Nadal/Federer Follow Up

Back in April l I wrote an article similar to this detailing my displeasure that Roger Federer is currently being called the best ever. Here’s my follow up on the day after Nadal’s streak came to an end.

Saturday May 19th, 2007, the day Rafeal Nadal’s clay court winning streak was snapped at a remarkable 81 matches. The gifted Spaniard lost the Hamburg Masters in Germany to the world’s #1 player Roger Federer. The streak ranged from April, 2005 to Saturday and lasted 28 matches longer than the previous record set by Guillermo Vilas. Federer won the match 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 and claimed his first clay court victory in two years. Nadal’s incredible run ending seems though, to be an afterthought in the world of tennis. During Nadal’s insane streak, many minds close to the game of tennis were questioning Rafeal and Rogers’ placement in the world rankings. How can Federer be the number 1 player if there is another opponent that he simply can’t beat? This is the question that seemed to keep emerging every time Rafeal took down another opponent. Reading through the match recap though, I noticed that many websites had no problem denoting that Federer had answered his critics and has now proved that he is the best in the world. Many top critics have even claimed that with this win Federer has made his mark as the greatest ever. This caught me by surprise.

Read more of this post

Truly the Greatest?

Tennis player and coaching legend Ned Gallagher was the inspiration for this post. Thanks Ned.

Is it fair for us, as tennis fans, to proclaim Roger Federer the greatest ever right now? Many top experts and people close to the game seem to have no trouble doing just that. They talk of Federer taking down the likes of Sampras, Agassi, and McEnroe all in their primes. How though, is this possible, if Feds can’t even beat a current player at a consistent rate? Rafeal Nadal, the winner of 67 straight matches on clay courts, holds a 7-2 all-time record against Federer and doesn’t seem to be letting up any time soon. Nadal again got the best of Federer today at the Monte Carlo finals (played on clay), and improved to 5-0 against Roger on the red court. The #1 ranked Swiss star lost decisively 6-4, 6-4 but said of the loss: “I feel this match gave me some information, I’m absolutely in the mix with him on clay.” Yeah right, whatever you say Rog. Don’t think for a second I’ve forgotten about Federer’s 10 Grand Slam titles (4 at Wimbledon, 3 at both the US and Australian Opens). And there is no doubt that when it’s all said and done he will be the best ever. But right now, one guy stands in his way of greatness, and a French Open title. A win at Roland Garros is the only piece of the puzzle Federer has failed to fill in as of now. Nadal simply owns Roger on clay and I can’t see that changing in the near future. So, for everyone’s sake, lets give it a break on calling Feds the best right now. He has a few more things to prove to me before I’m ready to anyway.