That match was just incredible. Deadset the best I have ever watched and Roger Federer, for what seems like the millionth time, proved just how good he is.
Mark it down in your diaries, the sixth of July 2016, quarter-finals at Wimbledon and Federer comes from two sets down to stage one of the greatest comebacks ever.
Full credit has to go to Federer’s opponent Marin Cilic for being involved in such a match, but it was the absolute class, precision and talent of Federer that showed why he should always be remembered as the greatest of all time.
The match had it all. Tension, incredible play, long rallies, short rallies, big serving and just some amazing shots from Federer as he thought his way back into the match.
Two shots, in particular, stand out. A backhand smash when the ball already looked to be gone, and another backhand half volley, when he was sitting on the ropes again with the ball well and truly behind him.
Even at 34 years old, and despite his fall from the top of tennis in the last three or four years, he still found a way to come back from two sets down. The match might have taken three hours and 17 minutes, but Federer just never gave up.
It’s not as if Marin Cilic shut down either. He continued to play a strong style of tennis with a low unforced error count and strong service game and got himself into rallies well when the opportunity presented himself.
It’s just that Federer turned up the gears so rapidly it’s not funny.
After two and a half sets, the match really looked in a position where Federer was just never going to find his groove. Despite playing poorly he had pushed the first set to a tie-breaker and always looked in the match during the second, despite ultimately dropping it.
His ability to shake it all off and perform under pressure with the match on the line, though, against the big-serving and quietly-spoken Cilic was just simply incredible.
The fourth set tie-breaker was potentially one of the tensest you will ever watch, with both players having countless opportunities to put the match in their respective favour.
Of course, for Cilic that would have been a win of one of the match points, or for Federer forcing a fifth set.
In the end, Federer would, as we now know, force a fifth set with the tie-break finishing 11-9.
The start of the fifth set was again high-quality tennis, and when Federer finally broke Cilic to move ahead 5-3, it was the first time he had been ahead in the match. He would then hold his nerve, come up with a couple of booming aces and take the victory – easily one of the best of his glittering career.
It is the tenth time Federer has come back from two sets down in his career, something of an amazing statistic.
Debate has been raging recently in the tennis world about whether Novak Djokovic is the best of all time to grace the courts, but Federer, with his swag of 17 grand slams (and that could potentially become 18) and absolute undeniable class just showed everyone a thing or two.
Many felt the ‘Djoker,’ as he is affectionately known, would have to win all four grand slams this calendar year to move ahead of Federer in the conversation, but as we all know, he dropped out of Wimbledon in the third round in a surprise loss to the big-serving Sam Querrey.
Still, it was a remarkable achievement for Djokovic to sit at the top of world tennis and hold all four grand slams at the same time and it has to be given some merit in the discussion.
The biggest fall point for Djokovic at this current point in time is that he has only (and only is a very relative term here) won 12 grand slam titles, five less than Federer. Of course, Djokovic still has some time to run in his career, but for him to eclipse Federer he will need to get a move on.
Federer, of course, also has the advantage of a miraculous seven Wimbledon titles, which could, of course, become eight.
At his age, pulling off a win at Wimbledon would just continue to confirm him as the greatest ever, if he is not already there.
Whichever way you think of the debate though, there is no denying the undeniable talent, class and attitude of the man, and there is also no denying just what a match it was.
Federer the great.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
"But yes, they are quite different players and we have been lucky to see them play in the same generation." You can say that again !
clipper
Guest
Mike, conversely (and I am a great fan of Laver) if there hadn't been the professional circut, Ken Rosewall would've played Laver more times and may have prevented his first GS - he did have a winning record at that stage - the schism makes it difficult to judge those years as many of the best players weren't included in the official records. It also has to be remembered that Novak is 5 years older, yet still Roger has taken him to five sets and beaten him over the last 3 years, he's had a better record than most others. Managing injuries and playing for longevity are important aspects of the modern athletes bow, Nadal's playing style was such that it is amazing that he wasn't struck down more often - Federer has had back trouble and mono which knocked him around. But yes, they are quite different players and we have been lucky to see them play in the same generation.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
I like it Benjamin, let's go with GOOT.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
Nadal had Federer in his back pocket before wretched injuries struck . Novak has dominated Roger over the last 3 years to suggest he may even surpass him. Roger has not completed a grand slam and won't in his career . None of the above are the GOAT........yet ! Rod Laver has that distinction - and conversely if he hadn't turned professional at the height of his career , he would of added at least 10 more slams to his name and another two calendar slams . These aren't my calculations but rather, John McEnroe's , whom has no doubt that Laver was categorically in a class of his own . Personally , I can't separate Rafa, Roger and Novak - they are all completely different players with unique skill sets and on their respective days imperious . Roger played his final last night and unfortunately will run out of steam as a result ( hope I am wrong) . Murray should win now in a cakewalk , which is much deserved considering his improvements and runner up feats this year.
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
I agree. Time to start a new acronym. GOOT. Greatest Of Our Time.
Eden
Guest
I think Novak will surpass 17 (unless the next generation step up) but won't be considered the best. Great players for very different reasons. Federer plays attractive attacking tennis through an era where racquet changes have the given advantage to his defensive rivals. Novak's physique and shot making is incredible, but his tennis will never be as special to watch.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
We are so lucky that the "greatest of all time" (GOAT) has played within recent memory and so we have had the absolute pleasure of watching him play. How sad, for example, if the GOAT had played in the 1930s (eg Fred Perry) and we would have been denied the opportunity of seeing him play. I have followed tennis since the early 1960s, In the early 1960s, people claimed that Pancho Gonzales was GOAT; by the late 1960s Rod Lave had assumed the mantle of GOAT; then there was Pete Sampras and then Roger Federer, and then Rafael Nadal, and so on an on. The whole concept of the GOAT is flawed. How can you make pronouncements on the GOAT when you have seen so few of the great players play?