Why has Nadal Aged better than Federer, Your Favorite Players to Watch | Mailbag

[@ghado0ory]

It's. Rafa For me,, He is the reason I started and continued watching Tennis

[@rishbahpandey8697]

Which country??

[@farzinshokooh2085]

Same here.

[@digitadigita3578]

Nadal is very inspirational in his matches. He makes you dream of things that never were.

[@alexyan6015]

Dominic Thiem for sure. Super high intensity and obliterates the ball from both wings. His first set against Rafa at USO 2018, his ATP finals games against Novak come to mind.

[@dalina4009]

As a great devourer of that magic induced by a fabulous forehand,like the sharpest sword in a fight, I’m a big fan of Nadal. But also I’m completing a nice list of my favorites by adding Thiem, and Alcaraz. I love their game intensity, beautiful angles… hm what else I’ll never forget Nadal speed when was young. Miami 2004 was a match I’ll never forget. Yeah, I understand Federer wasn’t feeling quite well but nonetheless Nadal speed was something else. I remember precisely that I stood on my feet and at some point I started to laugh because he was running so fast it was so unusual to see a tennis player with such a exceptional movement. Funny I really appreciated that he was taking time before serving, like a real proof of a such mental toughness in difficult moments of a match. Now besides him, or Thiem and Alcaraz, I’m watching with real interest the evolution of Tsitsipas and Felix. The last thing I really love as I enjoy so much to play on clay that all my favorites are exceptional good on clay and their favorite slam is RG, I will always be in love with RG, Rome, Barcelona or Monte Carlo.

[@Entername-md1ev]

Rafa fan but Fed held up till he was 38 with 2019 being his last competitive season. Rafa is 35/36 so I can’t say he’s outlasted Federer at this point quite yet. Rafa did peak earlier though as he was a top player by 18/19 years old in 2005 while Fed wasn’t elite until age 22 in 2003.

[@innosanto]

He would be maybe great at 39 if not for covid

[@CW-rx2js]

My fav player to watch was Justine Henin. She wasn't as popular and people don't even remember her now, but her game was beautiful. Like you said, shorter players don't do that well. Her small frame and small height were what caused her to not go the heights Serena did. I actually find her just as talented, if not more. I think her tiny frame couldn't take all that pressure.

[@anonymousl5150]

She had a pretty wide frame. It's just that Serena is just on another level

[@freemangriffin4953]

My two favorite players are both from Spain: Rafael Nadal (ATG) and Carlos Alcaraz (future ATG)!!!!

[@amugsgame643]

We tend to forget how exciting Tsonga was to watch in his prime? Explosive forehand , great net game and and a really infectious joy and enthusiasm for the game! I also think that Gilles Simon is the most graceful mover that I have ever seen on a tennis court!

[@ignacioalcon1278]

Nadal is my favorite without a slightest doubt , pick five most epic matches over tennis history, I bet Nadal played at least two of them, people were mindblown by 2022 final but I wasn't, that's normal in Nadal the only tennis player who produces an average of two epic matches a year , this year he's already produce one.

[@SJ-di5zu]

Facts. Nadal is in almost all of the best matches in history. Top 10 Nadal matches would be very similar to the top 10 matches ever.

[@talhafaruqui3187]

Yeah he easily played in 2 of them. 2012 AO final and 2008 wimby final are undeniable i think. Perhaps the 2017 AO final and 2013 RG semi can also be included but u also have to respect the Borg-McEnroe, Wilander-Lendl, Sampras-Agassi rivalries etc

[@SJ-di5zu]

@@talhafaruqui3187 I’ll say 2017 AO is very overrated. Honestly the semis between Nadal and Dimitrov was probably better quality tennis, and more dramatic, although less historically significant. I think 2009 AO semi is a top 5 match all time, but I know its Verdasco so people don’t remember it the same way as Nadal-Federer or Nadal-Djokovic, however I think that Nadal/Verdasco match was the highest quality tennis I’ve ever seen.

[@josiplilic3384]

I think Wimbledon 2008,AO 2012 & '22 are 3 of 5 best ever slam finals.Maybe I'm bias towards last one,but everyone agrees about previous 2!Borg/McEnroe(W 1st) & Agassi Sampras(US 2001 or 2000)are legendary!

[@josiplilic3384]

@@talhafaruqui3187 Btw,I still have PTSD from Wimbledon SF 2018!All England club didn't open the rooftop,on Novak's demand!I haaaaaaaate indoors!

[@rellufsh]

Rafa will always be my favourite player, but I do have a very large soft spot for Richard Gasquet. His backhand is the most gloriously beautiful single shot in tennis. Typically French, I always imagine him playing it with his left hand on his hip, musketeer style. One of the great tragedies is that his lack of power has prevented him from fulfilling the huge potential he had as a young boy, when the world appeared to be at his feet.

[@writer684]

Is it true hes a cross dresser I have heard that somwhere?

[@theprogressivemichigander6588]

I've always been a Djokovic fan. I also love Kyrgios matches which are always exciting and used to love Monfils for the scrambling and shot-making. If I had to pick an up-and-coming player I like the most, it's Aliassime. His serve is beautiful and the serve and forehand remind me of Sampras. And I love Tiafoe's fighting spirit.

[@talhafaruqui3187]

Nadal looked faster btw at AO22 then in the previous years. He was lean and getting more balls back.

[@radilev1996]

It is also a bit mental tbh. 2015 was the first year I saw Nadal having trouble handling pressure and that kept going in 2016, 2017 as well, 20 and 21 too. I guess having all those injuries, approaching late years of your career can create lot of doubts. This AO was different, he went for the shots, didn't really care that much what's gonna happen. Seeing him play this way makes you realize what he's actually capable of. For example in AO 19 final vs Novak he was more tight, he somewhat lost it in the warm up pretty much. You could sense it in his face when he's pressured or not. He was not in the final vs Medvedev. At least not after the 1st set. And yeah, he seemed faster, but imo it's not just the weight lost.

[@hardcoreplayafromthehimala4888]

dope

[@SJ-di5zu]

He seemed to lose weight, and he lost more during the tournament. His speed was impressive considering how slow he’d looked in a Melbourne (definitely to conserve energy as I figured). It was a far cry from his prime speed still of course

[@justusbeweel1109]

He said that he lost some weight, I’d say probably 3 kilos of fat, and his foot was probably the best after the COVID lockdown

[@jennychi2406]

I think Tsitsipas is actually one of the most interesting Nextgen to watch. His reputation may have taken a hit last year, and people are reluctant to admit they want to watch him. Whatever, he's still one of the most popular younger players outside of 'internet'.

[@juanquintana6070]

Tsisipas is not "next gen" anymore. He is 23. Next gen players are up to 21 yo,and before. But after 21 you are not that in the category.

[@susandiana4172]

Back in the day I loved Johnny Mac (and Martina Navratalova). I still love serve and volley, which unfortunately has all but disappeared although in the past few years I've seen a lot of players coming to the net and and using the volley. Next, I fell in love with Fed in 2003, I think; I was at Wimbledon and saw him win the the trophy. l was blown away by the beauty of his game style; he seemed to be seamlessly flying around the court. lately I've been following Rublev and Shapo. I also enjoy watching Lorenzo Mussetti. Lastly, Monfils and Nick Kgyrios are always fun, specifically Nick's amazing serve, and Gael's athleticism.

[@lancelot848]

About that Federer-Nadal comparison, I think one particular area of difference has been the forehands. Nadal's forehand has, more or less, held up even in his 30s in Big Matches while Federer's forehand kept faltering as he aged (Tennis Abstract had his FHP (Forehand Potency Rate) in the 2019 Wimbledon final at around 4, less than half his career average FHP). As different as Federer and Nadal are, their forehands have always been their money shot. Federer's Forehand aged worse than Nadal's and I think that's why Rafa has been a little bit more clutch than Roger in their respective 30s.

[@SWalks2000]

This is so true. It’s actually unbelievable how unreliable Federer’s forehand is now. When I saw him play in the ATP finals in 2019 against Tsitsipas I was shocked how often his forehand would misfire just in standard rallying.

[@sosacouldi3566]

His shortened and more wrist heavy forehand 2015 and onwards while being absolutely amazing when executed perfectly and saving time , it is definitely more prone to errors and mishits than his more shoulder heavy forehand of the 2005-2008 era. I wish he’d adjust the forehand somewhat but that’s the least of his problems at the moment. Still the most beautiful forehand of all time in all its variations!

[@SJ-di5zu]

It’s the reason I give Nadal the edge over Federer for GOAT forehand. Nadal’s forehand has aged well and was the main reason he won AO 2022 this year, same with RG 2020. Federer’s forehand had a short peak. It was very potent from 2003-10 then just up and down after that. Surprised by the Wimbledon 2019 stat; that felt like his best tennis since 2017.

[@delriver77]

Let's see how Nadal hits the forehand at 38. IMO the main difference has been the competition. Federer had 2 members of the Big 3 trailing behind him as he got older, while Rafa and Novak had the "next gen".

[@lancelot848]

@@SJ-di5zu It was kinda On and Off. Vs Nadal in the SF, his FH was at ridiculous levels, almost as good as his prime FH. Against Nishikori and Djokovic, the FH kept faltering

[@michaelespinosa9168]

Agassi got me into tennis, Rafter became my favorite to watch, but Rafa has become the GOAT and people's champion!

[@yanirahowell8011]

Whoa whoa whoa Not if Djoker has anything to say about it

[@Infinityflow0]

Rafa is my absolute favorite. He was my intro to the sport. Funny enough, I actually rooted against him when I first saw him. I was like who was this wierdo who keeps jumping up and down. Somehow ended up keeping up with him later on and the more I learned about him, the more I became enamored. He was and is a fighter. Especially when he was younger, he would go for every ball no matter what. It was like that kid that just kept chasing the ball with reckless abandon. He just keeps fighting and fighting no matter what anyone says. He gets injured and comes back again. The fact that he stood toe to toe with Federer when Federer was wreaking havoc on everyone else, and even beat Federer on his best surface after destroying him on clay was incredible. The fact that he beat federer on ao09 after a marathon against verdasco at his best was so inspiring. The fact that he played one of the best aos of his career in 2012 and fought djokavic to the end, playing that incredible fourth set, and that celebration after winning the fourth brought tears. I still fervently wish that he had won that match because of how much it meant. The fact that he played another incredible ao in 14, demolishing federer in straight sets, and then lost his back and was helpless in the final and still managed to win a set. The fact that he suffered so much during 2015 and 2016, got his heart broken in ao17, and then came back with one of the best years of his career was so amazing. The fact that he won again this year when it really felt like this was the end for rafa. The man keeps persevering, suffering, and fighting despite having faced so much. Yet, in the face of all his success, he still remains one of the most humble, genuine, and pure souls sports itself has ever seen. If federer personified what the sport could be, Rafa symbolized the essence of the sport. Now he stands atop as the current GS holder and my GOAT (though it is incredibly close between him and nole for me).

[@ThatGooner]

Thanks for the kind words about my comment. I agree with what you were saying about Kontaveit. It was easier to buy into her game than Norrie's because her style, albeit not super rare (I always knew about Ostapenko, and Kontaveit felt like a more tethered version in some ways), is just so fun to watch. But she, as well, has also been super interesting to study in terms of what shots/players are her kryptonite, and how she's learned to control her aggression based on her opponent. I love analysing stuff, so the tactical side is what especially invests me in matches and players, so it's been great seeing 2 different players happen to blossom at the perfect time for me. In that sense, I also like that they're not these pristine new gen players, who seem almost flawless, because it provides a sort of lesson when watching the stuff that goes wrong. Thanks again, keep up the good work :)

[@abbiem5357]

Nadal got me watching tennis...specifically THAT 2008 final with Federer. I was 12 and my mind was blown!

[@rishbahpandey8697]

Which country??

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

Nadal has won more slams in his 30s then Federer for two reasons 1) His greatness on Clay. Four French Opens in his 30s. 2) Federer in his early 30s had to compete against Prime Nadal and Prime Novak which was much harder than Nadal's competition in his 30s.

[@joelsuraj2501]

I agree

[@radilev1996]

But we can flip that around by giving a different argument. Out of Federer's 11 hard court slams, none were won after having to face prime Novak and one was after having to face prime Nadal (and that was in 2017 when Rafa was making a comeback and was almost out of top 10 for the first time in his career. You see, perspective is everything.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@radilev1996 that concurs with what I said

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

@@radilev1996 Federer not winning a U.S Open since 2008 has little to do with Novak's Prime. He lost to Novak three times at the U.S Open. The other 9 times he lost to other players.

[@joelsuraj2501]

@@jeffreykaufmann2867 and all three of them very so damn close and two of them could've gone either way 🤷

[@bullfighterify]

NADAL alone is my GOAT & CHAMPION On and OFF the court. He plays with the intensity, passion, the heart of a champion. That's why he is known as a "come back" King of sorts. When Nadal plays, he plays passionately with his heart, mind & soul infecting or animating his opponents and spectators alike. His matches are also not boring because he usually plays a variety of shots forcing his opponents to play every point before Nadal gives up a point. Nadal is truly the GOAT. NADAL is my all-time favorite and GOAT since time immemorial. I am truly enamored with his passion, skills, resilience, and fighting spirit and he never gives up any point without giving it a fight, without exhausting his arsenal, or without trying to muster or summon all of his experiences, wisdom, and tactics gained throughout the years. On top of that, Rafa is a champion and GOAT On and Off the Court.

[@ayodejiodesile5653]

Hi Gill, I'm a new viewer to your channel and I really like your content, and I really hope you see this comment, I'm just expressing all my thoughts so it may be a bit messy. My favourite player to watch is Nadal, he is a prime example of what consistent conditioning and understanding of the sport can produce, I personally feel that Nadal at his very peak is the best Tennis player to ever pick a racquet, when he is on, he is almost unbeatable, interestingly enough I think he's the most inconsistent of the big three when it comes to his level of play on a day to day basis, but that's what makes me love watching him so much, everytime he plays it's like a warrior going into battle, even if he is totally dominating his opponent on the field and the scoreboard, he doesn't let up, gives no space to breathe, always in your face, hates losing a single point, never overconfident but not one to shy away from a challenge, even when he's having a tough day against someone he's so clearly better than, he plays with that same ferocity as he would if he were completely dismantling them, he can boss people around or be bossed around the court, he teaches us that even if we're for some reason struggling against someone in something we're supposed to be much better at, we find our way to win and never give up, his problem solving is top notch, it's like he's a coach to himself on court. As good as he is from the baseline, when things aren't working from there, he changes things, he volleys, slices, things that aren't his norm but he's surprisingly still very good at, he excels at making players play worse than they are and we see this time and time again, that players just seem to play worse against him and lastly, even in defeat, you never get the feeling that he didn't give his all, even in a blowout loss where you can analyse all the things he could have done better technically, his effort is never in question, he's just amazing to watch always. Second is Wawrinka, he has a mix of power and in a way an elegance to his shot that I just can't explain and haven't seen anything like, but I'm sure from my picks you would see that I really love rallies, and not just pointlessly long rallies, but rallies that look like each player is trying to put the other player exactly where they want them while preventing the other player's efforts from doing so, you get what I mean.

[@zirkvandenberg7776]

DOLGO! With him gone, Medvedev. Wawrinka at slams. But, man, do I miss Dolgopolov! Loved everything about his game - that whiplash serve, those insane spins...

[@tyler1480]

Dolgopolov was interesting for sure

[@AB-nm7vy]

Rafa skips 35% of every season, especially on hard court and grass . That helps him to keep health and heal any possible injuries.

[@jeffreykaufmann2867]

Nadal won 7 Slams in his 30s.

[@danielkurtovic9099]

Novak won 8 slams in his 30`s.

[@rishabhaniket1952]

Nadal really seems to be very humble and does not think of himself as a supremely talented player…..so he works hard like hell to compensate and prepare for his limitations. We should not forget that he had the underdog fighter mentality from the very beginning…where he was often ridiculed for his grinding style and on court habits against Fed’s classy court persona and playing style.

[@badbinder2712]

well Thiem and Tsitsipas met in Paris, I watched that match in the first row on the back then new court 14 (unbelievable, bc thiem was already a RG favourite and Tsitsipas on his way). My live match carrer peaked on that day - never will I have an experience like that again, so TV is good enough for me ever since^^

[@richietaylor9870]

So, people have finally got bored of the argument over the Big 4, now they want to kick Federer out of the Big 3? God, it's enough to make a cat laugh! He's five or six years older than Nadal or Djokovic for a start. And when he was 35 , there was still a 30 year old Nadal and a 29 year old Djokovic and Murray knocking about. Which would hamper most people, but he still managed a few more slams, finals and became the oldest ATP No1. It's so jarring to see people writing about any players "faltering forehand" or their "poor serve" or their "questionable footwork." As though anyone in the KZbin comments could teach anyone on the ATP tour how to play tennis, let alone Roger Federer! It seems, sometimes that to be a tennis pro you have to be an all-dominant, unbeatable machine or you're denounced as crap by everyone on the internet! Hence someone like Murray, who has had a career most could only dream of, is talked about as though he was total dogs**t. We're going to have some very disappointed tennis fans when these boys retire and no one gets to 20 slams again for a hundred years. Someone will win 5 slams and be written off as a failure because they don't compare to the Big 3's numbers.

[@danielkurtovic9099]

spot on

[@uz16]

Outside of the big 4, Thiem and Wawrinka. When they redline, they're pretty much unbeatable, even against the big 3. Crushing tennis

[@s.a4254]

Rafa is my fav he is a fighter with great attitude and I find his movements aesthetic he is interesting to watch I never get tired of it✨

[@treychrs]

Sabatini got me into tennis. Her one handed backhand was a beauty as were her sabatweenies{tweeners} and I loved her matches with Graf. She wasn't for the faint of heart though...total underacheiver. It drove me crazy. Other faves were/are Graf, Becker, Mauresmo, Hingis, Henin, Federer, Novak, Bouchard, Andreescu, Layla Fernandez, Sabalenka, Rybakina.

[@getpaul]

Thanks for responding to my comment Gill! Appreciate your thoughts.

[@SJ-di5zu]

Sometimes I watch Gill preview a big Nadal vs, let’s say, Djokovic match, and when he’s talking about tactics I’m just like “man I hope Djokovic doesn’t see this” lol. I really wonder if any pro players watch this though.

[@moothongdt1019]

Rafa is my favorite player. His records in number are insane and unbelievable which is NOT appreciate enough. I would like to be the one who go high with Rafa

[@Wellcometothejungle]

Thanks Gill. Enjoyed the well written mail bag and your insightful comments. I wish I can give you triple likes.

[@amitchakraborty9346]

NADAL AND ALCARAJ ONE PRESENT AND ANOTHER FUTURE FOR SURE

[@jacintacesp]

Gotta say I enjoyed Dan Evans and the volley play the other day. Also enjoyed De Minaur when he played Alcaraz. He was really good.

[@spatulawithcurd5051]

As a nadal fan, I think the initial question sent in was disrespectful to federer. Federer has actually had the upper hand in matchups with nadal in the later stage of their careers, and has still won a bunch of slams. Nadal is in a better state physically because he is younger. I think we can just appreciate that the entire big three have collectively achieved so much

[@pana71]

Inaccurate unfortunately, let's use 30+ as the land mark for latter career. Federer has won some slans, not a bunch. And improving your record vs one person does not equate to aging better, especially when that one person is still winning slams.

[@globextradingsystemsllc1740]

36 is the turning point ,beginning a slight decline,in boxing, baseball,tennis. Look at all star baseball players. Interestingly their first poor season hits around 36.Same with boxing. I think the same with tennis in Federer's decline last 4 years. Never the same after 2016. Big serve saves him at Wimbledon. Nadal is GOAT simply for the fact that he doesn't need more than 2 or 3 FREEBIE aces a game to win 21 slams. Federer, sampras and Novak require aces, or they get beat. Nadal when healthy = G.O.A.T.

[@ZacharyShahan]

great info/context on age.

[@globextradingsystemsllc1740]

@Sleepy Joe Not when you rely on aces, Freebies. Nadal is GOAT. NO aces required to win 21

[@globextradingsystemsllc1740]

@Sleepy Joe Freebies don't count. Freebies (aces). Free points. Easy peasy. GOAT is Nadal, 21 and doesn't need aces. Nole 20, needs lot of freebies to get thru tough situations Nadal can gut out .Novak simply shoots a freebie. Imagine how many tie breakers he and Federer lose without their big first serves? Nadal does gut check when winning tie breaks, No aces needed, only one or two ,from time to time.

[@tvtotalforever]

Hey Gill, major question here! Why do you think did Roger change his forehand motion so drastically 06/07 when it was the most domimant shot in the game?

[@yussepig6629]

It’s karma that Nadal is proving everyone wrong. They said his style would make him burn out before 30. They were wrong. They said he wouldn’t win any more slams except possible one more FO. They were wrong. These ‘experts’ really are clueless.

[@rishbahpandey8697]

Nadal is most underestimated athlete of all time

[@badbinder2712]

Thiem, best technique on tour, crazy intensity, beautiful to watch. And Nadal

[@曾義智-m6c]

Federer got the grand slam in 2012 Wimbledon. After that, he cannot get any grand slam until 2017 Australia Open.

[@luannrice8450]

Nadal is my absolute tennis hero. Noone comes close. My second is Serena Williams. Then comes Martina Navitravola

[@bomberoflamenco]

love the show!!!😍

[@mangstadt1]

The individual evolution of the three members of the Big Three has been largely dependent on when they were born. RF was born in August 1981, RN in June 1986, and ND in May 1987. Roughly, RF is 5 years older than RN and 6 years older than ND. RF won his first major in 2003 and totalled 17 by 2012. Then he won three more in 2017-18. RN won his first major in 2005 and won at least one a year until 2015-16, when he won none. 2021 was also barren in that department. ND won his first major in 2008, in 2010 he was complaining about how unlucky he was to have coincided with Federer and Nadal, and then in 2011 he too became a Monster. Federer did well to rack up quite a few before Nadal and Djokovic stepped up. Since they caught up to him, he came to a standstill for five years between 2012 and 2017. You can't blame him for having weaker opponents in his early days. Now I will say one thing for RF: if tennis had judges, in the way that synchro swimming, diving, gymnastics and figure skating do, Federer would not have 20 majors to his name. It would be more like 40 :)) Nadal is the ultimate grinder, but he has also tweaked his game over the years to improve on things such as his serve, because not being a natural lefty means that his serve is not as strong as that of others who play with their natural "hand". Djokovic might be the most complete of the three. He is the most athletic, the most flexible, and he finally caught the other two at 20 majors. He was always chasing them. After his self-sabotage and now that there just might be a Dragon Slayer (Carlos Alcaraz) on the Tour to join Medvedev and start taking slams from the Three Monsters, it will be interesting to see how Djokovic, Nadal (if he's healthy) and the younger players fare at the French Open and beyond.

[@ignacioalcon1278]

When Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger are grown up (tennis age) they will wipe out the rest from the slams , Alcaraz will take over for Rafa in RG and USO and Felix will take control of Wb and AO of course they will steal each other some, this will happen in three years , so I recommend that the big three and the rest hurry up to take what you can because the big two are coming and they'll be relentless.

[@rishbahpandey8697]

There Is no big 3 for last 3-4 years only big 2(nadal, Djokovic)

[@ignacioalcon1278]

@@rishbahpandey8697 I'll never take Roger for granted as long as he plays

[@bastailonggagwapa9392]

I love Nadal his attitude in court

[@rithvikkolla9655]

Gill, the entire top 10 is involved in playing a couple of ATP 500 next week. What will you take away from these matches at Dubai/Acapulco going into IW/Miami. Also, when was the last time the entire top 10 were playing a couple of 500s? Crazy times. Obviously Ruud could withdraw and it'll be 9 out of 10 then.

[@joshdubai25]

Nadal and then Alcaraz

[@vindukur100]

why outside even including big 3 i wud like watching stan. His shotmaking is breattaking and at his best he is the best shotmaker even ahead of federer.

[@edddzw7430]

Nadal didn’t have to play djokovic whos 6 year old younger

[@ZacharyShahan]

ah, man, i totally missed this. loved the long comment on Djokovic, one of my favorites for sure - definitely my favorite of the big 3. funny enough, Tommy Paul is now my favorite player (since Nishikori isn't really playing, but maybe even if he was). Tommy Paul is so fun to watch, has such a great attitude and style, and hits such beautiful flat forehands and backhands. he's the family favorite. hope he can just get a bit more consistent and focused on key points.

[@ZacharyShahan]

Hubi, Mackie McDonald, Gaston, Monfils, and FAA definitely also in my top 10. of course, Alcaraz is a blast to watch, but he doesn't grab me as a person, so is not at the same level as the others. Schwartzman and Medvedev probably the last two in my top 10. wish Medvedev was a bit nicer. his wit, humor, intelligence, and creativity are top notch. Medvedev is definitely #1 for press conferences.

[@bsrussian]

I wouldnt say he has aged better. Fed at 35 won the ao beating a younger nadal. (after watching the vid, he's won more in his 30s because fed in his 30s had prime novak/rafa.. common sense)

[@satyenjha8699]

Nadal:Novak is my biggest rival Novak:Nadal is my biggest rival Fed fans type 1: I will rank Nadal as 3rd Fed fans type 2: I will rank Novak as 3rd

[@bonzwah1]

I mean, when it comes down to it, rafa's forehand has steadily improved from a technical perspective throughout his career. whereas fed's hit technical perfection early on and then has had to make compromises due to declining physicality.

[@ncressy]

Thanks!

[@bradleyfalkner5226]

100% agree with your take on Medvedev

[@tyler1480]

Cuevas backhand verdasco forehand isner opelka serve

[@Cocologs]

Nadal and Djokovic are less than a year apart. Federer is far older than both of them

[@GillGross]

You gotta go past the title. It's explained.

[@Cocologs]

@@GillGross Sorry I actually didn't watch the video but I will now

[@theintentionalist]

Dude Fabio is a fun watch. But for me, Monfils is for me the most fun I've ever had at a live match. But I was at the match where he crashed into the clock at Flushing Meadows.

[@samlawrence4670]

Federer is my favourite player ever to watch he is breathtakingly effortless at his best. Previously Becker was a lot of fun to watch a true serve volley player.

[@bassmaster1953]

IDC'S COMMENTS ON DJOKER ARE DELUSIONAL. BUT HEY, THAT'S WHY FAN IS SHORT FOR FANATIC.

[@tobiasgoldman]

Roger Federer is my favourite without the slightest doubt. The other big 2 might be more effective than him but no one plays more beautifully and with more extraordinary talent than him.

[@danielkurtovic9099]

Gaske also play beautifully and no one cares. It`s about winning not enertaining.

[@rishbahpandey8697]

@@danielkurtovic9099 yess😂😂

[@tobiasgoldman]

@@danielkurtovic9099 Well obviously a combination, so we'll agree to disagree on that one. Gasquet doesn't have Federer's skills.

[@danielkurtovic9099]

@@tobiasgoldman - No it`s not a combination. At official tournaments it`s all about win. They go on grand slam to win, masters to win, that is prime motive. Entertaining is on traning sessions and exibitions.

[@tobiasgoldman]

Not true on your part. People fall in love with the style of play as much as the winning. Djokovic has never had the same popularity as Nadal and Federer, regardless of winning more Slams than them.

[@bonzwah1]

its a bit early to talk about nadal aging better isn't it? I'm surprised that the fact that nadal is the same age currently as fed's 2017 year is not constantly and prominently in everyone's minds...nadal has quite a bit of work to do this year to be able to claim he aged better than fed. Even if he wins RG and reclaims world number 1, he will still have only matched fed's performance at the same age. but I think that's part of why rafa is so magical. he really arrived on the scene as a top player SO early in his career. to the point where he is often compared to federer as if he's the same age as him...

[@rishbahpandey8697]

Yess people forget Rafa is 5 years younger. They always think Rafa is finished and all those stuff. Rafa is not even complete 1 year older than Djokovic

[@jacobschmidt2709]

Looks like Feds year was better.

[@winterbird4447]

Federer has lost his forehand and serve a bit more, maybe due to back issues. But has improved his backhand and volley.

[@tomislavcehajic9642]

Nadal is my favorit player, but when he play against Cilic i want Cilic to win

[@Psyaii]

Barty was so good to watch, no WTA player like her while she was playing. A skillful pocket rocket.

[@co9971]

Djokovic. outside the big 4, Mackie McDonald, FAA and Sebastian Korda.

[@pabloskibuiadventures4384]

Nadal and Thiem and Federer. I don't know if I 'll still be that interested watching tennis after they all retired.. Oh yeah, I will just watch their matches on youtube☺👍👍

[@rishbahpandey8697]

Thiem and fed are finished and average players. Nadal is GOAT

[@jacobschmidt2709]

Carlos Alcaraz says hi.

[@stevenoneil47]

Other than the backhand what could Federer have improved? Also lots of players of Nadal slightly younger cohort are doing well in their 30s. Maybe something to do with modern conditional / healthcare?

[@VelhaGuardaTricolor]

Nadal hands down. The greatest matches ever are: Nadal vs Nole AOfinal Nadal vs Roger WINfinal Nadal vs Verdasco AO semi Nadal vs anyone else at any given time. From the new gen I like to watch Zverev, Medvedev, Schwartzman and Thiem.

[@br1729]

Fascinating how, two years ago, neither Alcaraz nor Sinner rated mention here. Not to say no one liked watching them, but evidently not enough to get some discussion.

[@abhsrk]

Rafa Rafa Rafa Rafa

[@mw7214]

To be honest, Fed was remarkable in his late 30s, the reason he still cannot win GS bc of Dkovic and Nadal, if you look at Fed's GS closely, you will notice, 16 of 20 GS Fed won were before 2012, after 2012, he only won 4, not bc Fed was bad, he was good, but he just could not beat Djokovic and Nadal, his records against DJokoer and Nadal at GS was miserable, thats why I never think Fed is the GOAT, he is/was not, and never will be despite his populairty and smooth tennis style. DJoker and Nadal are just better than him. End of Story.

[@goldwolf0606]

Gil has a sensible take on liking and not liking players. 👍

[@kevinandjackiegunn9914]

That's interesting coming from you GoldWolf! But I do enjoy them even if I don't always agree!

[@bjornyesterday8362]

I’m a Rafa fan but let’s see how he’s doing in 5 yrs….aging better than Federator hmmmm

[@matthewthompson6033]

In terms of popularity nobody will ever eclipse Federer. He always attracts the biggest crowds, has the biggest fan base and has the most general interest in him from outside the sport (which is highlighted in his net worth). Also just compare you tube highlight video views with any other player, they don’t compare with the King 🇨🇭🐐

[@rajarshighosh4821]

To be very honest, Federer has been clearly eclipsed by Nadal in terms of popularity and by Djokovic in terms of quality of play.

[@matthewthompson6033]

@@rajarshighosh4821 they really haven’t. When Federer plays the tv ratings double, there are many articles online highlighting that the few tournaments he played in 2021 were the most watched BY FAR. If you seriously believe that Djokovic has become more popular than Federer you mustn’t watch tennis very much. EXTREMELY rare u see Novak merchandise in the crouds yet RF caps can be seen in tournaments Federer isn’t even playing in. Also whenever Federer and Djokovic play there has never been a single match where the crowd has supported Djokovic. Also like I said there’s a reason Federer is a lot richer than the other two, he’s brand is more popular

[@erkkikvell3659]

I am not sure if Nadal has in fact aged better than Federer. Roger will be 41 this year and he is still alive and kicking . Nadal is 5 years younger. What I do think that Djokovic has aged better that his 2 rivals. He is only 11 months younger than Nadal, yet he looks fresh and what is more important he does not seem to suffer from any injuries. I' ve been Nadal's fan since 2005, before that it was Agassi. I do not like Djokovic for obvious reasons, yet I am afraid that on grass, which has the fastest and lowest bounce , 36 year old grandpa Rafa may struggle.

[@tijgertjekonijnwordopgegeten]

It is interesting as the title of the video may have aged badly now that Nadal seems really close to the end of his career. Rafa was better than Roger in his early thirties, but now it is looking like Roger maintained his level at an older age than Rafa, which begs the question of which one is more important when considering the question pf who aged better.

[@chaii7275]

Federer's sheer frequency/volume of unforced errors was too much to overcome against Nadal and Djo. Plus his inconsistent first serve in semi and finals of grand slams.

[@als5482]

exactly, his serve always failed him on big matches.

[@alexg7836]

Federer’s mind aged badly. Tbh, he was never the same after Wimbledon FO 2008, but his mind was shot at AO 2009, USO 2009 and from there he eked out 4 slams but yeh that was all she wrote

[@goldwolf0606]

You should call players out for hitting women in their throats with a ball and throwing racquets into the stands though. Dangerous acts need to be called out.

[@Shalsy10]

I think that the improvements Roger would have had to have made in order to maintain his hold on grass and generally in the tour would have ultimately changed his game into something that he wouldn't have enjoyed in the end. Style and how he plays holds more value to him than it does for Novak/Rafa. That's not to say he doesn't want to win but I've always had the impression it's a big part of his love for the game. It has meant that he has blown a lot more matches, and as fans unfortunately we've suffered some real heartbreakers because he's always more likely to make errors in pressure situations by playing a more a aggressive stylised game but I'm convinced Roger would not have been motivated to stay as long as he has, if he was unable to do it his way. It's probably stubbornness of his part but as a fan it's also what's made me appreciate and love the wins so much more.

[@seanhurley4003]

Federer won the least slams in his 30's because the two younger GOATS were still in their prime. He won the most slams in his 20's because the 2 younger GOATS were not yet in their prime. Nadal and Djok win in their 30's because the guys younger than them are not GREAT. In his 30's Fed made 18 SFs. He lost 10 of those. Almost all to Nadal and Djokovic. He made 8 finals and lost 4, all to Djokovic. It's mostly the age dynamic. Disclosure: Nadal fan

[@globextradingsystemsllc1740]

"'Pace of play"' Gill. Nadal still whooped Medvedev with daniil's very fast pace between serves. Nadal adjusted and still whooped him. Don't remember you giving credit to Nadal for adjusting when he likes a slow pace.

[@GillGross]

I never said playing fast is a better way to win lol. It's just nice to watch. I play very slow myself haha

[@moothongdt1019]

Power is charming

[@innosanto]

Federer had a 4,5 years younger big3 and 6 years younger big3, Nadal playrd with Medvedev etc and generally not 5 years younger big3.

[@sandman1347]

Federer had to beat two guys who were younger than him in order to win those slams in his 30s. He was facing Nadal and Djokovic in their 20s. Nadal is roughly the same age as Novak and younger than Federer. So it's about their age relative to each other.

[@jacobschmidt2709]

Yep, you nailed it. As great as Nadal and Djokovic have been in their 30's, they both have had it easier than Federer. The Swiss had to face 2 all-time greats in the prime of their careers when he had hit his 30's. The same cannot be said about the other two.

[@ghbnhghjk]

Nadal didn't hit his prime until 2008. Federer cleaned up before that with no all time great rival.

[@etayabraham1554]

@@jacobschmidt2709 You can argue the same thing about Federer taking advantage and racking up victories over a young Nadal/Djokovic back in the day, so i dont understand your point.

[@sandman1347]

@@etayabraham1554 The topic of discussion is performance in their 30s. So I don't understand YOUR point.

[@vindukur100]

I think Roger but rafa has won more slams in a shorter period. The thing is Rafa always has the FO where he is 90% favorite. unfortunately Fed has to compete with Novak on hard and grass. But even rafa and Toni admit that fed is the most talented and a freak.

[@daborshy4089]

Has he?

[@Andy-zw7no]

Nadal has aged Better than Federer on hardcourts Winning more Hardcourt grand slams 3-2. Nadal won more grand slams in his 30s than Federer on 2 out of 3 surfaces clay, Hardcourts 4-0 3-2. It's very clear Nadal had better longevity than Federer who only won 4 slams to Nadal 7. Djokovic has had better longevity than Federer to winning 8 grand Slam titles to Federer 4?.

[@innosanto]

Nadal is working harder on his physical than Federer

[@barbaragillett9904]

My favourite player is Novak Djokovic s❤🇬🇧🙏

[@plantpower3048]

Federer became old at 28 lol

[@lasterdean]

This seems to be a faulty analogy. Federer is 5 years older than Nadal and won his last grand slam when he was older than Nadal currently is. Nadal has 1 more grand slam left in him (maybe 2). Federer competed in finals at grand slams at age 37-38. So I would strongly disagree with you. The main reason Nadal has tallied up so many slams is his clay court mastery. Federer is the more complete player

[@innosanto]

Federers backhand improved but forehand declined

[@kishintuchis4133]

COMPARE THE BIG 3 AT THEIR SAME AGES . HOW DID NADAL AND DJOK DO COMPARED TO FEDEDER WHEN THEY WERE ALL 24 TO 30 YEARS OLD ?

[@CW-rx2js]

You cannot...the competition wasn't the same and the tech wasn't the same either

[@ivanstanisavljevic8245]

Sorry Gil, based on what he has aged better than Federer, I did not watch the video but remember that Fed was still winning slams at 36 and play a GS final at 37, almost 38. It's not that he has aged better, it's rather that Federer was never good enough to face peak Djokovic. Even at his older age, Federer was beating Nadal outside of clay pretty consistently. Someone has to tell the truth that Federer won at least half of his slams in a much weaker competition. There is a video on youtube which proves that Federer had an easier time statistically. Gill I would like to hear your comments about the video " Djokovic vs Federer era- The ultimate comparison. In terms of sheer physical speed, I would argue that Nadal lost more than Federer even though he is 5 years younger. Nadal adjusted his playstyle to his age and we see that with Djokovic also, being more aggressive and less of a grinder, but Federer on the other hand did not have to adjust anything because he never had a defensive playstyle in the first place. Ok, as I'm watching the video I can agree with some points that you made. Plus I would make an argument that all of them improved their game in certain aspects as they aged while loosing the physical edge on the other hand. Definitely can agree with you that Nadal has improved his game as he aged while loosing some physical abilities.

[@Eyesonly302]

Well since 2018 the top 10 is the weakest of the last 15 years, maybe in 20 years, the "next gen" never reach consistent top level of tennis, the only players that are more than 3 years younger than Nadal and won a slam are Thiem and Medvedev, both won a UsOpen in which Nadal did not participate, to me its not surprise that its doing "better" than Federer in his 30's, Federer has on his way Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka, Del Potro, Cilic and still won 4 grand slam and reach a few more finals