The debate over who is the best tennis player of all time is quickly changing from a deliberation to a rhetorical question.
’s dominance of the men’s tennis scene since 2003 has been unprecedented. He’s just the sixth player to notch a career Grand Slam and no player has won more Slams than he has.
But aside from a Rolodex of records he’s set, it’s the grace with which he has done it that makes it easy to anoint him the best. He’s humble, he’s classy and he’s dominant, and if you notice, nobody ever questions whether this great athlete has done steriods.
Decorated collage football head coach Bill McCartney once said: “All coaching is, is taking a player where he can't take himself.”
For Roger Federer, he takes himself everywhere. Federer has such an uncanny feel for the game that he doesn’t have the need for an instructor. He has his swing, movement and serve down to a science, and you can’t argue with the results. After all, if you were planning to hire a coach, who better than the best of all time?
No.9 - FEDERED IMPROVES OVER A COURSE OF A MATCH
When playing Federer, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
If Federer gets out to an early lead, he gets stronger while his opponent fades. If the match starts close, Federer amps his game up even more until his opponent can’t match.
Aside from a couple of speed bumps against Rafael Nadal, Federer has dominated that entire tour simply because no man can match his level.
Tennis is a test of mental and physical endurance and while many players tire and diminish as the match wears on, Federer grows stronger in the face of adversity.
No.8 - ROGER FEDERER SPEAKS SEVEN LANGUAGES.
It’s not something that helps his game, but the fact that Roger Federer speaks English, Swiss and Swiss German fluently, and Italian, Swedish, and Spanish conversationally, is just a cherry on top for the fans that have watched him win in those countries.
Federer is able to address the media all over the world in the native language where he’s playing, not to mention speaking the same language of the locals at tournaments across the globe. Sure, many Europeans speak multiple languages, but it’s one thing Federer’s definitely got that Nadal doesn’t.
No.7 - FEDERER HAS WON TITLES IN 17 COUNTRIES.
Maybe the reason why Federer can say thank you in so many different languages is because he’s had practice.
Yet another unique statistics that speaks to his versatility is that Federer has won a title in 17 different countries. He still has Russia and Sweden to cross file at some point, but that to-do list is clearly short.
A lot of players can’t take the wear-and-tear of the constant travel that comes with playing on tour, but Federer can’t get enough. While he’s truly among the best ever to play the game, at heart he just loves to play tennis as much as possible.
No.6 - Roger Federer is a full-court, all-court player
Another reason why Roger Federer is the best of all time is that in an era when tennis players only come off the baseline when it’s time for a break, Federer is one of the few who has true full-court coverage. While he’ll cover the entire court, the surface doesn’t matter to him either.
Federer has won five times on the lawn at Wimbledon, five times on the hard court of the U.S. Open and three times at the Australian Open. Although he’s only won once at the French Open on his supposed weakest surface, clay, he’s arguably the second-best clay court player of this generation.
There are clay court ringers, hard surface specialists and then there’s Federer. With his unique blend of speed, power and versatility, he’s amazing any time, anywhere, any place.
No.5 - FEDERER IS HUMBLE IN VICTORY AND GRACEFUL IN DEFEAT.
Celebratory dances and arrogant microphone boasting make Roger Federer’s simple thank yous look quaint, but there is something classy about Federer’s acceptance speeches.
Win or lose, Federer is humble both ways. The way he modestly accepts trophies, a first time watcher might think it’s Federer’s first time winning.
In defeat, which happens very rarely, Federer is just as graceful. He’ll praise his opponent and offer his best wishes while disguising the bitter taste.
He’s an all-around class act and with such elegance on display, it’s hard to cheer against him at any point.
No.4 - ROGER FEDERER HAS INCREDIBLE MENTAL TOUGHNESS.
Even being the best of all time involves some major peaks and valleys. Rog held the throne on his own for quite some time before a young Spaniard named Rafael Nadal ascended to the top spot briefly.
Nadal got the upper hand in the rivalry by winning five of their seven Grand Slam Finals meetings. After Nadal’s final three victories in his winning streak, where Nadal crushed Federer in the 2008 French Open, then broke his heart at Wimbledon and finally outlasted him in the 2009 Australian Open, it looked like a clear changing of the guards.
Many pundits wondered if Federer was fading, whether he’d fallen to the back of the pack and whether he’d ever be on top once again. With little advance warning, Federer has answered his critics and this time resoundingly, emphasizing clearly that he’s the best to ever play the sport of tennis.
N0.3 : ROGER FEDERER IS COOL UNDER PRESSURE.
They don’t call him Fedex for nothing.
Whether it’s love-love in the first set or a pressure-cooking tie-breaker, Federer is the most clutch tennis player around. Not that he gets backed into a corner very often, but when he needs a bounce, an ace or a winner, Federer always delivers.
He was a little emotional as a teen and in his early tennis career, but like all of the greats, Federer now has uncanny poise regardless of the situation. It is because of his mental strength that he’s able to focus and deliver no matter how grand the point.
No.2 - Roger Federer is the most intelligent player in the game
While the current trend in tennis is power strokes and rocket serves, Federer uses more than just brute strength. He not only plays with variety, but he plays with his head.
His serves are strategically placed, his running forehand is a nightmare and he is still familiar with the lost art of serve and volley. It’s clear that the armory is stocked with weapons, but what is more important is that Federer has intelligence to envision first, and then the touch to execute whatever he wants on the court.
No.1 - Federer has unrivaled consistency
Five straight Wimbledon crowns, five straight U.S. Open victories, 20 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals appearances and a record 237 consecutive weeks as the world’s No. 1 ranked tennis player -- ladies and gentlemen, it doesn’t get any more consistent than that.
Even on his perceived weakest surface of clay, Federer has still made it to the semi-finals or better in five straight years at the French Open and without Nadal in the way, would easily have more wins than runner-ups.
While flashes-in-the-pan come and go, legends like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi have moved on and injuries have hampered several careers, through it all Federer has not only been healthy, but his performance has been remarkable.
