With Djokodal’s 38th year being bleak for both, let’s reflect again on how ridiculously good Federer was aged 37

[jl809]

From August 8, 2018, to August 8, 2019:

• Cincinnati F (loses to renewed Djokovic, up a break in set 2)
• Shanghai SF
• Basel W
• Paris SF (loses to Djokovic in 3 close sets)
• ATP finals SF (loses 5-7 6-7 to eventual winner Abuserev)
• Australian Open 4R (kinda chokes a bit, loses sets 6-7, 5-7, 6-7)

Here he steps it up:

• Dubai W
• Indian Wells F (loses to Thiem)
• Miami W
• Madrid QF (loses to RG finalist Thiem, but has match points)
• Rome QF (withdraws because he can)
• RG SF (beats Ruud and Stan, and plays creditably in atrocious conditions in the SF, forcing Nadal to GOAT on the BH and passing)
• Halle W
• Wimbledon F (beats Nadal in 4, has CPs and dominates Djokovic in all metrics)

Playing every major event except MC (and withdrawing at Rome). Doesn’t tank any matches. Still gets 4 titles including a M1000, 1 slam final where he has MPs, 2 M1000 Fs, multiple SFs, 6 losses to eventual tournament winners. 83.8% win rate overall

I will post separately about this but his level on clay was mad considering the circumstances. As for grass, in retrospect his level was almost unbelievable. And to have pushed Djoker so hard on multiple surfaces alongside beating Nadal is seriously impressive

There will not be a season like this from someone that age for another 15 years minimum, and imo Sinneraz will probably not replicate it.

 

[NatF]

In a lot of ways Federer's longevity is still the best of the three, despite lesser accomplishments in his 30's.

 

[JasonZ]

In a lot of ways Federer's longevity is still the best of the three, despite lesser accomplishments in his 30's.

no, djokovics longevity is the best.

 

[NatF]

no, djokovics longevity is the best.

Depends how you define it.

 

[BauerAlmeida]

Djokovic's 38 is going badly but 37 was stellar.

 

[RS]

Djokovic's 38 is going badly but 37 was stellar.

You mean 36

 

[BauerAlmeida]

You mean 36

Right, 37 is going badly but 36 was stellar.


We'll see if he can make a comeback. Federer's 2018 was a bit subpar after a brilliant 2017 but he bounced back in 2019. Djokovic can still bounce back later this year or the next. Depends on how serious the injury is.

 

[RS]

Right, 37 is going badly but 36 was stellar.


We'll see if he can make a comeback. Federer's 2018 was a bit subpar after a brilliant 2017 but he bounced back in 2019. Djokovic can still bounce back later this year or the next. Depends on how serious the injury is.

I think Djokovic will still be competitive yeah.

If the injury is not as serious he won't drop as far down as Fedal did so he can climb up again.

 

[Kralingen]

37 seems to be just about the official cliff/carrying capacity for elite level play in tennis. Once you reach there you seem to always run into injuries and are not able to do it week in week out (though can still summon a good peak level for a tournament or two).

 

[jl809]

Right, 37 is going badly but 36 was stellar.


We'll see if he can make a comeback. Federer's 2018 was a bit subpar after a brilliant 2017 but he bounced back in 2019. Djokovic can still bounce back later this year or the next. Depends on how serious the injury is.

I’ll be making a thread in a bit about Djokovic’s epic 36. Gave me an idea

 

[CHillTennis]

I’ll be making a thread in a bit about Djokovic’s epic 36. Gave me an idea

What do you mean by Djokovic's epic 36?

 

[jl809]

What do you mean by Djokovic's epic 36?

Aged 36 he won 2 slams, reached a 3rd slam final, won the ATP finals and won 2 M1000s

 

[CHillTennis]

Aged 36 he won 2 slams, reached a 3rd slam final, won the ATP finals and won 2 M1000s

Correct. But what does that have to do with the word epic?

 

[Day_Tripper]

In a lot of ways Federer's longevity is still the best of the three, despite lesser accomplishments in his 30's.

Nadal and Djokovic played nearly their entire careers without having to face a younger all time great. Federer had to face two for the majority. Djokovic's numbers especially are padded in no small part due to the luck of being followed by the 'lost born in the 90's generation'.

 

[Hood_Man]

In a lot of ways Federer's longevity is still the best of the three, despite lesser accomplishments in his 30's.

Now imagine if he'd had the same quality of next gen players that Djokodal had.