Wimbledon: greatest tennis player of all time on the line?

[KRJ1975]

Just making sure you state facts correctly. To try and denigrate his unreal career is asinine.

I’m not - he’s undoubtedly one of the top 3-4 players ever. I just wanted to point out that in terms of “primes,” Rafa and Fed barely crossed paths. 5 years is an eternity in tennis. The fact that Fed is still this good at his age skews everything.

Is Fed still world class now? Yes. But his “prime” was 2003-2007.

 

[kyeric]

Fed has redefined what a prime is. Rafa has ONE non French major since he was 26. His prime ended well short of his 30th birthday. Fed is still playing world class tennis at age (almost) 38. People who watch Fed today are in awe of him - the 26 year old Fed would annihilate this version of himself. He's been around so long people have forgotten how great he was.

If Roger wins Sunday, it will be 16 years between his 1st and last GS titles (both Wimbledon). In a 27 slam stretch from Wimbledon 2003 thru Australia 2010, he won 16 of them (4 Aus, 1 Fr, 6 Wim and 5 US). Of the 11 he didn't win, he was runner-up in 6 of those and a semi-finalist another 3. Also, included in that 27 slam stretch was 23 straight semi-final or better results. Guy absolutely dominated for 8 straight years. Now, he is going for his 4th major in the last 2+ years at almost 38yo after battling several years of injuries.

His career numbers are staggering, but the level of dominance during the stretch from 2003-2010 or so was just insane.

Not to take anything away from Nadal or Djokovic, either. Both of them are top 10 (probably 5) guys all-time, as well. If you like watching the best of the best, tennis has had 3 of them playing at an elite level for a good long while.

 

[-Mav-]

Federer is my favorite, but that damned Nadal is a friggin' tennis Terminator. The dude simply never, ever gives up on even a single point. To beat him you have to somehow manage to maneuver him into multi-ton press/compressor and crush the life out of him until the red lights in his eyes go black -- but even after that his left arm is still twitching to hit a monster forehand. He's a once in a lifetime athlete and, like Federer, is gracious whether he wins or loses. He stays out of trouble, keeps his mouth shut, and just keeps slamming ball after ball after ball.

 

[TCPUKChamps]

Federer is the GOAT. And it's not close either. Having to deal with Nadal/Murray/Djokovic in their primes and still making finals at 38 is otherworldly.

Conners was 38 when everyone got pumped at his US Open in 91 when he got vanquished by Courier in about 30 mins in the semis.

 

[KRJ1975]

Federer is the GOAT. And it's not close either. Having to deal with Nadal/Murray/Djokovic in their primes and still making finals at 38 is otherworldly.

Conners was 38 when everyone got pumped at his US Open in 91 when he got vanquished by Courier in about 30 mins in the semis.

This is how I feel as well. Nadal IMO has less claim to the GOAT title than a couple of others. Best clay court player ever, by a thousand country miles, sure.

 

[Mojocat_rivals48469]

You guys probably knew it, but I didn’t until just looking up their records at Wimbledon. In 2001, Sampras was 29 years old, was the 1 seed, was the 4 time defending champion (had won 7 of 8), and lost to a 19 year old 15 seed Federer. Only time they played evidently. Anyway, I’d take peak Federer over peak Sampras at Wimbledon. He leads him in titles 8 to 7 (for now), and has over a hundred wins there to Pete’s 63. I know, different eras. Still. Federer is the best ever IMO, overall and at Wimbledon.......

 

[cawoodsct]

Federer no doubt would take Pete at Wimbledon in a best of 7.

 

[KRJ1975]

Federer no doubt would take Pete at Wimbledon in a best of 7.

It would be very interesting to see how they adapted. Nadal came to net a handful of times today. Pete lived at the net and is a better server than any of the current big 4 has ever been. Best of 7 would be awesome to watch.

 

[funKYcat75]

His whole repetitive ******** before every point drives me nuts

He’s the Nomar Garciaparra of tennis.

 

[KRJ1975]

He’s the Nomar Garciaparra of tennis.

The human rain delay.

 

[cawoodsct]

Love the **** talk towards one of the greats. Nothing but mad respect for Federer.

 

[It'saDoneDeal]

I pronounce it Nay-daw.

 

[KRJ1975]

Love the **** talk towards one of the greats. Nothing but mad respect for Federer.

Hey, I'm clearly biased. I love Fed, I loved Pete....hated Edberg, hate Nadal...indifferent to Djoker.

Hell, it's sports. If we can't make fun of Nadal for smelling his own *** before every serve and groaning like a cow giving birth to quadruplets on every groundstroke, what's the point of it all?

Nadal is undoubtedly one of the greats. That doesn't mean we all need to love him.

 

[cawoodsct]

Hey, I'm clearly biased. I love Fed, I loved Pete....hated Edberg, hate Nadal...indifferent to Djoker.

Hell, it's sports. If we can't make fun of Nadal for smelling his own *** before every serve and groaning like a cow giving birth to quadruplets on every groundstroke, what's the point of it all?

Nadal is undoubtedly one of the greats. That doesn't mean we all need to love him.

I don’t love Federer but there is a level of respect that I have that you surely don’t give Nadal.

All good. Plenty of time left.

 

[KRJ1975]

I don’t love Federer but there is a level of respect that I have that you surely don’t give Nadal.

All good. Plenty of time left.

The only way Nadal can earn more respect from me as an all time great (and he is already that) would be by having a late career renaissance and winning more non French majors. I don't see that happening, but I suppose it's possible. He's clearly the best clay court player the world has ever produced. I think winning 2/3 of your career majors at one place is a little one sided, and if anything, that percentage is only going to get higher.

 

[cawoodsct]

They all count the same my friend. And he’s won on all surfaces, in fact his wins on all other surfaces pass 90% of the legends we know in the games all time slams totals. But I get it, as a Federer guy it’s low hanging fruit.

He’s 5 years younger. We will see.

 

[cawoodsct]

By the way we have the King of Clay. I think Roger wants a moniker on grass. What could we call it if he wins Sunday?

 

[bluthruandthru]

Titan of Turf
Lord of the Lawn
Classy Feddie Grassy.
Grassmaster Flash
The Blade Runner

 

[KRJ1975]

This is pure insanity. What a match.

 

[TCPUKChamps]

Screw tiebreakers. What a garbage copout.

 

[cawoodsct]

Djokovic!!!!!!

 

[cawoodsct]

Pure class from Federer. Amazing tennis.

 

[Zakk Wyldcat]

Well, that was a all-timer match. Federer played more consistent from start to finish but Djokovic won all the crucial match-turning points. Plus, he hates the Wimbledon crowd and they hate him thus his ****-eating grin when it was over

 

[rick64]

Fed had his chance serving for the match and up 40-15 on his serve in the 5th.

 

[KopiKat]

Well, that was a all-timer match. Federer played more consistent from start to finish but Djokovic won all the crucial match-turning points. Plus, he hates the Wimbledon crowd and they hate him thus his ****-eating grin when it was over

lol... maybe they do hate him. Although much cheering as he paraded the trophy. But yes, Brits do not seem pleasant with Djokovic.

Could be noted that he came onto the major scene in 2008, same year that Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, which Britain recognized immediately and, of course, Serbia insisted (does insist) was illegal. As Brits go, if they say it, it must be so. And perhaps Kosovo's independence is so. But since then the big Serb has been the best in the world.

 

[The_Catfather]

Federer's going to have the crowd advantage anywhere in the world. People love the guy. I was rooting for him, but just felt the whole 5th set he wasn't going to be able to close it out.

 

[UpstateNYCat]

Helluva match, no dog in the fight but a little disappointed that RF didn't win it.

 

[homeytheclown]

What’s everyone’s tennis rating here I’m a decent 4.0

 

[kevcat]

It was perhaps the greatest Wimbledon finals of all time.

The two greatest players ever battling to a 5 set, 5 hour, three tiebreaker outcome. Roger had a major chance. Two match points on serve and couldn’t close it out.

I kept wanting to leave the bar where we were and go have lunch, but we were so mesmerized by these two legends that we stayed until it was over.

Hats off to both, but crazy how great Federer is still playing at basically 38 years old. He is the best ever, and ND is a real close second.

 

[TCPUKChamps]

Games won:
Federer 36
Djokovic 32

Aces:
Federer 25
Djokovic 10

Double Faults
Federer 6
Djokovic 10

Break % Won
Federer 54%
Djokovic 38%

Winners
Fed 94
Djok 54

Federer also had DOUBLE Match point in the 5th set

 

[kevcat]

Games won:
Federer 36
Djokovic 32

Aces:
Federer 25
Djokovic 10

Double Faults
Federer 6
Djokovic 10

Break % Won
Federer 54%
Djokovic 38%

Winners
Fed 94
Djok 54

Federer also had DOUBLE Match point in the 5th set

I think the difference was unforced errors. I watched the entire match and don’t know the official stats on it, but Roger seemed to have a lot more unforced errors than ND did,

 

[-Mav-]

What’s everyone’s tennis rating here I’m a decent 4.0

I'm at least an 11, TMFS.

 

[cawoodsct]

I've got the same feeling. I don't think Nadal will win another non French, though.

Less than 2 months later the Clay Court specialist wins the US OPEN.

 

[KRJ1975]

Less than 2 months later the Clay Court specialist wins the US OPEN.

Pretty amazing. At this point he seems like a lock to catch Fed. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win another 2-3 French opens. Once Djokovic went out with the injury and Fed laid an egg against Dimitrov, this one felt inevitable for Nadal.

This big three era has been nothing short of insane. Outside of a few interlopers (Wawrinka, Murray, Del Potro,) they’ve basically won every major in the last 15 years. Men’s tennis is gonna be really weird then they are gone, but I’m sure all the guys who have been left in their wakes will be glad to see them go.

 

[Ahnan E. Muss]

Fed and Nadal and Djokovic are gonna be in their 50s and still playing and trying to stay on top of each other for the most Grand Slam wins.

 

[KRJ1975]

Fed and Nadal and Djokovic are gonna be in their 50s and still playing and trying to stay on top of each other for the most Grand Slam wins.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Nadal got to 25 majors. Surprised maybe, but not shocked. He is nearly unassailable at Roland Garros and 2-3 more there seems like a lock.

 

[cawoodsct]

Clay Court specialist has more US Open wins than Djokovic. It’s probably a compliment to his clay play to try and label Rafa a clay court specialist or just haters hating. Still unsure.

 

[cawoodsct]

I wouldn’t be shocked if Nadal got to 25 majors. Surprised maybe, but not shocked. He is nearly unassailable at Roland Garros and 2-3 more there seems like a lock.

As a Rafa follower through all his years and fan I honestly think he’s only got a couple more slams in him. But he’s not just a clay court specialist. He also won a gold medal on hard courts.

 

[cawoodsct]

I wouldn’t be shocked if Nadal got to 25 majors. Surprised maybe, but not shocked. He is nearly unassailable at Roland Garros and 2-3 more there seems like a lock.

Dude, 2 months ago when he had 18 majors you said he wouldn’t win off clay? That equates to 7 more French Opens. Let’s gravitate to a middle ground.

 

[cawoodsct]

BTW, KJ, I’m just giving you friendly ****.