BigFatCoward Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 He's clear favourite for 3 of the 4. And Nadal not breaking down is all that stops him being favourite for them all. I doubt he catches RF, but I think there is a good chance he is about equal with Nadal with both on 18. Murray got hosed playing in this era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Roger might still hold onto the all-time record even if he's stopped at 20 as in the near future, Nadal/Djokovic will keep on splitting them and I doubt either them will still be playing at the top level in three years' time. I reckon Djokovic will pick up this Australian, and Nadal this year's French. Djokovic might still have a chance but he'll have to bank on none of them up and comers stars breaking out in the next few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 Happy with either woman winning, nice story either way. Kvitova comes back from knife attack, or Osaka gets to enjoy winning a slam without a selfish, petulant child ruining it for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibandar Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Its been an interesting tournament. Murray's possible retirement has been a big story to follow. Federer looked good for 3 rounds until he played a massive talent in Tsitsipas and the pattern repeated itself; a tough match, and Federer starts playing like he used to do against Nadal. First time I have seen that he seemed to be a step too slow as well. And even then with 12 break points he could and should have won that match against the excellent young Greek. Its obviously the upset of the tournament and a shame, but Tsitsipas held pace with him all match through and beat him in rallies. What else? Early exit for Kyrgios again, his career really has stalled. Dimitrov also not able to regain the level he had briefly. Shapovalov looked great to watch in rounds 1 and 2 but was then beaten by Djokovic, though the Canadian gave him a good fight. After Nadal and Djokovic have completely run over their semi finalist opponents, everyone now thinks we are in for a classic final. Nadal looks in superb shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Reading reports Nadal better be in superb shape as Djokovic was apparently on a whole other level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 It'll be interesting to see if Nadal's much talked about, super-improved serve makes any difference against the best returner in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted January 26, 2019 Share Posted January 26, 2019 Cracking match. Osaka saves it for the big ones, more slams won than non slams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 I really wanted Kvitova to win, she deserves a comeback Slam after all she's been through. And with her 28 and Osaka only 21, Osaka will have plenty more chances whereas Kvitova probably only has a few short years left. Hopefully she gets another Slam at some point. Djokovic has to be the clear favourite tonight given his record at the Australian Open and his head-to-head vs Nadal on hardcourts. However, Nadal has been in great form these past two weeks and I expect he'll put up quite a bit of a fight, so we may be in for a classic five-setter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dooog Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Is it too much to ask that Nadal and Djokovic both lose? The 2 biggest drug cheats in the history of tennis. Can't root for either of these guys ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 ND could be on 20 slams by Feb next year at this rate. He is dismantling Nadal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Wow, that was way more one-sided than anyone could have predicted. Djokovic committed virtually zero unforced errors the whole match. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free Northman Reborn Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Glad he could put Nadal’s so called comeback to rest. Djokovic now on 15 and still on track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted January 27, 2019 Share Posted January 27, 2019 Assuming he can avoid injuries, Djokovic will be on track not just for the Grand Slam count but also the total weeks spent at No. 1. Federer's at 310 but Djokovic is on 236; another 18 months and he'll eclipse that record. If you have the most Grand Slams and the most weeks at No. 1 (which Federer currently has) that's a pretty persuasive argument about being the greatest of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calibandar Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 It was just an overwhelming performance. Totally outclassed and outlasted Nadal. Nadal still had a superb tournament and shows that when he's fit, he's still an awesome player. It's just that Djokovic is better. He can do what Nadal does, and more. IMO, Fed remains the only real challenger to Djokovic on a certain day, because of his style of play that is more uncomfortable for Djoker. But I'm not sure he can still do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Chatywin et al. Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 On 1/27/2019 at 5:50 PM, Jeor said: Assuming he can avoid injuries, Djokovic will be on track not just for the Grand Slam count but also the total weeks spent at No. 1. Federer's at 310 but Djokovic is on 236; another 18 months and he'll eclipse that record. If you have the most Grand Slams and the most weeks at No. 1 (which Federer currently has) that's a pretty persuasive argument about being the greatest of all time. Eh, it's a tricky situation. I think it's fair to argue that Fed, Nadal and Djoker are the three best male tennis players ever. But who is the best? I think that mostly comes down to which of the three you like the most. Fed enjoyed a long period of dominance, but a lot of the competition early on was mediocre. Nadal's prime mostly overlapped with Fed's, and he has the lead in head to head match us. However, much of Nadal's dominance came on one surface. Djoker now owns the head to head match ups with Feds and Nadal, but a lot of that came as he ascended while they declined. Personally I think peak Nadal is better than peak Feds and peak Djoker, but it takes more to summon that. Djoker is probably the best all around player of the three, but I have a hard time placing him above Feds even if he breaks some of his records. But in the end I really don't think their is a right or wrong answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeor Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 8 hours ago, Tywin et al. said: But in the end I really don't think their is a right or wrong answer. You're right, of course...rarely are there any absolutes in GOAT arguments. Still, there's something symbolic about being the guy with the most Slams and most weeks at No. 1. I actually kind of hope Djokovic doesn't get there, but I don't see anything (bar catastrophic injury) stopping him. I'm hoping Fed has one more Slam in him, and Wimbledon seems the most likely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Which Tyler Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Of course, there's also the point to be made that grass tennis changed during Federer's early years; and he changed with it. He was a really good serve-and-volley player; but Wimbledon (and Queens) did it's best to neuter that style, and increase the attritional play from the back; favouring the likes of Rafa and Djoker. Of course, career stats beyond the slams have always favour the clay courter specialists over the grass courter specialists anyway. Had that change not happened, He'd have had an extra few Wimbledons, whilst Rafa and Djoker would have had fewer. IMO all 3 have great claims to be the GOAT; and all 3 pushed each other to new heights. Yes, overall statistics making a compelling case for whoever holds them - but IMO only when there is a clear gap at the top. If the stats are within 10%, or give different answers depending on which stats you prefer to use; then hold way less weight - for me. Currently, I still have Roger as the tennis GOAT - but then I'll always favour what I see as natural talent over what I see as work ethic (of course, none of the 3 actually lack in either area). I will also favour an allround game over a specialist - but that's pure personal opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigFatCoward Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 Federer is the greatest for me in the same way that Ali is the greatest, not necessarily because they were the best, but because of how they did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baxus Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 At the moment, I consider Federer as the greatest. He has most GS titles and has been ranked #1 for the longest time. He's not my favourite player, but his achievements and his impact on the sport make a pretty strong case for him being the greatest tennis player ever. I'd like to see his records broken, either by Nadal or Djokovic or by someone who comes along in the future because I think that records are meant to be broken and breaking them is part of natural evolution of the sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Which Tyler Posted January 30, 2019 Share Posted January 30, 2019 1 hour ago, baxus said: At the moment, I consider Federer as the greatest. He has most GS titles and has been ranked #1 for the longest time. He's not my favourite player, but his achievements and his impact on the sport make a pretty strong case for him being the greatest tennis player ever. I'd like to see his records broken, either by Nadal or Djokovic or by someone who comes along in the future because I think that records are meant to be broken and breaking them is part of natural evolution of the sport. Tell that to Don Bradman Some records will never be broken; and those record holders wil be in the running for sport's GOAT. Fed's records will go someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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