Who would win more Big titles in 2006 if replaced with Federer, 2011 Djokovic or 2023-2024 Sinner?

Who would win more Big titles in 2006 if replaced with Federer?

  • 2011 Djokovic

    Votes: 33 86.8%

  • 2024 Sinner

    Votes: 5 13.2%

  • Both equal

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    38
Megafanoftennis100

Megafanoftennis100

Hall of Fame
OK, this is something I genuinely want to do for fun, not seriously, so please try not to accuse me of "trolling" even if you see a supposedly false statement.
This thread is about which player would win more Big Titles (including Slams, Masters, ATP Finals) in the year 2006 if they are to be replaced with peak Federer. Our candidates here are 2011 Djokovic and 2023-2024 Sinner. Now, since the 2024 season has obviously not ended yet, I am going to use the version of Sinner between January and May of 2024 AND the one between June and December of 2023, so that we can have a complete year.

Hence, without further adieu, here is my prediction:

2011 Djokovic:
AO: loses to Baghdatis
IW: wins
Miami: wins
Madrid: wins
Rome: wins
RG: loses to Nadal
WB: loses to Ancic
Cincinnati: loses to Murray
USO: wins
Basel: loses to a random player
ATP Finals: loses to Nadal

Overall, 5 Big Titles, including 1 Slam and 4 Masters
Hence, this exposes the myth about 2011 being "one of the strongest years ever"

2024 Sinner:
AO: wins
IW: wins
Miami: wins
Monte Carlo: loses narrowly to Nadal
Madrid: withdraws in the middle
2023 Sinner:
RG: loses terribly to Nadal
WB: wins
Rogers Cup: wins
Cincinnati: loses
USO: loses to Roddick
Shanghai: loses
Paris: wins (without the scheduling injustice)
ATP Finals: wins

Overall, 7 Big Titles, including 2 Slams, 4 Masters and 1 ATP Finals.

But what do you guys think? Do you agree?
 
GabeT said:
I have to say that I find it analytically fascinating that someone would simply make up a completely fabricated alternative reality and then actually thinks that proves something (“exposes the myth”).

:X3:
Click to expand...
First of all, I don't think that my takes on Sinner's wins are unreasonable. This time, I made sure to not be too overhyped and think more realistically.
At the AO, Sinner has really good chance. He would definitely breeze past the first 6 rounds and then beat the hell out of Baghdatis. Medvedev is clearly better than Baghdatis.
At Miami, Sinner was incredible, so this is a lock. As for Indian Wells, no one in 2006, apart from Federer, played at the level of 2024 Alcaraz there. And since Sinner narrowly lost to Alcaraz due to tanking, I would say he wins IW 2006.
As for Monte Carlo, he does lose, but let's not ignore that he was robbed of his victory against Tsitsipas in the semis!
With Madrid, nothing changes, really.
At RG, Sinner was playing terribly in 2023. Nadal and even Nalbandian would have easily crushed him.
At Wimbledon, Sinner was breezing through his first 5 matches, and only lost narrowly to Djokovic who was playing lights out tennis that day. Putting the common looking-at-everything-but-the-actual-match bias aside, I didn't see much difference in the level between 2011 WB final Djokovic and 2023 WB semi-final Djokovic. On the other hand, I think Nadal in 2006 gets overrated on grass just for challenging Federer. When taking into account that Nadal was a horrendous match up for Roger at that time, both physically and mentally, I did not find his display in the final particularly impressive. Against Sinner, Nadal would not have this match up advantage, so I would say that 2023 Sinner narrowly defeats 2006 Nadal at Wimbledon.
In Rogers Cup, Sinner was playing extremely well. Without Federer in the way, I'd say he definitely takes the title.
In Cincinnati, USO and Shanghai, Sinner was not playing well at all, and would definitely lose those tournaments (although USO might be a toss-up).
In Paris last year, Sinner had good chance of winning, but he withdrew because of the outrageous scheduling by the tournament!! Back in 2006, ATP was not as corrupt as it is now, hence, without the scheduling shenanigans, Sinner would win Paris masters.
At the ATP Finals, I don't think any explanation is needed. Judging by the way he challenged a prime Djokovic there (as opposed to an injured Djokovic at the end of 2011), I wouldn't call it far-fetched for him to defeat 2006 Nadal and Blake.
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
What about 2024 Sinner?
AO and Sunshine Doubles?
Click to expand...
Probably loses in the quarter-finals in both. Semis best case scenario.

The problem for Sinner is that there's no way that he's beating Federer or Nadal at anything in 2006.

I would put him on level with Djokovic's 2006 performance. Maybe slightly better.

If memory serves, Djokovic was able to win a couple of 250s that year. I think Sinner manages that and maybe a 500.
 
CHillTennis said:
Probably loses in the quarter-finals in both. Semis best case scenario.

The problem for Sinner is that there's no way that he's beating Federer or Nadal at anything in 2006.

I would put him on level with Djokovic's 2006 performance. Maybe slightly better.

If memory serves, Djokovic was able to win a couple of 250s that year. I think Sinner manages that and maybe a 500.
Click to expand...
I clearly said at the start that he replaces Federer in 2006!!
Also, how do you think 2023 Djokovic would do in the 2006 field if he replaced Federer?
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
I clearly said at the start that he replaces Federer in 2006!!
Also, how do you think 2023 Djokovic would do in the 2006 field if he replaced Federer?
Click to expand...
Even if you get rid of Roger Federer he probably still wouldn't be able to win a grand slam in that era.

The 2006 Australian Open would be his only shot.
 
CHillTennis said:
Even if you get rid of Roger Federer he probably still wouldn't be able to win a grand slam in that era.

The 2006 Australian Open would be his only shot.
Click to expand...
Wimbledon 2006? Nadal was the 2nd best player throughout the tournament, and only challenged Federer due to the horrendous match-up advantage
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
Oh, so you admit that 2006 field was much stronger than 2015, right? Thank you! At least, we can agree on something
Click to expand...
Actually, I take it back. Even though 2006 field is indeed stronger than 2015, there is no way 2015 Djokovic only finishes with 1 Slam if he replaced 2006 Federer. 2015 Djokovic would win Wimbledon for sure, as well as AO and USO.
At RG, he would lose to Nadal, but it won't be one-sided.
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
Wimbledon 2006? Nadal was the 2nd best player throughout the tournament, and only challenged Federer due to the horrendous match-up advantage
Click to expand...
Yes and he would take out Sinner if they met in the final or before the final. Andy Murray would probably take out Sinner if they played each other that year.
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
Actually, I take it back. Even though 2006 field is indeed stronger than 2015, there is no way 2015 Djokovic only finishes with 1 Slam if he replaced 2006 Federer. 2015 Djokovic would win Wimbledon for sure, as well as AO and USO.
At RG, he would lose to Nadal, but it won't be one-sided.
Click to expand...
No. I'm saying that 2015 Djokovic wins a slam if he plays the 2006 tennis season with Roger Federer being a part of it.

If you take Federer out then Djokovic probably wins the calendar year grand slam.
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
No, he would lose to Nadal in the final of, you-know-where. :D
Click to expand...
Nope. It wouldn't go down like that. Nadal struggled against Paul Henri Mathieu that year.

Roger should have beaten him in the final that year. He blew it after the first set.

2015 Djokovic definitely could have beaten him in '06. But not in '05, '07 or '08.
 
CHillTennis said:
No. I'm saying that 2015 Djokovic wins a slam if he plays the 2006 tennis season with Roger Federer being a part of it.

If you take Federer out then Djokovic probably wins the calendar year grand slam.
Click to expand...
But in any case, I agree with you for the most part.
However, I do think that a Wimbledon match between 2006 Federer and 2015 Djokovic will be quite interesting. Even though Federer would prevail, it wouldn't be easy and I bet Djokovic would give him a harder time than Nadal did.
Despite there being a clear winner, I think it would still be a pop-corn worthy match. What do you think?
 
CHillTennis said:
Nope. It wouldn't go down like that. Nadal struggled against Paul Henri Mathieu that year.

Roger should have beaten him in the final that year. He blew it after the first set.

2015 Djokovic definitely could have beaten him in '06. But not in '05, '07 or '08.
Click to expand...
Djokovic struggled against Murray in the semis and got destroyed by Wawrinka in the final...
 
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CHillTennis said:
Nope. It wouldn't go down like that. Nadal struggled against Paul Henri Mathieu that year.

Roger should have beaten him in the final that year. He blew it after the first set.

2015 Djokovic definitely could have beaten him in '06. But not in '05, '07 or '08.
Click to expand...
I also think Nadal played better in 2006 RG than in 2005, no?
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
But in any case, I agree with you for the most part.
However, I do think that a Wimbledon match between 2006 Federer and 2015 Djokovic will be quite interesting. Even though Federer would prevail, it wouldn't be easy and I bet Djokovic would give him a harder time than Nadal did.
Despite there being a clear winner, I think it would still be a pop-corn worthy match. What do you think?
Click to expand...
Yeah, it would be a very high quality match! Probably at least as good as the 2009 Wimbledon final.

My opinion is that the outcome would be at least as close as Roger's first final with Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2004. That match went to Federer in four sets.

Bud Collins asked Federer, after he had just won Wimbledon in 2006 if his match against Nadal was the toughest one that he'd had since the beginning of his reign as the champion.

Federer thought about it and said that he thought that the first final against Roddick was his toughest final up to that point. But that clearly changed a year later.

I think 2015 Djokovic loses in five sets to 2006 Federer.
 
Last edited:
Megafanoftennis100 said:
I also think Nadal played better in 2006 RG than in 2005, no?
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Definitely, no. I've seen both. He was a monster at the 2005 French Open.

But 2006 was a different deal. He was off that year for some reason, similar to how Federer was off at the 2005 US Open, but still wound up winning the event.

Nadal looked vulnerable at the French Open in 2006, '11 and '13.

But not in the other years that he won there.
 
CHillTennis said:
It would be at least as close as Roger first final with Andy at Wimbledon in 2004. That match went to Federer in four sets.

Bud Collins asked Federer, after he had just won Wimbledon in 2006 if his match against Nadal was the toughest one that he'd had since the beginning of his reign as the champion. Federer said that he thought that the first final with Roddick was his toughest final up to that point. But that clearly changed a year later.

I think 2015 Djokovic loses in five sets to 2006 Federer.
Click to expand...
Oh, man, this is seriously one of the matches I would pay to see in real life!! Along with:
USO: 2010 Nadal vs 2011 Djokovic (finals performances only)
USO: 2010 Nadal vs 2004 Federer (finals performances only)
AO: 2007 Federer vs 2019 Djokovic (finals performances only)
RG: 2011 Federer vs 2013 Djokovic (semi-finals performances only)
WB: 2006 Federer vs 2008 Nadal (finals performances only)
WB: 1999 Sampras vs 1996 Krajicek (finals performance for Pete, QF performance for Richard)
 
CHillTennis said:
Definitely, no. I've seen both. He was a monster at the 2005 French Open.

But 2006 was a different deal. He was off that year for some reason, similar to how Federer was off at the 2005 US Open, but still wound up winning the event.

Nadal looked vulnerable at the French Open in 2006, '11 and '13.

But not in the other years that he won there.
Click to expand...
What about 2022?
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
Oh, man, this is seriously one of the matches I would pay to see in real life!! Along with:
USO: 2010 Nadal vs 2011 Djokovic (finals performances only)
USO: 2010 Nadal vs 2004 Federer (finals performances only)
AO: 2007 Federer vs 2019 Djokovic (finals performances only)
RG: 2011 Federer vs 2013 Djokovic (semi-finals performances only)
WB: 2006 Federer vs 2008 Nadal (finals performances only)
WB: 1999 Sampras vs 1996 Krajicek (finals performance for Pete, QF performance for Richard)
Click to expand...
2008 Nadal vs 1995 Sampras at Wimbledon would be absolutely insane.

I would also take 2011 US Open Djokovic against 1990 US Open Sampras along with 2005 Roger Federer against 1984 John McEnroe at Wimbledon (or at the US Open.)
 
Megafanoftennis100 said:
How about this?:
Wimbledon: 2015 Federer vs 2008 Nadal, BUT we choose exclusively the SF performance for Federer and finals performance for Nadal.
Click to expand...
That's back when Federer was working with Edberg. But before he started using the SABR (not that it really matters.)

I would say that Nadal wins that one in straights. Roger's forehand had lost a lot of it's zip by the time 2015 rolled around.

Rafael Nadal was very, very tough to beat on grass prior to 2012.

Even though he didn't win as many Wimbledon titles as Bjorn Borg, I would still put him as being about on level with Borg on grass.
 
Sinner hasn’t been healthy so it’s hard to determine. I think conditions were faster in 2006 than now so Djoker would probably struggle a little bit more than he did in 2011 when conditions started to slow down more.

I think sinner would do better in the 2000’s than the 2020’s personally (provided there’s no big 3 around of course) . Conditions more suited for his game
 
TheGoldenEra1990’s said:
Sinner hasn’t been healthy so it’s hard to determine. I think conditions were faster in 2006 than now so Djoker would probably struggle a little bit more than he did in 2011 when conditions started to slow down more.

I think sinner would do better in the 2000’s than the 2020’s personally (provided there’s no big 3 around of course) . Conditions more suited for his game
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The US Open was definitely a lot faster back then.

But the Australian Open was significantly slower in the 2000s.

Wimbledon was also very slow back in those years.
 
Here are my projections, assuming that Federer and Nadal play in 2006, but not Djoker.

2023 Sinner wouldn’t need to exert himself as much in 2006, so he’d redline the whole year. He’d win 3 slam titles(Nadal was a beast on clay) + the Masters Cup + 7 Masters titles en route to an overall record of 87-3. All 3 of his losses would be to Nadal on clay. However, he’d be undefeated for the year off of clay.

2023 Benoit Paire with no Sinner or Djoker around in 2006 wins 2 slam titles and 5 Masters titles while finishing #1 in the rankings, with Federer finishing #2 and Rafa #3. Paire would have won 3 slams titles, except that he would have collapsed mentally after whizzing has pants after building up a 5-0 lead in the 5th set during the Wimbledon final vs Federer. That’s how Federer steals his lone big title of the year in 2006.
 
CHillTennis said:
Definitely, no. I've seen both. He was a monster at the 2005 French Open.

But 2006 was a different deal. He was off that year for some reason, similar to how Federer was off at the 2005 US Open, but still wound up winning the event.

Nadal looked vulnerable at the French Open in 2006, '11 and '13.

But not in the other years that he won there.
Click to expand...
Not in 2013 though. It's just that Djoker played perhaps the best RG match of his career in the semis.
 
CHillTennis said:
I should also add in 1995 Agassi against 2012 Djokovic at the Australian Open. Who wins that one?
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Ooh, that's a tough one! I am inclined to pick Djokovic simply because beating peak Nadal and peak Murray back to back was pretty insane, but at the same time, both matches were too close. But this was because the conditions at AO in 2012 were a lot slower than in 2011 or 2019.
Agassi defeated Sampras more convincingly in the final in 1995, but the AO courts were faster back then.
In 2012 conditions, Djokovic wins, but in close 5 sets. In 1995 conditions, Djokovic could also win, but once again, in 5.
 
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