The greatest in terms of sheer numbers, Federer ranks as the greatest player of all time. Sparkling and long, the records - he has won the most number of Grand Slams (17), spent the most number of weeks as No. 1 (302), snared the most consecutive final wins (24), to list a few - speak for themselves.
But to evoke Federer's greatness in only numbers would be to overlook his genius. No player as graceful, no player with a better footwork, no player with a more sweeping all court game has ever held a tennis racquet. Federer socks the ball as hard as any other player.
The difference is that while the brute power of competitors is flagrant, Federer's strokes are masked in beauty. You won't hear a grunt from him. You might have to strain to catch a drop of sweat on him. The forehands are released with a spring of step reminiscent of a ballerina.
His one-handed backhand is vintage. He covers the court as effortlessly as an ice skater. His changes in pace and spin are subtle. The impossible angles of returns elicit 'oohs' and 'ahs' from the fan and the non-partisan alike.
In other words, Federer's game is sublime; his competitors' are stiff. That, to his legion of acolytes, is what makes him the supreme tennis player. And the greatest.
Re: TOI artice
by Anuraug Rathor on Oct 27, 2013 06:53 PM
The last sentence is the most relevant. "To his acolytes",( and not to impartial and knowledgeable tennis fans), he is the greatest.Anyway this article was probably relevant in 2005.Not anymore.
Re: TOI artice
by Anuraug Rathor on Oct 27, 2013 06:56 PM
Sublime game vs stiff game will decide who is the greatest ? That sounds like a debate on gymnastics or ballet dancing not tennis.
Agassi was the first to say that Fede is going to get back to top form by year 2014. Now Laver also voices the same opinion. I'm sure Federer is going to get to his top form and back to his winning ways.
Re: Laver
by Anuraug Rathor on Oct 25, 2013 09:03 AM
Agassi and Laver also said that Nadal has the capacity to eventually overhaul Federer.But lets ignore that for the moment and focus on the convenient parts....
