Who Do You Want to Win Wimbledon?

I thought with the midweek break it would be a good time to quickly explore something that may be on many people’s minds. I have been asked before who I’d want to win Wimbledon if we have another Djokovic vs Federer final. Neither of them may make the final, but I still think it’s an interesting topic. Of course, all Fedfans won’t think twice about who they want to win the title. No doubt an eighth Wimbledon title would be the fairytale ending that they always dreamed of for their man.

And for a long time it was the ending I wanted myself. Not that I am now all of a sudden completely against it. Any real tennis fan would be able to appreciate a record eighth Wimbledon title. It would indeed be something special and could seal the GOAT debate to a large extent. The criticism of Federer has always been the fact that he is owned by his main rival in the head-to-head. But with Nadal’s game in the state that it is in he can make a big statement by winning a record eighth Wimbledon title and in doing so go four slams clear of Nadal.

A lot of people are saying that Federer is the most successful player of all time(you can’t deny the numbers), but that he is not the best player since Nadal owns him in the head-to-head and has a better head-to-head against the rest of the big four too. I think that argument holds a certain amount of water but Nadal surely can’t be considered a better player than Federer in light of his unbalanced slam resume, the fact that he never won the World Tour Finals, and the fact that he has never defended a title off of clay.

He is simply too reliant on one surface and too one-dimensional for any knowledgeable tennis fan to crown him the GOAT at this stage. And things aren’t looking good for him right now. He looks done winning slams. And winning a record eighth slam at the most prestigious tournament in the world is definitely not going to hurt Federer in the GOAT debate.

At this stage, Federer has his GOAT claim intact thanks to two men, himself and Novak Djokovic. This is the part that Fedfans don’t want to admit but can’t deny. Djokovic 2.0 came along in the nick of time for Federer in 2011 to prevent Nadal from winning three straight slams which would have left Nadal equal with Federer and as the GOAT given his head-to-head record with Federer. In doing so, Djokovic has also been able to do something Federer never could, which was to conquer Nadal.

From 2011-12, he defeated Nadal in seven straight finals which included three slam finals. This year he also defeated Nadal at the French Open, which means he has the career slam in Nadal defeats. Federer, on the other hand, only ever managed to defeat Nadal on grass in a slam. Given all these facts, I really couldn’t care less if Federer does not win Wimbledon this year and Djokovic wins it instead. In fact, I hope that happens. If Federer wins it I’m not going to complain.

It’s still going to be a great moment in the sport and I will be happy for him. But for me Djokovic deserves it more. Note I said FOR ME, so I don’t want to hear any more silly arguments about deserving. Whoever wins the tournament will have deserved it, but I can still say right now that I feel Djokovic deserves it more. Personally I just wanted Federer to remain three slams ahead of Nadal and since Nadal lost at the French it’s not that important to me anymore that he wins Wimbledon.

Federer and Nadal have both won enough. I think it would be more fitting if Djokovic wins Wimbledon after once again being the one to stop Nadal at the French from winning another slam and thereby helping Federer. Federer doesn’t deserve to have it both ways. Since Djokovic is the one who has the balls to defeat Nadal he can have Wimbledon. There is just no way that any objective tennis fan(not Fedfans) can conclude that Federer deserves the Wimbledon title more than Djokovic.

Maybe if Federer defeated Nadal in the semis that would be a different story, but Nadal lost so that is not possible anymore.

The bottom line is that whoever wins the title deserves to win it. Saying that I think Djokovic deserves it more will not matter in the least to Fedfans if Federer wins Wimbledon. In fact, they will probably come here and gloat. But that wouldn’t matter in the least to me either. It wouldn’t change the fact that Djokovic succeeded where Federer failed and that Federer could never overcome his biggest fear and rival. I don’t say any of this to get under anyone’s skin. I just wanted to make my stance clear.

I want people to know where I stand before this all important Wimbledon goes into the second week. I feel like I am in a good position compared to where I used to be anyway. As fanatical as I used to be I would probably have been devastated if Federer didn’t win Wimbledon this year, knowing that it is more than likely his last chance. But now that I am more balanced and objective it doesn’t matter to me either way. If he wins it I will be happy for him. If not, I will be just as happy.

Federer and Murray have dropped sets

Murray can win it for all I care. But I would prefer Djokovic after what happened again at the French. He did what only one other man could do in 11 years and yet his draw was so ridiculously tough that he never stood a chance of winning the title. So since Nadal did not win the French I’d like Djokovic to win Wimbledon. We will see what happens. Both of them are playing well, but both could lose before the final. I am just glad to be rid of the fanatical expectations and the disappointment if Federer should fail to win Wimbledon yet again.

Can you imagine the disappointment of the fanatics if Federer should lose to Bautista Agut, Berdych, Murray, or Djokovic in another five-set thriller? I hope it doesn’t happen to them, but they shouldn’t come look for sympathy here if it happens either. I’m gonna be happy with whoever wins, but more so if it is Djokovic. And there are many spoiled Fedfans out there too who I don’t think deserves another slam.

Now let the fun begin! And remember to make a prediction for tomorrow if you haven’t yet! 

The is in your court.