1. Obviously 04-07 Fed is the peak of the sport, maybe the peak of any sport. Anyone would objectively admit this. But at the same time Novak from 11-15 is arguably in the conversation. That period is the only comparable period another player has had, and that obviously matters. Nadal's peak, probably 08-11, is at least a tier below Fed and Novak's peaks.
2. Majors are important in the GOAT debate, without a doubt, but majors always have a fair amount of luck involved. To me the biggest factor for GOAT should be weeks at #1. You can't stay at #1 for any significant amount of time by luck, and the tennis ranking system with defending points makes staying at #1 even harder. You can win quite a few majors with draw luck, injury luck, or plain dumb luck. Novak will probably end up with 100 more weeks at #1 than Fed, and double the weeks at #1 as Nadal. Certainly matters a lot.
3. Novak's likability path with the fans is kinda hilarious when you think about it. When he showed big talent, but was always losing to Nadal and Fed, he was quite liked as you recall. Then when he started winning more than he lost to them, the fans started to turn. And then of course in that 11-15 run, when he was the dominant force by far, he became utterly despised. Just funny that the biggest reason fans hate him is he blocked Fedal from more majors. The dick behavior really started after that, and I kinda like that he embraced full heel. Sport would have been more boring otherwise.
1) Novak from 11-15 won 9 slams, which is still 2 less than Fed with one more year playing. His best 4 year period he just finished was from 2018-2021 where he won 8 slams and 3 in one year only once. Nadal's best 4 year period is very close to Djokovic where he won 7 slams twice from 2010-2013 & 2007-2010 and won 3 in 2010 (maybe 2022 as well)
2) Weeks at #1 is also a great measure and Novak being ranked #1 for so long isn't appreciated enough and is certainly his biggest trump card in the debate. However, again injuries to Nadal robbed him of playing full seasons and he had to deal with prime Fed and prime Novak and he still has been #1 for over 200 weeks so far. Could reach #1 again depending on how fast he heals. I think Nadal being ranked in the top 10 for almost 900 consecutive weeks is something that should carry weight for Nadal in the debate.
3) I think people forget just how much Federer fans hated Nadal when he first started playing and beating Federer. Nadal never gave in or gave them a reason to cheer against him like Novak and in the end he got the respect of Federer's fans and the entire tennis world. Nadal and Djokovic were friends (even playing doubles at the Rogers Cup) but then Djokovic went full crazy talking about negative water energy and not believing in science so Nadal kinda distanced himself from him. Although Novak admitted that the Big 3 are in a group chat, I would love to read that transcript
Also, that reporter who was accusing Nadal of gamesmenship/faking his injury in the Fritz presser yesterday should be stripped of his press credentials for the remainder of the tourney.
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Also, that reporter who was accusing Nadal of gamesmenship/faking his injury in the Fritz presser yesterday should be stripped of his press credentials for the remainder of the tourney.
Manifesting a Cam Norrie victory by listening to nothing but England's greatest musical act of all time The Spice Girls and watching movies of England's greatest international spy Austin Powers. That's sure to work right
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Djoko spotting the first 2 sets to Cam as planned. it's like when you're at the arcade and you're way more advanced than your Street Fighter/Mortal Kombat challenger so you just give them round 2 as a courtesy.
Djoko spotting the first 2 sets to Cam as planned. it's like when you're at the arcade and you're way more advanced than your Street Fighter/Mortal Kombat challenger so you just give them round 2 as a courtesy.
Trying to give the people their money's worth as there is only one semi-final today.
Djoko spotting the first 2 sets to Cam as planned. it's like when you're at the arcade and you're way more advanced than your Street Fighter/Mortal Kombat challenger so you just give them round 2 as a courtesy.
Years ago a buddy of mine called them "Bait Sets". Top players intentionally losing a set to "bait" an opponent to raise their confidence and belief level, and then the top player hits them with the actual level and it crushes the lesser opponent so much easier. It's the hope that kills and all that.
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"Think I'm gonna be the scapegoat for the whole damn machine? Sheeee......."
