I think Novak can pick up another few slams before he's finished. He's only 31 and now that he's back at full form he could easily grab another US, Aussie, and Wimbledon.
I agree. His stats alone grant him GOAT status, but there is so much more that cements it. His style of play, which while being effective is also so silky and beautiful that you want to pick up a racket yourself. To me plays tennis like Zidane or Ronaldinho played football. There is just something about the touch and style that no other player comes near. Then there i his importance and impact on the game. Look at the rise in popularity of the sport, the increase in tournament prizes etc. He has had much of the same effect on tennis as Tiger has had in golf. Game changing athlete more or less.
Agreed. There is something about Federer's classy style of play that you just don't get in any other player. The only other player with a similar silkiness was Lendl, but he wasn't nearly as good as Fed in terms of all around play, especially the mental side of the game.
Sort of true. I think Djokovic’s weasel-like qualities add to his greatness. He’ll do whatever it takes to win.
Djokovic is weird, he's clearly a weasel on the court with all the "injuries" etc. yet I'm unable to dislike him. Love it when he is demoralizing his opponents. While Federer is the goat, Djokovics peak was the highest for me.
What also makes a huge difference how he was able to beat Nadal at RG - unlike Federer, who never won more than one set in countless meetings.
Federer isn't even in your top 5...?!
He's a bad loser. He always criticises his opponent when he loses and makes snide remarks about them. It is pleasurable to see him lose. Also, he won most of his Majors after Agassi, Sampras etc retired and when it was arguably the weakest time in men's tennis. He is a sore loser and an extremely unlikeable person.
Rise of popularity?
Unlikeable person or not - just to confirm - he isn't in your top 5 greatest players of all time? Come on man. It's to do with talent, not likableness.
Every top sportsman is a bad loser - otherwise they wouldnt make it to the top. But whenever he was defeated, he showed absolute class. Unless you mean the time when he was 18 years old
That's just not true. He's one who always shows class. How someone can not like Federer is beyond me...
Yeah I completely agree with you on all points. Federer is the best with Nadal at #2.
Salty Nadal fan spotted
What a car crash of a list
So Federer sometimes being a sore loser puts him out of the Top 5?I'm still with this for the moment, though would change the wording slightly as in brackets.
What position is Federer in? Behind Lendl, Connors, Rosewall, McEnroe?
Strange post, tbf. It seems to focus solely on the US when adressing a point made about a truly global sport.
It’s not strange.
I think Fed in his prime when his body could last would probably edge Djokovic. In recent years he has beaten Djokovic in masters. But when it comes to grand slams his body just can’t handle it. Nadal would edge Federer. Djokovic would edge Nadal.
There’s always going to be the discussion around the merit of achievements, like Roger winning a few GS when Rafa and Novak weren’t fit, or the entire (arguably weaker) 2003-2006 Roger GS winning era, etc. In the end it’s gonna be all about the numbers, I guess.
I feel he's more of a contender at this point than Nadal to challenge Federer's GOAT tag, just played an absolutely absurd game tonight.
