Who experienced a greater decline in level, Federer from 2006 to 2011 or Djokovic from 2015 to 2024?

[TennisProphet2024]

Federer had his best season ever in 2006, winning 3/4 Slams and the ATP Finals. But surprisingly, 5 years later, he had his first Slam-less year in a while (since 2002, to be precise). It was obvious that he was past his prime and his level had declined considerably.
Similarly, Djokovic had his best season ever in 2015, also winning 3/4 Slams and the ATP Finals. However, in 2024, he is most likely to have his first Slam-less year since 2017 (I genuinely do not see him winning the US Open this year). It is obvious that 2015 Djokovic >>>> 2024 Djokovic in terms of level.

Both players go from winning 75% of the Slams in the year to none, but who experienced a greater decline in level?
Personally, I am going with Djokovic on this one, but what do you guys think?

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Djokovic, for sure, yeah.

However, not much of a point in comparing since Federer was 29/30 in 2011 and Djokovic 36/37.

 

[TennisProphet2024]

Maybe some of you might say that I could have gone with 2023 to 2024 in Djokovic's case instead of 2015 to 2024, but I feel like Djoker's results in 2023 were mostly attributed to an extremely weak field rather than his actual level of play. I still think that 2024 Djokovic can win Adelaide, AO and RG if he played in the 2023 field, replacing himself from last year.

 

[tennis_pro]

Djokovic 100%, Fed was still very close to his prime level at some of the tournaments, especially FO/USO and the indoor season. Djokovic is half as good this year as he was in 2015, if that.

 

[NatF]

I want to know who voted Federer.

 

[TennisProphet2024]

I want to know who voted Federer.

Probably some absolute trolls lol

 

[jl809]

Djokovic declined more and it’s not remotely close imo

For a calendar year overall, 2011 Federer was arguably better than any post 2016 version of Nadal or Djokovic that we’ve seen. I don’t think any of them would have improved on the year he put together (aside from 2017 Nadal probably being able to win RG)

• He lost 3 times to prime/peak Djokodal in slams, 2 of those being to Djokovic’s arguably best ever level at the AO and best/2nd best ever level at the USO… and the other to Nadal on clay
• He lost 3 times to Djokodal in M1000s
• He still beat Peak Djokovic at 1 slam and had MPs against him at another
• He had an insane indoor season where he dominated the final months of the calendar year
• His win % against everyone not called Nadal or Djokovic was 92.5%, so he was still very close to dominating the field. Was better than his “prime” 2007 W/L against non-Djokodal too. Even in his L against a redlining Tsonga at 2011 Wimbledon, his winner - error stats were ridiculously good

 

[GRASScaraz]

Fred was done after losing to Canas

 

[RS]

We actually need a thread dedicated to the big 3 as trio were we praise them non stop.

 

[TennisProphet2024]

Djokovic 100%, Fed was still very close to his prime level at some of the tournaments, especially FO/USO and the indoor season. Djokovic is half as good this year as he was in 2015, if that.

I disagree. Federer was MILES better in 2006 than he was in 2011 at every Slam.
2006 Federer defeats 2011 Federer in straights at RG and USO. The scorelines would be similar to the 2020 RG final and 2023 USO final.

But yeah, Djokovic's decline from 2015 to 2024 is still more pronounced.

 

[Sport]

2024 Djokovic was aged 37 in 3 out of 4 Slams.
2011 Federer was aged 29 in 3 out of 4 Slams.

The comparison is ridiculous, Federer hadn't declined in 2011, in fact he peaked at RG in 2011. The best ever version of Federer at RG was in 2011 by a giant margin.

 

[RS]

2024 Djokovic was aged 37 in 3 out of 4 Slams.
2011 Federer was aged 29 in 3 out of 4 Slams.

The comparison is ridiculous, Federer hadn't declined in 2011, in fact he peaked at RG in 2011. The best ever version of Federer at RG was in 2011 by a giant margin.

I am big on RG 07 Fed man. Think the level from both in the final was top notch.

 

[TennisProphet2024]

2024 Djokovic was aged 37 in 3 out of 4 Slams.
2011 Federer was aged 29 in 3 out of 4 Slams.

The comparison is ridiculous, Federer hadn't declined in 2011, in fact he peaked at RG in 2011. The best ever version of Federer at RG was in 2011 by a giant margin.

LMAO this is ridiculous. 2006 Federer destroys 2011 Federer at RG in straights. It would be similar to the demolition we saw int he 2020 RG final.

 

[GoatNo1]

some of the dumbest threads i have seen. from 2006 to 2011 is 5 years and from 2015 to 2024 is 9 years. to take 2020 is not that good bc of covid and W20. but you can try with 2021.

 

[thrust]

Djokovic 100%, Fed was still very close to his prime level at some of the tournaments, especially FO/USO and the indoor season. Djokovic is half as good this year as he was in 2015, if that.

I AGREE! Federer was winning slams after 2011, whereas Novak at 37, is unlikely to win anymore slams.

 

[TennisProphet2024]

some of the dumbest threads i have seen. from 2006 to 2011 is 5 years and from 2015 to 2024 is 9 years. to take 2020 is not that good bc of covid and W20. but you can try with 2021.

Believe it or not, but some Fedfans would disagree with you. They think that 2011 Federer was only like 20% of what he was in 2006.
Obviously, you seem like a Djokovic fan, so maybe you may find it stupid, but for some really diehard Fedfans, the answer may not be so clear.
Also, statistics wise, those two cases are comparable. As I said, both players went from winning 75% of the year's Slams to none. That's why I would definitely not compare 2015 Djoker to his 2021 self. The level may have declined, but the results were still fantastic in 2021.

 

[Bastion]

What is next dumbo thread, who has gone bald the most since 2020?

 

[TennisProphet2024]

What is next dumbo thread, who has gone bald the most since 2020?

For some really diehard Fedfans, this thread is not dumb at all.
Also, to answer your question, I think Federer lost more hair than Djokovic since 2020

 

[ND-13]

Djock did not decline. He went from strength to strength and used all his experience to improve and garnered more majors and accomplishments after age 31.

The period from 2018-2023 is peak Novak . He is still very good, just that Alcaraz and Sinner are taking tennis to even higher levels

 

[Bastion]

For some really diehard Fedfans, this thread is not dumb at all.
Also, to answer your question, I think Federer lost more hair than Djokovic since 2020

Nadal the bald goat, even more comprehensive than his clay dominance.

 

[jackson vile]

Federer didn’t decline he just had better competition as Nadal and Novak started to move to their primes.

 

[TennisProphet2024]

Nadal the bald goat, even more comprehensive than his clay dominance.

Nope, the bald goat would be Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

 

[TennisProphet2024]

Federer didn’t decline he just had better competition as Nadal and Novak started to move to their primes.

I strongly disagree.
2006 Federer obliterates 2011 Federer everywhere, except for at the Paris Masters. Only at the AO would their match be remotely close, just because Federer underperformed at the AO in 2006. But everywhere else, it would be a demolition akin to e.g. 2020 RG final, 2024 WB final, 2023 USO final, etc.

 

[thrust]

Believe it or not, but some Fedfans would disagree with you. They think that 2011 Federer was only like 20% of what he was in 2006.
Obviously, you seem like a Djokovic fan, so maybe you may find it stupid, but for some really diehard Fedfans, the answer may not be so clear.
Also, statistics wise, those two cases are comparable. As I said, both players went from winning 75% of the year's Slams to none. That's why I would definitely not compare 2015 Djoker to his 2021 self. The level may have declined, but the results were still fantastic in 2021.

To say that 2011 Federer was only 20% of what he was in 06, is ridiculous! The problem for Federer from 2011-2020 was peak Nadal and Djokovic.

 

[RS]

To say that 2011 Federer was only 20% of what he was in 06, is ridiculous! The problem for Federer from 2011-2020 was peak Nadal and Djokovic.

More like 80% of what he was in 2006

 

[NatF]

2024 Djokovic was aged 37 in 3 out of 4 Slams.
2011 Federer was aged 29 in 3 out of 4 Slams.

The comparison is ridiculous, Federer hadn't declined in 2011, in fact he peaked at RG in 2011. The best ever version of Federer at RG was in 2011 by a giant margin.

 

[TheAssassin]

After seeing one gap being five years while the other is nearly a decade, seeing the third poll option being "too close to call" genuinely made me chuckle a bit lol...

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

Djoker. It’s just Fed had to deal with Nadal and Djoker in their primes. Djoker had no one except old Nadal

 

[RS]

After seeing one gap being five years while the other is nearly a decade, seeing the third poll option being "too close to call" genuinely made me chuckle a bit lol...

Funny enough it's a fairly competitive poll though

 

[BGod]

5 years vs. 9 years???

That by default but also Novak being older in 15 than Fed in 05-06.

 

[SonnyT]

Federer 2006-15 and Djokovic 2011-20
OR
Federer 2006-11 and Djokovic 2011-16

 

[Sudacafan]

The steepest decline?
Federer, from Jan 2008 until the Hurkacz Wimbledon bagel, when it stopped for good.

 

[GloW]

idk djoko 2023 was very good compared to federer's 2010 ngl.

 

[TennisProphet2024]

idk djoko 2023 was very good compared to federer's 2010 ngl.

Hmm... I do agree, actually. I don't think it will be as one-sided as some may claim, however weak the 2023 field was.
If we were to do a comparison between 2010 Federer and 2024 Djokovic:

Slams:

AO: Federer 6-4
RG: Djokovic 6-4
WB: Federer 7-3
USO: Djokovic 6-4

ATP Finals: Federer 6-4 if we assume that they both meet in the final or the semi-final. But if they meet at any time before that, then Federer 9-1

I will only be comparing the Masters tournaments that both players participated in:
Indian Wells: Djoker did not play
Miami: Djoker did not play
Monte Carlo: Fed did not play
Madrid: Djoker did not play
Rome: Djokovic 6-4
Toronto: Djoker did not play
Cincinnati: Djokovic 5.5-4.5
Shanghai: Djoker did not play
Paris Masters: Djokovic 5.5-4.5

Overall: 40-40 (tied) if they play in the SF/F of the ATP Finals. If not, then 43-37 in 2010 Federer's favour.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

LMAO this is ridiculous. 2006 Federer destroys 2011 Federer at RG in straights. It would be similar to the demolition we saw int he 2020 RG final.

This is ridiculous as well.

 

[NoleFam]

What kind of comparison is this?

 

[TennisProphet2024]

This is ridiculous as well.

To a Djokovic fan, yes.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

To a Djokovic fan, yes.

Federer 2011 at RG was the only player in the year to beat Djokovic at a slam, he also had his closest match ever with Nadal in Paris, but yes, he would get destroyed with a bagel and a 6-2 lol. 2006 was a set and a break down to Nalbandian and almost lost a set to HARTFIELD. But sure, he would bagel 2011 Federer that beat Djokovic, took a set from Nadal and could have easily taken two.

 

[metsman]

Fed 06 to 11 is similar to Joe 11 to 18. Both are pretty significant declines in physical prowess, as you would expect from 24/25 to 30/31.

Fed 11 played 11 Djokovic to a draw, won 1 major, snuck in a few more majors 6 years later. Meanwhile, 18 and even worse versions of Djokovic were winning majors at the rate of 06 Fed.

 

[Holmes]

Maybe some of you might say that I could have gone with 2023 to 2024 in Djokovic's case instead of 2015 to 2024, but I feel like Djoker's results in 2023 were mostly attributed to an extremely weak field rather than his actual level of play. I still think that 2024 Djokovic can win Adelaide, AO and RG if he played in the 2023 field, replacing himself from last year.

Federer's results in 2006 and 2009 have also been attributed to an extremely weak field.

 

[Fabresque]

The comparison is pretty silly lmfao. Fed was 29 in 2011. There was hardly much of a decline, he was in his latter prime and still very much a major threat. Djokovic getting better stopped him from winning at least 2/4 slams that year.

 

[Third Serve]

Fed 06 to 11 is similar to Joe 11 to 18. Both are pretty significant declines in physical prowess, as you would expect from 24/25 to 30/31.

Fed 11 played 11 Djokovic to a draw, won 1 major, snuck in a few more majors 6 years later. Meanwhile, 18 and even worse versions of Djokovic were winning majors at the rate of 06 Fed.

Fed 11 didn’t even win a major actually.