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Laver: When it comes to GOAT, Djokovic is Federer's equal

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#1 · (Edited)
Laver: When it comes to GOAT, Djokovic is Federer's equal

By MARK HODGKINSON via ESPN

May 3, 2016, 12:34 PM ET

For more than a half-decade, Rod Laver has said without hesitation that Roger Federer is the greatest player in tennis history.

Until now.

Laver, a two-time season Slam winner, now considers Novak Djokovic and Federer equals when it comes to greatest-of-all-time deliberations.

"I don't think you put one of those two above the other when you look at their performances," Laver said to ESPN.com via phone. "You know what Roger's record is. But the way that Djokovic has been playing over the last year or so, I would say that Djokovic and Federer are equals.

"When you look at Djokovic's performances and his results, you just have to say, 'Hey, this guy's unbelievable, and how can you look past him when discussing who is the best ever?'"

Should Djokovic capture this year's French Open title, he would become the first man since Laver in 1969 to simultaneously hold all four majors. A first triumph for Djokovic in Paris would give him a full set of Slams, as well as setting up the possibility of emulating Laver by accomplishing the calendar-year Grand Slam -- a feat Federer, 34, failed to accomplish during his prime years.

Laver noted how good Djokovic, 28, has become at playing under pressure, whether at a high-profile event or if he's not playing his best tennis. Look no further than the Australian Open, where Djokovic committed 100 unforced errors against Gilles Simon in the fourth round and still won the match.

The top-ranked Serb cleaned up his game dramatically thereafter, especially in a semifinal rout of Federer.

"Everything was just clinical," Laver said. "It was just amazing. I'm sure that when Roger came off court, he asked himself, 'What do I have to do to beat this guy?' Djokovic probably didn't miss more than half a dozen shots in the whole match. It's amazing to think that Djokovic can play at that high level for so long."

Laver: When it comes to GOAT, Djokovic is Federer's equal - ABC News
 
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#5 ·
Djokovic probably didn't miss more than half a dozen shots in the whole match.
Ridiculous hyperbole. Djokovic is already great enough that he doesn't need to be hyped artificially; just talk of his actual achievements. Laver must've gotten carried away by the end of his speech, shame.

Anyway, Rod did say it's not all about statistics, so no, Djokovic will not magically become the GOAT if he wins just one more major, as Noletards - not to be confused with honest-to-good Djokovic fans - would have you believe, just you wait and see the NID observation proving itself.

GOAT is a half-ephemeral concept, anyway... I still rate Laver first in the classic GOAT debate because of how he dominated several generations (and the youngsters were good and competing, not those sad wusses of today) in such a monster fashion. Amateur, pro, open - you've got it all, and a CYGS for each period of his career. Can't beat that without an equal feat.
 
#40 ·
GOAT is a half-ephemeral concept, anyway... I still rate Laver first in the classic GOAT debate because of how he dominated several generations (and the youngsters were good and competing, not those sad wusses of today) in such a monster fashion. Amateur, pro, open - you've got it all, and a CYGS for each period of his career. Can't beat that without an equal feat.
Took the words right out of my mouth :smile2:

I think the closest you can get is to say that certain players were the greatest of their decade (60's - Laver, 70's - Borg, 80's - Lendl, 90's - Sampras, 00's - Federer, 10's - Djokovic). Beyond that it becomes a guessing game of how player x would have performed versus player y, in contexts totally different to the ones they actually played in.
This is how Rod has historically talked about it, so he may have been talking about this era or level of play. He has stuck to the concept of GOTE (Greatest of their Era) in most of his previous interviews, as comparisons across eras due to surface and technology variations make it too difficult.
 
#6 ·
Everyone has the right to define his GOAT as there's no evidence of verifying an ultimate tennis GOAT regarding the amount of countless factors whose relevance is merely subjectively chosen.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Until their 29th birthday:

Federer..16 GS (+ 6 finals) + 16 Masters + 4 WTF + 4 y.e. no.1
Nadal ....14 GS (+ 6 finals) + 27 Masters + 0 WTF + 3 y.e. no.1
Sampras 13 GS (+ 2 finals) + 11 Masters + 5 WTF + 6 y.e. no.1
Djokovic .11 GS (+ 8 finals) + 28 Masters + 5 WTF + 4 y.e. no.1

Djokovic could add two more masters, whereas RG final is after his 29th birthday.

Federer and Sampras won their last GS after 30th birthday and Nadal will be over 30th this RG, so, Djokovic with the chance to come closer in terms of GS titles won before their 30th birthday.
 
#27 ·
Exactly. Laver knows what he is doing. He did the same when Nadal had 3 in a row at AO 2011 to make a Rafa Slam. He doesn't want to see his records broken so he is playing mind games in the media here.
 
#10 ·
He's the BOAT after all. So nothing is new here really. Next.
 
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#18 ·
Just because Djokovic won a match against Simon with 1oo UE and took two sets 61 62 from Federer. Lol. Now they can not see how Federer plays but i still think Fed works on his game and fitness to show off at GS' . Laver thinks he is very smart but i think Fed will be at the end more smarter.
 
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#25 ·
A bit harsh, but mostly true. I think Laver is doing what he can to stay in the limelight. Perhaps Laver was mainly speaking of that particular tournament or the 2015 season? Fact is, physically, Novak is one of the very greatest of all time, but not superior Roger or Rafa.
 
#19 ·
The PRESSEDNESS is gonna be strong here . :lol:

Thank you for the kind words Mr. Laver. Some sunshine after a storm of toxic and deluded commentaries that aimed to undermine the fact that Nole is the best athlete on the planet, not merely the best tennis player.
 
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#20 ·
Wow, the amount of disrespect to Laver for just sharing his opinion is just banworthy! All these guys should not be talking about tennis let alone being on the forum! Senile old man??!! Wow that is some respect. Get the FUCK out of here all you morons!
 
#22 · (Edited)
:haha:
So, it appears Laver is not MTF's darling anymore?
What a bunch of ...
Appropriate word is way beyond my grasp of English language, unfortunately.
 
#24 ·
Recency bias affecting Laver as it does all of us at times. If it's about level of play where does peak Borg, peak Sampras, peak Nadal, peak Laver himself fit in? Also how do you compare levels of competition and surface/equipment differences.

I think the closest you can get is to say that certain players were the greatest of their decade (60's - Laver, 70's - Borg, 80's - Lendl, 90's - Sampras, 00's - Federer, 10's - Djokovic). Beyond that it becomes a guessing game of how player x would have performed versus player y, in contexts totally different to the ones they actually played in.
 
#29 · (Edited)
Let's be serious here:

Federer has not won a USO title since 2008.

Federer has a whopping one AO title in 9.5 years.

Federer has one Wimbledon in nearly 7 years.

Federer is ancient history; Nole is the present and future.

Nole is not only the best player of all time, but he's also going to be the most accomplished player of all time. I mean, Laver is already calling Nole the GOAT even now. This despite Nole not being done winning yet.
 
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