Federer, Nadal And Djokovic Have Finished Ranked In The Top 3 Six Times! [Chart]

This is the mark of consisteny,and what seperates the good and the greats of the game,top 3 for a decade,not only that they hold the record for GS,and Masters 1000 series titles,wow such domination,will we ever see the likes of again?
I will give a heads up to Andy Murray also,who has been top ten for a decade i believe,and only this year fell from the top 4….

December 16th, 2014 at 11:00 am

Sorry meant almost a decade….

December 16th, 2014 at 11:01 am

Tennis-x staff where are the 2012 and 13 years?didnt they all finish top 3 in those years?

December 16th, 2014 at 11:25 am

Oh right yeah,Rafa didnt finish top 3 in 2012,and Roger didnt finish top 3 in 2013….

December 16th, 2014 at 11:34 am

So it is settled we stop tokking bout big 4, from now on it is big 3.
I guess TX made it definite.

December 16th, 2014 at 11:43 am

Remarkable level of consistency from Rafa, Fed and Novak. Tennis had a golden age in the late 70’s and early 80’s with Borg, Lendl, Mac, Connors and Vilas. 30 years later and it’s Roger, Rafa & Novak with some Andy sprinkled in for good measure. Very cool.

December 16th, 2014 at 12:46 pm

Amazing that Connors was in the top 3 for more than a decade. His lack of likeability and tendency to avoid attention seeking seems to have detracted from how good he really was. He had created the recipe for beating Lendl but it was Wilander and later Becker who actually baked the cake.

December 16th, 2014 at 12:50 pm

Better mention them as Top-3. Threesome sounds weird..lol..

December 16th, 2014 at 1:18 pm

you something and think you can judge based on narrow minded views.
I could easiley make a case that 90 era player where more different on skills and more specialists then today generation.
So when you have 4 different surfaces that truly are more un alike as today then it was more difficult to make some impact on history.

why the 70 and 80 are well represented might be that they were not that proffessional. It was easier to break through and maintain that level eapecially if you were backed by country.
So the lack of depth would ensure a large legacy.

so now.

well depth is there and the tennis is in contraire of 90 1dimensional. So dominating is relativele easier.

December 16th, 2014 at 1:31 pm

awesome consistency from these guys. i didn’t realize j-mac was at number 1 that long consistently, or connors for that matter, though i do think i recall that he has the most titles, right?

nole has been in top 3 at year’s end for the last 8 years. crazy!
before fed dropped out of top 3 in 2013, was he top 3 until then at years end? and what about rafa before 2012? i am sure they have reached 8 years or maybe more too.

and yes, true hippy; since murray reached the top 3 in 2008 (was it?) he’s not been far from that mark.

December 16th, 2014 at 1:32 pm

Jane,Jimbo holds the record for the most titles,GOAT ha ha,as if we would ever discuss such a thing lol?….

December 16th, 2014 at 1:55 pm

Just looking at Wiki and in 2005 and 6,Rafa finished the year ranked as world number 2….

December 16th, 2014 at 2:05 pm

Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are certainly better and more consistent players than the rest of the field.
But they also got some help of the ATP who changed the distribution of the rankingpoints for slams and Master events, back in 2009 I believe, in favor of the players who manage to go deep in those events.
The current system awards more the guys with a few big streaks during the season than the guys who happen to be consistent all year around at a slightly lower level.
This could be a factor why Fed, Nadal and Nole stay longer above the pack than the legends mentioned in Tom Gainey’s post.
Just my two cents of course.

December 16th, 2014 at 2:06 pm

Been cynical here,but im sure it wont be long,before posters start p*ssing on one players achievements in favour of anothers though?….

December 16th, 2014 at 2:08 pm

Jimbo was very good…..lots of grit and guts. Wasn’t a fan, really, but loved to watch him compete. My fav in those days was Borg……after he retired it was Pete and Pat……loved Moya too…..

@Chick…….was Jimbo GOAT in his time??? Lol

December 16th, 2014 at 2:08 pm

Okie lol well with a gazilion titles,and wins you would have to ask that question? was it something like 1000 and something wins on tour,mind boggling,even Roger,Rafa,Novak as great as they are pale into significance….

December 16th, 2014 at 2:16 pm

Connors had X factor in him, you just couldn’t watch his matches and stay indifferent, whether you liked him or not, I liked him!

December 16th, 2014 at 2:29 pm

okie, there were articles a while back showing how connors could be considered the greatest; here’s one if you’re interested:

http://theconversation.com/forget-federer-and-borg-stats-show-connors-is-the-greatest-15431

December 16th, 2014 at 2:34 pm

It’s one of tennis’s golden ages for sure.

December 16th, 2014 at 2:54 pm

just for fun and to fill in some gaps:

at the end of 2013 it was:
1. rafa
2. nole
3. ferrer
4. andy

at the end of 2012 it was:
1. nole
2. roger
3. andy
4. rafa

———-

at the end of 2006 it was:
1. fed
2. rafa
3. davy
4. blake

(nole and andy were ranked 16 and 17, and i think they were about 18 years old then?)

at the end of 2005 it was:
1. fed
2. rafa
3. roddick
4. hewitt

at the end of 2004 it was:
1. fed
2. roddick
3. hewitt
4. safin

at the end of 2003 it was:
1. roddick
2. fed
3. ferrero
4. agassi

that means fed stayed in the top 3 for 10 years straight and rafa did for 7 straight. but both got back up there after missing out one year (2013 for fed, 2012 for rafa). so far nole’s on par with 8 years in that range.

December 16th, 2014 at 3:05 pm

@Jane……Thanks for the link…..after reading it I went to Wiki and checked on Jimbo……found that he has 1253 wins to 279 losses (singles matches) for 81.79% at GS, Grand Prix Tour, WCT tour level and
Davis Cup. Career titles 109 (ATP) first of all time. I was taken aback by the win/loss count…..he’s played 1,532 singles matches. Wow, that’s a bunch. Do you suppose Roger is chasing that facet of Jim’s resume??

December 16th, 2014 at 4:19 pm

@Chick……I just read your post at 2:16…..I guess my checking up on Jimmy could cover your thoughts too……yeah, you’re right 1,253 wins to be exact! That’s not too shabby for a non-GOAT candidate…..LOL!

December 16th, 2014 at 4:27 pm

Okie/Jane great minds think alike lol,as ive also been looking at Wiki,now this is the type of discussion i enjoy on this forum,if you look at wins and titles won on tour Jimbo is GOAT,if you look at GS won Federer is GOAT,if you look at Masters 1000 series Rafa is GOAT,and if/when Novak wins Cincy and FO he will/would have the complete set so he would be GOAT??the point is for me IMO,the reason why its so difficult to have an all out GOAT,as there are so many different areas of greatness in tennis,winning percentages,weeks at number 1 etc,the list goes on,and the sport is all the better for it….

December 16th, 2014 at 4:53 pm

Just to add Jimbo is GOAT IMO….

December 16th, 2014 at 4:55 pm

@Chick 4:53…….Great comment. I think we get so wrapped up in what is going on in the present that we forget about the past…..that too will happen in the case of the Roger/Rafa debate. In 50 years, who is gonna give a big rip who was deemed GOAT in
2014??

December 16th, 2014 at 5:17 pm

Okiegal :-D….

December 16th, 2014 at 5:22 pm

Just reading that about Jimmy,those stats absolutely mind bloody boggling,i cant see anyone ever surpassing that not now not ever,it will end up probaby killing the bloke that does it?….

December 16th, 2014 at 5:27 pm

Weak era!

December 16th, 2014 at 6:13 pm

Yes, from 2001 till now, the weakest era ever!

December 16th, 2014 at 9:56 pm

@Matador……..Weak era?? From when to when??

December 17th, 2014 at 1:29 am

Connors is like marmite.

December 17th, 2014 at 3:21 am

^ explain s’il vous plait? i am not capturing the comparison…salty?

December 17th, 2014 at 4:11 am

@Jane…..glad you’re questioning Margot about marmite. I didn’t get it either. I googled it…..something left over from yeast at the breweries. It’s a spread…..help Margot…..splain yourself girl!! Lol

December 17th, 2014 at 4:18 am

I went on Wiki first to find out what is “marmite” and then to try to solve Margot’s puzzle. Marketing slogan for “marmite” was: “Love it or hate it.” I guess same can be said for Connors, right?
I hope that thing “marmite” is not as bad as “vegemite”:(

December 17th, 2014 at 5:02 am

Wog boy is right. Brilliant, if a tad daring, marketing slogan.
Perhaps “olives” would’ve been a better analogy for a multi-national site?

December 17th, 2014 at 5:09 am

70/80 could be called weak era because of the low standards players had for training fysically/mentally.

i remember Lendl revolutionised the game with his training and he was the one who started to watch his food etc.
All facets of the game were somewhat unproffessiononal compared to todays standard.

So a few good men could easiley set themself clear from a mediocre pack.
That way you would have 8 /10 top guys winning every single time.

the 90 clearly were all over proffesional player and t it was much harder to get away from the pack because there were far more competitors. training methods/mental abilities all became much better and it was there for almost every one.

So it is not so strange that we did not see players who could win the amount of the 70/80 players.

Tennis today really is being on top and you now see the same with the best 8/10 players having te stamina and mental toughness to do well all year on courts that play more or less similar. To become a player like that takes years of hard dedication and injurie free time etc….
So we are therefore back to basics with only a few good men. No good or bad era that is stupid and ignorant.

Just evolving tennis we are slowely entering a time where more and more players will have the knowledge and abilitie to be a great player all year long etc…

until the next federer takes a leap and lead men tennis into a new hights.

We are still about to enter the big big hitting tennis men. The Cilic guy/profile is already among us. It is just waiting for a player to become fit mental tough and with the skills and weapons a CILIC or ISNER RAONIC has.
If those guys start to play like Federer/Djokovic Nadal.

That would be like how CILIC took the US OPEN. A different kind of breed/animal. If tennis evolves to that way then we will see more of those players.

The only thing to stop that is to make sure the courts are playing really different. Today it is all somewhat the same. Clay is getting faster Grass HC is getting slower….

December 17th, 2014 at 5:26 am

I love Marmite,spread thinly on toast every morning,and its very good for you too,its made with yeast extract,although i agree its an aquired taste,tried Vegemite once which is OK,but not quite the same….

December 17th, 2014 at 5:29 am

Sorry meant to add,like Jimbo as an aquired taste i suppose….

December 17th, 2014 at 5:31 am

Just looking at Janes stats too and Roger has been in the top 3 since 2003,the only year he wasnt was last year….

December 17th, 2014 at 6:02 am

So hes done it for 10 years….

December 17th, 2014 at 6:04 am

HC, Jack Human gives Oprah Vegemite when she was in Sydney and she likes it, check it out:

http://youtu.be/APpHKHr_9WE

December 17th, 2014 at 6:07 am

Wogboy lol,many thanks lurve me some Hugh, but we dont have Vegemite here in Blighty,guess ill stick with Marmite….

December 17th, 2014 at 6:53 am

Strange that Jim had all those wins,and won all those titles,yet only eight of them were actually GS,dont get me wrong as im not saying thats not a fantastic achievement,and no disrespect to any of the all time greats with eight GS….

December 17th, 2014 at 9:44 am

I will stick with Nutella, chocolate based and its Rafa’s favorite…..if it’s good enough for Rafa, well, it’s good enough for me!! Lol

December 17th, 2014 at 12:32 pm

Okiegal i love that too,and i have it on my toast or porridge,BTW did you check out Wogboys link huba huba Hugh arrh….

December 17th, 2014 at 1:35 pm

what are you blathering about.
you were stating that he doesnt follow up on his slam wins.
Give the guy at least 1 but preferably 4 slams to let him prove he has cracked the puzzle of winning slams.

to win slams is hard enough
Cilic is shot down immediately after succes.
that dear friend(s) is ridiculous anyway you see fit.
items doesnt mean you are but the stands on Cilic is crazy ludicrous etc.
He is tennis latest champion.

December 17th, 2014 at 2:10 pm

Sienna who are you talking to?….

December 17th, 2014 at 2:45 pm

HC, to herself..as usual.

December 17th, 2014 at 3:11 pm

hey all, steve flink from the tennis channel – whose detailed match analyses are always some of the best – has done his own year end list: nole, fed and rafa, the 3 in this subject heading, all make an appearance. thought i’d share:

http://www.tennischannel.com/news/NewsDetails.aspx?newsid=14677

December 17th, 2014 at 3:13 pm

Thanks for the link Jane,im only dissapointed that Murray keeps on missing out on these things,whether its the GS,the awards,the top three seem to get all the glory and the accolades,the writings too small for me to read im afraid too without squinting,im quite short sighted in one eye….

December 17th, 2014 at 3:24 pm

Rather rude and quite patronizing what on earth does he mean by Serena and Marin been worthy winners at the USO?of course they were worthy winners silly man,why even say it?….

December 17th, 2014 at 3:28 pm

it’s a great read hippy; maybe try increasing the text size on your computer? i thought you’d be pleased that he gives rafa his due for the french.

andy, by his own account, i am sure, would say this wasn’t a banner year, so in a way it makes sense he’s not singled out on this year end list, although his final with robredo has been in many, many best match lists, so he’s not being entirely overlooked for his great play at the end stretch of the season. andy actually had good matches against all his rivals too: with fed at AO, rafa at rome, and nole at the us open. all well fought contests even if andy didn’t get the better this time around.

there’s next year and i am sure he’ll be back and better.

December 17th, 2014 at 3:34 pm

Jane i am always pleased when Rafa gets recognition ;)….

December 17th, 2014 at 3:39 pm

Jane just wondering if you are in fact Runaway Jane,and if that is you as a caricature picture,which is a nice picture BTW?….

December 17th, 2014 at 3:42 pm

Well it wasn’t a great year for Murray so there’s that.

December 17th, 2014 at 3:58 pm

True but not really my point,just saying he never seems to get much credit,no matter what he does,still its not relevant ATM….

December 17th, 2014 at 4:04 pm

jane, thanks, nice writing, he is right about Nole being gracious in deafeat. As for Andy, well, last year after he won Wimbledon Sean declared Andy best player in the world, pretty good credit considering he wasn’t #1 ATM, that was Sean biggest jinx on TX, since then Andy hasn’t won anything major:(

December 17th, 2014 at 5:05 pm

I liked the comment from that article by Sandy DeMarco

/*Sandy DeMarco · Top Commenter · West Hartford, Connecticut
I get that had you not chosen The Federer as “Man Of The Year”, that there’s a good chance that you’d be out of a job*/

December 17th, 2014 at 11:46 pm

Wogboy everything your saying is true about Novak etc,i just dont think Andy has ever got enough credit,never has,never will,yes i can be quite bitter as a tennis fan at times….

December 18th, 2014 at 5:35 am

http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2014/12/photo-rafael-nadal-training-hard-richard-gaquet-ahead-of-new-season/?
A couple of Rafa updates

December 18th, 2014 at 10:47 am

No more Armani undies for Rafa, Tommy Hilfiger is in now, I’ll stick with Bond’s one, Pat Rafter is doing good add job for Bond undies, besides, he was favorite at the time:

http://youtu.be/pyyboVSD6WI

December 18th, 2014 at 3:08 pm

^^Bonds

December 18th, 2014 at 3:40 pm

So Federer, Nadal and Djokovic are consistent in gathering more ranking points than the likes of BERDYCH, WAWRINKA, FERRER and whole bunch other mental midgets:

colour me not impressed.

Statistically- it goes without saying- this looks great.

But in all reality all it tells you is these guys continuously finish ahead of a bunch mental midgets- and let’s cut to the chase and recognize the obvious- and for me it’s hardly impressive.

When you consider how injury prone Nadal is- even mssing 7 months in a calender year- that Federer is 33 and nole- let’s be honest- is hardly granite on the grand slam stage then:

It paints a extremely poor picture of the field.

I love those guys, but the truth is the truth, and that is:

The field is piss poor. Embarrassingly bad at times from the none top 4 players over the years.

So yeah: great stat for those 3 and a damning one for the field that all this time has passed by and they still are abject infront 3 guys who- truthfully speaking- as good as they are ripe for taking.

Fed’s old, Rafa’s injury prone and Nole is always fragile on the big stage it seems and yet these guys still finish ahead of the pack when they serve enough chances, are vulnerable enough to be toppled:

that’s damning of the field.

This era is overrated beyond belief outside the top 3, maybe 4 at most.

My 2 cents.

December 18th, 2014 at 4:02 pm

Do you think the undie companies are trying to come up with the perfect undie recipe for Rafa’s problem?
…..LO…..Maybe Rafa likes to do the underwear thing as more of something comical to add to his life……I’m saying this because of his “my famous a$$” comment he made in a presser at the AO one year. All of the reporters cracked up laughing. He’s aware everybody makes fun of him and his annoying
problem……so…..he could be looking for the perfect recipe too!! LOL I will admit wedgies are annoying and him having a big bum……well, that’s the problem and I really don’t know he can fix that.

December 18th, 2014 at 4:19 pm

^^^^^I don’t know how he can fix that…..should say

December 18th, 2014 at 4:20 pm

If Murray, Roddick, are the best rivals against this 3 players, this ERA says a lot!
Mental midgets everywhere.

December 18th, 2014 at 4:37 pm

^Jockstrap

December 18th, 2014 at 4:44 pm

mental midgets everywhere, yes, that must be it! LOL….

December 18th, 2014 at 4:45 pm

Unfortunatley, this Young generations sucks big time!

December 18th, 2014 at 5:02 pm

@Skeezer…..Are you saying the js is causing the problem? Seriously, I have wondered about that myself…..being a gal, I have no idea about that apparatus…LOL…..but they do look uncomfortable. ….Butt….in Rafa’s case, it’s got to be the big bum. Have you ever sat behind a big butted person when they got up they had PIC? Skinny butted folks don’t have the problem…..just saying…..lol Maybe Rafa likes being the butt of jokes…so he does underwear promotions. You know what, he might lose his tennis skills but he will always have his bum!!

December 18th, 2014 at 5:06 pm

OK,
No, it’s the solution, he needs to wear one, there is a reason male athletes wear them.

December 18th, 2014 at 5:12 pm

@Brando…….Let’s put this into perspective.
From 2004 to 2014, in 11 years there has been 44 slams, only five other men have won……Marat, DelPo, Andy, Stan and Cilic. We know who has won the rest. Of the five, I’m not sure how Marat and DelPo were ranked at the time, didn’t bother to look it up but this is mind boggling when you think about it. This “era” has been something else….just not sure what…….kidding, I know what…this era has had three of the most amazing athletes involved.
I don’t want to sell the others short, they are great too…..but you know what I’m saying, overall, no one else comes close to these three.

December 18th, 2014 at 5:28 pm

Surely its down to the rest to up their game,to try and compete with these guys,you can only beat the competition in front of you,its not their fault that the rest were just simply not good enough?….

December 18th, 2014 at 5:32 pm

Okiegal/Skeezer lol at your posts to each other….

December 18th, 2014 at 5:37 pm

@Skeezer, thanks for the reply. I thought you were saying he was adjusting the js…..so no undies at all?? Got it, I think??? Lol

December 18th, 2014 at 5:46 pm

@Okiegal:

Each to their own I guess.

Some might see this as impressive for me it’s a stat of 3 ruling over mediocrity.

Just look at those names you mentioned:

– SAFIN: How committed was he? Mr Self Implosion.

– DEL POTRO: Poor guy has spent more time off tour than on in recent years. Never going to make a dent when you have to start from scratch every 6 months.

– MUZZA: Love him but we know Andy has been and always will be mentally: unstable and not one to really dominate the tour. He’s won slams but has he ever really dominated the tour?

The answer is a clear no.

And then a collection of random winners who can EASILY end up being one off’s (WAWRINKA, CILIC) etc.

And that is their biggest, strongest rivals:

That’s abject when you look at it!

ALL of those guys have serious questionable performance issues attached to their name that NEVER really truly saw/seen them be genuine top dog materials.

A case of the highly gifted, but equally cursed.

And then look at the big 3:

– NADAL:

Injury prone, has missed a slam at least once in last few years, tradtionally spent by September and more embarrassingly:

He can take 7 months off tour and come back and immediately dominate!

LMFAO:

Rafa’s brilliant, but how piss poor is the tour for an injured to spend an age away and immediately dominate?

Very poor!

– FEDERER:

Facts are facts:

PHILIPOUSSIS, BAGHDATIS, SAFIN (tired as **** as everyone recognized), GONZALEZ, MURRAY x3 (slam less Andy), SODERLING, RODDICK x4(not exactly a tennis legend, hall of fame talent), HEWITT, AGASSI (over the hill) and a 20 year old DJOKOVIC in a debut final make up 15 Grand Slam wins.

Add in a 20 and 21 year old NADAL when his game was nowhere near complete (only a clown would it is as such at such a age), when he rightfully was said to have a abject serve, back hand.

That’s his 17 Slam wins:

Which one of those was against a tough foe?

How many of those matches- GENUINELY- on paper are tough?

Soory but for me:

NONE. Out of those 17 Slam wins, heck, a whole host of players would win those finals if they were fortunate enough to luck to face such underwhelming opposition.

– DJOKOVIC:

He’s won 7 Grand Slams. That’s good but not exactly the mightiest of numbers.

He’s lost as many finals.

Outside a 13 month period in his career he’s actually 3 – 7 in the biggest possible match Tennis can provide:

Grand Slam finals.

We don’t need Einstein to return from the dead to tell us quite clearly he’s mentally fragile in Grand Slam finals.

Heck: his last win in a Slam was evident enough for that. Even this year:

He was shaky mentally in all the slams.

And this guys one of the top dogs! I rate him but quite clearly:

He’s a IVAN LENDL part 2.

Complete game, has great stats outside Slams (LENDL has better atm BTW), has won a healthy amount of Slams but when it comes right down to it:

NOT exactly Mr Solid in the toughest, most testing of moments.

So sorry for me it’s like this:

IF you want to celebrate statistics: go ahead and lap them up, these guys can provide a shed load of them.

But IF you want your greatest champions to actually be of substance and have ruled, enjoyed a domain over something worthy of note:

Then you won’t be too impressed by such a stat at all. For me it’s simple:

THIS IS A CASE OF 3 PLAYERS RULING OVER MEDIOCRITY. Period.

3 who ALL have major strikes, gaping holes in their so called invincible armoury when really all they can to is play what’s across the net and what these stats do not account for is that 9/10 they face piss poor competition across the net.

The top 10 is a farce:

The recent abject WTF was evident enough to that.

So yeah, excuse me for not celebrating this ruling over mediocrity.

Respect the records, but not one to be impressed by it at all. If anything: it’s to be expected in the face of such dismal opposition in an era where the hype is great but the substance is little in this time of hegemonic, unison surfaces where one can play the same game across all surfaces.

Weak era!

December 18th, 2014 at 6:15 pm

We are currently in the weakest ERA, there is no reason for the fanatical to try to deflect it for there poster boy fav.
In this ERA, not only are the top players being beaten by an old players past their prime, but they are also consistently losing to Wild Cards and Qualifiers and players ranked 100-200 and beyond.
The Strong ERA is behind us.

December 18th, 2014 at 8:47 pm

Thanks Brando GP for that enlightening analysis of tennis. I realize now how much time I have wasted watching such mediocrity. I tend to agree with your message, tennis is for losers.

December 18th, 2014 at 10:13 pm

yes brando wants to tell us all the authoritve opinion from her point of view, which is, …… based on what? In her words; Lol, lmfao, hahaha, and pinky winkly diddly do……..in my point of view,
Yes, tennia is for losers.no?

December 18th, 2014 at 11:44 pm

UNfortunately, there is not a Borg, a Sampras to beat these 3 guys.
Sincé 2003 tennis become so predictable. and 2015 wil be no exception.
Let hope Coric and Krgyos, Zverev be a real theat insted of Dimitrov, Raonic and Nishikori.

December 19th, 2014 at 12:21 am

@Brando……Thanks for the feedback…..you really had a lot to say…..I will take your opinion under consideration!!

@Skeezer…..I like the phrase>>>pinky winkly diddly do……has a nice ring to it. Oh, and I’m gonna ask my hubby about the JS scenario…..he played football, he might could shed some light on the subject!! Lol Well, Chick got a chuckle……

December 19th, 2014 at 1:20 am

@Matador and he says “UNfortunately there is not a Borg, a Sampras to beat these 3 guys”…….but these 3 guys beat each other….

December 19th, 2014 at 1:44 am

http://www.tennis.com.au/news/2014/12/19/rafael-nadal-to-rock-margaret-court-arena
Nadal to rock Margaret Court.
Vamos Champ!

December 19th, 2014 at 3:45 am

“pinky winkly diddly do”. Is that a new language whereby the poster is trying to express himself? Makes nonsense to me! Try speaking English skeezer!

December 19th, 2014 at 4:09 am

And Mac, Connors and Borg similarly dominated didn’t they?

December 19th, 2014 at 7:34 am

And Sampras?….

December 19th, 2014 at 8:03 am

Okiegal us ladies dont have that problem,G.strings or thongs as their called,means its there and theres nowhere else for ones underwear to go,its probably the female equivalent of the JS….

December 19th, 2014 at 8:08 am

I very much doubt Roger fans,Rafa fans,Novak fans,actually give a rats wotsit whether its a strong era,weak era or whatever?as long as they are winning titles and GS,im sure thats all us fans really care about,well it is for me?….

December 19th, 2014 at 8:22 am

To add as a Rafa fan i dont give a damn,if he beats 7 qualfiers,0,0 and 0 to win all his GS,as long as he wins sure as hell beats losing to qualifiers,and lets not BS here,as niether do any other fans of their favorites….

December 19th, 2014 at 8:53 am

@Hippy
Fell asleep during the “Sampras years” and only woke up when Fed defeated him at Wimbledon. So am afraid, in answer to your question @ 8.03 a.m. I don’t know….;)

December 19th, 2014 at 9:08 am

Margot yeah me too,if ever there was a weak era?not a Goran fan,but a refreshing change during those years to see another Wimbledon champion,and also a Sampras free final,thank god for Roger….

December 19th, 2014 at 9:11 am

nole and serena are the itf champs. only 4 men have been named this 4 or more times: fed, lendl, sampras and now nole. serena and bryans are also winners:
http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2014/12/serena-williams-and-novak-djokovic-named-2014-itf-world-champions/

December 19th, 2014 at 1:06 pm

2013 is travesty for the ITF.

December 19th, 2014 at 1:18 pm

After their antics in 2013 I couldn’t give a rat’s @$$ for the ITF awards. Meaningless in my book!

December 19th, 2014 at 1:54 pm

In the time of Sampras, you have Agassi, Courier, Kuerten winning multiple slams at the same time with quite a few one-time winners.

Same for McEnroe’s time and in today’s golden era.

One can make the case that Roger was that much better than everyone else (which is definitely the case)! However from 2004-2007, besides Roger before the top 3 were established, only Roddick made it to more than two slam finals. Even Nadal at such a young age 17-20 managed more finals than Roddick during this time and he was not near his peak!

Even if we take the last four years, we have two guys with five or more slams and two more with two each and four guys making it to more than two slam finals.

Similarly, the Borg and McEnroe eras there were several guys making more than a couple of finals. Connors, Vilas, Lendl, Vilander and so on.

For my money with so many years watching tennis, this has been the best and longest Golden era from 2008 to present. You have 3-4 guys battling it out at the very top instead of just one 10 years ago or 2-3 prior to that.

Sadly, it will be over probably two years from now but what a ride it has been. We are fortunate as tennis fans!

December 19th, 2014 at 2:36 pm

the article explains how the ITF calculate their choices. it’s not random. it’s based on points. In 2013 nole played DC and made the finals, he won WTF, he won AO, and he reached 2 other slam finals. that year rafa did not play DC at all, he skipped the AO and he lost first round at wimbledon while he did win FO and USO. so nole’s results in ITF events, points-wise, were better. that’s all it is. you can put no stock in it, which is totally fine, but it’s not random is all. they do have a system that they follow fairly.

December 19th, 2014 at 3:49 pm

Well all I can say is that they need to change their “system” cos the present one is nonsensical!!

December 19th, 2014 at 3:56 pm

@Giles: I am surprised at you for that comment re itf. Your fav won 2 slams in 2013 and you throw a hissyfit over that crap? Colour me surprised. That farce is only fawned over tool fanatics and even for them it’s a momentary thing. Just an excuse I guess for them to fellate their idols stature I guess. And even it’s usually for a player who really is not in the absolute elite really. After all: how often have Federer, Sampras, Nadal fans harped over that crummy throw a dog a bone award? Outside its mention: never, since they have greater achievements to muse over like winning a bucket load of slams. Stop with talking of that trashy award Giles when your fav is an expert at setting records in far more prestigious, note worthy arenas: grand slam tennis.

December 19th, 2014 at 4:24 pm

Tennis.com have several podcasts up right now, and I listened to the full ATP one; here are Tignor’s guesses for who will end 2015 in the top 10, for anyone who’s interested (but who doesn’t want to listen to the 45 minute podcast. McGrogan is very chatty!).
They talked about Cilic ending this year on a bad note, and suggested it’s possible he could end in the top 10, but they felt he went backwards after the USO, to how he usually played before then.
Monfils – 10 (noting his confident performances at the end of this year as a good sign)
Dimitrov – 9 (discussion about whether he should switch coaches to move even further)
Berdych – 8 (discussion about his new coach giving him a boost but only a temporary one)
Raonic – 7 (still sees limits to his game but thinks he’ll continue to win events)
Murray – 6 (feels unsure if he’ll get back to where he was before, sees limits to his game as far as power goes; doesn’t really feel the coaching issue is a factor though)
Wawrinka – 5 (ended the year well, which will carry over, but he’ll continue to be less consistent than some of the others. Concern that if he loses early at the AO it may set a negative tone for the rest of the year)
Federer – 4 (Rafa being back might be a factor for Fed, i.e., depending how often he has to face him, as it’s such a bad matchup and he didn’t face him much in 2014. Thinks it’ll be difficult for him to repeat the same consistency of this year)
Nishikori – 3 (his ability is elevated, great ball striking, played top players well throughout 2014, Chang is bullish and will push Kei, has all surface ability. Only caveats, as we all know, size and injury-prone, but also Tignor wonders if he lacks the bravado needed to reach #1 – though Chang adds that sense of swagger to some degree. Does Kei feels he deserves to be #1?)
Djokovic – 2 (feels he is playing well across all surfaces, doesn’t have a clear reason not to pick him as number 1 except that he thinks Rafa will have a comeback and a successful chase for #1, so it’s mainly because he picks Rafa to get to number 1 that he picks Nole as #2. McGrogan said it could be a big year for Nole on the other hand. Tignor comments that he showed some ups and downs in 2014, so he is left with a few questions about Nole.)
Nadal – 1 (feels it’ll be another one of his comeback years and that it might be his “last big run”; not that he’ll fade away from injury but that he won’t go on those kinds of rolls again. Tignor feels he has another number 1 run in him. Rafa has never defended a #1 ranking but likes to chase the other’s down. Thinks the week between FO and Wimbledon helps Rafa. Also they talk about Toni as being the number cruncher and how he “prods” Rafa with goals )

December 19th, 2014 at 5:59 pm

fair enough giles.

December 19th, 2014 at 6:06 pm

Jane interesting summary thanks for the info….

December 19th, 2014 at 6:07 pm

This site could do with some moderation, some nasty and rude words thrown around for no reason aimed at the poster that never ever insulted nor disrespected anybody on TX.
If you don’t like and respect ITF award, fair enough, just ignore it, why going around insulting people?

December 19th, 2014 at 7:22 pm

Yeah my bad.

Apologies to all those who felt my 4.24 post had them in the firing line as receivers of it.

Prickly post, I admit and not warranted either.

Congratulations to Novak and others on ITF award.

December 19th, 2014 at 8:43 pm

@wog boy
Well said!
@jane
Thanks for all the info.
ITF is a govening body recognized by all the players onTour. They may have there shortcomings in the drug testing area imo, but their outstanding recigntion of this years players is well deserved.

December 20th, 2014 at 1:12 am

@Jane…..you spent a lot of time on your comment about the ITF……good info and thanks!

December 20th, 2014 at 2:05 am

Yeah and congrats to Novak and Serena,on winning the ITF award….

December 20th, 2014 at 5:54 am

Wogboy great post,but that post should apply to all,regardless of whether we get on with them or not,exactly the same poster insulted someone else and was rather nasty,on the 12.44pm December 19th,on the Rafa 2015 video thread….

December 20th, 2014 at 6:23 am

thanks folks, re: the podcast summary. it’ll be interesting to see if tignor’s right – i’m especially interested in seeing if kei really gets to 3, if cilic plummets, and if murray stays below wawrinka.

December 20th, 2014 at 1:51 pm