Novak's Place Among the All-Time Greats

[Great Hands]

Novak has reached the final of every big event in which he has competed (i.e. all except Madrid) since the Paris Masters last year. i.e.:

Paris - won
WTF - won
AO - won
IW - won
Miami - won
M-C - won
Rome - won
FO - final
WD - won
Canada - final
Cinci - final
USO - won

So if Novak can reach the final of Shanghai, he will have reached at least the final of every Slam and Masters in which he has competed for a whole year! Has anyone ever done this before?

Roger came close in 2006, but he lost in the second round of Cinci, as well as missing Hamburg and Paris Masters. In other words, if Novak were to make the final in Shanghai, would this be the most consistent 12 months at the top level that anyone has ever achieved? (I wonder how it compares to dominant 12 month periods by players further back in time?) I'm a neutral in this, just wondering what people think!

 

[Great Hands]

Comparing Roger's 2006 with Novak's current run:

Roger's Jan 2006 - Dec 2006:
Wins 3 of the 4 Slams, final of the other
Wins WTF
4 Masters wins, 2 finals, 1 Second round, 2 absences.

Novak since Nov 2014:
Wins 3 of the 4 slams, final of the other
Wins WTF
5 Masters wins, 2 finals, 1 absence.

So actually, regardless of what happens in Shanghai, is Novak's Nov 2014 - Oct 2015 the most consistently dominant 12 months ever?

 

[Fiero425]

Comparing Roger's 2006 with Novak's current run:

Roger's Jan 2006 - Dec 2006:
Wins 3 of the 4 Slams, final of the other
Wins WTF
4 Masters wins, 2 finals, 1 Second round, 2 absences.

Novak since Nov 2014:
Wins 3 of the 4 slams, final of the other
Wins WTF
5 Masters wins, 2 finals, 1 absence.

So actually, regardless of what happens in Shanghai, is Novak's Nov 2014 - Oct 2015 the most consistently dominant 12 months ever?

In a word, "yes!" Nole's competition was tougher and he was challenged a lot more than Roger around that time! :ras:

 

[DarthFed]

Not to start a competition war but I will bite, how is Nole's current competition much better than Roger's in 2006? Note that Roger had Rafa near his best on clay. Right now Nole has a fairly washed up Roger, a badly faltering (perhaps washed up Rafa) and then just Murray.

 

[Fiero425]

Not to start a competition war but I will bite, how is Nole's current competition much better than Roger's in 2006? Note that Roger had Rafa near his best on clay. Right now Nole has a fairly washed up Roger, a badly faltering (perhaps washed up Rafa) and then just Murray.

As much as I call the rest of the tour GUTLESS, they're a lot better than that; PLEASE! Berdych, Ferrer, Cilic, Wawrinka, Kei, Raonic, Dimitrov, Simon, and so many more are quite competitive and can take any of the Big 4 out these days! Nole's had to dig himself out of hole many a time of late; DOPO just last month in Cincy! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[shawnbm]

In a word--No. Federer was more dominant, lost fewer matches and lost fewer sets.

 

[Fiero425]

In a word--No. Federer was more dominant, lost fewer matches and lost fewer sets.

Federer was more dominant and lost fewer sets in his "day!" His style of player hypnotized his opposition and he floated through many a tournament without much fuss! Nole is dominating in his own way; taking his 1st 4 Masters of the season and surviving tough wins at Wimbledon and the USO! I still SMH over seeing the dominance of these 3 players routinely taking 3 of 4 majors, but Nole's had that little extra with his dominance in the fall going into the WTF! His run the last several years is unprecedented without even checking the record! Most top players are so drained that they're lucky to win more than a couple YEC's, but to also take the Masters events leading up to it can't of been done as routinely as Djokovic these last several years! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[DarthFed]

Not to start a competition war but I will bite, how is Nole's current competition much better than Roger's in 2006? Note that Roger had Rafa near his best on clay. Right now Nole has a fairly washed up Roger, a badly faltering (perhaps washed up Rafa) and then just Murray.

As much as I call the rest of the tour GUTLESS, they're a lot better than that; PLEASE! Berdych, Ferrer, Cilic, Wawrinka, Kei, Raonic, Dimitrov, Simon, and so many more are quite competitive and can take any of the Big 4 out these days! Nole's had to dig himself out of hole many a time of late; DOPO just last month in Cincy! :angel: :dodgy:

The players you listed can take out 3 of the Big 4 and mostly because those 3 aren't really that great anymore. Nole digging himself out of holes against dudes like Anderson isn't an argument in his favor

 

[Haelfix]

Not to start a competition war but I will bite, how is Nole's current competition much better than Roger's in 2006? Note that Roger had Rafa near his best on clay. Right now Nole has a fairly washed up Roger, a badly faltering (perhaps washed up Rafa) and then just Murray.

As much as I call the rest of the tour GUTLESS, they're a lot better than that; PLEASE! Berdych, Ferrer, Cilic, Wawrinka, Kei, Raonic, Dimitrov, Simon, and so many more are quite competitive and can take any of the Big 4 out these days! Nole's had to dig himself out of hole many a time of late; DOPO just last month in Cincy! :angel: :dodgy:

I definitely don't agree, the tour is particularly weak at the moment as the old generation is going out and the young generation is unable to rise to the occassion. Ferrer, Berdych and Wawrinka were both in their early 20s during the 2006 run, an age where you are normally entering your prime. You still had great players like Roddick, Davydenko, Nalbandian, Hewitt, Blake, Haas and so forth that were in their prime. Nadal was much more of a threat than he is now, and you even had a young Murray who was quite good as a young player (he gave Federer his only non clay loss of the season).

2006 wasn't a super strong year like 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2011, but it's competitive with several of the recent era mediocre years like 2009 and 2013.

I'd compare this era to the 2001-2002 seasons, where there was a bit of a generation change and a power vacuum.

 

[herios]

Before debating if Nole's 2015 or Roger's 2006 is better, i think we should wait to the rest of the season to end. Nole has 4 more events to play and he could add to his portfolio

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Before debating if Nole's 2015 or Roger's 2006 is better, i think we should wait to the rest of the season to end. Nole has 4 more events to play and he could add to his portfolio

But, great hands was looking at a full year with some arbitrary starting point; one full year starting from last year's Bercy (it will end with Shanghai 2015 as far as big events are concerned).

 

[DarthFed]

Before debating if Nole's 2015 or Roger's 2006 is better, i think we should wait to the rest of the season to end. Nole has 4 more events to play and he could add to his portfolio

Yeah Nole particularly has to win YEC or it is cut and dry that Roger's 2006 was better. But I do expect Nole will win YEC, overwhelming favorite there.

 

[Carol]

Berdych, Ferrer, Kei, Dimitrov, Raonic, Simon, Tsonga and etc etc are very inconsistent players and far to be great champions, they don't have any MS in their belts (it says everything) Ferru has won only one and maybe Wawrinka with his two GS and a few MS has had better results than them
The Tour needs better competition, if not this year I hope 2016 will be much better

 

[Front242]

Many players will retire after the olympics so tennis will only get worse imo, not better next year. Which is sad.

 

[Carol]

I suposse that only the players 34 years old and over will retire after the Olympics like Roger, Feli, Robredo, maybe Ferru and someone else.
My question is if the youngest ones (22 and under) will be able to improve more and the ones not so young (23-27) will be more consistent that they are now and some between 28 to 32 will keep reigning the Tour
No dubts about Novak is right now the most consistent player physically and mentally. Muzz has improved his confidence but still I don't see him so solid and Rafa will have to recovery his nerves and confidence, otherwise he will continue losing against anyone which is unthinkable

 

[Riotbeard]

I personally think that Novak's 2011 was better than both since he was facing off against a peak level Goat candidate in virtually every final he won. That's my two cents. I think this year has been great, definitely more significant for the records, but I think 2011 Novak would beat 2015 Novak most of the time...

 

[Fiero425]

I personally think that Novak's 2011 was better than both since he was facing off against a peak level Goat candidate in virtually every final he won. That's my two cents. I think this year has been great, definitely more significant for the records, but I think 2011 Novak would beat 2015 Novak most of the time...

I totally agree! Back in 2011, Nole didn't just beat you; you were destroyed! He's just getting by these days, but still well above the fray! :nono :angel: :dodgy:

 

[Denis]

I personally think that Novak's 2011 was better than both since he was facing off against a peak level Goat candidate in virtually every final he won. That's my two cents. I think this year has been great, definitely more significant for the records, but I think 2011 Novak would beat 2015 Novak most of the time...

This is true. But we are comparing fed 2006 to current Novak. There is one poster here that is suggesting that amount of sets lost is more important than amount of titles won, I guess some people will just make up anything to profess their fedal love.

Anyways, your point does nod to the fact that both Roger and Novak 2015 faced less competition than Novak 2011. That being said Novak did win more titles than federer in 2006 and I do think comparatively speaking the competition in 2015 was greater than in 2006. I will see if I can pull out the stats for top 10 wins for both players, that will give us a better idea I think.

 

[Front242]

I don't think Roger will call it quits next year but who knows. Unless he feels content to be home with his kids and quit playing tennis, I can see him playing 2017 as well. He loves tennis so unless that changes he won't quit next year unless he declines rapidly which I doubt very much will happen. With his game it's possible to maintain top form for quite some more years and it all boils down to what he wants himself.

Regarding retirements in 2016, I'm thinking more along the lines of guys like Stepanek, Haas, Nieminen, Melzer, Hewitt (already confirmed) , Benjamin Becker among others will call it quits. Possibly Youzhny too. Karlovic is old in tennis terms but seeing as his game is mostly just serve I think he'll hang around a while, but maybe not.

 

[Haelfix]

I personally think that Novak's 2011 was better than both since he was facing off against a peak level Goat candidate in virtually every final he won. That's my two cents. I think this year has been great, definitely more significant for the records, but I think 2011 Novak would beat 2015 Novak most of the time...

I think so too. I thought Novaks defense in 2011 was just a shade above what he's produced since then. I don't even know if its movement so much as anticipation. He was zoned into every return and he had head starts to every ball he tracked down during the first half of that season.

Imo it was likely the very greatest slow hardcourt level by any player of all time.