Who played in more difficult era? Djokovic or Nadal?
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TheNachoMan
Legend
They played in the exact same era lol.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal played more in the strong era (2008-2013) and a lot less in the weak era (2015-2023) than Djokovic.
TheNachoMan
Legend
Funny how the weak era begins in 2015, the same year that Nadal’s form fell off a cliff.
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
This! Haha
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
I’d never take any Murray version against Djokovic down under for final matches especially. I’d go Djokovic in 4 or 5 again.
As for Wimbledon though that’s more likely but would be close. Djokovic 2015 was the best grass version due to way better serve and net game. Another level up and more complete than 2011-2013 Djokovic on grass. I see a 5 setter. I’d give Murray the edge though just due to his perfect 2-0 H2H over Novak there. Therefore, peak for peak he may edge it but not certain.
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Hypo Crisis
Professional
Given the peak years - Djokovic had it tougher
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Litmus test for "are you an Ultronian?"
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
Nadal on clay that’s for sure.Such strong era consisted of one opponent
Hitman
Bionic Poster
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
We are confusing era played with when they played their best. Not the same thing.
Obviously they played in the same era. They are not even one year apart.
But Nadal’s best years were not always the same as Novak’s, or they lasted a lot less. Especially on some surfaces.
But that has nothing to do with the era they played in and 100% to do with their own tennis abilities.
Obviously they played in the same era. They are not even one year apart.
But Nadal’s best years were not always the same as Novak’s, or they lasted a lot less. Especially on some surfaces.
But that has nothing to do with the era they played in and 100% to do with their own tennis abilities.
sportsfan1
Legend
Since they're both about the same age, comes down to who won more slams when the competition was tougher.Litmus test for "are you an Ultronian?"
You are basically saying Nadal and Djok spawned the same eras but they won in completely different portions.
Nadal has been winning constantly and his spread is uniform.
Djokovic won 6 of his first 39 majors and 17 of his next 31 majors.
So it is wrong to say they won in the same eras. I think what OP is asking is who won in a tougher period.
RaulRamirez
Legend
As they never played each other head to head, we can only speculate on this.
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
Or “was I watching tennis in 2004” lolOr are you a Bullzillion?
TheNachoMan
Legend
We get it, you’re old
Federer's career started almost 8 years before Djokovic.
Nadal and Djokovic played in the same era but won in completely different trajectories.
The interesting question is who won in a difficult era.
StrongRule
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal peaked much earlier, and had to play in a very difficult era, which is why he also declined earlier. Djokovic mostly waited for his rivals to decline, and started vulturing like crazy. And don't bring me the "rewatch 2011" stuff. I have never said Djokovic didn't have a very high peak himself. But after 2013 he didn't have any real rivals in their primes.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
And this is even clearer if we look at it by surfaces.
Nadal had a (very) high level in clay throughout most of his career. But his level in grass or HC was much more lumpy
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Tennfan123
Legend
Lol.
Nadal had to play in both Fed prime and Djokovic prime eras.
Nadal had to play in both Fed prime and Djokovic prime eras.
NeutralFan
G.O.A.T.
Your favourite topic , son!
Razer
Legend
An era is not a 4 year period or 8 year period, it is a massive 15+ years period which encompasses the careers of long playing set of athletes.
Have you heard the term "END OF AN ERA" ?
I mean we heard the BS like Weak Era, Strong era, Career Inflation, all these are terms coined by men who never held a racquet in their lives at any professional level.... But in the mainstream an era is always used in this context ... "END OF AN ERA ... "
Rosewall, Connors, Agassi, Nandal and Alcaraz are 5 athletes who played at the crossroads between eras.
1973 - Rosewall and Connors were in the top 10 together for the first time
1988 - Connors and Agassi were in the top 10 together for the first time
2005 - Agassi and Nandal were in the top 10 together for the first time
2022 - Nandal and Agassi were in the top 10 together for the first time
Thus
Rosewall symbolizes pre open era in which Laver, Emerson and co played with him
Connors symbolizes the era in which Borg, Lendl, Mac, Navratilova, Evert all played with him.
Agassi symbolizes the era in which Sampras, Graf, Seles, Becker all played with him
Nandal symbolizes the era in which Federer, Djokovic, Serena and Venus, Surgapova all played with him.
Alcaraz symbolized the era in which Sinner, Rune and some new ATGs who will emerge after him shall all play ....
So like I said, the eras are classified this way.
TheNachoMan
Legend
Don't pull some random number out of a bag...
If Federer and Djokovic are same era, then Djokovic and Mackie McDonald are same era. Muguruza and Coco Gauff will be same era.
TheNachoMan
Legend
Djokovic and Federer have played 50 times. I’d say that’s the same era. Different era would be Federer and Connors, or Djokovic and Borg.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
i can understand Fed fans that claim
Novak won once Fed was no longer at his peak. I don’t think that’s an interesting or good argument for multiple reasons but at least I get where they come from.
But Nadal fans? They are the same age. Nadal was doing fine until he slammed into 2011 Novak. Nadal was 24-25 at the time. Without Novak that would have probably been his best season ever.
They played in the same era. They just didn’t play equally well in all the surfaces during that era.
It happens
Novak won once Fed was no longer at his peak. I don’t think that’s an interesting or good argument for multiple reasons but at least I get where they come from.
But Nadal fans? They are the same age. Nadal was doing fine until he slammed into 2011 Novak. Nadal was 24-25 at the time. Without Novak that would have probably been his best season ever.
They played in the same era. They just didn’t play equally well in all the surfaces during that era.
It happens
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
If Coco plays Muguruza 50 times, they dont become same era.
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
Mugurusa and Gauff won't play 50 matches. Antother poor comprarision
Razer
Legend
Eras are always determines based on what percentage of 1st H2H to last H2H fell in their productive career.
Federer won his first slam in 03, Nadal in 05, Djokovic in 08, Stan in 13, Ferrer never even won a slam. This doesn't mean Nadal and Stan are diff gen while nadal is same gen to fed based on peaks and primes? haha, you fellas need to cope better, all of these men are of the same era, nobody cares for who started to win first or who came first or left .....
Between Federer's first Match vs Nole and his last match vs Nole
Federer won - 13 Slams & Lost 11 Slam Finals
Djokovic won - 17 Slams & Lost 9 Slam Finals
77.4% of Federer's slam finals occurred during Fedovic rivalry span
74.2% of Djokovic's slam finals occurred during Fedovic rivalry span
Between Federer's first Match vs Nadal and his last match vs Nadal
Federer won - 18 Slams and Lost 11 Slam Finals
Nadal won - 18 Slams and Lost 8 Slams Finals
93.5% of Federer's slam finals occurred during Fedal's rivalry span
86.7% of Nadal's slam finals occurred during Fedal's rivalry span
Between Djokovic's first Match vs Nadal and his last match vs Nadal
Djokovic won - 21 Slams and lost 11 Slam Finals
Nadal won - 21 Slam and lost 8 Slam Finals
96.7% of Nadal's Slam finals occurred during Djokodal's rivalry span
85.7% of Djokovic's Slam finals occurred during Djokodal's rivalry span
When there is such a big overlap of more than 70-75% for both then yes, they are of the same era
Now who is Mackenzie Mcdonald ? he turned pro in 2016, Novak had already won 50% of his slams by then and even then they have never met.
Djokovic turned pro in 2003 and after that Federer won his first slam, they met each other in 2006 for first time and last in 2020, it is stupid to say they are not from the same era. They themselves say they are from same era and same generation of players.
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Sampras-Bruguera 1993
Legend
Nadal obviously due to being sandwiched between Fed and Djoker along with Murray thrown in for good mix. Djokers run didn’t start until Fed was on slam number 11 or 12
Nadal was stuck playing everyone’s best form
Nadal was stuck playing everyone’s best form
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GabeT
G.O.A.T.
He wasn’t “stuck”. nothing stopped Nadal from winning the same years Novak won other than that his level wasn’t good enough. just like Novak’s level wasn’t good enough to win when Nadal triumphed.
GabeT
G.O.A.T.
Of course, Nadal and Novak belong to the same era. And that means they faced the same competition. But with two important caveats.
First, obviously, they didn’t face themselves. So Nadal never faced anyone as good in clay as Novak did. Same applies (but not to the same degree) with Novak in the other surfaces.
And then even when they faced the same competition they had different match ups or different levels. Fed was generally a bigger challenge for Novak than he was for Nadal (just like Novak was more of a challenge for Nadal than Fed was, although this varied by surface).
First, obviously, they didn’t face themselves. So Nadal never faced anyone as good in clay as Novak did. Same applies (but not to the same degree) with Novak in the other surfaces.
And then even when they faced the same competition they had different match ups or different levels. Fed was generally a bigger challenge for Novak than he was for Nadal (just like Novak was more of a challenge for Nadal than Fed was, although this varied by surface).
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BorgTheGOAT
Legend
Agree with all here. Only one small correction: Nadal only won 21 not 22 slams after his first meeting with Djokovic (it happened at FO 2006 where he had already won FO 2005). I think it was a typo anyways as you got the percentages right.
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
Gauff was born 2004 ,Muguruza 1993.11 years apart,almost double of Djokovic Federer They played one literally one match 3 years ago.Muguruza career is in queststion due to injuries/burnout.Last match played in January .It makes your comparision beyond ridiculous.Why are you doing this to yourself?
Federer/Djokovic played their first majors in 1998/2005 - 7 years gap
Muguruza/Gauff played their first majors in 2012/2018 - 6 years gap. If anything, they are even closer to each other than Fed/Djokovic
Federer/Djokovic age difference is 6 years
Djokovic/McDonald age difference is less than 8 years.
There we go, same eras.
@Razer : By the time, Novak won his second major, Federer had won 14 majors. No, their eras are not the same just because RF chose to play tennis until age 40.
Muguruza/Gauff played their first majors in 2012/2018 - 6 years gap. If anything, they are even closer to each other than Fed/Djokovic
Federer/Djokovic age difference is 6 years
Djokovic/McDonald age difference is less than 8 years.
There we go, same eras.
@Razer : By the time, Novak won his second major, Federer had won 14 majors. No, their eras are not the same just because RF chose to play tennis until age 40.
Razer
Legend
By the time Novak won his second major, Federer had won 16 majors.
By the time Stan won his 1st Major, Federer had won 17 Majors
By the time Novak won his second major, Nadal had won 9 Majors
By the time Stan won his 1st Major, Nadal had won 13 Majors
So what ?
Only online warriors use these type of logics to classify generations for players, as per your nonsense logic Wawrinka is next gen to Nadal and Federer, LOL
In reality ..... Federer, Nadal, Wawrinka, Djokovic, Ferrer, Roddick, Hewitt, Murray, Monfils, Verdasco, Soderling are all from the same generation of players - Period !
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
Trying to deflect frurther developing ridiculous comparision between players.Btw I know you’re reading
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