Greatest Men’s Tennis Player of this Era (poll)

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

ive only watched womens tennis

Hearing my own wife in labor was enough of that for me.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Which player will be remembered as the greatest men’s tennis player of this era (and possibly of all-time)? You can look at age and predict the rest of their careers, so it isn’t really a “if they all retired right now” question.

Grand Slams
Roger Federer (37) - 20 Grand Slams
Rafael Nadal (33) - 18 Grand Slams
Novak Djokovic (32) - 15 Grand Slams

It’s obvious Nadal is the best clay surface player who will ever live, but the question isn’t looking for a divided answer about who is the best on which surface. Question is who is the best overall player of the era, all things considered. And though Nadal’s Roland Garros success certainly is huge, if you take away any of their highest Grand Slam event totals, it makes a size-able difference for all of them.

Grand Slams minus best tournament
Federer (minus 8 Wimbledons) - 12 Grand Slams
Djokovic (minus 7 Aussie Opens) - 8 Grand Slams
Nadal (minus 12 French Opens) - 6 Grand Slams

Head to Head
Nadal 24, Federer 15 (Nadal 10-3 in Grand Slams, Nadal 4-3 non-clay Grand Slams)
Djokovic 25, Federer 22 (Djokovic 9-6 in Grand Slams)
Djokovic 28, Nadal 26 (Nadal 9-6 in Grand Slams, Djokovic 5-3 non-clay Grand Slams)

*Important to note that Federer has played a lot of these matches post-prime, whereas Nadal and Djokovic were in theirs, though Federer also built up a big lead when Djokovic was developing.

don’t forget Serena

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Which player will be remembered as the greatest men’s tennis player of this era (and possibly of all-time)? You can look at age and predict the rest of their careers, so it isn’t really a “if they all retired right now” question.

Grand Slams
Roger Federer (37) - 20 Grand Slams
Rafael Nadal (33) - 18 Grand Slams
Novak Djokovic (32) - 15 Grand Slams

It’s obvious Nadal is the best clay surface player who will ever live, but the question isn’t looking for a divided answer about who is the best on which surface. Question is who is the best overall player of the era, all things considered. And though Nadal’s Roland Garros success certainly is huge, if you take away any of their highest Grand Slam event totals, it makes a size-able difference for all of them.

Grand Slams minus best tournament
Federer (minus 8 Wimbledons) - 12 Grand Slams
Djokovic (minus 7 Aussie Opens) - 8 Grand Slams
Nadal (minus 12 French Opens) - 6 Grand Slams

Head to Head
Nadal 24, Federer 15 (Nadal 10-3 in Grand Slams, Nadal 4-3 non-clay Grand Slams)
Djokovic 25, Federer 22 (Djokovic 9-6 in Grand Slams)
Djokovic 28, Nadal 26 (Nadal 9-6 in Grand Slams, Djokovic 5-3 non-clay Grand Slams)

*Important to note that Federer has played a lot of these matches post-prime, whereas Nadal and Djokovic were in theirs, though Federer also built up a big lead when Djokovic was developing.

don’t forget Serena

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

don’t forget Serena

 

[Kontradiction]

Federer, but only because he has more major titles. If Nadal catches him, it’s got to be Nadal since he leads the head-to-head match-ups between the two.

 

[DarrylS]

As a kid used to work at a restaurant next to Newport Casino, so could watch the annual tournament as time allowed.. glad I got in for free.

Must admit never did all that much for me, it always seemed more fun to play the game than be a spectator..

 

[BTTA]

If he ends up trailing in Grand Slams, does that matter to posterity? Just playing devils advocate.

To me, yes, because the # of big wins is so subjective given the "who played who" part of it. The three of them (plus Sampras) were all so great, I step back from records and wins to look at how they did it, what they brought to the game. Player's contributions to the sport are as important as their wins, when measuring greatness.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Federer could be the GOAT of all GOATs. Much respect for tennis players since if they win it’s all on them. No teammates, nothing. Just them.

 

[borg]

I was hoping for a tennis thread to fill the void here at the PatsFans.com football site during this current lull in celebrity deaths.

 

[Clonamery]

I was hoping for a tennis thread to fill the void here at the PatsFans.com football site during this current lull in celebrity deaths.

Funny but it is the off season. Also, no one asked you to post here unless you’ve got dissociative personality disorder.

 

[everlong]

Clearly this is a minority opinion (poll results), but I think Djokovic will be regarded as the greatest. .

I think that's the thing. Djokovic will if he continues on this arc but Federer is right now.

The head to head for Nadal vs Federer is distorted by Nadal holding a 14-2 lead on clay. That puts Federer ahead 13-10 on other surfaces. Federer unlike Sampras, McEnroe and other players more suited to grass is still a terrific player on Clay, as is Djokovic. If not for Nadal the other two would have multiple French Open championships.

Also being 5 years younger a lot of Nadal's wins were in his prime while Federer was post 30 and now at 37 still playing amazing tennis.

Australian records

(2)Djokovic 68-8, 89.47%
(5) Federer 97-14, 87.39%
(10) Nadal 61-13, 82.43%

French

(1) Nadal 93-2, 97.89% (truly amazing)
(7) Djokovic 68-14, 82.93%
Federer not in top ten

Wimbledon

(5) Federer 95-12, 88.79%
(7) Djokovic 65-10, 86.67%
Nadal not in top ten

US Open

(5) Djokovic 69-10, 87.34%
(6) Federer 85-13, 86.73%
Nadal not in top ten

Only Djokovic is in the top ten for all four. Nadal is cemented as #1 in the French but he will probably fall out of the top ten at the Australian before it's over. Federer and Djokovic will battle on win percentages in the other three.

Just more example why I put the other two above Nadal over all.

 

[Brick27]

What I don’t understand is why Murray is lumped with the other three and considered part of a “Big Four”. 2 Olympic golds is cool, but he’s won only 3 majors, compared to 15, 18, and 20 for Njokovic, Nadal, and Federer.

Murray’s career is nothing to sneeze it, but not remotely in the same stratosphere as the other three.

 

[Cunk]

Wondery just finished a really interesting podcast (Sports Wars) about the rivalry between Federer and Nadal. I really enjoyed it. They also have a series about Farv vs. Rodgers which is really good as well.

Wondery - Feel The Story Sports Wars

 

[IllegalContact]

 

[Biffins]

ive only watched womens tennis

I bet you can't even tell who were the finalists in the last grand slam for Women (French Open) without looking it up. Even if you did, I bet you have no idea who those girls are.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Federer, but only because he has more major titles. If Nadal catches him, it’s got to be Nadal since he leads the head-to-head match-ups between the two.

See, I agree with the this criteria, which is why I’m surprised Federer is dominating this poll. It’s really going to be more black and white as time goes on, and the man with most grand slams wins. I think Djokovic comes out on top but admittedly it’s just a guess. Aesthetics are great and all, but when we look back it tends to be reduced to accomplishments, and the slams are the measuring stick in tennis. Perhaps I should have just asked the poll question: which player will have more grand slams at retirement?

 

[everlong]

See, I agree with the this criteria, which is why I’m surprised Federer is dominating this poll. It’s really going to be more black and white as time goes on, and the man with most grand slams wins. I think Djokovic comes out on top but admittedly it’s just a guess. Aesthetics are great and all, but when we look back it tends to be reduced to accomplishments, and the slams are the measuring stick in tennis. Perhaps I should have just asked the poll question: which player will have more grand slams at retirement?

Again I read it as who's the best right now. If you asked me who's going to be the best when it's all done I would have gone with NJ. Even if Nadal wins the most majors I can't put him #1 unless those include three or four more in slams not named the French. I know most people will just go by GS count but it's like not accounting for Dome vs inclement stadium play in football.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Current count after 2021 French Open

Federer - 20
Nadal - 20
Djokovic - 19

I think Federer is pretty much tapped out and Nadal is really a Roland Garros contender only now. Djokovic appears primed to surpass them.

I didn’t see the first two sets today and tuned in when Djokovic was down. He played an absurdly high level to not just come back but dominate the rest of the way.

Djokovic is also the only one to have multiple titles at each GS event. Which isn’t a big deal for legacy but more of a surprising fact. Nadal has only one Australian; Federer has only one French. Djokovic now has two French.

 

[everlong]

Djokovic is also the only one to have multiple titles at each GS event. Which isn’t a big deal for legacy but more of a surprising fact. Nadal has only one Australian; Federer has only one French. Djokovic now has two French.

And he has a winning record vs the other two.

Vs Federer 27-23 in grand slams 11-6
Vs Nadal 30-28, 7-10 in grand slams however he's 2-7 vs him at the French so 5-3 on other surfaces.

I will say Federer being 5 years older than the other two was at a bit of a disadvantage because a lot of the matches vs the other two he was on the backside of his prime whereas they were in it.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

And he has a winning record vs the other two.

Vs Federer 27-23 in grand slams 11-6
Vs Nadal 30-28, 7-10 in grand slams however he's 2-7 vs him at the French so 5-3 on other surfaces.

I will say Federer being 5 years older than the other two was at a bit of a disadvantage because a lot of the matches vs the other two he was on the backside of his prime whereas they were in it.

True, but Federer also had 5 years without Djokovic and ~5 years where Nadal wasn’t yet a great grass/hard court player. Djokovic and Nadal have never played without two all-time greats as rivals.

Federer had 12 Grand Slams going into 2008, which was roughly the time Nadal and Djokovic started to emerge.

And I hate to admit this because Federer is definitely my personal favorite.

EDIT: I may have misunderstood your post. Yes, from a head to head standpoint, Federer was definitely disadvantaged due to being out of his prime, especially against Djokovic.