception is influenced by the fact that Federer's serve started becoming automatic in the late rounds of Wimbledon starting in 06, whereas 04/05 his serve wasn't that bulletproof in the later rounds, especially 04. On HC, many of his signature serving performances come after 2005 as well but is it because he's a technically better server or is it because he had to rely on it more, and was much more focused on his serve? For example in 05 Wimbledon, Federer served very well, but it wasn't quite as consistently great maybe as the later years (lower percentage and all), but he was so dominant off the ground he could have served underhand and still won. Personally I think it's both, but it's not as clear cut as people think. However, I am quite confident that Federer's serve was not technically better in 15/17 compared to 06-12, the serving performances at 07/09/12 Wimbledon were legendarily good. Stuff like 07 USO QF or 08 USO SF he did not approach at HC majors in 15/17.

if you look at hard courts, then Federer's legendary performance against the top 10 in 2004 is pretty hard to beat. Even the raw numbers like first serves landed are higher than other years, and his ace% against the top 10 that year smokes his other years. His serve numbers vs the top 10 that year were clearly better across the board than against the rest of the field. That top 10 is also clearly the strongest on aggregate that Federer faced, especially on HC and as returners. What's the argument against that not being his best serving on HC? The fact that he didn't have a truly signature serving performance (the TMC F was crazy good serving but no one ever remembers since it was a short match) because he was too busy unloading forehand nukes? Or that he didn't pad his serving stats against the field? Like I said, I think he was a technically better server later on, but ultimately what matters is how you perform and against the best players and returners on HC, there's no doubt that Federer served the best in 2004.

 

[Third Serve]

Oldovic serve is quite overrated here. Very up and down at times, though it is very good when up as this latest YEC final showed. It was most consistently good in 2015 imo.

 

[Fabresque]

Hard to separate movement from this so yeah I get it, but his mentality this year has been more aggressive I think.

Yes I agree his forehand, especially at the slams/tour finals, has been on fire. He’s trying to be more aggressive off that side and end points quicker or put him in advantageous positions more.

But I think there’s no doubt 2011 has the more solid forehand all around, he could do anything with it. He could hit winners from anywhere, he controlled points with ease vs Fedalray, and he never missed it.

 

[mike danny]

For Federer everything is easy besides the serve (i.e. 03-06)

On paper, everyone would of course say 15/17, but much of those stats were padded in the early rounds and the field was weak. Technically, to my eye test, Federer's serve and serve+1 play got more efficient from 05 to 06, and stayed around that level from 06-12. But the numbers don't really point to any serve improvement from 04/05 to 06 and subsequent years on the largest sample (HC). Instead, it's likely that the perception is influenced by the fact that Federer's serve started becoming automatic in the late rounds of Wimbledon starting in 06, whereas 04/05 his serve wasn't that bulletproof in the later rounds, especially 04. On HC, many of his signature serving performances come after 2005 as well but is it because he's a technically better server or is it because he had to rely on it more, and was much more focused on his serve? For example in 05 Wimbledon, Federer served very well, but it wasn't quite as consistently great maybe as the later years (lower percentage and all), but he was so dominant off the ground he could have served underhand and still won. Personally I think it's both, but it's not as clear cut as people think. However, I am quite confident that Federer's serve was not technically better in 15/17 compared to 06-12, the serving performances at 07/09/12 Wimbledon were legendarily good. Stuff like 07 USO QF or 08 USO SF he did not approach at HC majors in 15/17.

if you look at hard courts, then Federer's legendary performance against the top 10 in 2004 is pretty hard to beat. Even the raw numbers like first serves landed are higher than other years, and his ace% against the top 10 that year smokes his other years. His serve numbers vs the top 10 that year were clearly better across the board than against the rest of the field. That top 10 is also clearly the strongest on aggregate that Federer faced, especially on HC and as returners. What's the argument against that not being his best serving on HC? The fact that he didn't have a truly signature serving performance (the TMC F was crazy good serving but no one ever remembers since it was a short match) because he was too busy unloading forehand nukes? Or that he didn't pad his serving stats against the field? Like I said, I think he was a technically better server later on, but ultimately what matters is how you perform and against the best players and returners on HC, there's no doubt that Federer served the best in 2004.

Something that stood out to me from 2005 Wimb was Fed's low first serve percentage in the first set vs Hewitt.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

My recollection is Novak started nervous but Ruud was playing very smart, high and heavy with the forehand, humming off both sides. Tie-break first couple of points Ruud played perfect tennis but was down 3-0.

Sensible gameplan, just didn't execute well enough given aggressive errors. Also I don't like Ruud's return, Djokovic served well but this is clay and you're standing deep specifically to give yourself time to hit returns Nadal-style, only many of those lacked depth and Djokovic could have his way with them.

 

[metsman]

Something that stood out to me from 2005 Wimb was Fed's low first serve percentage in the first set vs Hewitt.

Well when you're that good off the ground you can get away with it. And Federer's ground game is extremely underrated believe it or not.

Heck a Fed who was double declined from 05 damn near got away with serving 50% for the whole match against peak Nadal on a slow hard court (and won the set he served 37% in, the same as the first set in 05).

 

[helterskelter]

Well when you're that good off the ground you can get away with it. And Federer's ground game is extremely underrated believe it or not.

Heck a Fed who was double declined from 05 damn near got away with serving 50% for the whole match against peak Nadal on a slow hard court (and won the set he served 37% in, the same as the first set in 05).

What does “double declined” mean?

 

[metsman]

What does “double declined” mean?

If A > B > C, then C has declined twice.

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

Mind you, they don't all have to peak at the same time in the same season. Some elements surely reached their apex in certain years while others reached theirs in others.

So the game areas I'm focusing on are (and you can add others that you think I've missed):

1. FH
2. BH (just topspin, slice will be a different category)
3. Serve
4. Movement (speed, explosiveness, defense)
5. Footwork (different from movement which mostly represents what defines any athlete in any sport. Footwork is more specific to tennis than other sports.)
6. Net game
7. Slice
8. Mental strength
9. Passing shots

You can split net game into every shot you can think of and judge each individual one accordingly like FH volley, BH volley, drop volley, overhead etc. I found it easier to bundle all of them together into just net play.

Discuss.

I'll start with Federer:
FH - 2005. High backswing, relaxed action, and pinpoint accuracy.
BH - 2017. The year he finally figured out Nadal, after a whole decade struggling off that wing.
Serve - 2009. He out aced Roddick at wimbledon. Also generally dominated off his serve for most of the year.
Return - 2007. His entire peak period, essentially. Exceptional reflexes and return game with a one-handed backhand.
Movement - 2005. So many times I remember him darting backwards around his BH side to blast a FH into the corner. Almost floating over the court.
Net Game - 2003. The early years, when he needed it more. That's when his net skills had their time to shine.
Slice - 2006. Always GOAT, though
Mental Strength - 2005. This is my hot take, but even though he blew match points 3 times, only one of them really was a "choke", vs Gasquet at MC. Safin and Fed both traded plenty of momentum shifts with attacking tennis, and Federer actually pulled off more heroics in the 5th set when Safin had the match on his racquet. Likewise with Nalbandian, he was playing for his life while his body was giving out. He didn't have the mental scar tissue vs Nadal yet that he would in 2006, either.
Passing shots - 2006/07. Any time he took the court vs Roddick, basically.