Not a tennis fan, but a Djokovic fan, for the obvious reason. Novax Djokovic. That booklet he wrote 10 or so years ago, is very worth reading. I am not completely following his diet, but it helped me to find out what foods I can have to feel good. It is also a story of the Yugoslavian war not only from a survivor, but from someone who, notwithstanding all the misery and disadvantages, came out like a phoenix! A great man.
Novak Djokovic is clearly the best of the three, at tennis and at life. His 24 Major victories is one thing. However, his heroic stand against the jab at great personal cost made me respect him even more!
20 hrs ago·edited 20 hrs agoLiked by Yuri Bezmenov
Huge tennis fan. Play 3-4 X/week.
Love the triumvirate. However Federer had the best one handed backhand of all time - simply beautiful.
Personally I think Federer was the GOAT. A lot of people forget his first 5 years was during the "serve and volley" era. He was the best "all-court" player by far - he mastered every shot in tennis - and best all around on all three ssurfaces. He was more balanced than the other two because he could serve much better, volley and he had the best backhand perhaps ever.
Incidentally, the best match of all time was not between any of the big three playing each other.
The best match of all time is Nadal vs. Verdasco in the 2009 Australian Open:
You are a true fan. The fact that Nadal beat Federer in the final with only a day's rest after this grueling battle is a testament to his warrior spirit.
I agree Federer’s 1-handed backhand was a thing of beauty and devastating against basically anyone else but unfortunately against the relentless consistency of Nadal and Djokovic’s ground strokes (and particularly Nadal’s high bouncing topspin) it let him down a few too many times.
Poly strings and two-handed backhands are inextricably linked. With the speed of forehands and baseline play currently, it's just tough to have a one-hand backhand.
Federer was playing with gut the first 4-5 years...and he was playing a lot of the best serve-volleyers of all time.
Those are easier to lose because there are far less points and many more winners.
I love all three but it'd be interesting to see the other two play that style in the beginning of their careers. If they ever had to play serve and volley against him, I think they'd lose 9 out of ten.
In regards to the possible obsolescence of the one handed backhand in this era of poly/topspin, Federer showed later in his career his ability to dominate Nadal by taking the backhand early and aggressively hitting over it. Watch the 2017 Australian Open and Indian Wells again. Federer was able to take the heavy forehands of Nadal and rip winners from the backhand. While it takes incredible timing, reflexes, and preparation, he showed how it could be done.
If you think tennis works every muscle, try fencing. The morning after my first class, I couldn't get out of bed until I figured out how to get my feet under me as I rolled. It wasn't they they hurt, they just didn't work.
My husband is an avid tennis player. Far from a professional, he is in medical field, but he loves tennis and I strongly believe that tennis players are great people. ☺️
I admire all 3 players, Novak with his resilience, Rafa with his seemingly impossible ability to get to a volley, and Roger's unbelievable winners over the years.
Hard to surpass watching Federer at his peak, but wow, these three are amazing. For Nadal and Joker to have winning records against Federer says enough. 14 French Opens is ridiculous. A might have been 28 Slams, competing against Nadal and Federer, also ridiculous (though Joker did have the stage to himself for a bit longer). Nadal never had the stage to himself, as it were, unless you count Paris ...
Not a tennis fan, but a Djokovic fan, for the obvious reason. Novax Djokovic. That booklet he wrote 10 or so years ago, is very worth reading. I am not completely following his diet, but it helped me to find out what foods I can have to feel good. It is also a story of the Yugoslavian war not only from a survivor, but from someone who, notwithstanding all the misery and disadvantages, came out like a phoenix! A great man.
Heroic in every sense of the word.
Novak Djokovic is clearly the best of the three, at tennis and at life. His 24 Major victories is one thing. However, his heroic stand against the jab at great personal cost made me respect him even more!
Huge tennis fan. Play 3-4 X/week.
Love the triumvirate. However Federer had the best one handed backhand of all time - simply beautiful.
Personally I think Federer was the GOAT. A lot of people forget his first 5 years was during the "serve and volley" era. He was the best "all-court" player by far - he mastered every shot in tennis - and best all around on all three ssurfaces. He was more balanced than the other two because he could serve much better, volley and he had the best backhand perhaps ever.
Incidentally, the best match of all time was not between any of the big three playing each other.
The best match of all time is Nadal vs. Verdasco in the 2009 Australian Open:
https://youtu.be/1tdcwgfNZA0?si=ESs8xEEK3ALvZvKO
This is the highlights (the full video is also available on YouTube). Even if you're not a tennis fan, this match is simply the best point by point.
You are a true fan. The fact that Nadal beat Federer in the final with only a day's rest after this grueling battle is a testament to his warrior spirit.
Yeah i think the 2008 Wimbledon and 2007 Wimbledon are 2nd and 3rd best matches in the modern era
Federer won against Nadal in 07'
Nadal won against Federer in 08'.
Both were battles
Plus watching Federer was like music whereas with Novak and Rafa you could hear the clanking of heavy machinery in the background
Which is not to say they weren’t also great in their own ways
That's the perfect way of putting it
I agree Federer’s 1-handed backhand was a thing of beauty and devastating against basically anyone else but unfortunately against the relentless consistency of Nadal and Djokovic’s ground strokes (and particularly Nadal’s high bouncing topspin) it let him down a few too many times.
Agree.
Poly strings and two-handed backhands are inextricably linked. With the speed of forehands and baseline play currently, it's just tough to have a one-hand backhand.
Federer was playing with gut the first 4-5 years...and he was playing a lot of the best serve-volleyers of all time.
Those are easier to lose because there are far less points and many more winners.
I love all three but it'd be interesting to see the other two play that style in the beginning of their careers. If they ever had to play serve and volley against him, I think they'd lose 9 out of ten.
In regards to the possible obsolescence of the one handed backhand in this era of poly/topspin, Federer showed later in his career his ability to dominate Nadal by taking the backhand early and aggressively hitting over it. Watch the 2017 Australian Open and Indian Wells again. Federer was able to take the heavy forehands of Nadal and rip winners from the backhand. While it takes incredible timing, reflexes, and preparation, he showed how it could be done.
Yeah, he had a lot of late career success against Nadal going back to the old serve and volley approach, I wish he had tried it against him earlier
Except for fencing, tennis is the best sport. Single combat with little luck involved.
Spot on. It's all mental. Works out every muscle in your body and all tennis players are solid people to befriend.
If you think tennis works every muscle, try fencing. The morning after my first class, I couldn't get out of bed until I figured out how to get my feet under me as I rolled. It wasn't they they hurt, they just didn't work.
My husband is an avid tennis player. Far from a professional, he is in medical field, but he loves tennis and I strongly believe that tennis players are great people. ☺️
tennis players are consistently rated as the most intelligent of all sports and have the longest life expectancy
sadly, we're moving into the pickleball era of humanity
Wrestlings up there in terms of pure athleticism and it's grueling nature. I can speak from 15 years of experience.
It'll test your resolve and will.
Excellent tribute, Yuri. Got goosebumps reading it.
Great article, and you obviously follow tennis.
I admire all 3 players, Novak with his resilience, Rafa with his seemingly impossible ability to get to a volley, and Roger's unbelievable winners over the years.
Each very different, but all GOATS.
That is just awesome so glad to witness these tennis players during my lifetime. Thanks for posting this
Hard to surpass watching Federer at his peak, but wow, these three are amazing. For Nadal and Joker to have winning records against Federer says enough. 14 French Opens is ridiculous. A might have been 28 Slams, competing against Nadal and Federer, also ridiculous (though Joker did have the stage to himself for a bit longer). Nadal never had the stage to himself, as it were, unless you count Paris ...
Excellent write up. We lived during the golden age of tennis.