Stubblerer. 
Most entertaining match so far though a bit sloppy by Fed. Still 6/6 on bps which is great for him.
What a horrible couple of weeks. My child is headed to Paris in 2 months for her semester abroad. The world has changed so much since I got on the plane to spend a year in Europe as a college junior.
I am loving this week of tennis. Let’s go Rafa
@Snowdog, I’m sure knowing your D will be in Paris next semester will be nerve racking for you, but as I’m sure you know, changing the way we live our lives out of fear is what the terrorist want.
The tennis has been a much needed diversion this week.
Mess of a match but I’m glad Stan won so there will be one competitive semi - much as I would like an easy Fed win.
NID. Routined.
Hopp Roger!!
Well done Rogi! Should have plenty in the tank for tomorrow.
Very weird that stan’s ex wife and Vecic were both there. Awkward.
Australian Open (vs Murray)
Indian Wells (vs Federer)
Miami (vs Murray)
Monte Carlo (vs Berdych)
Rome (vs Federer)
Wimbledon (vs Federer)
US Open (vs Federer)
Shanghai (vs Tsonga)
Paris (vs Murray)
London (vs Federer)
Djokovic has played in 13 of the 14 most important tournaments this year, and made it to the final of all 13 winning 10 of them, including 3 majors, 6 masters and the Barclays World Tour Finals (I was going to use the initials, but it did not seem right). This is the most dominant year by a player I have ever seen. Federer 2004, 2006 and 2007, Nadal 2010 and 2013 and Djokovic 2011 were all very impressive, but this one eclipses them all. 31-5 vs top 10 opponents. Incredible!
As someone who is statistically driven, I also like how Djokovic is now 23-23 vs Nadal and 22-22 vs Federer.
He’s had a great season, no doubt. But when your closest competitor is 34 yr old fatheroffourerer and Rafa is a shell of himself, I think Rogers 2006 season is better. 92-5 with 12 titles (3 majors, 4 Masters and ATP final) and young Rafa already almost unbeatable on on clay.
There is also no one younger than Djoker who has come close to stepping up to the plate. Very weak era right now, IMO.
I don’t think this year is that weak emily. The 2015 Federer is as dangerous as the 2006 Nadal. Whatever he lacks in fitness, he amply makes up in experience, mental toughness, non-clay court surface play and all-round skill. Nadal was very talented in 2006, but he was still only 19/20 years old and mostly a clay-court specialist, although he did exhibit some good grass-court playing ability as well. Nadal developed his all around game in 2008-2010. And who else was there in 2006? An 18/19 year old Djokovic, Roddick, who was being routinely beaten by David Ferrer, a good but not great Ferrer, Nalbandian, Baghdatis, and chronically injured Hewitt and Safin. For example, who did Federer beat in the 2006 World Tour Finals? James Blake. The 2015 bunch is at least as accomplished, with players like Murray, Wawrinka, an ageing but still potent Ferrer, Berdych etc…
The reason why I think Djokovic’s 2015 is slightly more impressive than Federer’s 2006 is because he was more consistent. Federer did just as well in the majors, but I consider Djokovic’s 6 wins and 2 finals in the masters 1000 series more impressive. But you are correct, this is just a matter of opinion. It is very difficult to compare one year with another.
That being said, I agree that the next 3-4 years could be very similar to the 2000-2005 era, when you had very few players who played at the highest level. If that is the case Djokovic will probably dominate the same way Sampras dominated in the mid 90s (when Agassi dropped out due to poor fitness) and Federer did in 2004-2005. Which is why I am very grateful to the 2006-2015 era. Never have I seen the level of tennis exhibited by the top players of that era.
You’re free to think that. I just disagree.
I don’t think you can compare the eras. Hewitt, Safin multiple slam winners, plus you had guys who could win slams on clay - JCF and Moya, for example. Plus Roddick and Agassi.
Berdych and Ferrer are never going to win a slam. Stan has only come good in the last two years but he is very erratic.
When someone’s closest competitor is a 34 yr old it’s a weak era.
Sampras era was way stronger then this era. Not even close.
I agree that we cannot compare eras. I even said as much. I just don’t think it is fair to say that 2015 is weak. There are many great players but Djokovic is just plain dominant.
There is one other great player in 2015. Federer. A 34 yr old father of four. A player that beat Djoko 3 times this year and last year (twice last yr in Masters.) All it proves to me is that Roger is the indisputable GOAT. If Djoko is doing that at age 34 we can talk.
Hehe! I honestly think Djokovic will retire before he turns 34 Emily. He strikes me like the kind of player that will stop once he is no longer the dominant player on the tour.
To me, the “GOAT” is purely a statistical distinction. Right now, Federer is the undisputed GOAT:
- Number of majors won in the Open Era (this is the most important criterion) Federer is clearly #1 in this department. Nadal and Sampras are tied at #2. Borg is #4 and Djokovic is #5. I think Nadal will win one more French Open. I hope he does. I think Djokovic will win a few more, but how many depends on his fitness/health, the level of the competition around him and of course, his own hunger and drive.
- Weeks at #1 Again, Federer leads in this category with 302 weeks. Sampras is second with 287 weeks. Lendl and Connors are tied at #3 with 270 weeks each and #4 is Djokovic with 175 weeks.
- Other important titles and variety of wins That includes Masters 1000, World Tour Finals, Olympic Gold and Davis Cup. Djokovic, Nadal and Federer are all tied up in this category. Djokovic has won 32 such titles (26 Masters spread among 8 of the 9 venues, 5 World Tour Finals and 1 Davis Cup). Federer has won 31 (24 Maters spread among 7 of the 9 venues, 6 World Tour Finals and 1 Davis Cup). Nadal has won 32 (27 Masters spread among 6 of the 9 venues, 4 Davis Cups and 1 Olympic Gold).
- Head to head record vs other top players Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have dominated all the other players in their era. Against each other, Djokovic is tied up with Federer and Nadal, but Nadal has dominated the series against Federer.
As it stands, Federer is clearly the GOAT. Anybody who denies it is not being rational.
Should Nadal return to his former glory and win 2-3 more majors and spend a few more weeks at #1, I think he could make a strong case for being the GOAT because of his head to head record vs Federer.
Sampras is not a factor since he cannot catch up to Federer in the Majors department.
Djokovic is too far from Federer in the Majors won and weeks at #1 categories to be in this discussion at the moment. We’ll see how he does in the next 2 years.
I think it will be hard for Nadal to return to his 2010 form and win 2 more majors. Very hard. But no one would be happier than I.
However emilybee, this quote from Roger today (from SI.com) puts to rest any idea that Rafa is a “pusher” to use your term!
@Alexandre, As long as the GOAT isn’t up for discussion, I will let you think Djoker’s 2015 is most dominating season. 
Rafa is a pusher. He is just a better pusher than most, plus his high kicking lefty serve to Roger’s backhand is the toughest shot for Roger to handle. And Rafa hits his forehand always to Roger’s backhand. Over and over and over. But now that Rafa isn’t the player he used to be, he is looking more like regular pusher. I think, if they keep meeting in draws the way Roger is playing, the head to head will improve (if Rafa can get deep enough in draw.) Rafa’s shots land much shorter in the court now.
Rafa had a good fall but not a great fall. I think how he does at AO will be telling.
And don’t forget he even wore pedal pushers!
It is not up for discussion Emily. Not because of how well the old GOAT is playing now (see what I just did!), but because of what he did between 2004 and 2012. 17 majors and 302 weeks at #1. Nothing else matters! If a player hits 16+ majors AND over 250 weeks at #1, we’ll have a debate then!
You can keep saying that until you’re blue in the face @emilybee, the GOAT disagrees with you and I’ll take his word on this one
Pfft.
Let’s not forget that Laver played before the ATP Ranking era. He had 200 singles titles (Fed has how many?). He holds the record for most titles in a single year in the amateur era, pro era, and Open Era. He won 5 Davis Cups. He got the better of his main rivals. And he managed to win 11 Slams while missing 21 opportunities by turning pro (in his prime years). Laver won all four majors in 1962, the year before turning pro, then in 1969, in his first full year in the Open Era, he ran the table again, winning all four majors. So how many majors do you think Laver might have won in those 21 missed opportunities, considering he was the most dominant player when he turned pro and was still the most dominant player as the Open Era began? A conservative estimate would be 10+, which would put him at 21+ slams. So if Laver was sitting at the top with 21+ slams, would anybody be arguing about the GOAT? You can hardly blame Rod for turning pro and missing those slam opportunities; he did what was necessary for his own benefit and to change the system for the benefit of future players. Lest we forget.
Dunboyne, Laver is not an open era champion. The Open Era started in 1968. By 1970, he was no longer relevant. I consider Laver the GOAT of the amateur era, but he does not factor in a discussion of Open Era champions. Both eras produced extremely talented players, but they are completely different sports. I consider Guillermo Villas and Jimmy Connors to be the first true Open Era champions.