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Feb/18

18

Did Del Potro Play The Greatest Tennis We Ever Saw?

dbo-del-potro-mini

By Scoop Malinowski

Roger Federer is generally considered the greatest tennis player of all time and his record breaking achievements certainly support that notion.

Twenty major titles, regaining the ATP World No. ranking again at age 36 are accomplishments that may never be equaled.

Yes Roger Federer has to be consider the greatest of all time. But did he play the greatest tennis we ever saw?

It has been argued that Novak Djokovic, when at his best, uplifted tennis to a new height, above and beyond Federer and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic’s unbelievable defense and agility and movement and counterpunching and mental strength and burning desire to win made him a nightmare for any player to have to contend with. Djokovic even beat Nadal eight times in a row in finals, one of the most incredible achievements in tennis history.

But an outside, uncoventional view that has to be considered is the Juan Martin Del Potro factor. The Might Argentine has shown many times he is a special colossus of the court, with an abundance of power in his arsenal that has proven on many occasions that it’s too much for even Federer, Nadal and Djokovic to handle and deal with.

When Del Potro is at his best, in full health and operating in his optimum zone level, he has blasted prime Fed, Nadal and Djokovic off the court, even reducing the Serbian to tears after their 2016 Olympics clash of titans in Brazil.

Most recently, Del Potro blasted Federer off the court at last year’s US Open but was a faded version in the next round against Nadal, having been drained in the previous round five setter vs Dominic Thiem.

But it’s entirely possible that Del Potro at his most potent, powerful, pinpoint best is actually too much for Fed, Rafa and Djokovic. Del Potro is the only player who has the capacity to inflict devastation on Fed, Rafa and Djokovic. He can’t do it all the time because he simply cannot sustain his magical level of play except for only rare and special occasions.

Usually Del Potro is at his best in the big events on the big stage stadiums, where his singing supporters have a special ability to uplift and inspire Del Potro to raise his level. I have witnessed this on many occasions. Last year at the US Open vs Federer, the Argentine fans sang just once each late in the first set and then in the third set tiebreaker and mysteriously, Del Potro responded on cue by suddenly raising his level to take each set. It was uncanny to experience.

if only Federer, Nadal and Djokovic had fans that sang for him to produce and inspire even greater tennis. But they don’t. Only Del Potro has that secret weapon.

We may never know the real true answer but I think it’s possible, and nobody can discount this opinion, that Juan Martin Del Potro, when at his very best, could be the most potent, explosive, devastating…greatest tennis player we ever saw.

Don’t even try to shoot down this assertion. I have seen Del Potro annihilate Federer, Rafa and Djokovic too many times to concede on this. Yes, Fed, Rafa and Djokovic are three of the greatest of all time with Fed on top of the list. But when big Juan Martin Del Potro is in the mood and the stars are aligned, he might produce the best tennis in history.

I plan on discussing this topic with the humble tennis mastermind Del Potro this week in Delray Beach.

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33 comments

  • Doug Day · February 18, 2018 at 7:39 pm

    Behind the magic don’t Delpo’s strokes seem flatter and longer than his peers? How straight-armed is that forehand? Wouldnt his margin for error nessesarily shrink even as the balls penetration spiked? His is MPH over RPM mechanics.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2018 at 8:01 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    There is more penetration and blunt force on Delpo's forehand strikes than any other player. When he's firing on all cylinders, he makes other players helpless, even Fed, Rafa and Nadal. When his timing and confidence are off he can lose to journeyman. Not much unlike the old time baseball slugger Reggie Jackson or Dave Kingman or Adam Dunn. Del Potro, if he had been born in America and played baseball, would have been a MLB home run king.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2018 at 8:03 pm

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Kyrgios is out with arm inj. This changes draw and now Sock will play JP Smith, Raonic is now 9 seed and escapes having to play Sock yet again 🙂 Sock plays tomorrow night as does Young vs the young Indian Ramanathan.

  • catherine · February 19, 2018 at 1:50 am

    Nowhere else to post this (I’ve said below why I’m sticking with T-P for the time being) as there’s no discussion of WTA, but I think it’s worth mentioning that Petra Kvitova, who once must have believed she’d never play again, won in Qatar and is about to return to the top 10.

  • Haelfix · February 19, 2018 at 3:07 am

    This is the 'if player X was playing at his best vs player Y, who is better'.

    And its a nasty question to answer, b/c I submit to you that John Isner beats everyone, simply b/c he would hit only aces and all he has to do is go for broke on three returns in a 5 set match.

    If you look at sustained level of play throughout a GS match or a tournament, there are probably a few candidates. Del Potro's USO2009 would be one of them. So would Federer's 2007 AO and 2004 Wimbledon, Safin's USO win, Nadal's RG 2008 and his USO 2010, Djokovic and his 2011 AO, maybe Pat Rafter in his first USO win or Sampras in one of his wimbledon romps. But who beats who, is one of those impossible questions that depends on too many variables to even be able to broach.

  • El Dude · February 19, 2018 at 4:24 am

    Wait, didn't you write an article saying pretty much the same thing about Kyrgios just a few weeks ago? Is it "best player ever of the month?" 😉

  • Federberg · February 19, 2018 at 4:43 am

    Haelfix said:

    This is the 'if player X was playing at his best vs player Y, who is better'.

    And its a nasty question to answer, b/c I submit to you that John Isner beats everyone, simply b/c he would hit only aces and all he has to do is go for broke on three returns in a 5 set match.

    If you look at sustained level of play throughout a GS match or a tournament, there are probably a few candidates. Del Potro's USO2009 would be one of them. So would Federer's 2007 AO and 2004 Wimbledon, Safin's USO win, Nadal's RG 2008 and his USO 2010, Djokovic and his 2011 AO, maybe Pat Rafter in his first USO win or Sampras in one of his wimbledon romps. But who beats who, is one of those impossible questions that depends on too many variables to even be able to broach.Click to expand…

    I would replace Federer's 04 Wimbledon with the one in 07. Can't see how Nadal's 2010 makes the grade. Safin was awesome in the final, but through the tournament I can't say it was especially dominant. I would add McEnroe's Wimbledon 84. But truth to tell, Nadal's RG 08 is tough to beat

  • Dan Markowitz · February 19, 2018 at 4:52 am

    I’m liking Tiafoe v Ebden tonight and Harry v Opelka. A good core of young Americans w Tiafoe, Donaldson, Opelka and Fritz. Fritz v QBall should be good first rounder too. Kyrgios dropping out is a big downer, but at least the two Canadians and Delpo are in draw. Sock has to reaffirm his Top 10 tanking.

  • Dan Markowitz · February 19, 2018 at 4:59 am

    Kozlov has to feel he’s been dropped by the pack of young Americans. He’s not getting the wild card like Opelka and he’s losing perfunctorily in first round of Delray Qualis. Time to hire Spadea and beef up his game. Here’s how I’d rate the 20-pack of Americans: Tiafoe, JD, Fritz, Escobedo, MAC Mac, Rubin, Paul, Opelka and The Koz.

  • scoopmalinowski · February 19, 2018 at 6:41 am

    Dan. Kozlov got a wc last yr and got drubbed by Johnson. Has wc in dubs w fritz.

  • scoopmalinowski · February 19, 2018 at 6:44 am

    El Dude. Kyrgios is a potential candidate contender also in this variable discussion. Isner has had big wins vs top players but not as dominant as Delp or Nick. Thanks for your comment Cath.

  • jg · February 19, 2018 at 8:13 am

    I saw Kozlovs brother was in the qualifying, I saw him practicing with a few players at last years Citi Open and thought he was a local high school player, he should definitely opt for college if he can. I cannot see him winning any pro matches even at the futures level at this stage. Kozlov (sr) needs to turbo charge the forehand, Spadea can help with that ( or a week with Agassi)

  • britbox · February 19, 2018 at 9:28 am

    ^ I'd definitely have Nadal's USO 2010 in there. McEnroe's 84 Wimbledon is a given…Maybe Edberg's '92 US Open – not for dominance, but certainly sustained level of play. He was basically winning 5 set matches from a 5th set break down against Hall of Famers in three consecutive matches before drubbing Sampras in the final.

  • Federberg · February 19, 2018 at 9:34 am

    perhaps my memory's a bit foggy but who did Rafa face?

    by the way, I'm pretty sure there are a number of Borg runs I haven't included

  • jg · February 19, 2018 at 6:34 pm

    No politics here! I saw the Sandgren match today in Rio, he had a decent cheering section in Rio, and he’s a pretty good clay court player, he played a good Spanish player who retired in the 3rd but Sandgren was in control of the match. I had never seen this before but a ball flew into the court from the adjacent court and Sandgren yelled over “ come on guys, really!” Frankly Isn’t it annoying when the adjacent court sprays balls all over the place.

  • Moxie · February 19, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    You're not wrong to question the inclusion of Nadal's USO 2010, imo. Even though he only lost one set in the tourney (in the final, to Djokovic) he didn't face strong competition. Murray lost early and Berdych lost to Simon. It was a very great Rafa, with his best serve ever, but not a strong opposition. (I remember a lot of disgruntlement over a "cupcake draw," at the time, which I do object to, but fair is fair.) The greatest thing about it was that he saw an opportunity and he didn't let it pass him by. I agree with you changing Roger's 2004 Wimbledon for his 2007 one. Also, I think Rafa's 2008 MC gets forgotten, where he was untouchable, in the face of his RG that year, which was also pretty immaculate. You're right to say some Borg ones must qualify, though I haven't got one off the top of my head, either.

  • Front242 · February 20, 2018 at 3:15 am

    He lost in the final to Federer but Fernando Gonzalez played some incredible matches at the 2007 AO. cali won't be happy to see no mention of Nalbandian either. From the baseline I'd take prime Nalbandian even with his crap serve any day over prime pre wrist surgeries Del Potro.

  • I.Haychew · February 20, 2018 at 3:51 am

    Best tennis ever = Nalbandian at the 2007 Paris Masters. Do best of threes count?

  • Haelfix · February 20, 2018 at 4:18 am

    Yea I wasn't including level at a masters cup b/c that would open the door for a lot of players.
    I'd also really only talk about actual 'level of play' and not about who they face. Which is why Nadals USO 2011 and Federers Wimbledon 2004 should be up there. Federer's grass play was never better than that tourney, nor was Nadals hardcourt skills (and serve strangely enough).

    McEnroe's 84 wimbledon definitely has to be included as well…
    A case can be made for Goran's wimbledon as well. There are probably a bunch of great clay courters that i'm leaving out, b/c they all seem to be trumped by Nadal's brilliance.

  • Nadal goat2 · February 26, 2018 at 12:27 am

    Rafael nadal 2013/10 seasons was the highest level of tennis I have never seen.

  • Busted · February 26, 2018 at 2:11 am

    El Dude said:

    Wait, didn't you write an article saying pretty much the same thing about Kyrgios just a few weeks ago? Is it "best player ever of the month?" ;)Click to expand…

    I've given up on Scoop and his OTT hyperbole. If DelPo was so much better than Roger, Nadal and Nole in his prime years – then why does he have a losing record against all of them? And did even before his wrist injuries. He's a combined 15-41 against the 3 of them. NEXT!

  • Busted · February 26, 2018 at 2:13 am

    Nadal goat2 said:

    Rafael nadal 2013/10 seasons was the highest level of tennis I have never seen.Click to expand…

    Of course it is. And for you the fact that Federer and Djokovic have both had MULTIPLE better seasons is a pink unicorn pooping purple diamonds…

  • Nadal goat2 · February 26, 2018 at 4:48 am

    Nadal won 3 Slams in a row in the some season, Federer, djokovic best seasons did not ever do that.

  • coban · February 26, 2018 at 7:15 am

    The answer is no. The best Tennis we ever saw was Tsonga vs. Nadal in AO 2008.

    (edit: wrong year)

  • britbox · February 26, 2018 at 8:12 am

    2008 but agreed that it was an insane performance by Tsonga. Don't think he's ever replicated that level. Not sure about it being the best ever, but it was definitely Tsonga's best ever.

  • coban · February 26, 2018 at 8:27 am

    C'mon, look at the high-light reel and tell me this ain't some alien level. Atleast for a full match, this is the best i remember. But i also remember Federer thrashing Del-Po in AO 09, maybe Del-Potro was injuried, i can't recall.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 26, 2018 at 9:29 am

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Busted, Delpo is not better but he can play a higher level of tennis only infrequently though. Delpo rarely hits his seventh gear but when he does he has shown he can blast Rafa, Fed, Djokovic off the court. That is what I'm saying. Kyrgios has that capacity too. When Kyrgios is at his best he can manhandle Fed, Rafa and Djokovic. When Kyrgios is not at his best, which is most of the time, he's closer to ordinary than extraordinary. That's the point I'm making.

  • Scoop Malinowski · February 26, 2018 at 9:31 am

    Scoop Malinowski writes:

    Maybe Tsonga was a one off wizard. Like Rios in Indian Wells and Miami in 98. Like Wawrinka for his three majors. Like Puig at the Olympics. Like Petr Korda. Goran at Wimbledon. Very possible.

  • Nadal goat2 · February 27, 2018 at 4:49 am

    Djokovic winning all four slams at in a row 2015/16 most likely one of highest level of tennis ever seen.

  • scoopmalinowski · February 27, 2018 at 6:34 am

    Agreed nadalgoat2. Delpo wasnt around then to cause pinnacle Djokovic any havoc.

  • Busted · February 27, 2018 at 4:00 pm

    Please point out to me the match where DelPo "blasted" Federer off the court. Kyrgios, too for that matter. "Blasted off the court" implies that he's outplayed to the point where the matches weren't close and had 6-1, 6-2 scorelines. Roger has never lost a match to DelPo where he didn't win at least 1 set. Has DelPo won some 6-2 and 6-3 sets? Yes. But "blasted" Roger off the court? NEVER. Not like…say…the 6,-3, 6-0, 6-0 beat down Roger put on DelPo at the 2009 AO. And we all know the 2 official times Roger's played Kyrgios each set was decided in a tie-breaker. 6 tie-break sets does NOT equal "blasting."

    Similarly I checked the scores for Djokovic and he hasn't been "blasted" off the court either. He's only lost to DelPo 4 times in 18 matches – and one of those was a match he retired in. So this is just more "OTT hyperbole" where Federer and Djokovic are concerned. Nadal he has had a few easy matches against so I'll give you that one…but even then he's got a losing record of 5 to 9.

    We all know DelPo can "blast" people off the court with his forehand but overall – he hasn't "blasted" Federer or Djokovic off the court for an entire match. I think I've seen all the Fed/DelPo matches and I certainly don't remember one where, start to finish, he took Roger to the woodshed.

  • Busted · February 27, 2018 at 4:12 pm

    In Federer's best season he was 95-5 and won 2 titles and 3 Slams (was in all 4 finals). In Djokovic's best season he was 82-6, won 11 titles and 3 Slams (was in all 4 finals). In the year Nadal won 3 slams in a row he was 71-10, won 7 titles, 3 Slams (lost in the QF in the 4th)..Three Slams in a row? Great…but his overall season wasn't as good as the other two because they also won 3 slams. When you add them up – 3 is still 3 regardless of the order they came in. Everybody can spin numbers if they try hard enough.

  • I.Haychew · February 28, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    Busted said:

    "Blasted off the court" implies that he's outplayed to the point where the matches weren't close and had 6-1, 6-2 scorelines.Click to expand…

    No it doesn't. Federer let del Potro hang around in the 2009 US Open final and then del Potro "blasted" him off the court. Federer was overpowered, just as he was overpowered when he lost to Soderling at the 2010 French Open. Neither match was a blowout, but Federer was eventually overpowered/blasted off the court in both of them.

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