phdinsports, good point about Borg. He ended his career prematurely at 25, called it quits. Played in only one Australian Open-- yet ended with 11 GS titles. How many COULD he have won? Sickens me that Sampras' name is ahead of him on the GS ladder, oh well.
Interesting that Andre comes out with this. I certainly respect his opinion. Is Federer hurting his legacy by still playing well past his prime? He's 32 and can lose to any elite player nowadays (not just Joker, Rafa). That said, if tennis player opinions are 'important', let's keep in mind these players have all openly said Federer is the best player ever to play the game: McEnroe, Borg, Sampras. Ugh.
it's a neat debate. IMO Rafa needs more GS titles to make this call 'impossible', that is who's the Best Ever? Of course if he surpasses Fed's whopping 17 GS titles it's crystal clear- He'd be The Man. No more debate. He's only 27, and has 13. Losing to Wawrinka was shocking in The Aussie Open final, but his backyard Roland Garros is around the corner.
Roger Federer records:
17 Grand Slam Championships (THREE clear of Sampras)
24 Grand Slam Final appearances
the complete list is stunning. He's an all surface player. (it was SICK that people were calling Sampras the Best Ever for so long-- VOMIT!!!.....odds of Sampras taking A SET off Nadal on clay- +400...
...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Roger_Federer
another way to look at it- how many more GS titles would Federer have won if NOT for Nadal ? add another 5. He's an accomplished clay courter (unlike Sampras). And how many GS tiles would Nadal have won if not for Roger? Maybe just 1-2?
again, there is NO debate if Rafa gets to 18.
Nadal is the best clay courter ever-- no debate
Interesting that Andre comes out with this. I certainly respect his opinion. Is Federer hurting his legacy by still playing well past his prime? He's 32 and can lose to any elite player nowadays (not just Joker, Rafa). That said, if tennis player opinions are 'important', let's keep in mind these players have all openly said Federer is the best player ever to play the game: McEnroe, Borg, Sampras. Ugh.
it's a neat debate. IMO Rafa needs more GS titles to make this call 'impossible', that is who's the Best Ever? Of course if he surpasses Fed's whopping 17 GS titles it's crystal clear- He'd be The Man. No more debate. He's only 27, and has 13. Losing to Wawrinka was shocking in The Aussie Open final, but his backyard Roland Garros is around the corner.
Roger Federer records:
17 Grand Slam Championships (THREE clear of Sampras)
24 Grand Slam Final appearances
the complete list is stunning. He's an all surface player. (it was SICK that people were calling Sampras the Best Ever for so long-- VOMIT!!!.....odds of Sampras taking A SET off Nadal on clay- +400...
...)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_career_achievements_by_Roger_Federer
another way to look at it- how many more GS titles would Federer have won if NOT for Nadal ? add another 5. He's an accomplished clay courter (unlike Sampras). And how many GS tiles would Nadal have won if not for Roger? Maybe just 1-2?
again, there is NO debate if Rafa gets to 18.
Nadal is the best clay courter ever-- no debate
