OT: Australian Open Final Weekend

[UConnTrumbull]

Any tennis fans around here? I'm gonna try to wake up for the Nadal/Federer match Sunday morning. I grew up loving tennis because of these two. The sport became less exciting to me when their rivalry fizzled out. Feels like Brady vs Manning, never knowing if it's the last time you see them match up against each other. Doubt I'll stay up for the Williams sisters match but an awesome story in itself.

 

[TRest]

Any tennis fans around here? I'm gonna try to wake up for the Nadal/Federer match Sunday morning. I grew up loving tennis because of these two. The sport became less exciting to me when their rivalry fizzled out. Feels like Brady vs Manning, never knowing if it's the last time you see them match up against each other. Doubt I'll stay up for the Williams sisters match but an awesome story in itself.

Is there PED testing in pro tennis? The finals on both sides feature bodies that should have run out of gas several years ago.

 

[Drew]

Big tennis fan here. Couldn't have asked for anything more than this weekend on the men's and women's sides respectively. I'm cheering hard for Federer but I think if I was a betting man I'd take Serena and Rafa. I don't see any way Venus stands in front of Serena and prevents her from getting the outright Slams record

 

[Stainmaster]

Ever since my guy Djokovic got out, I've actually had the opposite frame of mind. I would've really enjoyed seeing Raonic or Dimitrov go all the way. Much respect to Federer and Nadal for being the legends they are, but with the former retiring soon and the latter's health getting dubious, my curiosity is piqued as to who from the tier below is going to be able to step up and take their place.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

Is there PED testing in pro tennis? The finals on both sides feature bodies that should have run out of gas several years ago.

Just ask Maria Sharapova about that.

 

[JSM1970]

That seems nuts, why? Tennis allows huge breaks between events for top players and they have 1-2 days off between matches

How can LeBron and KD, Russ go the way they go for years but Rog can't go into early to mid 30s?

Serena is just amazing, honestly, imagine if she played hoops, she'd be worth 5% (if that) of what she is today and never be spoken about anywhere. Instead she's arguably the greatness female athlete of all time.

Honestly speaking, women's tennis is probably the only relevant professional sport there is that has a true national audience.

Is there PED testing in pro tennis? The finals on both sides feature bodies that should have run out of gas several years ago.

 

[JSM1970]

I thought after Djoker won the French last year he had a real shot to break the record, but now he's 0 for last 3 and will turn 30 around French final so getting tougher

If you asked me I would have said he gets 2 out of 3 Wimbledon, US, Aussie

But, can't ask for much better than Rafa-Fed, have to go back to Pete-Andre for a match this good at this point

Ever since my guy Djokovic got out, I've actually had the opposite frame of mind. I would've really enjoyed seeing Raonic or Dimitrov go all the way. Much respect to Federer and Nadal for being the legends they are, but with the former retiring soon and the latter's health getting dubious, my curiosity is piqued as to who from the tier below is going to be able to step up and take their place.

 

[huskyfever34]

Very excited for Rafa-Fed, and pretty surprised Venus found a way to give us another Williams' match. Just wish the men's final aired Saturday night like it used to, the Aussies must have moved the schedule around, don't know if 3:30am is happening.

And you're right we need to assume this will be the last Rafa-Fed major final showdown we get.

 

[NielsisGood]

Very excited for Rafa-Fed, and pretty surprised Venus found a way to give us another Williams' match. Just wish the men's final aired Saturday night like it used to, the Aussies must have moved the schedule around, don't know if 3:30am is happening.

And you're right we need to assume this will be the last Rafa-Fed major final showdown we get.

I think we'll see the 2 of them meet in a final 1-2 more times after this. Djoker seems (at least momentarily) to be down, Murray gets in his own head way too often, Wawrinka is almost a pure serve & volley type, and I don't think there's anyone else truly ready to break through at this time. Dimitrov looked really impressive in the match vs Nadal, if he can bring that level consistently then he'd be the only other guy. Either way, unless Djokovic rediscovers his dominant form, I think we see Fed-Rafa link up again in a major final.


As for the Williams sisters, for as little as I care about women's tennis, I still root for Venus whenever they play. Serena is just super off putting and Lebronesque IMO.

 

[NielsisGood]

I thought after Djoker won the French last year he had a real shot to break the record, but now he's 0 for last 3 and will turn 30 around French final so getting tougher

If you asked me I would have said he gets 2 out of 3 Wimbledon, US, Aussie

But, can't ask for much better than Rafa-Fed, have to go back to Pete-Andre for a match this good at this point

The way Djokovic plays it wouldn't surprise me if he declined at a relatively early age. As for the record, it might come down to this next match. If Rafa wins, he's only 2 behind Fed and he'd still be the favorite at the French for the next 3-4 years, regardless of what he does at any of the other Slams. IMO Fed probably needs this to ensure that he holds the record for awhile.

 

[John]

Some of my fondest tennis memories are of vintage Anna Kournakova.

 

[HooperScooper]

Some of my fondest tennis memories are of vintage Anna Kournakova.

That response deserves a picture.

 

[alexd]

I still remember the first time I saw her playing - it was a US Open broadcast....I was like..WOW!!!!...Then I found out she was 15.

 

[NielsisGood]

Looking like Nadal is going to win here. Fed just wearing down.

 

[storrsroars]

Looking like Nadal is going to win here. Fed just wearing down.

Well, if you call being up 5-3 in 5th set "wearing down"...

 

[NielsisGood]

Well, if you call being up 5-3 in 5th set "wearing down"...

Don't let the fact that this match has been going on for 3 hours before you woke up distract you from such an idiotic post bud.

 

[storrsroars]

Don't let the fact that this match has been going on for 3 hours before you woke up distract you from such an idiotic post bud.

Well, since I've been up a couple of hours and Federer just won, who looks idiotic now?

 

[NielsisGood]

Well, since I've been up a couple of hours and Federer just won, who looks idiotic now?

Might want to unmute the TV there champ, commentary is talking about how crazy it is that Federer pulled it back after being down 0-2 in the 5th (which is when I made the comment). Either stop trolling or learn how tennis is played, not sure what angle you're trying to play.

 

[superjohn]

Watched the whole thing. That's the two best tennis players ever, Federer can now lay claim to being #1. Great stuff, time for a nap.

 

[storrsroars]

Might want to unmute the TV there champ, commentary is talking about how crazy it is that Federer pulled it back after being down 0-2 in the 5th (which is when I made the comment). Either stop trolling or learn how tennis is played, not sure what angle you're trying to play.

I'm not going to say I was much of anything as a player, but I did once beat a club pro when I used to play. You?

 

[NielsisGood]

Watched the whole thing. That's the two best tennis players ever, Federer can now lay claim to being #1. Great stuff, time for a nap.

Fed's been the GOAT for a few years now. And Djokovic could easily pass Nadal up for #2, if not eventually become the GOAT himself.

 

[NielsisGood]

I'm not going to say I was much of anything as a player, but I did once beat a club pro when I used to play. You?

Well shit, should have said you were a player. Surprised you weren't there calling the match with the McEnroe bros!

 

[storrsroars]

Well shit, should have said you were a player. Surprised you weren't there calling the match with the McEnroe bros!

I had a decent serve and that was about it. If it was on I could give a game. I did once play a ranked player (top 250) and got totally smoked. I managed five points over two sets. Bet was I could win one game. Not even close.

 

[NielsisGood]

I had a decent serve and that was about it. If it was on I could give a game. I did once play a ranked player (top 250) and got totally smoked. I managed five points over two sets. Bet was I could win one game. Not even close.

Wow bud, sounds like a tough match! Don't worry, you'll get 'em next time for sure!!

 

[storrsroars]

Wow bud, sounds like a tough match! Don't worry, you'll get 'em next time for sure!!

Point being, you jump to the conclusion that someone doesn't know what they're talking about because they disagree with you.

Never count out previous champions, even if they're long in the tooth. They know how to win. That's why they're previous champions.

 

[NielsisGood]

Point being, you jump to the conclusion that someone doesn't know what they're talking about because they disagree with you.

Never count out previous champions, even if they're long in the tooth. They know how to win. That's why they're previous champions.

Oh wow, thanks! Because my previous post wasn't talking about in the moment as Federer was down 0-2 and hitting balls into the net as Nadal was cracking shots right past Fed...

Again, point being is that there was a match that was already happening before you woke up and caught the last 10 minutes. It's okay to just take the loss on this one bud, no hard feelings, you've already thoroughly proven that you hadn't been watching the entire match.

 

[Drew]

Congrats to Roger- without a doubt the GOAT

 

[tzznandrew]

Congrats to Roger- without a doubt the GOAT

Being a half-decade older than Nadal (so that Nadal was in his prime longer during the rivalry) and Nadal being absolutely transcendent on clay (while merely being great on other surfaces), are two factors that we always need to factor into the head-to-head difference.

Just look at the times they've been in the Finals or Semi-Finals of Grand Slams:

Federer
Australian: 5-1 in Finals, 7 other semis
Roland Garros: 1-4 in Finals, 2 other semis
Wimbledon: 7-3 in Finals, 1 other semi
US Open: 5-2 in Finals, 2 other semis

Rafa
Australian: 1-3 in Finals, 1 other semi
Roland Garros: 9-0 in Finals, no other semis
Wimbledon: 2-3 in Finals, no other semis
US Open: 2-1 in Finals, 2 other semis

You obviously can't take clay away from a player, but:

Australian: 4-o in Finals, 2 other semis
Wimbledon: 1-1 in Finals, 3 other semis
US Open: 2-3 in Finals, 4 other semis

In Grand Slams, he looks like Andre Agassi off clay, and like no one else who has ever played on clay. And the first part isn't a slight, to be clear: Agassi was freaking great.

That makes him probably the second best player ever, but the ability of Federer to be fantastic on all surfaces, against all competition, makes him the GOAT in my mind.

Djokovic may pass Nadal (though if he's healthy he'll get another win or two at Roland Garros at least), though I think it will be hard for him to catch Fed: at least six more to tie? Federer is probably the 3rd or 4th best player still if he's healthy, and there may be other tournaments this year or next where Murray and Djokovic are eliminated without playing him. Not unreasonable to imagine Fed might get another.