Federer paved the way for Djokovic and Nadal, but he's not the greatest of all time. He may be the most successful player of all time, but not the greatest ever to pick up a tennis racket. Djokovic is the greatest. Not just the records but also the way he plays tennis. He has no flaws.
@@TheseHoesAreLoyal I mean, I agree with the records thing, but I wouldn't say he plays tennis better than Federer. If it wasn't for Federer's mental weakness he would probably have won more slams including Wimbledon 2019 and USO 2011 and Djokovic would have less. Sure, his backhand is a "weakness" but this forehand is so much better and makes up for it. Djokovic has no weaknesses, but I wouldn't say he has as many strengths as Federer (Forehand, volleys, serve, slice for example). Djokovic is a better all around player, but Federer is without a doubt a better shot maker (how he plays tennis).
@@Nicky_Cool Mental weakness is like 60-70% of the game. "If it wasn't for Federer's mental weakness he would probably have won more slams including..." that statement is disrespectful for not just Novak but also Rafa, who stopped Fed from winning so many crucial matches. Mental weakness is indeed a part of the game and you're just shrugging it off as if Federer could have won basically every match against the other big 3 had he had a different mindset. Federer's forehand is great, and his backhand improved during the last few years of his career but Djokovic's forehand is extremely underrated. He can even hit better forehands on the run than Federer does, maybe partially due to the decline with age, but there's no denying that Djokovic's groundstrokes overall are just rock-solid compared to Fed's. Not as aggressive and unpredictable as Fed's forehand but still consistently penetrating with depth and control on his forehand. Shot maker just adds to the aesthetic component of the game. Plus, Novak's shot-making is great in other departments. Like running backhand, passing shot on the backhand wing, lob, down the line backhand, sliding winners while sprinting from baseline to service box, service return winners, etc. Fed's better obviously at sharp slice, overheads, backhand overheads, volleys, dropshot winners, forehand winners, half-volley, etc. Federer doesn't play tennis better than Djokovic. They play tennis equally greatly. And in fact, Djokovic's peak level is the greatest level of tennis in the history, as of date. You're probably too biased to accept the truth. Simple.
Beautiful, elegant & graceful as always. One and only - Maestro Federer. Tough luck for Roger that Nadal and Djokovic showed up and stopped him from dominating tennis from 2008 & especially 2011 onwards. Will miss the Big 3 era.
During this period - I would even say with the Safin match. It was almost too easy for Federer that he had to take it easy on his opponent to make it a challenge for him. Obviously there is a risk to that - that is the opposing player (like Safin) can gain confidence and take advantage of the level dropped - making it hard for Federer to regain that intensity.
Most superficial fans, when discussing Roger's great matches, always bring up Nadal, Novak, Delpo, or Murray. Few discuss the handful of great matches these two had together! Nalbandian won their first 5 matches! Roger finally broke through in 2003 in Houston. Roger finished with an 11-8 head-to-head! Their iconic matches include: 1-'03 AO(Nal), 2- '03 Cincinnati(Nal), 3- '03 USO(Nal), 4- '04 AO(Fed), 5- '05 Shanghai(Fed), 6- '06 Rome(Fed), 7- '07 Paris(Nal) When he was healthy and on top of his game, Nalbandian's play can easily be included in the conversation of the greats of all-time! What he did in 2007 at Madrid and Paris, back-to-back, will go down in men's tennis as one of the greatest achievements of all-time! Because of too many injuries and surgeries, Nalbandian eventually retired relatively early at 31 in 2013! He finished his career with a 383-192 record with 11 total singles titles. He was the runner-up at the 2002 Wimbledon, and his highest ranking was #3 in 2006!
Well, a crippled fat Nalbandian toyed with prime Nadal in Indian Wells 2012, almost beat him in other ocassion as well. And he was far worse than here.
@Yoeri Tennis II I remember when Fed was asked after his 4R match with Kiefer whom he'd like to play in the quarters. His answer: Nalbandian, because he has a bad record against him... In terms of confidence i'd say this was his peak. Only thing that came close was "might as well beat Rafa a fourth time" after beating Kyrgios in Miami 2017. Savage.
@Yoeri Tennis II Former nemesis? Nalbandian would defeat him a couple months later in the ATP Finals in Shanghai. And in Madrid later on, and also in Basel, and more
Greatest player tennis has ever seen
is Goatkovic
Federer😁
Federer paved the way for Djokovic and Nadal, but he's not the greatest of all time. He may be the most successful player of all time, but not the greatest ever to pick up a tennis racket. Djokovic is the greatest. Not just the records but also the way he plays tennis. He has no flaws.
@@TheseHoesAreLoyal I mean, I agree with the records thing, but I wouldn't say he plays tennis better than Federer. If it wasn't for Federer's mental weakness he would probably have won more slams including Wimbledon 2019 and USO 2011 and Djokovic would have less. Sure, his backhand is a "weakness" but this forehand is so much better and makes up for it. Djokovic has no weaknesses, but I wouldn't say he has as many strengths as Federer (Forehand, volleys, serve, slice for example). Djokovic is a better all around player, but Federer is without a doubt a better shot maker (how he plays tennis).
@@Nicky_Cool Mental weakness is like 60-70% of the game. "If it wasn't for Federer's mental weakness he would probably have won more slams including..." that statement is disrespectful for not just Novak but also Rafa, who stopped Fed from winning so many crucial matches. Mental weakness is indeed a part of the game and you're just shrugging it off as if Federer could have won basically every match against the other big 3 had he had a different mindset.
Federer's forehand is great, and his backhand improved during the last few years of his career but Djokovic's forehand is extremely underrated. He can even hit better forehands on the run than Federer does, maybe partially due to the decline with age, but there's no denying that Djokovic's groundstrokes overall are just rock-solid compared to Fed's. Not as aggressive and unpredictable as Fed's forehand but still consistently penetrating with depth and control on his forehand.
Shot maker just adds to the aesthetic component of the game. Plus, Novak's shot-making is great in other departments. Like running backhand, passing shot on the backhand wing, lob, down the line backhand, sliding winners while sprinting from baseline to service box, service return winners, etc. Fed's better obviously at sharp slice, overheads, backhand overheads, volleys, dropshot winners, forehand winners, half-volley, etc.
Federer doesn't play tennis better than Djokovic. They play tennis equally greatly. And in fact, Djokovic's peak level is the greatest level of tennis in the history, as of date. You're probably too biased to accept the truth. Simple.
Nalbandian...what a great player
Great matchup.
Beautiful, elegant & graceful as always. One and only - Maestro Federer.
Tough luck for Roger that Nadal and Djokovic showed up and stopped him from dominating tennis from 2008 & especially 2011 onwards.
Will miss the Big 3 era.
Nalbandian was always like a mini-boss you have to defeat 3 quarters of the way into a Zelda dungeon.
From 2-4 down in the second set, Fed wins 9 games in a row.
Insane.
During this period - I would even say with the Safin match. It was almost too easy for Federer that he had to take it easy on his opponent to make it a challenge for him. Obviously there is a risk to that - that is the opposing player (like Safin) can gain confidence and take advantage of the level dropped - making it hard for Federer to regain that intensity.
Most superficial fans, when discussing Roger's great matches, always bring up Nadal, Novak, Delpo, or Murray. Few discuss the handful of great matches these two had together!
Nalbandian won their first 5 matches! Roger finally broke through in 2003 in Houston. Roger finished with an 11-8 head-to-head! Their iconic matches include: 1-'03 AO(Nal), 2- '03 Cincinnati(Nal), 3- '03 USO(Nal), 4- '04 AO(Fed), 5- '05 Shanghai(Fed), 6- '06 Rome(Fed), 7- '07 Paris(Nal)
When he was healthy and on top of his game, Nalbandian's play can easily be included in the conversation of the greats of all-time! What he did in 2007 at Madrid and Paris, back-to-back, will go down in men's tennis as one of the greatest achievements of all-time! Because of too many injuries and surgeries, Nalbandian eventually retired relatively early at 31 in 2013! He finished his career with a 383-192 record with 11 total singles titles. He was the runner-up at the 2002 Wimbledon, and his highest ranking was #3 in 2006!
And all because Nalbandian chanced his shirt
@@Nightingale_1 nah safin won fair and square
Could someone make a highlights of this?
8:52 360° point
j'adore le jeux de Nalbandian
Nalbaldian did get back a bit though. Prevent Federer from matching McEnroe 1984 record later in tour final
PEAK BALLSTRIKING :worship:
Tennis got on a higher level though.
@Yoeri Tennis II I love Roger he was definately part of the rising level.
Well, a crippled fat Nalbandian toyed with prime Nadal in Indian Wells 2012, almost beat him in other ocassion as well. And he was far worse than here.
@Yoeri Tennis II I remember when Fed was asked after his 4R match with Kiefer whom he'd like to play in the quarters.
His answer: Nalbandian, because he has a bad record against him...
In terms of confidence i'd say this was his peak.
Only thing that came close was "might as well beat Rafa a fourth time" after beating Kyrgios in Miami 2017. Savage.
@@masters.1000 Nadal won in Indian Wells as well as every other encounter after 2007. Do your homework.
@Yoeri Tennis II Former nemesis? Nalbandian would defeat him a couple months later in the ATP Finals in Shanghai. And in Madrid later on, and also in Basel, and more
Why do the us open say athletes are not allowed to make their OWN MEDICAL DECISIONS???
Exactly.
1:06:42 🤩
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