Will/Do Djokovic's Grand Slam final losses to Murray/Wawrinka impact his argument for GOAT

[McEnroeisanartist]

Nadal lost to 3 players in a Grand Slam final - Djokovic 4 times, Federer 3 times, and Wawrinka once.

Federer lost to 3 players in a Grand Slam final - Nadal 6 times, Djokovic 3 times, and Del Potro once

Djokovic lost to 4 players in a Grand Slam final - Nadal 4 times, Murray 2 times, Wawrinka 2 times, and Federer once,.

I think most tennis fans would agree that Federer and Nadal each had one final losing to an opponent they shouldn't have, while Djokovic had four final losses.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Not if he makes it up in future slam final wins

 

[brystone]

It is an interesting discussion. I stand by what I said that I think to the general public, rightly or wrongly, the slam leader, will be hailed the consensus GOAT. Still if Djokovic becomes a much more serious GOAT contender than what he currently is, particularly if he ended up in a slam tie with Federer (or Nadal) it could be something people start to talk about a lot more. Lets face it, no offense to Wawrinka, but he is not someone a GOAT candidate should be losing multiple slam finals to.

To put it into some perspective people say Lendl shouldnt have lost so many slams and slam finals to Wilander, yet Djokovic is far more successful than Lendl and Wawrinka is nowhere near the caliber of player Wilander was.

Federer never lost out on a potential slam to Wawrinka, even at old age. Nadal did only once, and arguably was partly tied to injury.

Then again a prime Rod Laver had some really strange losses like to Cliff Drysdale at the U.S Open very near the time of his Grand Slam, so maybe it isnt that big a deal.

 

[wim2015]

I think the semifinal loss to Nishikori in USO14 is more devastating.

 

[3lite]

Nadal lost to 3 players in a Grand Slam final - Djokovic 4 times, Federer 3 times, and Wawrinka once.

Federer lost to 3 players in a Grand Slam final - Nadal 6 times, Djokovic 3 times, and Del Potro once

Djokovic lost to 4 players in a Grand Slam final - Nadal 4 times, Murray 2 times, Wawrinka 2 times, and Federer once,.

I think most tennis fans would agree that Federer and Nadal each had one final losing to an opponent they shouldn't have, while Djokovic had four final losses.

Just once, huh?

 

[serveandvolley_]

If Djokovic wins 21 slams he is the GOAT, no mathematical formulas will change that.

 

[JMR]

Arguably, the worst loss of those listed is Federer's defeat at the hands of Del Potro, since that was the only slam that Delpo won (granted, he had the unsound-body excuse). It can't be considered a bad loss to lose to any three-time slam winner.

However, the correct answer, IMO, is that the losses are irrelevant. People have enough trouble tallying, and in some cases trying to evaluate, the relevant wins. Grading a player's losses pays no real dividends.

 

[beernutz]

Just once, huh?

Besides the US Open, what other slam final has he lost to Fed?

 

[The Fedfather]

They already made an impact in that Djokovic is at 15 Slams now, and for the majority of fans he doesn't have an argument for being the greatest.

Beyond that, it's always subjective how fans evaluate the strength of opponents players beat or were beaten by. If Djokovic were to equal Federer's achievements, I'm sure for the overwhelming majority of his fans these losses wouldn't be a problem, while Federer's supporters will have a different perspective.

I believe it's important to judge players first and foremost on their level of play because you can't choose who you play but in a Slam final you should try to do your best against any opponent. Djokovic mostly played from poor to average in all of those losses. Then again Federer's RG 2008 was just awful from Roger but I don't hold it against him.

 

[3lite]

Besides the US Open, what other slam final has he lost to Fed?

I can't think of one, chief.

 

[Milehigh5280]

I don't see how those losses are worse than Nadal's early round exits or Fed losing to Del Potro and Safin in his prime. Ultimately it doesn't matter how many finals a player loses, but how many they win. Imagine a player made 44 slam finals and had a record of 21-23 and finished with the most slams ever. Would their legacy be hurt because they have a losing record in finals?

 

[underground]

If he ends up like 1/2 GS behind Fed then in that respect yes.

 

[BGod]

LOL no. Agassi's final losses are way worse. Lendl to a lesser degree.

Novak lost to Hall of Famers.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Novak has 15 slams. He could have lost every single final to Ryan Harrison or Donald Young, it's the # that matters, not the opponent. There is no "weak era" when the players have no control over whom they face in the final. Conversely, he gets no bonus points for facing many other ATG's in his various finals. It's the number of majors that counts, nothin' else.