To be called the greatest ever in history, one must, apart from winning every major title on every major surface, dominate over all the rest of his era, esp. the 2nd best. Now, Federer has failed to do so. Nadal has beaten Fedex 14-7 in all their matches. Sometimes, I doubt if we can really consider Federer the greatest EVER - as most people and experts consider him to be.
Re: To be the greatest player in history
by John Lennon on Jun 06, 2010 11:16 PM
I believe that though Federer has won so much, he still lacked quality competition (during his top days) from anyone other than Nadal. GLADIATOR in his post below rightfully pointed out the competitive scenario of the times when Borg, then Connors and then Sampras dominated.
Re: To be the greatest player in history
by chelsea on Jun 07, 2010 01:20 AM
Federer is right now the greatest ever. No one has ever done what you have said till now. Federer comes closest. Sure Nadal has beaten Federer many times, but Federer is the only person to have beaten Nadal so many times and the only chap to do it multiple times on clay. Don't just blindly see the H2H record. You can't compare players of different eras either. Times are different.
Re: Re: To be the greatest player in history
by chelsea on Jun 07, 2010 01:23 AM
Also Federer made other players look below par. That was his genius. The players he is losing too now, with the possible exception of Nadal, would never have beaten him when Federer was in his prime. Nadal will go down in history as one of the greatest as well.
Re: To be the greatest player in history
by GLADIATOR on Jun 06, 2010 11:17 PM
I consider Sampras, Borg and McEnroe as greater players than FedEx. Sampras and Borg were clinical where as McEnroe was a pure genius, no one played like him. A natural who used his racket as a magic wand. Borg and Sampras were meticulous and clinical types, ruthless and swift in their demolition of their opponents.
Given all four, i would pick McEnroe as the player of all times. He was what you can call a dream to watch, player who pulled in crowds like very few could.
Re: Re: To be the greatest player in history
by GLADIATOR on Jun 06, 2010 11:18 PM
McEnroe was like Footballer Diego Maradona, a genius if ever there was one, the greatest footballer of all times.
Re: Re: To be the greatest player in history
by John Lennon on Jun 06, 2010 11:27 PM
I haven't seen much of angry-funny-fascinating McEnroe videos; but at 7 slams and no french open, I'd consider him among 2nd greats. Sampras, Borg (what a phenomenal player - dominated both grass and clay together, like no other in history) and perhaps Fedex to be the 3 all time greats. Nadal is definitely in Mcenroe's 2nd greats group already.
Re: Re: Re: To be the greatest player in history
by GLADIATOR on Jun 06, 2010 11:52 PM
I saw him when he was in prime. He was phenomenal,a pure natural genius and i bet of there is a game between him and Fed, he would win. U can look up YOU TUBE videos of him and Borg when in prime. There must be some or simply see old videos borught from shops. U can put Samparas, Borg, FedEx and McEnroe among top five of all times. Then there was one Rod Laver of 1960s too,who many all the greatest of all times for his sheer record of winning grand slam two times.
Re: Re: Re: Re: To be the greatest player in history
by John Lennon on Jun 07, 2010 12:01 AM
Srry, my dinner made me miss our conversation. I'm straight off to you tube for McEnroe games. Most of all I've watched of Mcen's til now is his hilarious stuff. Lets see his serious stuff now...
u were the most deserving among the present lot and the undisputed king of clay court and a serious contender to dethrone Federer from the list of all time great provided u maintaining ur health
Re: Congrats Rafa
by John Lennon on Jun 06, 2010 11:20 PM
One diff. between Fedex and Nadal is - while Fedex has only one nemesis, Nadal falters unexpectedly on surfaces other than clay. Nadal proved a lot when he beat Fedex to win Wimbledon 2008, but he still has to show total domination of other players on rest 3 surfaces.
Nadal is back in his top form. People who thought Nadal challenge mellowed down since French open last year, can now sit tight and look forward to refreshed Fedex-Nadal rivalry (or should we call it Fedex-Nadal-Soderling rivalry, eh?!). I'm looking forward to another Nadal-Fedex showdown at Wimbledon.
Re: Nadal is back at it
by GLADIATOR on Jun 06, 2010 11:09 PM
It is good he is back, even Roger Federer said the same. At least there will be some quality competition and not easy wins. With Soderling, it will be even better. Much like the 1990s when we had Sampras, Agassi, Becker, Courier, Chang and co or 1980s when there were guys like Borg, McEnroe, Connors, Tanner, Lendl, etc
There are not many to challenge Rafa's #1 status this time, he should remain #1 for a long time. Don't see anyone who could give him much trouble this year at least
Re: Regained #1 status
by bango tango on Jun 07, 2010 12:40 AM
many will challenge nadal for no.1 ...but advantage to him is that he does not require much point to defend till the end of this season ...
NADAL CAN BE NEXT FEDERER ... PROVIDED ..HE CHANGE HIS NAME TO FEDERER .... OTHERWISE ..NOT EVEN IN HIS WILDEST DREAM ... NADAL WILL BE CLOSE TO FEDERER
The Chennai tennis fans who have seen him in flesh and blood in 2008[chennai open] will be elated..all glory to this great the 7 grandslam title holder
Right now Nadal has surged psychologically and game wise also, ahead of Federer. It was thanks to Nadal's injury that Fedex was able to achieve that lone victory last year in the French Open. Federer can now reign only in Nadal's absence,not otherwise. Secondly coming to their individual temperaments , Federer cried year before last because he lost again to Nadal and couldn't win the French Open. That showed his inner selfishness. Nadal cried 'after' winning this time, which is a healthy release of pent up passion & desire to win. Nadal is a superior human being compared to Federer.
Re: Nadal superior to Federer
by bango tango on Jun 06, 2010 10:36 PM
were u sleeping when Federer had cried after winning 1st Wimbledon open , 2007 AUS open ?????
Re: Nadal superior to Federer
by selvaraj yonas on Jun 06, 2010 10:57 PM
How he got No1, he played all 250/500 tournamets and he is not giving chance to other players. Whereas Federer always will give chance to other player to win(so don't think that all federer lost is not real lost at the same time not match fixing), Just few hundres points are federer behind(note that this whole year feder has played only 4 tournaments, whereas nadal played almost 10)
Re: Re: Re: Nadal superior to Federer
by selvaraj yonas on Jun 06, 2010 10:58 PM
By the time so many young smart people like del porto will come and it is not easy to survey for nadal in other courts.
Re: Re: Nadal superior to Federer
by amit tiwari on Jun 07, 2010 12:37 AM
Dear friend...nadal is only 24...and i don't know whether...any one in your family lifted tennis racket ever or not...but for your kind information..when federer was at 24 ..he had won only 3 grand slams..even though I may be a stupid fellow..who can suspect the capability of federer's classy tennis..but..whatever u are comparing..it's looking like u r very much biasedand commenting like not a genuine sport lover......federer won 6 wimbledon ..after that he lifted his first french open(the third diffenrnt surface) crown...nadal at that same time has already lifted crowns at all three surfaces...can u please tell me the difference between the two hard courts...Australian and US open???As per my knowledge..there are only three surface and both have achieved same mark so fa...afart from a gold at an olympics..:-)
Re: Re: Re: Nadal superior to Federer
by bango tango on Jun 07, 2010 12:59 AM
@Amit...improve ur knowledge on tennis....Aus open is played on Rebound Ace surface which has got advantage for both baseliners as well as serve n volleyers....it's neither very slow nor very fast....
wr as US open is played on Deco Turf....the fastes turf n the centre court of US Open (Arthur Ashe arena) is the fastest tennis court in the world..
Re: again got a good draw !!!
by bango tango on Jun 06, 2010 10:12 PM
though majority of the Top 20 are participating in Aegon that Garry Weber open ...
One thing baffles me, the real tennis fans admit that grass court is the most entertaining ....but y there ir only 5 grasscourt championships in a yr ????????? ( one is wimbledon & the rest 4 are 250 series ....n these 4 are played in two weeks just b4 wimbledon )...
