I'm kinda sick of the Big Four

[nehmeth]

I think it's Fedal we really miss to be honest. Nole and Andy simply don't have the same pizazz. It's just the way it is.

This. When is Novak most interesting? When he plays Roger. When is Andy most interesting? When he plays Rafa. But we've all seen what happens when Novak and Andy are across the net from each other.

If you're talking about matches between each other?? No, I'm not a fan of "Nolandy Pong". But few except Nadal fans miss a Fedal match. Understandably. It's about the only guaranteed win that Ralf still has out there these days.

 

[Riotbeard]

Fair point, but notice this part:

"Why do Novak and Murray have to suffer? Let them win the titles they've labored to earn. Many of us have been tired of Fedal for a long time... you guys can suffer a little."

A clear example of trying to separate Novak (and Murray?!) from the Big Four -- in a thread about the Big Four, mind you.

Sure, but they are in some ways of a different generation. Just like Fedal had their earlier albums before joining the big 4, it seems likely Novak and Andy will have a few years as #1 and#2 post big 4. I am not as willing to write off Fed yet and anoint Andy. I think people have overemphasized Fed's mediocre results so far, when this is his least successful half of the year. Rafa, I am not sure if he will ever hit something resembling consistent top form again... This is also the time of year he should racking up points for winter.

Fedal -- a duopoly showing up more and more -- didn't "join" the Big Four. They were there at its conception, as were Novak and Andy. Hence, the Big Four. No one ever referred to the Big Two, before others joined the band.

Kind of harping on the term "Join" at the expense of my general argument which clearly showed Fedal were well established before Novak or Andy, but by all means.

 

[Riotbeard]

I think it's Fedal we really miss to be honest. Nole and Andy simply don't have the same pizazz. It's just the way it is.

This. When is Novak most interesting? When he plays Roger. When is Andy most interesting? When he plays Rafa. But we've all seen what happens when Novak and Andy are across the net from each other.

If you're talking about matches between each other?? No, I'm not a fan of "Nolandy Pong". But few except Nadal fans miss a Fedal match. Understandably. It's about the only guaranteed win that Ralf still has out there these days.

Novak-Nadal and Novak-Fed are in my opinion two most pleasurable from a viewing perspective IMO. I will concede that Novak is also a part of the least appatizing visual match up of Novak-Andy though.

Is Andy a fun match up though against any of the big 3 though in terms of a viewer's experience. Not to me, although it's gotten better since he wrenched up the aggression.

 

[tented]

Sure, but they are in some ways of a different generation. Just like Fedal had their earlier albums before joining the big 4, it seems likely Novak and Andy will have a few years as #1 and#2 post big 4. I am not as willing to write off Fed yet and anoint Andy. I think people have overemphasized Fed's mediocre results so far, when this is his least successful half of the year. Rafa, I am not sure if he will ever hit something resembling consistent top form again... This is also the time of year he should racking up points for winter.

Fedal -- a duopoly showing up more and more -- didn't "join" the Big Four. They were there at its conception, as were Novak and Andy. Hence, the Big Four. No one ever referred to the Big Two, before others joined the band.

Kind of harping on the term "Join" at the expense of my general argument which clearly showed Fedal were well established before Novak or Andy, but by all means.

Huh? I never said Fedal weren't already established. The stats are the stats. All I'm saying is the whole concept of the Big Four did not -- could not, really -- have existed without all four.

 

[nehmeth]

Is Andy a fun match up though against any of the big 3 though in terms of a viewer's experience. Not to me, although it's gotten better since he wrenched up the aggression.

Andy playing push tennis is never appetizing. If he can keep going with his present style of play, I won't get tired of watching him.

 

[Fiero425]

Andy playing push tennis is never appetizing. If he can keep going with his present style of play, I won't get tired of watching him.

Been saying this for years! It's cost him so many titles against the "Big 3" trying to "wait them out" instead of taking it like his OG, Wimbledon, and USO! :angel: :dodgy:

 

[El Dude]

OK, here's a handy little chart. I looked at every Slam, World Tour Final, and Masters finals since the first one won by one of the Big Four, and then turned it into a percentage of 28 finalists per year (8 Slam finalists, 2 WTF finalists, and 18 Masters finalists).

2015: 92% (so far, through 11 tournaments)
2014: 68%
2013: 71%
2012: 82%
2011: 82%
2010: 61%
2009: 71%
2008: 68%
2007: 75%
2006: 57%
2005: 46%
2004: 29%
2003: 11%
2002: 7%

2002-04 is just Roger. 2005 sees Rafa enter the mix; Novak comes in in 2007, Andy in 2008. As you can see, it fluctuates but the average from 2007 to 2015 is 74% - in other words almost three-quarters of the finalists during the last nine years were members of the Big Four. The peak was 2011-12, although this year has a chance to be even more dominant.

 

[tented]

^ Thanks, El Dude. I'm sure that took a while to compile, so thanks for the effort.

They're quite revealing, aren't they? Three-quarters of 28 finalists for that many years featured some combination of the Big Four -- amazing dominance.

 

[Moxie]

Funny, (or predictable) that this thread got a bit factional amongst Big 4 fans, since we are all the ones who should be invested in the Big 4. I am, and I don't mind them winning a lot. And as britbox says: we'll miss them when they're gone. We are all interested in who/when the next big thing is, but I think a few have expressed that a few sad wins by folks who don't follow it up at all is unsatisfying. And Djokovic and Murray will still be likely top of the charts when Roger and Rafa have faded, so the transition will be gradual.