Where Does Djokovic's 2015 Season Stand In History?

[JHeaphy]

https://www.the-newshub.com/tennis/what-have-we-learnt-from-tokyo-beijing-and-shanghai

 

[Kieran]

Kieran makes a good point. Novak had a prime Rafa to deal with in 2011. If you look at Rafa's record in 2011 vs. 2010, literally the only difference is his poor record against Novak in 2011. Otherwise his record is exactly the same.

2010: 71-10 (88%)
2011: 69-15 (82%)

Without Novak matches:

2010: 69-10 (87%)
2011: 69-9 (88%)

Again, Rafa was the same player in 2011 as he was in 2010, which is considered by most his best year. Actually, he had one less loss against non-Novak opponents in 2011. The fact that Novak beat him 6-0 that year is remarkable to say the least, and there is simply no equivalent this year.

So who did Novak lose to in 2011 and 2015?

2011:
Janko Tipsarevic, WTF round robin
David Ferrer, WTF round robin
J-W Tsonga, Paris Masters QF
Kei Nishikori, Basel SF
Andy Murray, Cincinnati finals
Roger Federer, Roland Garros SF

2015:
Roger Federer, Cincinnati Masters final
Andy Murray, Montreal Masters final
Stan Wawrinka, Roland Garros Slam final
Roger Federer, Dubai ATP 500 final
Ivo Karlovic, Qatar ATP 250 QF

Another amazing stat from Novak this year: in only one tourament, ATP 250 Qatar, did he not make the final. That's absurd. It is actually reminiscent of Roger's 2006 in which he played 17 tournaments and reached the final in 16 of them.

The year 2011 was great no doubt, but he really did run out of gas at the end of the year. So far in 2015, there is no indication of that.

I think that's because he hasn't faced a huge obstacle of making this year his breakthrough year, and having to stun Rafa Nadal, who was coming off one of his career years. This is a more experienced and sure Novak, facing nobody who's great at the moment. Without wanting to sound simplistic or glib, because I mean it relatively, but this year is easier for him than 2011, hence he hasn't run out of steam...

 

[shawnbm]

I think this has to be considered his best year. It's been consistently great across all surfaces all your long. But someone pointed out, he basically ran out of gas after winning the US open and 2011. Furthermore, he made all 4 grand slam finals. That alone makes this year greater than 2011. Majors are the main determinative factor, so losing one match that would've given him the calendar year grand slam makes this the best year ever for him. Nadal never did what he has done, neither has Agassi, Sampras, Lendl, Becker, Edberg, Wilander, McEnroe or Borg or Connors!!!! Only Federer and Rocket Rod have done this, but only Roger across all three surfaces. He has won more and more Masters Shields this year, so only Federer in 2006 really is up thee with Novak this year (Laver of course as well).

 

[shawnbm]

But allow me to add one more thing. Technically, Rafa in 2010 , Borg in 1978, 1980-1981, McEnroe in 1984 and Federer in 2007 and 2009 as well are the only ones to make Otto the finals of all three surfaces in one year. Roger and Novak are rightfully a step above of all of those years because they bagged the slow hard court slam in Australia too--unlike the others. Yet the other guys did at least reach or win slams on all three surfaces those years. Under this criteria, Nadal in 2010 gets my vote as one of the top five years in the Open Era.

 

[Fiero425]

Best Seasons - Male & Female: - http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=798 -

 

[Kirijax]

But allow me to add one more thing. Technically, Rafa in 2010 , Borg in 1978, 1980-1981, McEnroe in 1984 and Federer in 2007 and 2009 as well are the only ones to make Otto the finals of all three surfaces in one year. Roger and Novak are rightfully a step above of all of those years because they bagged the slow hard court slam in Australia too--unlike the others. Yet the other guys did at least reach or win slams on all three surfaces those years. Under this criteria, Nadal in 2010 gets my vote as one of the top five years in the Open Era.

That 2010 year by Nadal was amazing. That USO win stands out when I think of Nadal's career.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Weak com...parisons aside, one of the greatest years ever. :snicker

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Where does it stand now? :devil

Booted out of top 5 best years already, I think.

One more loss, he might even be out of top 10 (just looking at percentage of wins and losses); I am not sure & need to double check.

 

[Obsi]

Where does it stand now? :devil

Booted out of top 5 best years already, I think.

One more loss, he might even be out of top 10 (just looking at percentage of wins and losses); I am not sure & need to double check.

Where is Rod Laver's 1969 regarding win/loss percentage? I'm not sure it's even in Top 30.

 

[Kieran]

Where does it stand now? :devil

Booted out of top 5 best years already, I think.

One more loss, he might even be out of top 10 (just looking at percentage of wins and losses); I am not sure & need to double check.

Where is Rod Laver's 1969 regarding win/loss percentage? I'm not sure it's even in Top 30.

In slams that year, he was 100%...

 

[nehmeth]

Fifteen consecutive finals
Four slam finals
Three slam wins
Six Masters wins (record)
Four Straight WTF wins (record)
Levels his h2h with the Fedals.

Screw the percentages, one of the best three seasons ever.

 

[Kirijax]

Fifteen consecutive finals
Four slam finals
Three slam wins
Six Masters wins (record)
Four Straight WTF wins (record)
Levels his h2h with the Fedals.

Screw the percentages, one of the best three seasons ever.

Mind-boggling. This was the season Djokovic ascended into the stratosphere of tennis greats.

 

[Great Hands]

For me the most impressive angle on it is this:

Of the 14 big events of the year, Novak played 13 of them.

He reached the final of all 13 that he played.

And he won 10 of the 13 finals.

Ridiculous.

 

[Mile]

Laureus is Djokers !

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

the 2nd best in terms of big trophys..3majors 6masters 1wtf. behind Lavers 1969 grand slam. Laver won other big tourneys too but he is DID win 4 majors in a year. (no-one else in open era)

top 4ish in terms of win/loss..fedster 92-5, 81-4, McEnroe 82-3, Connors 99-4 in 1974 I think, Djokovic 82-6 (numbers right ?).

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Laureus is Djokers !

did he win ? tennis players often feature in this 21st century global awards thingy, (1st held year 2000).

 

[Fiero425]

the 2nd best in terms of big trophys..3majors 6masters 1wtf. behind Lavers 1969 grand slam. Laver won other big tourneys too but he is DID win 4 majors in a year. (no-one else in open era)

top 4ish in terms of win/loss..fedster 92-5, 81-4, McEnroe 82-3, Connors 99-4 in 1974 I think, Djokovic 82-6 (numbers right ?).

I just acknowledged it on another thread! Nole surpassed Roger's '06 record with an extra Masters 1000! :ras:

- http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=798&pid=218296#pid218296 -

 

[Kirijax]

the 2nd best in terms of big trophys..3majors 6masters 1wtf. behind Lavers 1969 grand slam. Laver won other big tourneys too but he is DID win 4 majors in a year. (no-one else in open era)

top 4ish in terms of win/loss..fedster 92-5, 81-4, McEnroe 82-3, Connors 99-4 in 1974 I think, Djokovic 82-6 (numbers right ?).

With all the different courts, I think Djokovic's season surpasses Laver's '69. The Grand Slam now is so much more difficult to win than back in the 60s. Djokovic came only match away from doing it, if it hadn't been for Cilicing Stan. But that will always be up for debate.

 

[Front242]

Laver's 1969 then Djokovic's 2015 for me. Back in Laver's day the courts were totally different and there were true specialists on each surface because they were so radically different. With the courts all homogenized and slowed down so much now it's more about athleticism than tennis skills. Obvious you need both but the former is the most important in today's game, which is sad really.

 

[Front242]

^ The courts have even noticeably slowed down since Federer's 2006 so it's a very different comparison for all three years, Laver's 1969, Federer's 2006 and Djokovic's 2015.