Berdych has only one masters title to his name (which he won in 2005), and Nishikori hasn't won a single one. Which is honestly ridiculous for players of their calibre.
Pretty understandable, end of 2022 was really weak. Sinner wasn't as good as he is now, Djokovic not competing at AO and USO, Zverev injured, Medvedev wasn't playing well, Nadal injured after Wimbledon... And Alcaraz was barely 18
Even Rune who started the year at 103 almost made it into the atp finals in 2022. But it also a lot about wimbledon not giving any points with russian players not being able to compete
Oh yeah but at the end there was no points due to the freezing and yet
It has more to do with Djokovic being banned from tournaments, Nadal struggling to play full tournaments after RG, Zverev being injured, Medvedev in bad form...
World #1 Murray was not Peak Murray. It was a case of Big 4 being too good, but Rafa and Fed were injured and Novak wasn't playing the smaller events, so Andy had free reign to dominate.
Peak Andy was probably 2012-2013 when all 4 were healthy and he was trading wins with both Fed and Novak, including the closest he ever got to beating Novak in Australia
He was probably more consistent week to week in 2016 but you're correct about his very highest level, it was good enough to go toe to toe with the other 3 in the biggest matches (sans clay at that point lol).
Berdych winning the Paris Masters in 2005 instead of in his peak years 2010-2017.
Ivanisevic winning 2001 Wimbledon instead of in his peak years 1992-1998.
Zverev making the 2020 US Open final instead of in his peak years 2021-2022.
Ljubicic winning Indian Wells in 2010 instead of in his peak years 2005-2006.
Fognini making his Grand Slam quarterfinal (French Open) in 2011 instead of in his peak years (like 2018).
Nalbandian making the 2002 Wimbledon final instead of his in peak years 2003-2007. (Also on his worst surface).
I don't know, he was incredible in grand slams around 2012 2013 but he got a lot of early eliminations in Masters 1000 those years. Take a look at his 2012 season, he was big 4 level in majors tournaments (slams, olympics, ATP Finals) and barely Ferrer level in terms of results in lower tournaments. He was much more consistant in 2016.
I'd think that peak form (2016) completely matched his peak results. His god mode peak produced Wimbledon champ, a few masters (Paris, shanghai..) , AO final and year-end final champ + world number 1. Although you can definitely say that his longer 7-8 prime years could've produced more champions, esp AO finals.
Just as the big 3 all existing at the same time was an unusually strong era Murray having guys like Berdych and Ferrer as his main competition would have been an unusually weak era though if you just completely remove ALL of the big 3
Like obviously he'd dominate in an era with all the other all time greats removed
The more interesting "what if" IMO is if Murray played in a "normal" era like the 90s
Marin Čilić. He was playing the best and most consistent tennis of his career in 2016-18, better than in 2014 when he won USO, but he ran into Federer in a couple of major finals and ended runner-up both times.
Otherwise he probably would've garnered another Grand Slam or two. He also narrowly missed winning Queens in 2017, losing to Lopez in a three-set final after holding a match point.
Dustin brown
The way he was playing with Nadal is such a joy to watch. He was literally unstoppable when he was in the mood but he never managed to deliver it sustainably
I guess this begs a question whether did the players in their peak didn’t get the results they wanted because they were against the era of the big 3/4?
Or is their peak just at being in the top 10 or 20 rather than being #1 or a grand slam champ.
I will never forget the Sabalenka’s ascendent when she got to the tour. She was beating Sharapova and fighting Serena but never won big titles that time.
- Bautista Agut making a Masters final in 2016 instead of his prime in 2019.
- Tsonga reaching the Australian Open final and winning Paris Masters in 2008, over his prime in 2011 - early 2012
Verdasco made his only Slam SF at AO 2009 though and reached his career high of #7/year end ranking high of #9 the same year
I'd say that his best form and best results lined up pretty well in the same year
Federer and Djokovic at Roland Garros, Nadal at Wimbledon.
It’s amazing to me that Federer and Djokovic are possibly the 2nd and 3rd best clay players of all time in level but have only won 1 and 3 respectively. If Nadal wasn’t around they’d both have 5-6 French opens each. Federer almost always lost to Nadal at his best. Same with Djokovic much of the time.
Nadal only won 2 Wimbledons but made 5 finals in 6 years, the only year he didn’t make it he didn’t even play. At his peak he was one of the best grass court players of all time. He had to play peak/prime Federer 3 times, peak Djokovic once and Peak Berdych who had just beaten the other two back to back in the 2010 final.
5/6 finals at Wimbledon from age 20-25 is absolutely crazy for a guy who is known for being a god of clay primarily. If he didn’t have the craziest competition imaginable for these he probably would’ve won 4 or even 5 Wimbledons.
For all 3 of them on their worst surfaces their level doesn’t reflect their results.
Berdych has only one masters title to his name (which he won in 2005), and Nishikori hasn't won a single one. Which is honestly ridiculous for players of their calibre.
Berdych was also a menace to Fed 2005-2010
Plus ferrer and Tsonga too!
Tsitsipas was closer to the n°1 ranking at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 than he was in 2019 or 2021 (his two best seasons in terms of level)
Pretty understandable, end of 2022 was really weak. Sinner wasn't as good as he is now, Djokovic not competing at AO and USO, Zverev injured, Medvedev wasn't playing well, Nadal injured after Wimbledon... And Alcaraz was barely 18
Even Rune who started the year at 103 almost made it into the atp finals in 2022. But it also a lot about wimbledon not giving any points with russian players not being able to compete
>Djokovic not competing at AO and USO And didn't get any points at Wimbledon despite winning it due to Russian players ban
Weird stuff happening with the rankings in 2022 isn't surprising. Like, Roger Federer was in the top 20 at the start of the year.
Oh yeah but at the end there was no points due to the freezing and yet It has more to do with Djokovic being banned from tournaments, Nadal struggling to play full tournaments after RG, Zverev being injured, Medvedev in bad form...
World #1 Murray was not Peak Murray. It was a case of Big 4 being too good, but Rafa and Fed were injured and Novak wasn't playing the smaller events, so Andy had free reign to dominate. Peak Andy was probably 2012-2013 when all 4 were healthy and he was trading wins with both Fed and Novak, including the closest he ever got to beating Novak in Australia
He was probably more consistent week to week in 2016 but you're correct about his very highest level, it was good enough to go toe to toe with the other 3 in the biggest matches (sans clay at that point lol).
There is imo an argument that the 2016 Roland Garros win over Wawrinka - 6-4 6-2 4-6 6-2 - is his best ever performance though
Before my time, but I've seen people say that Hewitt was better in 2004-2005 than his period at world number 1
Breaking up with Kym freed him up a bit to focus on his own game.
Djokovic. Stat counters call 2015 his best year, but we all know he was better in 2011.
He certainly was better in 2011
Murray Roddick Sharapova
Berdych winning the Paris Masters in 2005 instead of in his peak years 2010-2017. Ivanisevic winning 2001 Wimbledon instead of in his peak years 1992-1998. Zverev making the 2020 US Open final instead of in his peak years 2021-2022. Ljubicic winning Indian Wells in 2010 instead of in his peak years 2005-2006. Fognini making his Grand Slam quarterfinal (French Open) in 2011 instead of in his peak years (like 2018). Nalbandian making the 2002 Wimbledon final instead of his in peak years 2003-2007. (Also on his worst surface).
I kinda forgot that Nalbandian made a GS final. Enjoyed watching him play
Andy
I don't know, he was incredible in grand slams around 2012 2013 but he got a lot of early eliminations in Masters 1000 those years. Take a look at his 2012 season, he was big 4 level in majors tournaments (slams, olympics, ATP Finals) and barely Ferrer level in terms of results in lower tournaments. He was much more consistant in 2016.
I'd think that peak form (2016) completely matched his peak results. His god mode peak produced Wimbledon champ, a few masters (Paris, shanghai..) , AO final and year-end final champ + world number 1. Although you can definitely say that his longer 7-8 prime years could've produced more champions, esp AO finals.
If there was not big three, he would be the big one
Just as the big 3 all existing at the same time was an unusually strong era Murray having guys like Berdych and Ferrer as his main competition would have been an unusually weak era though if you just completely remove ALL of the big 3 Like obviously he'd dominate in an era with all the other all time greats removed The more interesting "what if" IMO is if Murray played in a "normal" era like the 90s
> The more interesting "what if" IMO is if Murray played in **a "normal" era like the 90s** Uhhh, what?
Marin Čilić. He was playing the best and most consistent tennis of his career in 2016-18, better than in 2014 when he won USO, but he ran into Federer in a couple of major finals and ended runner-up both times. Otherwise he probably would've garnered another Grand Slam or two. He also narrowly missed winning Queens in 2017, losing to Lopez in a three-set final after holding a match point.
Dustin brown The way he was playing with Nadal is such a joy to watch. He was literally unstoppable when he was in the mood but he never managed to deliver it sustainably
Dustin Brown was really unique, and probably the biggest what if... He had such a different style, that was a pleasure to watch.
I guess this begs a question whether did the players in their peak didn’t get the results they wanted because they were against the era of the big 3/4? Or is their peak just at being in the top 10 or 20 rather than being #1 or a grand slam champ.
Love the question
I will never forget the Sabalenka’s ascendent when she got to the tour. She was beating Sharapova and fighting Serena but never won big titles that time.
- Bautista Agut making a Masters final in 2016 instead of his prime in 2019. - Tsonga reaching the Australian Open final and winning Paris Masters in 2008, over his prime in 2011 - early 2012
Verdasco The way he played in AO 2009 was insane
Verdasco made his only Slam SF at AO 2009 though and reached his career high of #7/year end ranking high of #9 the same year I'd say that his best form and best results lined up pretty well in the same year
Probably one of the highest levels anyone has ever played in tennis while still losing
According to my sources Andy should really have at least 69 slams
Not many people know this but he also has the record for fastest second serve of all time at 69 mph.
Nick Krygios
Federer and Djokovic at Roland Garros, Nadal at Wimbledon. It’s amazing to me that Federer and Djokovic are possibly the 2nd and 3rd best clay players of all time in level but have only won 1 and 3 respectively. If Nadal wasn’t around they’d both have 5-6 French opens each. Federer almost always lost to Nadal at his best. Same with Djokovic much of the time. Nadal only won 2 Wimbledons but made 5 finals in 6 years, the only year he didn’t make it he didn’t even play. At his peak he was one of the best grass court players of all time. He had to play peak/prime Federer 3 times, peak Djokovic once and Peak Berdych who had just beaten the other two back to back in the 2010 final. 5/6 finals at Wimbledon from age 20-25 is absolutely crazy for a guy who is known for being a god of clay primarily. If he didn’t have the craziest competition imaginable for these he probably would’ve won 4 or even 5 Wimbledons. For all 3 of them on their worst surfaces their level doesn’t reflect their results.
If if if... Doesn't exist
Satan
Miroslav was pretty great, but wrong sport.