Normally, history does not like to settle questions like this. In any field, it is not possible to name a single individual as the greatest ever. Napoleon was a great warrior, but he eventually lost. Before that, Alexander despite his best efforts, had to retreat unsuccessfully from India. Leaders like Winston Churchil lost elections. Pete Sampras won the most singles slams, but could never won the French Open. If anyone has the ambitions to be called the greatest ever, he/she has to be myopic in vision, and from what we have seen of Federer, he is not one such. He will never win the French. His record against Nadal will always be negative, but he can still overhaul Sampras by getting his focus right, and by remaining the nice guy we all know he is. And of course by forgetting about the 'Greatest of All Time' tag.
For Federer, things are going from bad to worse. The sub-period of Mercury in Mahadasha of Rahu is simply not going to let him win. Great as he has been, there is no use fighting against the destiny. He has to retire, and retire soon, lest he should fall lower.
Self doubts will start creeping in. Anyone is a threat and opponents feel a real chance!
Federer is a class act. Many feel he is the best ever. That is a bit tricky now. That mantle changes too often! Becker felt Sampras was the one after some losses. The latter felt the future belonged first to Safin & then Hewitt after losing to them in US Opens. Then he came back & won the US Open again!
Becker was 17 when he broke into the scene. He defeated Kevin Curren in 1985 Wimbledon finals who had slayed McEnroe & Connors.
Agassi was a gonner in the teens & Nick Bolliteri felt he was the most talented of the four - Sampras, Courier, Chang & Agassi himself. Agassi disciplined himself and lasted longer than others!
Connors intimidated his opponents & played ugly and had a loyal follower in Brad Gilbert who wrote a book on that. McEnroe was similar with staring & bearing teeth at the umpire & opponents. Borg, Wilander & Edberg were Swede gentlemen.
Courier slipped in rankings quickly and gave up. Chang ditto but stood the ground based on his Calling that was based on Born again Christianity. He was into prosylisation & talked more about religion once he started losing. But held on to the belief that Jesus would intervene. He punished his body to get to no. 1 ranking, which he never did. He slipped away playing challengers!
Federer is a gentleman with iron will. But the mantle of the greatest is under threat now. People are indeed too quick & fickle minded!
RE:Time for reflection
by ramanand ruikar on Aug 15, 2008 09:17 AM
There are few gems i see in this messages and u r one of them... Great passion and through knowledge and what not.
RE:Thank god!
by viv on Aug 15, 2008 08:07 AM
PLEASE understand the difference: Tennis is an individual sport, a person can play as long as he/she likes. A person is picked for Olympics based on international rankings. Federer did not deny anybody a place in the Olympics by not retiring. Cricket is a team sport, a senior non-performing player denies a young promising player a chance to represent the country by not retiring.
RE:Thank god!
by bharat on Aug 15, 2008 08:16 AM
If Sachin is blocking someone's place in the team, blame the SELECTORS, not Sachin. Selectors have the power to drop him from the team. If they are scared of using their powers, why do you blame Sachin for not retiring. Why are we so helpless that for Sachin to be out of the team, we want him to retire? Instead of clamouring for his retirement, train your guns on the selectors to drop him from the team.
RE:Thank god!
by viv on Aug 15, 2008 08:48 AM
My main objective was to educate you on the difference between an individual sport and a team sport. (Do not wish to debate with you on whose fault it is. The sad REALITY is that several young promising players' careers are being destroyed due to this bunch of old non-performing dinosaurs not relinquishing their positions.)
Sachin is better than Federer...he is the best...i doubt Federer even knows that he has some foolish fans in India,...even Sania is better than Federer anyday...Jai Hind!!
RE:Federer who?...
by saumil shukla on Aug 15, 2008 04:21 AM
12 times grand slam open champion... No 1 in the world since last 5 and a half years... how many world cups or T20 championships has sachin won ?
RE:Federer who?...
by bharat on Aug 15, 2008 07:03 AM
Tennis is an 'individual' game; cricket is a team game. Did just one single player win India the 1983 WC or the T20 WC?
RE:Federer who?...
by Saibal Paul on Aug 15, 2008 05:50 AM
This singh is no king, he is a joker. Please keep us entertained in future too with your wonderful comments, sir
RE:People were praising Federrer like anything
by mukund mohan on Aug 15, 2008 12:32 AM
hes the best player in the world.. its just time before he takes out the people like nadal and blake.. wait for it mate
RE:People were praising Federrer like anything
by rishi karthik on Aug 15, 2008 01:49 AM
my dear..dont compare nadal and blake.nadl is a better talent than federer,though federer is much more a complete player.
RE:People were praising Federrer like anything
by Aam Aadmi on Aug 15, 2008 03:39 AM
idiot he has already proved that he is the greatest tennis player of all time. He has been no. 1 for longer than anyone before him. He doesn't need your advice. Go learn Tennis history first.
RE:People were praising Federrer like anything
by PUNEESH on Aug 15, 2008 01:33 PM
well rishi..nadal is better talent than federer..as gar as i know..when he came...he had a hopeless serve..no serve and volley game(still does not have)...very few attacking shots...and u say he is better talent....i know he has improved tremendously well...but ask anyone on the tennis circuit and u will know who is a greater talent..
RE:People were praising Federrer like anything
by sonia gupta on Aug 15, 2008 12:20 AM
'Tighten his game' what does that mean? Are you a real tennis coach ??
There is no doubt that he threw away the match.Even while he was making mistake there was no feeling of disappointment which he normally shows.They should probe the match
@Mahesh....let me the say the final word....even if King Fedex looses next 1000 matches , still he will be the Best Ever Tennis Player for next billion years.... just one , only one fact.... forget any tennis player ; lets ask God also 2 play consecutive 17 Grand Slam Finals .....the best n greatest ever record by God of Tennis , King Fedex.....
RE:King Fedex is the God of Tennis
by bango tango on Aug 14, 2008 10:43 PM
i do admit ,Fedex is not the greatest sportsperson....nor even Phelps , M Johnson , Armstrong , Tiger Woods etc... in my knowledge , thr r only 2 greatest...Sergei Bubka n Yelena Isiyanova...no competitors 4 them...their only competitors was their only World Record... Yelena has said b4 dis olympics thats c wants 2 break her WR after beating her own WR 23 time s !!!!! just tell me who has done dis in his sports ????
