214 replies to this topic

[johnmd20]

Since 2004 WB, they have won 29 of the past 31 GS titles with only Safin (2005 AO) and Del Potro (2009 USO) breaking that streak.

That's an insane stat. There is no parity whatsoever in tennis. It must be tough to be ranked 4th-10th in the world and know you likely have almost no shot to win a major.

[Mugthis]

Going back to the start of Federer's breakthrough:

2012 AO: Djokovic
2011 USO: Djokovic
2011 WB: Djokovic
2011 FO: Nadal
2011 AO: Djokovic
2010 USO: Nadal
2010 WB: Nadal
2010 FO: Nadal
2010 AO: Federer
2009 USO: Del Potro
2009 WB: Federer
2009 FO: Federer
2009 AO: Nadal
2008 USO: Federer
2008 WB: Nadal
2008 FO: Nadal
2008 AO: Djokovic
2007 USO: Federer
2007 WB: Federer
2007 FO: Nadal
2007 AO: Federer
2006 USO: Federer
2006 WB: Federer
2006 FO: Nadal
2006 AO: Federer
2005 USO: Federer
2005 WB: Federer
2005 FO: Nadal
2005 AO: Safin
2004 USO: Federer
2004 WB: Federer
2004 FO: Gaudio
2004 AO: Federer
2003 USO: Roddick
2003 WB: Federer

[Sportsbstn]

Yeah, but that's not what you said. He has made five straight semis or finals in majors now, he really couldn't be much more consistent. He just hasn't been quite good enough as of yet.

yeah thats right, consistent doesnt fit him. Living up to his full potential does. He needs to win those matches, not just reach them. He does have immense talent, but will always been seen a step below those 3 by a big margin unless he can make the leap. Not many remember the players making the semis or losing the finals, unless they will alot as well.

[Apisith]

Nadal's best chance of winning a slam is to hope that Federer is in Novak's side of the draw. Funnily enough, Federer's best chance of winning a slam is also if he's in Novak's side of the draw.

[jon abbey]

Safin and Gaudio won so long ago that they're both already retired now.

[jon abbey]

Nadal's best chance of winning a slam is to hope that Federer is in Novak's side of the draw. Funnily enough, Federer's best chance of winning a slam is also if he's in Novak's side of the draw.

I was thinking this earlier, Federer should try to drop to 4th in the rankings.

[Apisith]

1 doesn't always play 4, though, so it doesn't matter. Just the luck of the draw. Federer was 3 at the US and Djokovic was 1 but they were still in the same half of the draw.

[Mugthis]

Every time Djokovic beats Nadal in grand slams, Federer's GOAT status is helped. The only marks on Federer's resume is his record against Nadal, particularly in grand slams, and the charge that Roger's achievements were done in a weak era. Rationally, that's not a very relevant argument, but it is for a lot of people. So if the guy who owns Federer is getting owned by Djokovic, it just shows that H2H is more about match-ups rather than overall greatness. In the end, Federer will finish with 16-18 grand slams and will have done it in an era with two guys who will probably be at 10+, weakening the weak-era claim.

[Apisith]

Yup. That's why Djokovic's rise has been comforting during a time when being a Federer fan has been hard. I still have a lot of hope for Roger, though. He wasn't far from beating Rafa, and on another day, maybe on another surface like on grass at Wimby or on the faster hard courts at the US, he would have won.

I'm still confident that Federer v Djokovic is pretty much a toss-up.

[MentalDisabldLst]

2003 USO: Roddick

Wow, that was EIGHT AND A HALF years ago? Man, the state of US Tennis is really in disarray. Not that Sharapova or any of Nick Bollettieri's tennis robots are really anything other than US players anyway.

James Blake really faded. Mardy Fish is feast or famine - on a good day he might give one of the Big 4 a run for their money, on bad days he'll lose in the 1st or 2nd round. Serena Williams is still probably the best in the world when she's 100% healthy, but that may never be the case again. Isner is fun to watch and still has time to improve but moves so slowly he's not really built for today's game and challenging the top players. Nobody else is even in the Top 20.

[fletcherpost]

I was thinking this earlier, Federer should try to drop to 4th in the rankings.

He will be 4th or worse by the end of the year.

[jon abbey]

Wow, that was EIGHT AND A HALF years ago? Man, the state of US Tennis is really in disarray. Not that Sharapova or any of Nick Bollettieri's tennis robots are really anything other than US players anyway.

James Blake really faded. Mardy Fish is feast or famine - on a good day he might give one of the Big 4 a run for their money, on bad days he'll lose in the 1st or 2nd round. Serena Williams is still probably the best in the world when she's 100% healthy, but that may never be the case again. Isner is fun to watch and still has time to improve but moves so slowly he's not really built for today's game and challenging the top players. Nobody else is even in the Top 20.

There is a 15 year old Serena look-alike (but a lefty) named Taylor Townsend who won both the junior singles and doubles at this tournament:



http://espn.go.com/b...aussie-trophies

[BigMike]

He will be 4th or worse by the end of the year.

He might be, but Murray is basically going to have to win a major to do it. Federer has a big 1500 point edge on him as a result of the Barclay's last year which will be hard for Murray to overcome unless he wins a major, or at least makes 2-3 finals

[epraz]

There is a 15 year old Serena look-alike (but a lefty) named Taylor Townsend who won both the junior singles and doubles at this tournament:



http://espn.go.com/b...aussie-trophies

[fletcherpost]

He might be, but Murray is basically going to have to win a major to do it. Federer has a big 1500 point edge on him as a result of the Barclay's last year which will be hard for Murray to overcome unless he wins a major, or at least makes 2-3 finals

Yea, it's gonna be close, i just feel that over a year Murray will get more points for starters and Federer's game will at long last be more exploitable to more players outside the top four. I think Murray will have a more consistent season this year than last and if not for injury at the ATP Finals he may well have taken the number 3 spot. I see Lendl as being a very positive addition to team Murray..at last someone who won't take his moaning, complaining (typically Scottish) shite.

Can we maybe rename this thread so it serves as a catch all Tennis thread for 2012. I know we always have a thread for the4 slams but Tennis is such an interesting sport these days be nice to keep some sort of thread going all season.