Which match-up would you prefer to watch now given the possibility?

mike danny

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Let's say you are given the option of watching just 1 match between 1 current ATG and 1 former ATG. You never get that opportunity ever again.

Which match-up would you choose?

The options I selected are:

Federer vs Sampras
Nadal vs Borg
Djokovic vs Agassi
Djokovic vs Lendl

You can pick your own match-ups too. These are just possibilities I picked myself. So which one would you choose?
 
peak Borg vs. peak Federer on the Wimbledon Center would also be tempting.

It would be like the calmest tennis match ever.

I’d probably take peak Borg vs peak Nadal at FO over Sampras vs. Fed at Wimby.
 
federer_2014_brisbane_22.png
 
Contrast in styles make for great matches. I would rather watch Fed vs. Borg than Fed vs. Sampras

That being said, I would def. like to see the following:
* Fed vs. Sampras/Borg/McEnroe/Laver/Becker/Edberg at Wimbledon
* Borg-Nadal at RG would be fitting. Would like to see Gustavo and Lendl have a go at Rafa as well.
* Fed vs. Sampras/Lendl/Connors/McEnroe at US Open.

*Sampras vs. Rafa and Djoko on truly fast courts with 90's tech - just for the lulz.
 
Last edited:
McEnroe vs. Nadal

Borg vs. Federer

and I should have said - all of them at their peak, of course
 
Last edited:
Roddick-Zverev, cause I love bad tennis, I love seeing Zverev dealing with slice backhands, and I'd love to not be annoyed by Roddick's slice.
 
1. Peak Sampras vs Peak Nadal @ Wimbledon (Sorry Pete)

2. Peak Djoker vs Peak Federer @ Australian

3. Peak Rafa vs Peak Guga @ French

4. Peak Safin vs Peak, never-injured DelPo @ US Open ("Bombs Away")
 
Peak Nadal vs peak Borg at RG.

Peak Djokovic vs peak Agassi at AO.

Peak Sampras vs peak Djokovic at USO.

Peak Sampras vs peak Federer at Wimbledon.

Peak Nadal vs peak Sampras on a neutral surface feels mighty intriguing to me.
 
Sampras vs Federer at Wimbledon. The ultimate boss battle for grass supremacy.

Djokovic vs Agassi at Australian Open. The drama levels would be off the charts.

Nadal vs Borg at Roland Garros. The original clay GOAT vs the new clay GOAT
 
Rosstour said:
1. Peak Sampras vs Peak Nadal @ Wimbledon (Sorry Pete)

2. Peak Djoker vs Peak Federer @ Australian

3. Peak Rafa vs Peak Guga @ French

4. Peak Safin vs Peak, never-injured DelPo @ US Open ("Bombs Away")
Click to expand...
Nadal beat peak Federer at Wimbledon. If Sampras wins, he'd have to work for it.
 
Also Federer vs Laver at peak levels would be the official GOAT battle. One on each surface.
Laver wins on clay and Federer wins on hard court. Who wins on Centre Court?
 
Fed-Sampras and Novak-Sampras first for watching Fed destroyed by biggest server in the game and second to see actual competitive match which could go either way. Nadal - Borg unfortunately would be too onesided.
 
OhYes said:
Fed-Sampras and Novak-Sampras first for watching Fed destroyed by biggest server in the game and second to see actual competitive match which could go either way. Nadal - Borg unfortunately would be too onesided.
Click to expand...
Karlovic averaged more aces per match than Sampras. Thus, Karlovic is the greatest server of all time.
 
Sport said:
Karlovic averaged more aces per match than Sampras. Thus, Karlovic is the greatest server of all time.
Click to expand...
You just can't compare Karlovic with Sampras, not bcs of achievements, height and time stayed in the game.
 
In 2019:
AO
Federer - Shapovalov
Kyrgios - Nadal
Djokovic - Nadal
Coric - Murray

RG
Djokovic - Thiem
Thiem - Wawrinka
Coric - Zverev

WIM
Kyrgios - Djokovic/Murray/Nadal
Cilic - Nadal

USO
Djokovic - Zverev
Kyrgios - Nadal
Murray - Shapovalov
 
If we are talking peak for peak on their favorite surfaces, then Fed/Sampras. It's the only one where the outcome would be in doubt
 
Finally a great opening post and topic, thank you!

For me, Borg-Nadal on Chatrier. Let's just ignore wood rackets, string technology and everything else for this hypothetical.

Second place is Agassi-Djokovic. The Djokovic fans here (with a few notable exceptions) probably have never heard of Agassi, much less seen him play. I say peak Agassi takes out Novak on any HC known to mortal man. Clay and grass Nole beats him easily.
 
125downthemiddle said:
If we are talking peak for peak on their favorite surfaces, then Fed/Sampras. It's the only one where the outcome would be in doubt
Click to expand...

Djokovic vs Sampras at the USO, outcome not in doubt?

I think 90's AO would be a good match up between too as well. Today's grass could be interesting though I'd back Sampras on any grass clearly.
 
NatF said:
Djokovic vs Sampras at the USO, outcome not in doubt?

I think 90's AO would be a good match up between too as well. Today's grass could be interesting though I'd back Sampras on any grass clearly.
Click to expand...

Best slam surface. Djoko is not nearly as good at USO historically as AO. The surfaces have changed a bit the last couple years. I dont know about 90s AO surface. But if you took Djoks level at AO at his peak and Sampras and went on some in between surface, Id back Djokovic significantly.
 
NatF said:
Djokovic vs Sampras at the USO, outcome not in doubt?

I think 90's AO would be a good match up between too as well. Today's grass could be interesting though I'd back Sampras on any grass clearly.
Click to expand...

Nadal vs. Borg peak for peak is also in doubt. Ned wouldn’t have any match-up advantage, and it’s virtually impossible to tell how would Borg fare against him on clay if they were both born in 1986. The different racquet technology makes this impossible to compare.
 
Federer vs Sampras anywhere but clay for the epic battles between two all court players.

Peak Federer vs Nasal on quicker USO
 
125downthemiddle said:
Best slam surface. Djoko is not nearly as good at USO historically as AO. The surfaces have changed a bit the last couple years. I dont know about 90s AO surface. But if you took Djoks level at AO at his peak and Sampras and went on some in between surface, Id back Djokovic significantly.
Click to expand...

Career wise that's definitely true but I just figured you'd give Djokovic some chance at the USO even if favouring Sampras. Do you feel a peak for peak match-up between Federer and Djokovic at the USO would be heavily slanted Federer's way?

Fair enough about the AO, it was still a reasonably slow court in the 90's, though no where near peak plexi levels of slow, Sampras in his best runs there was really good - not far from Agassi at all IMO. Think it would be a good match on a medium-slow court.

StANDAA said:
Nadal vs. Borg peak for peak is also in doubt. Ned wouldn’t have any match-up advantage, and it’s virtually impossible to tell how would Borg fare against him on clay if they were both born in 1986. The different racquet technology makes this impossible to compare.
Click to expand...

125 is of the opinion that today's athletes are simply on another level to the ones from Borg's era. I like to give past greats a bit more slack than him so I would agree with you - I think Borg with modern racquets etc...would be insanely good. But I've had that discussion a few times, I respect his opinion so no need to rehash it IMO.
 
NatF said:
Career wise that's definitely true but I just figured you'd give Djokovic some chance at the USO even if favouring Sampras. Do you feel a peak for peak match-up between Federer and Djokovic at the USO would be heavily slanted Federer's way?

Fair enough about the AO, it was still a reasonably slow court in the 90's, though no where near peak plexi levels of slow, Sampras in his best runs there was really good - not far from Agassi at all IMO. Think it would be a good match on a medium-slow court.



125 is of the opinion that today's athletes are simply on another level to the ones from Borg's era. I like to give past greats a bit more slack than him so I would agree with you - I think Borg with modern racquets etc...would be insanely good. But I've had that discussion a few times, I respect his opinion so no need to rehash it IMO.
Click to expand...

Yes, or if not heavily enough that I wouldn't doubt the outcome.

Sort of, although obviously there are exceptions but yes when comparing the best athletes from them now usually. Nadal vs. Borg definitely edge Nadal imo. I see Borg as a great all time athlete but Nadal as every bit the athlete Borg was in a bigger more powerful and explosive body. I don't think Borg could create the RPM Nadal does with modern technology.
 
BTW, I would probably pick Federer at Wimbledon if forced to pick. Not so sure at USO between Sampras and Federer.
 
125downthemiddle said:
Yes, or if not heavily enough that I wouldn't doubt the outcome.

Sort of, although obviously there are exceptions but yes when comparing the best athletes from them now usually. Nadal vs. Borg definitely edge Nadal imo. I see Borg as a great all time athlete but Nadal as every bit the athlete Borg was in a bigger more powerful and explosive body. I don't think Borg could create the RPM Nadal does with modern technology.
Click to expand...

Ok fair enough. Probably agree on the USO :P

IMO Borg would be a better server and returner than Nadal regardless of era's. In terms of generating spin and power of the ground, Borg was a big hitter in his day - aside from clay when he played a different way - could he generate the power of Nadal? Possibly not but I do think he could match Nadal in a similar way to Djokovic, with great (if not overpowering) shots of both sides and good first strikes - plus he definitely has more patience than Djokovic to stay in the rallies.
 
NatF said:
Ok fair enough. Probably agree on the USO :p

IMO Borg would be a better server and returner than Nadal regardless of era's. In terms of generating spin and power of the ground, Borg was a big hitter in his day - aside from clay when he played a different way - could he generate the power of Nadal? Possibly not but I do think he could match Nadal in a similar way to Djokovic, with great (if not overpowering) shots of both sides and good first strikes - plus he definitely has more patience than Djokovic to stay in the rallies.
Click to expand...

I'd be curious to see peak Guga vs Nadal as well at RG. Just feel that might be an interesting matchup... Obviously, I would give Borg the best chance of anyone ever though. He does have some similarites to Djokovic including extreme grip which can eat up high balls well.
 
125downthemiddle said:
BTW, I would probably pick Federer at Wimbledon if forced to pick. Not so sure at USO between Sampras and Federer.
Click to expand...

I'd probably pick Federer everywhere but carpet in terms of single peak performances, but Sampras would have a big say in any match with his attacking game.
 
125downthemiddle said:
I'd be curious to see peak Guga vs Nadal as well at RG. Just feel that might be an interesting matchup... Obviously, I would give Borg the best chance of anyone ever though. He does have some similarites to Djokovic including extreme grip which can eat up high balls well.
Click to expand...

Guga is probably third on my list for clay court "peak" so that could be good. If he had stayed injury free then he could have been an interesting opponent for Nadal in 05-06.
 
NatF said:
Career wise that's definitely true but I just figured you'd give Djokovic some chance at the USO even if favouring Sampras. Do you feel a peak for peak match-up between Federer and Djokovic at the USO would be heavily slanted Federer's way?

Fair enough about the AO, it was still a reasonably slow court in the 90's, though no where near peak plexi levels of slow, Sampras in his best runs there was really good - not far from Agassi at all IMO. Think it would be a good match on a medium-slow court.



125 is of the opinion that today's athletes are simply on another level to the ones from Borg's era. I like to give past greats a bit more slack than him so I would agree with you - I think Borg with modern racquets etc...would be insanely good. But I've had that discussion a few times, I respect his opinion so no need to rehash it IMO.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I recommend watching this video to everyone on TTW, probably the best TED talk I’ve ever seen. Borg could have been an absolute monster with the modern topspin for all we know. Damn shame we’ll never find out.

 
StANDAA said:
Yeah, I recommend watching this video to everyone on TTW. Borg could have been an absolute monster with the modern topspin for all we know. Damn shame we’ll never find out.

Click to expand...

That's a good video, but I also just think Nadal is bigger, faster, and stronger than Borg personally regardless of overall trends.
 
NatF said:
I'd probably pick Federer everywhere but carpet in terms of single peak performances, but Sampras would have a big say in any match with his attacking game.
Click to expand...

What about older fast indoors tourneys? Or something like Basel? :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Spin Diesel
  • Poll Poll
Which match would you prefer to see at RG?
Replies
27
Views
2K
Spin Diesel
Spin Diesel
mike danny
  • Poll Poll
If given a choice, which GS would you visit and watch live from start to finish?
2
Replies
63
Views
3K
ProStaff forever
ProStaff forever
B
Federer fans, which would you prefer?
Replies
42
Views
4K
PMChambers
P
S
If you could watch ONE Grand Slam match, which one would you pick
Replies
10
Views
1K
Cyan
Cyan
Jokervich
  • Poll Poll
Out of these 2 options, which do you think Djokovic would take for next year?
Replies
9
Views
738
tennisfan2015
T
Back
Top