There is no doubt that Roger Federer is not the dominant force he once was. He is still competitive and one hell of a player, but he is not the omni-force of days gone past. He used to collect trophies like people do Facebook friends. It made huge news if he didn’t win the tournament.
Now the sun is beginning to set on his incredible career.
The reason he is being judged so harshly is due to the ridiculous height at which he set the bar. In 2005-06, he put together a record of 173-9, winning 23 tournaments, of which five were Grand Slams.
It was a travesty of the highest order that Federer didn’t win Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award. In 2006 they gave it to Dwyane Wade, which is blatantly unjust given how much controversy there was about the Miami Heat’s championship.
In 2006, Federer won three Slams and was runner up in the fourth. He entered 17 tournaments and appeared in 16 finals.
Last year, he won four tournaments, including the US Open and Olympic gold. Not bad for a down season.
Federer has advanced to the semi-finals in every Grand Slam he has played at since the 2004 Wimbledon.
This level of consistency over the span of 19 Grand Slams simply isn’t normal. The previous record was ten, which Ivan Lendl accomplished in the mid to late 1980s.
Federer has opened 2009 with an 18-5 record.
He was runner-up in the Australian Open, but has since struggled. His motivation isn’t the same. He has got married and he has a child on the way.
He would know more than anyone that as every day passes, he is one more day removed from his wonder years. He would look across the net and, in Rafael Nadal, see the Roger Federer he once saw in the mirror five years ago – lean, hungry and incredibly motivated.
The big question is if he can equal Sampras’ fourteen Grand Slam single titles and then overtake it.
Currently, he sits on thirteen.
It is going to become harder and harder for him to win seven matches in a row. But Wimbledon and the US Open are his best chances.
It has been a privilege to watch him.
He has been an athlete of the highest order, who put tennis on the pedestal it deserves.
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