Roger Federer Greatest Tennis Player Of All Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b36bVCdRmEE

It's all been said before I guess, in one way or another. But it's never anything less than impressive - however often you hear it.

In time, some of the records may well be broken ; and the debates will continue forever. But I doubt we will see his like again.

To those who haven't yet had the chance to witness him doing his stuff : try & go ..... while you still can.

The whole series from Tennis Channel is on UTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoYOHgbgKMw

But of course.

UTube links have been removed.

He's not bad with a racquet in his hand it has to be said...lol

For him I hope he gets that final major win like Sampras did so he can bow out on a high rather than in time fade away...

Nice find hawkeye!

Quite funny to see Sampras being so stingy with his praise in contrast to Agassi.

reckoner wrote:Nice find hawkeye!

Quite funny to see Sampras being so stingy with his praise in contrast to Agassi.

Indeed it is reckoner. But of course not too hard to work out just why he takes that stance ! I'm sure Pete expected that his Slam record might be overtaken at some point, but I imagine he was very much hoping it wouldn't happen in his own lifetime - and quite so soon.....

With his Slam record gone, Pete has begun to focus on the rivalry aspect whenever these debates crop up or he's asked to offer a 'soundbite'. He says that you need to beat the great rivals of your generation. And in fairness to Pete he undoubtedly did that in his own day. Nobody ever truly had Pete's number, despite the fact that he had to contend with many high achievers in the game, and he will always deserve huge respect for that. Pete's own great legacy is secure, on that there can be no question.

But, but , but ...... you just can't help wonder how Pete might have fared if Rafa had been around in his day. Pete did briefly mention Fed's capture of an RG trophy - but almost choked on the words as he uttered them ! Not too surprising, given Pete's abysmal record on clay. One SF and a couple of QF's was all he had to show for his 13 attempts at RG. (which makes you wonder if he would ever have got as far as even meeting Rafa there, let alone troubling him in any way....)

lydian - yes one more Slam would be nice for Fed but I'm personally very doubtful it will happen. Everything came right for Pete at that USO battle-of-the-pensioners final against Agassi and it certainly enabled him to bow out on a high as you say. But, overall, most of his tennis in his final two years or so was in reality pretty shabby, and he wasn't featuring in the business end of the tournaments in the way that Federer has been doing with such remarkable consistency at the equivalent age. Pete was taking losses to journeymen week after week - something which is yet to happen to Federer. And hopefully never will.

Pete never even made a RG final so has no grounds to be churlish. Had he had a rival dominant on clay he, unlike Federer, would have not made his appointments in finals to meet him.

As I've said before, if Federer had been of the same standard on clay as Pete then the h2h with Nadal would be fine. He wasn't, he's been the 2nd best on clay, got a negative h2h for his trouble, and people try to hold it up as a question mark on him. It's a bit stupid, tbh.

Again, well-made points bb

Pete, although for the most part very warm towards Federer (the respective families have apparently spent time together socially), can indeed also be churlish about him at times. It does him no favours - in fact quite the opposite, because it invariably has the effect of bringing to mind his (Pete's) own record on clay - surely something he'd prefer not to be highlighted !

Fed, as you say, is the 2nd best clay-courter of all currently-active players. And even a very respectable 13th on the all-time clay ranking list ; in marked contrast to Pete, who ranks way down at a rather lowly 81st .......