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Wimbledon

Started by MU82, July 10, 2019, 01:42:59 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

MU82

Roger ... Rafa ... Novak ...

Has there ever been a sport completely dominated by 3 athletes for as many years and as thoroughly as these 3 have dominated men's tennis?

Arnie, Jack and Player didn't dominate golf as a group for 16 years, and I can't think of anyone else even in the team picture. Martina and Chris never had a third competitor who hung with them as long as Roger, Rafa and Novak have been going at it.

Of the last 64 majors since Roger won his first title (2003 Wimbledon), he, Rafa and Novak have combined to win 53 of them.

That's effen crazy!!!

And it looks like it's gonna be 54 out of 65 in a few days, as all 3 are in the semis.

Rafa vs. Roger on Friday. Can't wait for that one!

I just hope the winner has enough energy left for when he faces Novak in Sunday's final.

It has been fun to watch history in the making this last decade and a half.
"It's not how white men fight." - Tucker Carlson

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

warriorchick

Quote from: MU82 on July 10, 2019, 01:42:59 PM
Roger ... Rafa ... Novak ...

Has there ever been a sport completely dominated by 3 athletes for as many years and as thoroughly as these 3 have dominated men's tennis?

Arnie, Jack and Player didn't dominate golf as a group for 16 years, and I can't think of anyone else even in the team picture. Martina and Chris never had a third competitor who hung with them as long as Roger, Rafa and Novak have been going at it.

Of the last 64 majors since Roger won his first title (2003 Wimbledon), he, Rafa and Novak have combined to win 53 of them.

That's effen crazy!!!

And it looks like it's gonna be 54 out of 65 in a few days, as all 3 are in the semis.

Rafa vs. Roger on Friday. Can't wait for that one!

I just hope the winner has enough energy left for when he faces Novak in Sunday's final.

It has been fun to watch history in the making this last decade and a half.

I don't know...Tennis in the 70s had a few great dominant players...

But to be fair. that's the last time I followed tennis.
Have some patience, FFS.

MU82

Quote from: warriorchick on July 10, 2019, 08:28:55 PM
I don't know...Tennis in the 70s had a few great dominant players...

But to be fair. that's the last time I followed tennis.

For a little perspective ...

Rafa sometimes gets grief because of his 18 majors, 12 are his French Open titles.

But his other 6 are twice as many as Arthur Ashe had, total. They are only one fewer than McEnroe had, total. One fewer than Newcombe had, total. As many as Becker had, total. As many as Edberg had, total. Two more than Vilas had, total. Two fewer than Connors had, total.

In other words, take away Rafa's 12 French Open titles and he's still in the team picture of greatest tennis players ever. But they can't be taken away, only celebrated.

Roger and Novak have similar crazy numbers ... and they all got theirs despite having to battle each other.

When they are all finished, they will be the top 3 ever ... and the gap to #4 will be pretty large. And they all played in the same era.
"It's not how white men fight." - Tucker Carlson

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

Not A Serious Person

#3
It has been special as arguably the GOAT is one of these three and they are all playing each other at the top of their game at the same time.

Imagine Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, George Mikan, and Lebron all playing each other at their peaks at the same time.

Interestingly (since you got me on tennis), the woman's game is showing the opposite, parity like no other time in tennis history.  The last 10 majors have been won by 9 different players (Osaka twice) and every couple of months we get a new first-time number 1.

Western Progressives have one worldview, the correct one.

Its DJOver

Both Serena and Halep absolutely cruising today in the semi's.  Should be a good final Saturday.
Quote from: nyg on May 13, 2024, 02:07:11 PM
I'll stick with my opinion on Gold.  He'll be in foul trouble within the first eight minutes.

MU82

Serena is the greatest ever, and has held that mantle for awhile. Nothing she does surprises me.

Unless she plays poorly, specifically serves very poorly, she will smoke Halep.
"It's not how white men fight." - Tucker Carlson

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

ChitownSpaceForRent

Yup, imagine how many titles Novak, Rafa, and Federer would have if they were in a normal era with only one, "once in a generation" player.

Further more, think about how many majors Murray would have if he didn't have to go against the Big 3 for his entire prime.

The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole

Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on July 11, 2019, 03:58:38 PM
Yup, imagine how many titles Novak, Rafa, and Federer would have if they were in a normal era with only one, "once in a generation" player.


Or was the top-level talent pool simply deeper in previous eras? 
Matthew 25:40: Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Jockey

Quote from: Fluffy Blue Monster on July 11, 2019, 04:09:07 PM

Or was the top-level talent pool simply deeper in previous eras?

No

MU82

Not taking anything at all away from Roger, because he deserved to win, but Rafa did not play very well most of the match. He was tentative and simply not very sharp.

Although the last half-hour featured some incredible points, with tremendous shot-making by both, the vast majority of the match was actually quite dull given that it was Roger-vs-Rafa.

It's hard to imagine Djokovic not beating Roger, and doing so pretty handily.
"It's not how white men fight." - Tucker Carlson

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

Hidden User

Quote from: Fluffy Blue Monster on July 11, 2019, 04:09:07 PM

Or was the top-level talent pool simply deeper in previous eras?

Absolutely not.

ZiggysFryBoy

Love it when grown ass men refer to athletes by their first names.   So cute, so Badger like.

MU82

It's nice to be loved.
"It's not how white men fight." - Tucker Carlson

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

MU82

Quote from: MU82 on July 11, 2019, 02:53:30 PM
Serena is the greatest ever, and has held that mantle for awhile. Nothing she does surprises me.

Unless she plays poorly, specifically serves very poorly, she will smoke Halep.

Well, I was right and wrong here ...

Serena did not beat Halep, but she couldn't have played much more poorly than she did. It was the worst I have ever seen a healthy Serena play. Routine backhands into the net; serve sucked; forehands sailing long by a mile; seemingly little energy.

Congrats to Halep, though -- she played great.
"It's not how white men fight." - Tucker Carlson

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

JWags85

Quote from: MU82 on July 13, 2019, 10:34:54 AM
Well, I was right and wrong here ...

Serena did not beat Halep, but she couldn't have played much more poorly than she did. It was the worst I have ever seen a healthy Serena play. Routine backhands into the net; serve sucked; forehands sailing long by a mile; seemingly little energy.

Congrats to Halep, though -- she played great.

I think Serena has lost a step and is on the marked downside of her career, not to mention it's not easy to return after a child. None of this is a fault against her, however, I think she's been a bit arrogant in her approach. She's played very few tourneys, no warm ups for Wimbledon, and this is the result. She's still good enough to mow down a lot of competition, but the gap is narrowed in the top 10 and she can't just overpower people as much anymore, especially someone like Halep.

Nothing is impossible, especially for the best to ever do it like Serena, but if she doesn't change her approach and play a more regular and rigorous schedule to keep her sharp, she likely won't win another Grand Slam IMO.

cheebs09

Quote from: JWags85 on July 13, 2019, 11:33:27 AM
I think Serena has lost a step and is on the marked downside of her career, not to mention it's not easy to return after a child. None of this is a fault against her, however, I think she's been a bit arrogant in her approach. She's played very few tourneys, no warm ups for Wimbledon, and this is the result. She's still good enough to mow down a lot of competition, but the gap is narrowed in the top 10 and she can't just overpower people as much anymore, especially someone like Halep.

Nothing is impossible, especially for the best to ever do it like Serena, but if she doesn't change her approach and play a more regular and rigorous schedule to keep her sharp, she likely won't win another Grand Slam IMO.

That's basically the Tiger Woods method at the moment.

MU82

Quote from: JWags85 on July 13, 2019, 11:33:27 AM
I think Serena has lost a step and is on the marked downside of her career, not to mention it's not easy to return after a child. None of this is a fault against her, however, I think she's been a bit arrogant in her approach. She's played very few tourneys, no warm ups for Wimbledon, and this is the result. She's still good enough to mow down a lot of competition, but the gap is narrowed in the top 10 and she can't just overpower people as much anymore, especially someone like Halep.

Nothing is impossible, especially for the best to ever do it like Serena, but if she doesn't change her approach and play a more regular and rigorous schedule to keep her sharp, she likely won't win another Grand Slam IMO.

Agree with every word.

It's natural that tennis is no longer the most important thing in the world to her. It happens to athletes, female and male, quite often.

It's always most surprising when it happens to one who has been at the top of her/his sport for years.
"It's not how white men fight." - Tucker Carlson

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism." - George Washington

Jockey

Quote from: ZiggysFryBoy on July 12, 2019, 10:07:14 PM
Love it when grown ass men refer to athletes by their first names.   So cute, so Badger like.

I propose that all athletes renounce their first names when turning pro. It will ease the feelings of dozens of little snowflakes.

Jockey

Quote from: JWags85 on July 13, 2019, 11:33:27 AM
I think Serena has lost a step and is on the marked downside of her career, not to mention it's not easy to return after a child. None of this is a fault against her, however, I think she's been a bit arrogant in her approach. She's played very few tourneys, no warm ups for Wimbledon, and this is the result. She's still good enough to mow down a lot of competition, but the gap is narrowed in the top 10 and she can't just overpower people as much anymore, especially someone like Halep.


Cutting back on your schedule when you are 37 years old with a new baby doesn't strike me as being arrogant.

GooooMarquette

Quote from: Jockey on July 13, 2019, 03:21:01 PM
Cutting back on your schedule when you are 37 years old with a new baby doesn't strike me as being arrogant.

Strikes me as someone who has her priorities in order.

cheebs09

This has been a fantastic match.

Cheeks

Roger wins 36 games
Novak wins 31 games

Novak wins championship.
"I hate everything about this job except the games, Everything. I don't even get affected anymore by the winning, by the ratings, those things. The trouble is, it will sound like an excuse because we've never won the national championship, but winning just isn't all that important to me." Al McGuire

MUBurrow

What a match. Mr. Federer ( ;) Ziggy) is the GOAT (as of today), but he's starting to look like a an all-time great and crafty pitcher who has lost his strikeout pitch. His shotmaking is incredible and allowed him to counter Mr. Djokovic's athleticism and power from game to game and set to set - but when it was #winningtime, he just didn't have the knockout punch. He lost all three tiebreaks and let his opportunity to serve out the match in the 5th set get away.

jesmu84

Quote from: Cheeks on July 14, 2019, 01:11:23 PM
Roger wins 36 games
Novak wins 31 games

Novak wins championship.

Roger won the popular vote. Novak won the electoral college

Juan Anderson's Mixtape

Quote from: jesmu84 on July 14, 2019, 03:03:32 PM
Roger won the popular vote. Novak won the electoral college

Make Wimbledon Great Again!