Where does Wimbeldon 2018-AO 2020 Djokovic rank among his best versions?
- Thread starter RS
- Start date
Sport
G.O.A.T.
Djokovic at the US Open 2010 was playing much better than that. It is ultra-simplistic to assume that Djokovic was non-peak the 31th of December of 2010 and sudenly became peak with the new year the 1st of January of 2011.
Djokovic started his peak at the US Open 2010, when he defeated 29 years old Federer in the semifinal in 5 sets, just like he did in the US Open 2011 semifinal. In the US Open 2009, Djokovic lost in 3 sets to Federer, while in the US Open 2010 he defeated Roger in 5, with the same score than in their match in the US Open 2011. It suggest a clear improvement in Djokovic's game from 2009 to late 2010.
ForehandRF
Legend
Or it suggest that Fed's level in 2009 was higher than in 2010.In fact, the way was Fed playing in 2010, he overachieved by almost winning in a 5 setter.
On the other hand, both Fed and Djokovic played better in 2011 compared to 2010.The only similarity is that it was also a 5 setter.
Druss
Hall of Fame
Sport, Federer was a fair bit better in 2009 than in 2010.
RS
Bionic Poster
I think only AO 11-USO 11 and Bejing 2014-RG 16 were only clearly better periods for Novak in his career.
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Second half of 2018 and 2019 AO are up there, just below 2011 and 2015-16. The last 12 months have been so-so. He did really well to take the last AO, and Wimbledon in particular.
RS
Bionic Poster
Wimbedon 2018 to AO 2019 was fantastic in slams. Certainly only 2011/15 Djokovic better at the slams. Was so and so outside of slams in that period apart from Shanghai.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
I agree that semifinal was very bad. However, I do think Djokovic played much better in the final than in the semifinal. It wasn't his peak but he wasn't terrible in this final by any means. He was hitting bombs from both sides, but so did Nadal. (it was the one tournament where Nadal played in a very different style)
NatF
Bionic Poster
Hard to say, with 2018-2019 competition 2008 or 2012-2014 Djok might post excellent results as well. Probably Wimbledon and the AO are up there with his better runs there regardless, not sure about the USO - and his lack of success at the WTF is quite striking considering his dominance there in the past.
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ForehandRF
Legend
Well, after scoring such a huge win against Federer in 2010, Djokovic gained confidence for the final and he raised his level.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
Yes, this correct, but it is still worse than Novak's 2011 season and his incredible run from Paris 2014 to RG 2016. Probably third place.
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Paris and especially WTF finals ruined that a bit. He was great in Shanghai and in London before the final, for Cincy I give him a pass because it was quite a tough draw as well. Ironically only Fed made it easy for him that week.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
That is because Djokovic naturally matches up better with Nadal than he does against Federer. He was able to hang with peak Nadal on clay better than anyone else back in 2009 also, so not surprising Djokovic could play better against Nadal on hardcourt.
NatF
Bionic Poster
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
2012 level in slams for 2018 WIM - 2019 RG. After that, weak era stuff.
D
Deleted member 765702
Guest
I feel like he's been there for the taking in the last two Slam finals he played. Credit to him for being clutch though. The first three Slams he won since his 2018 comeback, he was really impressive. Can't recall much regarding other tournaments.
RS
Bionic Poster
RS
Bionic Poster
Yeah. Masters has been more off in 2015 he sailed though them while keeping his level in slams.
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RelentlessAttack
Hall of Fame
The game evolves over time and players only get better with age so > 2015 and >>> 2011
Nadal_Django
Legend
His Peak version. Comparable to his 2015-2016 version
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
2012 Djokovic wins AO 19 and USO 19. 2013 Djokovic wins only AO 19. 2014 Djokovic wins the AO 19(because no Wawrinka) and Wimby 19. The Djokovic from the second half of 2018 is better than the Djokovic of 2012-2014 IMO though.
SamprasisGOAT
Hall of Fame
Bang on mate
ForehandCross
G.O.A.T.
I think in masters he clearly wasn't at a good level
At slams
WB 2018: Great serving, but BHDTL missing in action. Returning wasn't at the usual prime Novak level. Not enough finishing ability like 2011,2015.
Still equal to 2014 , lesser by a good margin to 2011,15
USO 2018:
Defence was back to peak level. But his shots just didn't have the same penetration. Not in your face like 2011 or rock solid like 2015. I Guess by absolute level , some early Djokovic versions might be better but one needs to take into account he played Delpo very smartly.
AO 2019
Didn't watch early part of the tourney, but SF/F were peak level.
WB 2019:
Not great by any stretch of imagination but patches of good play.2012,2013 might actually have achieved similar result. Although they would really need 2019's serve and patience to tackle Federer.
AO 2020:
Worst final level. Decent beforehand. Really an empty slam from him.
On the whole he has that near peak gear somewhere that he can still access during slams.
Basically 2012-14 level with more clutch, better serve and sometimes near peak play.
At slams
WB 2018: Great serving, but BHDTL missing in action. Returning wasn't at the usual prime Novak level. Not enough finishing ability like 2011,2015.
Still equal to 2014 , lesser by a good margin to 2011,15
USO 2018:
Defence was back to peak level. But his shots just didn't have the same penetration. Not in your face like 2011 or rock solid like 2015. I Guess by absolute level , some early Djokovic versions might be better but one needs to take into account he played Delpo very smartly.
AO 2019
Didn't watch early part of the tourney, but SF/F were peak level.
WB 2019:
Not great by any stretch of imagination but patches of good play.2012,2013 might actually have achieved similar result. Although they would really need 2019's serve and patience to tackle Federer.
AO 2020:
Worst final level. Decent beforehand. Really an empty slam from him.
On the whole he has that near peak gear somewhere that he can still access during slams.
Basically 2012-14 level with more clutch, better serve and sometimes near peak play.
Third Serve
Talk Tennis Guru
2015 > 2011 >>> 2018-present > 2012-2014 > 2007-early 2009 >> late 2009-2010 >> 2017-early 2018
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
You mean RG 2016, because his level in the Canadian Masters 1000 was "bad" (compared to what Djokovic has accustomed us). He barely won against his lapdog Berdych that year.
ThiemPlayer
Rookie
Djokovic's highest level at the AO was 2014.
nolefam_2024
G.O.A.T.
Not too bad.
RS
Bionic Poster
Federer yeah maybe. Thiem no.
Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil
Talk Tennis Guru
Yes but he played Berdych earlier in the tournament. I remember Berdych throwing away the first set tiebreak. Refused Djokovic's gift.
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
Certainly not better than 2007-09.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Really good actually. I thought he played well in all the Slams he won but played two lackluster Slam finals. So basically, he played his worst match of those two tournaments in the final but won them with his mental strength. Those are matches we would have lost in 2012-2013. So behind 2011 and 2015-2016 Djokovic but above the rest.
Mivic
Hall of Fame
07-09 version has a chance of winning all 3 hardcourt majors won during the 18-20 stretch, but I highly doubt any version pre-2011 has a chance of winning W18 or W19, so I'd edge to 18-20 over 07-09.
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
"Apart from grass"
Consistency, level of play and ballstriking everything was higher in 2007-09 period
Noleberic123
G.O.A.T.
LMAO. He would win 2 slams in this period max and if I had to bet my life on it I would bet that he wins only one AO in this period and that's it.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
The level of ballstriking in 2018 Wimbledon, 2018 USO, 2019 AO and 2020 AO are higher than anything he produced in that period besides 2008 AO which is probably better than all of those except 2018 Wimbledon and 2019 AO.
Mivic
Hall of Fame
Agreed, especially when it comes to 2018 Wimbledon. I think some downplay what a monster Nadal was at W18 because Federer took care of him relatively easily the following year. In my opinion no version of Djokovic pre-2011 has the serve-return package and the baseline game to deal with that version of Nadal.
NoleFam
Bionic Poster
Nadal turned back the clock in 2018 and was a monster, and may have even beat Federer 2018 if that match happened. He was playing an insane level that he hadn't played for at least 7 years on grass. I agree that the Djokovic before 2011 would have lost that one. Only the 2007 version, without blisters, would have gone toe to toe with him.
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
classic Birdbrain moment
Djokovic fokkes up royally serving for the set, falls fown 4-6* in the breaker and still Birdie makes two basic errors.
AnOctorokForDinner
Talk Tennis Guru
2018 WB-Shanghai Djokovic and post-2019AO Djokovic are rather different levels, stop conflating them, mugs. (2019 AO stands out on its own obviously.)
HetTheGreaterer
Banned
Keep your opinion.
I'll keep mine.
Btw, 2009 djok went toe to toe with prime nadal on clay for 4 hours.
2019 djok was bageled and breadsticked by non prime nadal
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