Mardy Fish compares Novak Djokovic’s 2011 and Roger Federer’s 2005 season to choose his GOAT
Mardy Fish compares Djokovic's 2011 season and Federer's 2005 season, two of the greatest seasons in tennis history.
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Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (Image via The New York Times)
In a recent interview on The Pat McAfee Show, former world No. 7 Mardy Fish weighed in on the ongoing GOAT debate. He believes that 2011 Djokovic and 2005 Federer were the two best players that he has ever played against. As per the tennis professional, Djokovic would win on a medium-paced and slower hard court, while on the other hand, Federer would triumph on a faster surface.
With that being said, the GOAT debate in tennis is one of the most heated topics on the internet right now. There are many great players to choose from, but two of the most commonly mentioned are none other than Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. Both players have had incredible careers, and it is difficult to say who is the better player. Moreover, Novak Djokovic will be gunning for a record-equaling eight Wimbledon titles next month.
Emphasizing that it was extremely hard to play against all three members of the fabled Big 3 in their prime, the American described it as both a ‘blessing’ and a ‘curse’.
“It was cool to play against those guys. It wasn’t so cool to lose against those guys almost every time. The 2011 Djokovic and 2005 Federer were the best players I ever played against. If those two played on a medium-paced hard court, I think Novak would win. If they played on a faster surface, Roger would win. Any slower surface, Novak would win,” said Mardy Fish
Mardy Fish describes 2011 Novak Djokovic as the best player of all-time
Mardy Fish’s comments come at a time when the debate about the greatest tennis player of all time is at a fever pitch, with many believing that Novak Djokovic has settled the debate once and for all.
By winning an unprecedented 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open last week, Novak has truly made his way into fans’ hearts. Fish, who lost all seven of his matchups against Novak Djokovic during his career, suggested that Djokovic was the better all-around player, while Federer was the better player on faster surfaces.
Based on this comparison, Fish concluded by saying, “So, I think 2011 Djokovic is the best player of all time.”
Without a doubt, Roger Federer’s 2005 season and Novak Djokovic’s 2011 season were two of the greatest that we have ever witnessed. Both players won multiple Grand Slams, reached the top of the world rankings, and won numerous other titles. But which season was the greatest?
Federer’s 2005 season was one for the ages. He won two Grand Slams, including Wimbledon and the US Open. In total, Federer won 11 titles. Federer’s win-loss record for the season was 81-4, and he had a winning percentage of 95.29%.
That’s not all; Djokovic’s 2011 season was also incredible. He won three Grand Slam titles, including the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. He also won five Masters 1000 titles, which is more than any other player has ever won in a single season. Djokovic’s win-loss record for the season was 70-6, and he had a winning percentage of 92.86%. He also won 43 consecutive matches dating back to the end of the 2010 season.
As the third Grand Slam of the year is merely here, 36-year-old Novak Djokovic will head into the Championships as the overwhelming favorite to capture a record-leveling eighth Wimbledon title. In the process, the Serbian is seeking to tie Roger Federer’s all-time record at SW19. Victory would also mean that Novak would equal Roger Federer’s tally of five successive Wimbledon titles.
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Vitasta Singh
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