Topic: The Tennis Thread - Sponsored By Melt-downium

[Ma Vie en Rouge]

Djokovic is just so uninspiring to watch. An incredible and relentless athlete, but there's something unappealingly robotic about his whole game. Such a pity that he'll end up with the most slams, over Federer and Nadal, in all likelihood.

[elsewhere]

What an absolutely dreadful tournament

It really has been the worst in my recent memory.

[BobPaisley3]

What an absolutely dreadful tournament

I’ve lost track of tennis a bit since pre covid. Do you think a lot of it is to do with the incredible standards set by Federer, Djovokic, Nadal and to a lesser extent Murray over the last 10-15 years? With Federer now retired and the other 3 in their mid/late 30s, the next generation of players just aren’t anywhere near that standard. A golden age has passed.

[DelTrotter]

Stef is a good guy, hope he gets a slam in the future.

[elsewhere]

Before 2011:

Roger Federer - 16
Rafael Nadal - 9
Novak Djokovic - 1

Today:
Roger Federer - 20
Rafael Nadal - 22
Novak Djokovic - 22

Damn

[The North Bank]

Federer is the greatest regardless of how many slams he wins, and Nadal is the greatest on clay no one will ever come close, and probably the second best overall, but djokovic is a brilliant winning machine, hes like the old german football teams, win all the penalty shoot outs.

[Dougle]

For what it's worth I am happy that Novak won. He is the best player out there. Good for him.

[elsewhere]

Is it me or many top players were missing in this tournament? Did Alcaraz, Thiem and Kyrgios play?
Although maybe it's not right to call Thiem a top player anymore.

[TheShanklyGates]

What an absolutely dreadful tournament

Yep, awful throughout except for Murray in the first couple of rounds.

[JackWard33]

Federer is the greatest regardless of how many slams he wins

What is the argument for Federer being the greatest these days ?
Not only does he not have the most slams but he also has losing career records against both his main competitors
Always feels like people give him this title based on vibes

[BobPaisley3]

What is the argument for Federer being the greatest these days ?
Not only does he not have the most slams but he also has losing career records against both his main competitors
Always feels like people give him this title based on vibes

I think if Djokovic can win another on clay at RG then it’s unquestionably him.

[elsewhere]

What is the argument for Federer being the greatest these days ?
Not only does he not have the most slams but he also has losing career records against both his main competitors
Always feels like people give him this title based on vibes

Eye test, I yhink he's the best I've seen. And also he turned Nadal and Djokovic into monsters as he set the bar so high and pushed the other two.

[Ray K]

What is the argument for Federer being the greatest these days ?
Not only does he not have the most slams but he also has losing career records against both his main competitors
Always feels like people give him this title based on vibes

Ryan Giggs is therefore the greatest English league footballer of all time.

[jizzspunk]

Is it me or many top players were missing in this tournament? Did Alcaraz, Thiem and Kyrgios play?
Although maybe it's not right to call Thiem a top player anymore.

Yes Alcaraz is injured..back end of last season..
Thiem hasn't got back to his level since a long term injury, back playing but struggling
Kyrgios announced an injury on the eve of the AO and has had surgery
Zverez has only just returned after a major injury at the French last year

[jizzspunk]

I think if Djokovic can win another on clay at RG then it’s unquestionably him.

Only really needs an Olympic Gold medal to win the lot
His Masters 1000s record is phenomenal, I think the only player to win them all
I think winning RG for a 2nd time cemented his Slams achievements

[BobPaisley3]

Only really needs an Olympic Gold medal to win the lot
His Masters 1000s record is phenomenal, I think the only player to win them all
I think winning RG for a 2nd time cemented his Slams achievements

Yeah forgot about Olympic Gold, he’s just about got one more chance next year.

Has he ever won 4 slams in a calendar year?

[JackWard33]

Ryan Giggs is therefore the greatest English league footballer of all time.

You’re gonna have to walk me through that one :/

[JackWard33]

Eye test, I yhink he's the best I've seen. And also he turned Nadal and Djokovic into monsters as he set the bar so high and pushed the other two.

This last point is a helluva reach - they both got better than him due to his standard so he’s better than them … not sure I can buy that one

[TheShanklyGates]

You’re gonna have to walk me through that one :/

It's pretty simple logic, no? If number of titles is the only relevant metric then Giggs is the greatest English League footballer in history. Ditto Novax and number of slams.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

It's pretty simple logic, no? If number of titles is the only relevant metric then Giggs is the greatest English League footballer in history. Ditto Novax and number of slams.

You can't compare team sports to individual sports like that though. Surely you see the difference?!

[jizzspunk]

Yeah forgot about Olympic Gold, he’s just about got one more chance next year.

Has he ever won 4 slams in a calendar year?

Yes injury permitting he will be around for the next Olympics

No, I think 3 in a season, he had the chance at the US Open a couple of years ago, think it was the year he was disqualified for hitting the ball away in anger and it hit a line judge, if Nadal is struggling for Paris then he has a shot this year perhaps

[JackWard33]

It's pretty simple logic, no? If number of titles is the only relevant metric then Giggs is the greatest English League footballer in history. Ditto Novax and number of slams.

It’s not a logical comparison no, football is a team game though so it’s not remotely the same as there’s no way to tell how how much of the win is down to you (Traore is a European champion etc)
Titles isn’t the only metric in tennis but what you’ve won is clearly going to be a big part of the pie chart

[elsewhere]

Federer is still the best to me, if Djokovic gets 25+, then we can re-discuss this

[elsewhere]

For those who follow the WTA, what on earth happened to Muguruza?

[Crosby Nick]

We’re many proclaiming Sampras he greatest ever pre Federer? As awesome as he was I don’t think many were (could be wrong).

I don’t really want Djokovic in that conversation but let’s face it, no one else around at the moment can live with him, he could easily win 4-5 more. The prick.

[TheShanklyGates]

He'll never be the greatest for me because of his robotic style of play, his gamesmanship/faking injuries when in a tough spot and of course the fact he's an absolute thundercunt off the court. He could win 30 slams and it wouldn't change my view a jot.

[jizzspunk]

For those who follow the WTA, what on earth happened to Muguruza?

Had the serving yips for a while after her Grand Slam wins, which is probably the greatest confidence loss you can have playing...

Out of nowhere, after a steady season accumulating race points & qualifying, she won the end of season WTA finals in 2021..was a big surprise...
2022...poor season, not sure why, slid down the rankings and now drawing decent players in the early rounds of tournaments...

[Red-Soldier]

Yes injury permitting he will be around for the next Olympics

No, I think 3 in a season, he had the chance at the US Open a couple of years ago, think it was the year he was disqualified for hitting the ball away in anger and it hit a line judge, if Nadal is struggling for Paris then he has a shot this year perhaps

I thought it was the one where he lost to Medvedev in the final.  He said he felt the enormous pressure on his shoulders at the time and it affected his game.

[The G in Gerrard]

Men's tennis is rubbish at the moment. Hopefully someone can step up and stop Djokovic this year.

[Hazell]

Men's tennis is rubbish at the moment. Hopefully someone can step up and stop Djokovic this year.

Alcatraz appears to be the standout talent aside from Nadal and Djokovic. Hopefully he can stay clear of injuries.

[Crosby Nick]

Alcatraz appears to be the standout talent aside from Nadal and Djokovic. Hopefully he can stay clear of injuries.

He can’t escape them at the moment.

[Hazell]

Kin autocorrect!

[jizzspunk]

I thought it was the one where he lost to Medvedev in the final.  He said he felt the enormous pressure on his shoulders at the time and it affected his game.

Yep well remembered, I did say 'i think' without looking it up 😁, it was the Medvedev loss 👏

[Ma Vie en Rouge]

What is the argument for Federer being the greatest these days ?
Not only does he not have the most slams but he also has losing career records against both his main competitors
Always feels like people give him this title based on vibes

Most beautiful to watch, stylistically? Most graceful? Most creative?  These are all things. They can't be measured in numbers though. When that's allied to 20 grand slams, I think it's perfectly viable to argue for Federer over the others.

[Coolie High]

People talk about Djokovic robotic style but apart from him being left handed I’ve always thought the same for Nadal to be honest.

[Red-Soldier]

People talk about Djokovic robotic style but apart from him being left handed I’ve always thought the same for Nadal to be honest.

Same.

[Ravishing Rick Dude]

You can't compare team sports to individual sports like that though. Surely you see the difference?!

Is Floyd greater than Ali?

[JackWard33]

Is Floyd greater than Ali?

It does become impossible to compare when you go cross era - like asking if Djokovic is greater than Rod Laver

[Coolie High]

It does become impossible to compare when you go cross era - like asking if Djokovic is greater than Rod Laver

What about Calzaghe in comparison to Hopkins?

[Dougle]

Most beautiful to watch, stylistically? Most graceful? Most creative?  These are all things. They can't be measured in numbers though. When that's allied to 20 grand slams, I think it's perfectly viable to argue for Federer over the others.

Why does there have to be a greatest at all ? Short of someone going out and winning 50 grand slams surely you can't call it. It's a modern obsession I think. I remember Borg being amazing, like a leech, you couldn't shake him off. Ashe was classy. Edberg graceful. McEnroe petulant, irritating, genius. Connors relentless. Becker a wrecking ball. Sampras boring, Agassi fantastic. There were great characters and brilliant tennis players.

I've dropped off in my interest a lot over the last 20 years but Federer, Nadal, Murray, Djokovic absolutely brilliant players. There is no GOAT for me. They all have fantastic talent and mental strength. That's why I'm happy Djokovic won on Sunday, it's truly an amazing story what he has had to carry and what has been lined up against him before he even got on court. I've never seen so much spite, vitriol and hate put against any tennis player. Like him or not ( and I never had any particular feelings about him) it's some victory. I don't think (and I hope) I will never see anything like it again.

But does that make him the greatest tennis player of all time ? No. You can't judge players of different eras against each other. For you guys and girls who love tennis this last 20 years must be a brilliant epic era. 4 great players battling it out. They all deserve great respect.