Wooppsss.. Someone won the sportsmanship award again.... :)

Don't forget the fan favourite. This confirms he is the most popular tennis player in the locker room and outside of it.

Indeed. The sportsmanship thing is, of course, preposterous.

player of the year is extremely well deserved and he really is one of the most beloved sportsman in the world even outside tennis. yes the sportsmanship award is preposterous indee.

Jealousy and vanity is what the normal reaction for people who think they know Roger more than the ATP players themselves.

As close as the journalists think they are to the players, all they do is just interview them and evaluate a guys' personality from there. That's where they are flawed.

The ATP players know more about Fed. He is the best sportman there is even when he beats them.

Rafa's sportmanship is overrated. That's why he never gets the vote.

Congratulations once again roger federer!

you are a credit to the game of tennis, a wonderful sportsman and we are lucky to be able to watch your special brand of tennis.

*yawnnn*

torres - I'm sorry, I don't understand your post. What does "knowing" Roger have to do with the Sportsmanship award? A sportsman is defined as "sportsmanlike conduct, as fairness, courtesy, being a cheerful loser". Are you contending that Federer was being cheerful and courteous to Jake Garner? The ATP disagrees apparently, since they fined him for it.

Cheryl, i read your blogs around the time of the USO incident and at that time, you didnt think it was that important, now you do? After 10plus years of tennis, federer has brought more positives than negatives. It's unfair to dwell on one incident and let that ruin everything over a long period of time. The players respect roger and he respects them, that is what should be celebrated, and the proof is in the vote.

"And ESPN News is trying to blow it out of proportion now. It was a minor incident. ESPECIALLY compared to Serena.
RickyDimon , 9/15/09 3:06 AM

This is what you said:
it was NOT a big deal at all. Roddick does worse on a regular basis with nobody batting an eye. It was only because it was Federer saying it that everyone is in a tizzy.
cherylmurray , 9/15/09 3:21 AM
apologies if this is posted twice,something not right with timing.sorry.

destroying a racket againts djo ,uttering frustrating words in his loss and crying in the press conference later , ok signs of being human facing bad times but then abusing garner, getting fined after throwing the F-bomb gets him the sportsman ship award, and then you ppl dont even expect others to get surprised! i donot know what are you ppl thinking.
yes he has brought many positives too , roger has a lot of respect in the locker due to his stature so earns any votes , may b rafa's vamosing and knee thrusting (albeit not unsportsmanlike at all) might not be liked by players who mind it and donot vote for rafa.imagine you lose a tough pnt nd see the opponent with that knee thrusting and fist pumping and all, may create bits of bad feelings ,may b not,just a thought.

To be honest, In think the players are on auto pilot, how can such a bad loser win the sportsmanship award - absolutely ridiculous!

maxi your point about Cheryl 'changing her mind' is not valid. To say it wasn't a big deal is one thing, but no one who behaves like Federer did deserves to win the sportsmanship award, that's the point.

vamos,you are over-reacting and you know this.
it is the players that have voted roger for this award, no amount of your dislike for this will change it. one mistake should not affect the whole of someone's life.both cheryl and ricky said it was minor at the time, a lot of others did too.djo (much as i respect him), smashed many racquets and also hits himself (must hurt), on his head and thigh, gonzo, nalbandian, are you saying he should be penalised for this forever more?it's ridiculous notion.crying in the press conference, well i have never seen that, though I have seen delpo cry, couldnt be interviewed, neither could roddick, but held it together, so many players, so many difficulties, i dont understand your last two sentences though? this discussion moves away from the very centrepoint of the award. it should be celebrated and bad words not be said. It comes through as bitterness otherwise.

carrie,it's just bitterness on your part so fire away, the person who comes across as a bad loser are those people (like you) that push for ill-will at every corner. cheryl said it was a minor incident and it is. you want to believe otherwise,go ahead. you seem to enjoy this type of discussion which turns into a turfwar, i dont.

maxi, all those people you named have not won the sportsmanship award, and rightly so, they are all in the same boat as Federer.

"In think the players are on auto pilot, how can such a bad loser win the sportsmanship award - absolutely ridiculous!"

I know, right, carrie? I mean, YOU know WAY MORE about what goes on in the locker room and what constitutes good sportsmanship than the robotic "players" who voted for this award. Heck, they see Federer all the time, on and off court, but you read an article or two about Fed being a jerk, so you should know.

Heh.

whatever carrie, the more i try and have responsible discussion with you, the more weird i find your responses. you just argue the same point and then say "end of" when you dont like what someone says. that's not a discussion,that's "carrie's way". I just dont like this article, i've said my bit. i think this is what cheryl wants to start a war, my tongue is tied as no one listens, just want to believe bad things, say bad things about a wonderful man. sometimes i think you will all be glad if he were dead and buried.

maxi, I've found that the best plan of action here is make your point for the benefit of others and move on. You'd have better luck engaging a brick wall.

maxi, may be you are misinterpreting a bit, no worres it can happen .fellow when you say nalby and al others smashing rackets and then gettin away, fine yon your point are right but have nalby and those ever been awarded an award despite those things? no, had they been awarded after those things being overlooked then your pnt mite have ben more valid. crying in the press conference, yes he did but i also mentioned it was human like behaviour so let it be overlooked, mate u also over-reacted a bit saying that racker smash and all could affect WHOLE CAREERS, nopes who says that? it was about the past 12 mnths in which the maestro's conduct was unusual at times and its surprising to have won an award.Sorry if i sounded bitter, actually i was annoyed after reading digression after digression from torres in another blog,so excuse it,I am not bitter ab fedex and his fans.

I thought htis was sportsman of the year award, voted on by the ATP players. Are you part of the ATP player? Was this supposed to be a vote for saint of ATP tennis player of the year? Than of course nobody would be able to win it. But then again, I am sure Roger Federer will win Saint of the year too, and you Cherylmurray will win B---- of the year.

whattttttt?????? what the hell did you say?? thats rubbish ! who ever you are mind your language ! so immature.

I think Roger definitely wins NOSE of the year award! He should have a nose job, he can afford it, and also get some teeth in whilst he is at it. Maybe they could offer him a joblot at reduced rates to get the lot done all in one go.

carrie, don't hold your breath! players will never vote for rafa to receive this award! the main reason is that they are jealous of nadal because they are federer's door mats and rafa is not. federer doesn't no more deserves to win this "sportmanship award" than i do! it's a joke! people think i'm the one crazy when i say he's getting all the help he needs to stay on top!

i said a long time ago the atp should be renamed the "Roger Federer World Tour." all of these players that make up the atp tour, you mean to tell me that in 5 or 6 years no one has been sportman-like enough to receive it other than federer. it's absurb! it's pitiful how some people are so deseparate to make roger the greatest until the essence of fair competition has been lost! it's sad!

why wait until march? why didn't the committee give him the laureus award too; we all know who will win. i say give roger all the awards and be done with it! move on! no one is surprise anymore!

Try some sugar; those grapes can be sour, memi.

SenorPlaid, i was about to tell you the same thing! you read my mind!

If Rafa got sportsmanship award then it would have been be a big joke. Rafa is a player who violates the basic rule of the game at almost every point. Does Fed deserve it? Murray or Djokovic dont deserve it anyway. I think the only other player in top 10 that deserves it more than Fed is Davy.

Congrats, Rogelio! Well deserved.!
And to ppl making fun of Roger's appearance and nose, Are you guys in 1st grade or something? Roger got where he is because of his talent and not his looks. Rock on Rog!

vamosrafa you forgot "not shaking hands with chair umpire when he loses". that's a big criteria for the award no? ;)

memi you make me laugh!! are you saying rafa can't gain eclusive membeship to DC (doormat club)? how sad...

homos, it is a laughing matter! the sportmanship award symbolizes the utmost professionalism and integrity, along with competing in a fair manner. the criteria does not include how many slams won or how many semifinals a player has reached, or how many masters shields won, but never mind that, the rules never apply to roger federer! maybe, smashing racquets and disrespecting chair umpires were written in the criterion and we didn't know about it! can you believe how they disregard and disrespect other players !

homos, i have to hand to rafa he is playing it very smart, especially in not concerning himself anymore with the #1 ranking because i think he knows that most folks don't want no one in a #1 position but federer and they will do anything to make sure it happens! they are as transparent as plastic!

I don't know why people are knocking Rafa here. Sure he has his faults but has never behaved like roger on court or in the press room. I really think, and no disrespect to roger, that his peers vote for him because they would be a little embarrased not to. His achievements are the greatest out there, and they must feel disrespectful if they were not to vote for him, its kind of mmm what do you do, you cannot possible not! vote for Roger! he gets the players award of course hands down, but sportsmanship, Roger isn't always gracious in defeat, and has been guilty on enough occassions, but he knows that whatever he does, he is the King and no one can deny him..

First of all, to me, sportsmanship is mainly what happens in the game.

Arguing with the umpire is not bad sportsmanship no matter how foul the language was. It has nothing to do with the game and is outside the game.

Fed is most sportmanlike because:-
1) He beats you solely with his tennis skills whereas some players who gets beaten by Rafa probably thought they got distracted by the tenor-grunting and vamosing which is poor sportsmanship
2) He doesnt celebrate a point overly like Rafa chicken dance and Djoker's chest pumping which is clearly unsportmanlike especially when they celebrate a mistake.
3) In all his post-match interview, Fed has never failed to say that the player he faced was good and how the player has a good game.

Wow it seems like the more GS and awards Fed gets the more childish insults and attacks keep coming from the haters. I guess that's how you guys deal with your frustrations. Now carrie is picking on his looks. Who cares? He could look like an alien and he'd still be the greatest ever. Besides British people have the worst teeth in the world carrie. Ever seen Austin Powers? Mike Myers even knows this. Carry on though guys if it makes you feel better. Cheers on the sweet 16 and awards. You are the man.

torres, go play with your toys and stay out of grown folk business. you have no earthly idea what the word "sportmanship" means! federer is downright condescending! when he gets angry in defeat, he doesn't even respect the chair umpire by shaking his hands. he makes fun of other players in his little sneaky way and talk down on them after he beats them! nadal's respect for other people will put roger federer to shame! of course, you wouldn't understand what that means because you are just 3 years old!

memi, u are a biased rabid Rafan who thinks Rafa is a saint when he is not and u dont know what is sportsmanship at all if u think massive delaying, annoying grunts and over-celebration = sportsmanship

Go back to ur Rafa shrine.

lol memi ROFL - stop making me laugh so hard, will you!!!

we should try to get our hands on the criteria list (both the 'essential' and 'desirable' lists. i wonder who muzz and djoker voted for...

torres, you should know, you are the chairman for the indoctrinated members of the federer's club for brainwashed fans! maybe federer will let you carry his bags since you hold such a prestigous position in his club!

homos, i posted on the wrong thread! anyway, i would love to know how each player voted. now wouldn't that be interesting!

hey, do you think players voted in 2002 for this year?

Cheerio all !!

haha.....its a treble i guess ....and trebles cause trouble with the already sour grapes ...

First and foremost ..CONGRATULATIONS to the FedExpress .

Fan favourite of the year ...hmm ...everyone saw that coming but the sour grapes here .
Player of the year .... i dont think anyone can dispute this ..
Sportmanship award seems to have cause a stir here ....but then again who else to give it to . If we focus on what goes on on the tennis court , this is deserving .

FedExpress is not perfect . He has had his hiccups . But then again so has everyone else . and as far as being a sportsman towards the opponent is concerned , i think Roger is above the rest . There is no over celebrating in his game ...there is no time wasting ...there is no annoying his opponent and making them wait , no excessive ball bouncing , no touching yourself on court ......what im getting at here is simply that the award is voted by the players ...and whatever antics that Roger has shown on court is obviously not a big deal .
I frankly dont get the debate here ....everyone is complaining about an award that was voted by the players !! haha...probabilities are the very person "you think" should win the award thinks rogers deserves is so what the hell is your point in this argument ? Its voted by the player !!!!

If you want to dispute something at least complaint about the fan favorite award which has something to do with you . But then again , Roger's fan base is ridiculously huge . Long story short .....dont be sour .

Oh yes .....one more thing ...carrie, 2/17/10 11:16 PM

"I think Roger definitely wins NOSE of the year award! He should have a nose job, he can afford it, and also get some teeth in whilst he is at it. Maybe they could offer him a joblot at reduced rates to get the lot done all in one go."

Seriously ? Thats how low you have become . Insulting a "tennis" player based on how he looks . Heck , you support a punk that sniff his backside every 2 seconds on a live TV dureing a tennis match . and you think roger needs to get some work done ? hahahaa
please ...its about tennis ...stick to it !

C'MON!
AO10 ...where we've lifted one down under

yeah memi they use the same votes every year to save the trees!!! ;)

actually carrie fed did have a nose job done some years ago. not sure why he left it like that tho.

Hahahaha... Sourgrapes like homos and memi and carrie... LOL...

Cant blame them... Fed wins too much...

And Rafa is the worse than Fed in sportsmanship so get out of here, Rafans...

VAMOS!!! = bad sportsmanship

THese ppl just dont have anymore ammo other than h2h, so what can they do? They use the nosejob jab LOL

They forgot how big Rafa's nostrils are. He needs a nostril-reduction surgery becoz the spectators always complain about short of breath watching Rafa play.

Besides British people have the worst teeth in the world carrie.

chr18 , 2/18/10 3:31 AM

At least they don't look like they forgot to put their teeth in.

carrie, there is a forum (I think called eurosports tennis), where if you get personal about tennis players (their looks,etc), then you get banned-they delete comments like yours, for "unprofessional/unsportsmanlike" behaviour. I think it's so rude.

Roger is gorgeous looking,not perfect looking,but he has that certain something,and for someone who you describe as this:

I think Roger definitely wins NOSE of the year award! He should have a nose job, he can afford it, and also get some teeth in whilst he is at it. Maybe they could offer him a joblot at reduced rates to get the lot done all in one go.
carrie , 2/17/10 11:16 PM

clearly he is doing something right to be on the front cover of vogue,endless magazines,rolex, whatever you think, he is a very handsome man.(I suppose you are beautiful and perfect with white teeth,ski slope nose, and ears like flowers,(cauliflowers), right?

thinking about it, if roger did want to alter his looks as you suggest - his personal assistant - the next breath you would say, isnt roger vain? he will never be able to win in your eyes carrie,because you boil over with jealousy.

Comon Maxi what did you expect Roger is collecting prizes again and Rafa is dancing with Shakira! his fans are not in so good place
they can go to you tube and see the video he looks very good ( too much better than Roger) but you know what,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,too bad doesnt much helping the game!
Guess what even after the F bomb he still the best!
Embrace it!

Have u guys notice the negative emotions that Rafans share.

They are all an angry bunch, jealous of whatever Fed wins. LOL

yes tennislover, i know what you say, still very sad though.very bad taste.but you are right, embrace federer as the great champion that he is supported by his fans from around the world who enjoy seeing him whenever he plays. good luck for the rest of the season roger.

Very sad taste: why?
just remember the times after AO09 tell Madrid master all of us had to put up with silly articles and experts predicting he was done some of people whome you are discussing with here were joking that some of the tornys were sponsered by Klinekss
for the teary guy .
Now he is doing so well beating all the good guys voted by players and fans,this is our time to gloat and be happy for the guy the guy with the 'big nose' as some of Rafa's girls like to call him here right now Mr. 'big nose' did a trip to Ethiopia couple of days ago to visit the schools there and to supervise his charity organization he play he organized a charity event for Haiti a day before a slam that kind of man he is he is that is why the players voted for him and fans also he is the embassdor of this sport and the real one.

True tennislover so true. Fed was in Ethiopia for a good cause while Nadal was making a soft porn video with Shakira. To each his own I guess. Fed is a real man.

chr18....aww.... low blow ...hahahah
They are sour , what can we do .

All I can say is that i truly think that Nadal will come back strong ...but that does not mean that he will win . I think it will always be a piece of cake for him to make it to the semi's as his opponents to that level cannot consistently hit winners ...after that ... the story changes cos he faces the likes of the top 10. I know your pain rafa fans ...but taking it out on Fed aint gona make anything better . Just stop being sour pusses .

C'MON !!
AO10...the birth of the sourest of the sourest grapes :P

tennislover, i understand what you say,it is something that makes me sad because i think we are lucky to be watching this tennis era for all players,roger is (of course) the best imo,and a massive humanitarian,a unicef ambassador,what a responsibility that is,so i think when people get personal (I love his nose by the way, shows strength),there is no need. Federer actually won three awards, here they are

(FEDERER HONOURED BY PEERS AND FANS
Swiss earns three awards for successful 2009 campaign, as ATP announces
annual awards recipients; Bryans, Chiudinelli, Isner, Zeballos among other
winners
MONTE CARLO, MONACO - Roger Federer was formally recognised for his triumphant return to the
top spot in men?s tennis on Wednesday, as the 2009 ATP World Tour Awards were announced.
The 28-year-old superstar collected Player of the Year, Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award and
ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite presented by RICOH honours. Federer was Player of the Year
for the fifth time after finishing as the 2009 ATP World Tour Champion and his fellow players selected
him for the sportsmanship award for a record sixth consecutive year, surpassing Edberg, who was a
five-time recipient over eight years. In a poll of fans, Federer was voted ATPWorldTour.com Fans'
Favourite for the seventh straight season.to be shared with federer fans).

True tennislover so true. Fed was in Ethiopia for a good cause while Nadal was making a soft porn video with Shakira. To each his own I guess. Fed is a real man.

chr18 , 2/18/10 2:31 PM

Good on Rafa, it's good to know he has it in him. He is rock n roll, he is young and he should be enjoying life. That is not to say he doesn't do charity work. He has his own charitable foundation, just go to his official website to see the good works he is doing:-

RAFA'S COMMITMENT DOESN'T END WITH THE LAST SET

He?s aware of his weight on the media: of the power it concedes and the responsibility it demands.And he?s not dodging the ball.

Fundación Rafa Nadal is a private non-profit-making organization, with headquarters in Manacor and an international field of activity.

His fighting fronts are the social assistance and development, beginning with the immediate initiative of promoting the sport as an integration tool for those who need it the most, such as handicapped, immigrant and socially excluded people.

Deeply involved in the project, Rafa is an inspiration to all of them, and his solidarity is an example for his fans, that not only see him as a tennis star, but also as a mirror where to look themselves into.

Rafa is a reference for thousands of youngsters around the world, and he plays his role consciously and sensibly to shout a loud ?¡VAMOS!? to those who need to hear it the most.

It's so typical of Fedfans to claim that Federer is the only tennis player who does anything for charity, loads of players do the same, but they don't all get featured on the ATP website.

Yes, Federer won three awards -- one voted by peers, one by fans and one a formal recognition for regaining the top spot. But wait, these awards don't count because the four (or five) of the most knowledgeable people on this board that seem to know him better than anyone else do not think he deserves any of them.

Goodness gracious, he smashed his racket. And did her utter a profanity? Let's give these four (or five) people the benefit of the doubt because they are so unbiased and objective in their thinking, and perhaps the most upright citizens of the free world. They can't be wrong, can they?

Perhaps the rest of us should write to the ATP and recommend that they consult with these four (or five) unbiased lovers of the game before they choose to honor Federer again. And since we are certain Federer will get the Laureus award in two weeks, we should let the organization giving the award what a grave mistake that will be. After all, just about everyone else nominated for the award is more deserving of the award than Federer, right?

Yes, these four (or five) people are right. Federer is a terrible guy. He deserves our scorn, not our adulation. The Federer I saw at Wimbledon in person last year behaving in an exemplary fashion was not him but an imposter. OMG, how could I have been so blind?

It's so typical of Fedfans to claim that Federer is the only tennis player who does anything for charity, - ? who has said this?

Carrie: i realy hope the role model you mean was not exactly ' shirtless with shakira'

is it? am kind off confused?

federer simply the best

http://fliiby.com/file/332534/w32ck0drre.html

Fed will always have fans. I'm not suprised if he gets the Fan Favorite until he retires.

It's funny. Everytime I see a Fed match in a coffee shop, ppl who are not tennis followers know Roger and they all support him.

Fed's fanbase is even larger than we realize. Most people love a winner who is consistent and show passion for the game.

Presenting us with beautiful tennis instead of just winning. Fed is just like Manchester United in football and also Arsenal and Brazil. He plays not only to win but to play it beautifully with creativity.

That's what fans love. They wanna stand on their seats everytime Fed makes a majestic shot. They dont just watch Fed just to see him win.

FED's THE BEST

Vamosrafa - Federer DID NOT use the F - bomb (your word) while taliking with the chair umpire at the USO. You clearly were not watching/listening.

Yet again garpes are sour for the Anti-Feds, cherylmurray why are you always so bitter whenever Federer wins something big, are u another So calleds tennis expert who is jealous of RFs success

I absolutely love this. Rafa fans are foaming at the mouth because Roger won again. Please keep it coming, the more you guys trash Roger , the funnier it is. Oh yea, that's right, these tennis players do not know how to vote, may be all you Rafa fans need to get together and give the atp tennis players a lesson on who to vote for. You guys are so smart and are the know all and be all of tennis and the players. So funny.

fedexfan, my friend, thanks for the concern, but you can save your pity for fans who need it! rafa nadal fans don't need it! the day when what you guys say and what journalists write determine how many matches rafa wins or loses,, i will start to worry; until then, the rafa nadal that i know will be just fine! matter of fact, rafa is going to be more than just fine it aint over til the fat lady sings!

don't stress too much! in the words of rafa nadal, "we will see."

meg1,

federer did used inapproriate, unprofessional language; i heard the original version while watching the match. you didn't hear it because it was immediately edited to make sure few people as possible would hear it. some of his fans argue that the language he used is used by other players as well, but what they didn't say is that other players don't receive the "sportmanship award" for demonstrating the utmost professionalism particularly on court behavior!

in my opinion, the award has lost its meaning and is nothing more than a popularity award! if it was given to a player who truly demonstrated the spirit of the true meaning of the award, which is "professionalism, integrity, and fair competition," i wouldn't have a problem with it, but it was given to roger representing how well-liked he is, not how professional he was particularly on court in 2009! i have no problem with a player earning his merit, no matter who he is, but i do have a problem with unfairness and lack of integrity! but on the other hand, those things are a part of life! i' m not surprised at anything that goes on in tennis anymore!

Yeah memi, the sportsmanship award is inappropriate since it's not approved by a Rafa fanatic like you.

How deluded...

Frankly internet polls are worthless because it is possible to vote as many times as you like, and as for the players continuously voting for Mr Federer, it's probably because they know he loves these trophies, he did say once that he goes and sits in the room where they are displayed to admire them.

I don't think the players are really bothered who wins it, they automatically vote for Federer because he's won it before. If they really gave it much thought, any fool would know that someone who was fined by the very ATP for using foul language to the umpire on court is not a sportsman to look up to. How can the ATP continue to punish players for violating their code conduct, when they think it's OK to behave badly on court by smashing your racquet and refusing to shake the umpire's hand when you lose. Pathetic.

If the players dont care abt it like u claimed carrie, then why do u care abt it so much???

torres, really, leave it. you just have to laugh now.try not to be rude to the people that are rude to you,have to say that i think vamosrafa can be very objective sometimes,so just smile and enjoy the fact that despite what some say, federer is admired and loved around the world by millions of fans. I cannot remember who said(may have been on a different one, that federer was narcissistic?).any intelligent person would realise that if this was the case, then he wouldnt do so much for charity-lets be honest, he doesnt have to, he can enjoy a lovely life with lovely family and children and just relax,but he chooses to give back what he earns, and if one blip in his amazing career is all there is,then he still a better man than i will ever be.just smile torres.enjoy.

torres why don't you shut your piehole? when you used to always trash rafa (like you still do), you always defended yourself by saying they were jokes and rafans had no sense of humour like rafa. well, it seems it's ok as long as it's not directed at your fav. hypocrite!! but like memi says, you're 3 years old - typical toddler behaviour. so many have called out your immaturity - a pattern you can't recognised.

torres, leave it. there is nothing to be gained by arguing with rafas fans who are jst jealous and never accept feds achievements. (only some rafa fans are like this) You would have a better chance of engaging with a brick wall than them.

torres is a brick wall, isn't he?

haha homos, we had our time or arguing and u lost big time trying helplessly to push ur agenda and got flooded with Fedfans destroying u that u just disappeared through thin air becoz u just cant think of any good points.

Funny how me, a supposedly 3-yr old can silence u and also turned vamosrafa into the sad state he is in now.

Actually carrie, memi and homos just dont have any intelligent thing to say about tennis and their main job is to make Fed look bad and their vain efforts is what made them come all over Fed threads with meaningless Rafa stuff.

THey are just sourgrapes... I hope they'll be put in a vineyard so that the wine industry will get a boost in productivity in sourgrape wine.

FED's THE BEST !!!! WOOOHOOO!!

maxi, i don't think you understand life and that people can do kind deeds and not be who they pretend to be. tiger woods for example has a foundation, but the world found out some dark things about him. personally, i do not judge him because i understand that we are all capable of doing wrong things. in fact, i will always be a fan of tiger's; i wish him well in every aspect of his life, because none of us are so spotless that we can condemn others! you are so naive in your comments! i am by no means saying that roger will do as tiger; what i am saying is that no one is as perfect as you think and if walls could talk you would soon find out! you need to take a course in how life works! we are imperfect beings, that includes roger!

i appreciate your kind comments memi.age has probably something to do with this and life experience. i like to see the good in people. i dont think that roger federer is perfect, but i look up to him memi. i think he is a wonderful role model and i think (imo), to compare him to tiger woods who is a walking advert for infidelity at its best, federer is the extreme opposite,people like to knock people down for any little thing. i think that shows inadequacies in human nature.i think we should all be good to each other - isnt that we teach our children? (I dont have any), but it is an age old saying, right?

maxi, interesting words to say the least! could you enlighten me by kindly telling me how you know federer is different! i haven't been blessed with the ability to know the hearts of people and their tendencies, only what they show me; in other words, an image! as in what andre agassi showed the world during his professional career. unfortunately, things were not what they seemed! just another example! i really want to know from you how i can look at someone, like you do roger, and know for certain what the person is capable of doing, again, i don't have that ability nor do anyone i know!

please, don't misinterpret the comments to mean something that was not intended! i thought i specifically stated that i am not comparing roger to tiger, just simply using tiger as an example! i don't know what roger or nadal or any other player or any other person is capable of doing!

i hope for your sake roger never deceives or disappoints you, you won't be able to handle it! you would definitely have to have some sort of therapeutic treatment! but, if you see life that way, whatever suits you!

memi,your my last post for tonight.but i would like to say that i dont know what roger is "really like", or "mr. federer" because of course i dont really know him. and you are right. only his mama and his wife would "truly know him".

what i see, is a great sportsman, husband,father,humanitarian,philanthropist,i like to see this good in him. so I see him as a role model because of this image. you are right. IF EVER or UNTIL it can be proved he is less than the "image" the media portray, i give him the benefit of the doubt. again,he could be serial killer,have endless women that isnt reported, alcoholic,drug user,whatever - but my point is in my opinion, i give federer the benefit of the doubt at this point - UNTIL -

I hope i never see that day.i think i would die. so my point is that i see the good in someone FIRST, until they let me down, then i can start the process of therapy (if needed!).

memi, narcissism is a word, i learnt the true meaning of today.i read this tonight about verdasco, would you call him a narcissist? (you didnt use the word), but am assuming that verdasco must think the whole worlds wants to see his undercrackers,therefore the contract to show 'em off?!

Four men have been announced as the new faces of Calvin Klein Underwear in an advertising campaign: actors Kellan Lutz, Mehcad Brooks, and athletes Fernando Verdasco and Hidetoshi Nakata?

Can this be called "a business decision", or a narcissistic man who loves himself and his body? - what do you think? wont read your reply now until tomorrow.thanks memi.

maxi, that's my point! i love and support nadal, good times, bad times, win or lose; what matter what people say about him because most of it is simply written or said to bring him down and make his exceptional talent look less than roger. i understand that and i have blessed to always see through it! above all, i admire and love rafa for his humility, integrity, his passion for the game, respect for the feelings of other people and his ability to mentally remain true to himself, regardless of all the negative publicity he has received in the media, especially regarding his career, much of which is unquestionally untrue and unfair to a champion like rafa; however, i do understand the reasons behind it; that's what the media does, it is one of their tactics; that's how they get ratings or their thrills, so be it; that said, i defend rafa, his tennis is exciting and beautiful to me, but i do not see him as perfect, i only know what he has shown thusly, and i respect him for that, but i can't speak to what he will or will not do in the future; the future will take care of itself!

anyway, you get my point!

torres, don't be so bitter just because i have a life and you don't. it's really not the end of the world. keep worshipping fed rather than behaving like a git. that should at least curb further revelation of your immaturity - even if only briefly.

Funny how me, a supposedly 3-yr old can silence u and also turned vamosrafa into the sad state he is in now. (torres)

Goodness gracious me, you really do flatter yourself. I gather you have a camera to tell the state and life of fans located remotely from this site?

memi,
i get your point. thanks.

I think Söderling was most improved player of the year 2009.
After destroying Nadal and reaching the RG final, he kept it up and titled. finished off well in the year end championships. Isner is a clear runner up at best. He must have got the prize for being USA-american.

croc, there certainly are many great players out there, difficult to choose which was the best match,best game,best tie break, i think that Isner did win an award but not sure which one?could have been "best breakthrough",i seem to have read that somewhere. but i suppose when it comes down to the players views, it's their views which really count.but soderling,yes,will always be remembered for beating rafa in fourth round of RG because it really was so unexpected,though he didnt do so well in AO, knocked out in first round, so may be that was why he wasnt regarded for this award?

croc, sorry.AO would have nothing to do with this award as it was 2009! so yes, i think soderling could have been a contender. he played well in wtf. i also feel he has become more media friendly,and when he speaks,he has the most gentle voice in press conferences.very different to an image he portrayed at first,i dont think he was liked by many.

I will always feel a bit meh towards Soderling for knocking out Rafa during RG last year, although I admit that's my biased-ness as a Rafa fan! But I gotta admit that Bobby Sod has grew on me as 2009 progressed. He seems to have a quirky personality that borders a bit on snark and sarcasm which may lead many to dislike him, I don't know. But he seems to have grown a little and his 'yokes' and how he likes 'yoking' around has won him more fans.

He did have a breakthrough season last year; pity he didn't start off well this season! His form has been up and down like a see-saw and it's only February.

I wouldn't really disagree with the decision of Isner as breakthrough player though. I think that guy has a lot of potential and promise.

maxi, funny you mention it, best tiebreak of the year must be fed hammering söderling in the RG final, second set...very one-sided, but pure brilliance.

It's amaing how some people go on and on about how Soderling destroyed Nadal at RG - 6-2, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 is hardly a destruction, on that basis, Rafa has annihilated Federer 5 times in grand slams, one of them being - 6:1 6:3 6:0, that's what destroying is, not beating someone who is not at his peak, once in a GS.

Just listen to yourselves, Fedfans.

The draw's out in Dubai and roger's got it toughest - potentially facing Benneteau, Meltzer, Cilic, Murray and Djokovic to win it. Djoker and Davydenko seem to have the easier half, and Davydenko the easiest quarter.

Congratulations to Roger for winning the awards again. Although he does deserve them, I did hope for someone else to win this year. Would be nice to get some new winners in! I think Novak and Rafael have good sportsmanship, maybe one of them can win it next year.

I am confused by one comment above though - I agree with carrie that Rafael's RG2009 4-set loss to Soderling is not a destruction, and Roger's loss to Rafa in RG2008 is a beat down through and through...but the other times Roger lost respectively in 4 sets (RG) and 5 sets (Wimbly and AussieOpen)...so why are the other four losses deemed as "annihilations" when two losses are 5-setters, yet 4-set loss is not a destruction?

English is not my first language so pardon my confusion.

landy, u are right. its just that carrie probably didnt think before she typed up what she wanted. happens a lot on the internet..

carrie,i was having a really nice conversation with "croc". that was all. stop being so defensive all the time.i am sure that croc didnt mean what he said in the way that you always seem to take it? and why do you have to bring roger federer into it? i dont understand why a meaningful conversation about so many players being great,(read my post properly please),can turn into something that it isnt because of you.and please dont come back with more horrors.soderling will always be remembered for that play,rafa will always be remembered for beating roger federer, roger federer will be remembed for beating rafa, oh my god,on and on and one.tired.yawn.

landy, if you read carefully what I said was on the basis of the criteria that a close 4 sets loss to Soderling was a destruction, then we have to see all Rafa's wins against Roger in the same light.

Fedfans can't have it one way all the time, after all he hasn't won every match he has ever played.

tj, I thought very carefully of what I said, I was responding to what croc said:

I think Söderling was most improved player of the year 2009.
After destroying Nadal and reaching the RG final, ...............

croc , 2/20/10 12:42 PM

beating someone who is not at his peak, once in a GS.-carrie

So Fed was at his peak in RG2008? Puhhh-leezzzz..

And Rafa is always beaten badly as the no.2 seed to a much lower-ranked player. 626262 to Delpo, 62 63 62 by Tsonga in AO.. And 4 sets by the Sod on his fav surface.

So let's not talk about destruction, let's talk about sportsmanship.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMny1OZaM98

Tsonga Showing Rafael Nadal How It Should Be Done

okay torres now do not PROVOKE rafa fans to post a link to that RG 2008 final , that was PERFECT.lol, dont know why you posted this link in this blog :S

if u post a link of RG final, i'l just post a link of Madrid 2009.. LOL.. That was perfect.. beating the claymaster in Spain...

Anywya, this is a response to carrie.

haha..but our own rivalry aside, roger has never and can never deliver such a massive drubbing to rafa ,even on a hard court, i was myself DUMBFOUNDED that day after rafa dropped just 4 games, really was one of those shocking moments in tennis that u see once in decades, i remember borg warned everyone not to underestimate roger and that he cud win RG ,and given the battles over the past 3 yrs the duo had (fairly competieive) this one was a mysterious win ,roger had a slow start and rafa was perfect from start to finish ,3rd set roger seemed lost somewhere ,only body was present on the court but mind was elsewhere.

one day,when both roger and rafa are DEAD,those fans who continue to play this game, will regret what they say about two great champions, the best tennis has ever seen. i am one who believes that the losses are more important than the wins,because thats when the true champion spirit comes through-do you give up? or do you continue carrying on, trying to beat your opponent for the next time. we all know the answer to that one.

i also cant forget the day I watched Delpo destroyed Rafa 626262 in USO... And also tsonga's demolition of Rafa .. Those were the good days...

And where's Rafa now? Getting slaughtered by top 10 players.

Not winning a set in WTF 2009

LOL LOL.. so funny

yea delp and tso are fed's secretaries ? or roger's soul rests in their bodies?? *wondering hard* LOL

and the wonderful loss to FILIPO VOLANDRI (ever heard of the guy)?? how many here on TT have ? he was regarded to be the worst server on the atp tour ! lol
and those back to back losses to CANAS !!!! when he was a qualifier in those tournies ! oooopsssss

yeah carrie you could see on the face and attitude and body language of Nadal in the end of the fourth set that he was totally helpless and dominated by Söderling in RG 2009. That is the fact. The score may have been close but that is obviously not the whole truth. I was speaking about that match only, and it was a beat down...That happens in tennis every so often. Peace

Volandri is no Soder LOL.... Volandri never beat Fed on grasss LOL

Tell me what is more humiliating than not winning a set in WTF?

Federer cant top that.. LOL..

croc, that's because Rafa knew he could not compete properly because his knees were troubling him, and he had been competing in pain for months, but it was getting worse.

what if you went to your work one day had flat tire walk to your office and just decide to take it slow today am sure we all done that
BUT
if you are having a staff meeting and you have a dead line for a project you are not allowed to have a slow day you cant have a slow day
for Federer: Slam is dead line and staff meetings and the rest are normal working days,so was the FO quaterfinal for Nadal a normal working day or Staff meeting day?

the 3 rd match to Canas that year he bet him 6-0 6-0 and in that year (07) Federer won 3 GS (one of them without dropping a set) 2 master seiers one of them on clay against your guy (Hamburg) and the TMC i bet you would like it if Nadal had that crappy lost against Canas if he would won all of these big majors
i love it when Rafa fans make Federer look like a GOD when we just take him a champion who happens to be HUMAN!
Cheer up ,Comon you guys you have something to look for A VIDEO :"him dancing with half naked Shakira" we cheer for a champ you cheer for..............., but you know what the time is perfect since Miami is near by he might have alot of offers you know:Jenifer Lopez,Marc Anthony,Eglasis...............alot of latinos
drope it already this is not your dicussion this is for proffesionals only: pick it up in TMZ or people magzine!

yes carrie, just like federer wasnt competing properly in 2008 due to mono.(bet that contributed to the way rafa annihilated him at RG. I still think rafa would hav won anyway, just not as easily.) every player has down periods in their career. its just part and parcel of the game.

Tell me what is more humiliating than not winning a set in WTF?

Federer cant top that.. LOL..

torres9 , 2/21/10 7:03 AM


It's losing 6 times in the first round of grand slams, especially 3 times on a surface that you are supposed to be king of. One of those was losing in straight sets to Ancic who was 154 in the world at the time in 2002 the year when Federer was tipped to win it.

Everyone knows that Rafa still has work to do to get to his top form after his injuries and emotional problems last year.

yes carrie, just like federer wasnt competing properly in 2008 due to mono.(bet that contributed to the way rafa annihilated him at RG. I still think rafa would hav won anyway, just not as easily.) every player has down periods in their career. its just part and parcel of the game.

tj600 , 2/21/10 11:47 AM


So if people know that sometimes players lose because of mitigating circumstances, why do they keep using these losses to criticise Rafa to undermine his achievements?

well, i didnt. and most fed fans arent like that. but if ur talkin about torres, well thats a totally different matter.

PS: the media make a form slump(and pretty much any issue) sound bigger than it actually is. they make comments like"this player will never win a slam etc.) they just do it to gain attention..

well, i didnt. and most fed fans arent like that. but if ur talkin about torres, well thats a totally different matter.


tj600 , 2/21/10 12:28 PM


So torres your musings are a completly different matter - it's official!

Those who deny that Federer used the F-word in his tantrums at the USO, he did, here is the proof, they have deleted it from the video, but here is the script:

14 Sep 2009 ... Basic HTML(img tags) and Youtube Embeds allowed. Angie says: September 15, 2009 at 4:40 am. Haha,,,actually it was "Don't fucking tell me the rules"? followed ... What's wrong with the USO anyway? Don't they know that the chair ..... 2006-2010 GOTOTENNIS, Inc. All rights reserved

roger federer just pulled out of dubai with a chest infection. doctor statement shortly.get well soon roger. am so very sad you are not playing tomorrow.

Ailing Federer out of Dubai Open tennis
(AFP) ? 44 minutes ago

DUBAI ? Ailing top-seed Roger Federer has pulled out of the two-million-dollar ATP Dubai Open due to a lung infection, officials said here Sunday.

"He has got a lung infection," said ATP circuit official Stephen Duckett. "He saw a doctor and he was advised not to play for a fortnight."

yea i was also looking forward to a cilic-roger match and then a possible murray-federer rematch ! lets hope roger gets back into good shape before IW

vamosrafa, let's hope so. for the murray fans and novak fans here, this is for you. I just posted on tennis.x vamos, as there are some lovely novak/murray fans over there - you should come over sometime. i never see you there :( Tommy Robredo takes fed's place and there could be a cilic v murray repeat, i think in semis?

World number one Roger Federer has pulled out of the Dubai Championships because of a lung infection.

The Swiss, a four-time winner in Dubai, is expected to be out of action for a further two weeks.

Federer was due to make his first appearance since winning the Australian Open last month, but he will now return to action at Indian Wells in March.

British number one Andy Murray and world number two Novak Djokovic are among those competing in Dubai.

Federer's withdrawal leaves Murray as the highest-ranked player in the top half of the draw, and the Scot will open his campaign against Russian qualifier Igor Kunitsyn.

606: DEBATE
I find this pretty sad, I was looking forward to seeing him back in action and this tournament is one of his favourites

roamed
Croatia's Marin Cilic is a potential semi-final opponent for Murray in what would be a repeat of their Australian Open encounter at the same stage, which the Briton won in straight sets.

The first round gets under way on Monday, with Murray against Kunitsyn the late match after defending champion Djokovic takes on Guillermo Garcia-Lopez at 1500 GMT.

I am seriously worried for Roger. If it's something he "picked up" in Ethopia...given the conditions there, it might develop into something nasty and mono-like (i.e. taking massively long amounts of time to recover completely from). I'm sure he has the best doctors and what not, so I hope he will 100% be on alert with this chest/lung infection.

Chest/lung infections are seriously no joke. I've lost count of the people I saw during my Emergency Department rotation with 'scratchy throats' and 'little difficulty breathing' and they ended up being incubated in the ICU with a ventilator. Ugh. Am letting my imagination run away with me really badly and am probably worrying for nothing but am still worried nonetheless. :(

Get well soon, Roger!

jyannis, i know what you mean.but remember,rest is really the only cure.i said to friends on tennis.x what was he thinking of going to ethiopia for, in early season, why not wait till off season?, so many jabs needed before you go and it's malaria ridden over there. he is in dubai, lots of lovely sun, so a quicker recovery.

hey guys listen , i have an assignment in which i need to write an INFORMATIVE essay , and i have chosen grand slam tennis :D :D as the topic and i have to finish it by tuesday. so if any one can provide a useful well written paragraph, it will be highly appreciated ! i will highly appreciate if some1 is that gracious, any well piece of writing/paragraph that you feel i can add to the essay ,hope my friends here can help a bit and stuff from ANY1 will be very much appreciated, even torres 9 :) :) lol


and sorry for interuppting the ongoing discussion

More comments from federer: from kimmi.

?I?m hoping to be back for Indian Wells,? said Federer on Sunday. ?But of course there are no promises. This is something that with proper treatment will be finished.

?I?ve been taking it easy, relaxing as much as possible. My breathing is a bit difficult and everything feels a bit slow. I can?t take any chances until I?m fit again. It could be better, it could be worse.?

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2010/02/3rd-Week/Du bai-Federer-Withdraws.aspx

this is disturbing seemes like serious case
even indian wells is not guranteedd?that sucks

tennislover, we just have to keep fingers crossed. a lot of fed fans believe infection started due to trip to Ethiopia, there does seem to be a link there, because at AO he was fit, healthy, in best shape ever, and now infection. he will get over it, but will probably be on antibios for a week and then that has to get out of his system. Have to hope that he will recover and god bless to him.

Administrator,
Is anything going to be done about the fact that carrie spelled out the f word in her above post? If not, then is everybody else allowed to use such language?

As far as Fed picking up something in Ethiopia, that's just life isn't it? When you try to do someting nice and help others, your reward is usually something like this. No good deed goes unpunished.

chr18,to be fair to carrie, she was quoting what a fan "angie" said, so it wasnt carrie saying the words herself.

If it makes you feel any better, what "angie" said was also incorrect - (not word for word). here is the subtitled version of what federer did say - 54 seconds long. but dont the whole world know this anyway? he did swear. it was wrong. it happened.he was annoyed.that is clear.there is no point in bringing it up over again carrie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvSgXp-cwTg&NR=1

carrie, you have done your bit here and i cannot really see where the conversation is going. federer swore. it happened. he had many critics,he had many supporters at that time (10 second challenge was AGAINST the rules), many presenters even said that umpire was wrong. but it is over and done with and with respect, can i please ask you to stop this? this is cheryl's blog for celebrating roger's award for 2009 and i would rather do that than bring up 1 incident which has happened,which he paid the price for and no doubt will be something that some people will want to bring up because they dont like the man anyway.

Federer isnt perfect. it is one blip (imo) on an otherwise great year.

it's just a request that would be appreciated by me (for one) carrie. i know you are entitled to your opinion, but you seem to take great joy in repeating this over again.no offence, but having a better conversation would be wonderful right now.

Here is a link where Federer talks about his infection:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8526928.stm

Some people were accusing Cheryl of wrongly saying that what Federer used the f-word in his outburst, so I was just confirming that he did use it, although I can see that some people don't like the truth. It was actually a link I was posting to the video where they cut out the bit when he actually said it.

chr18, obviously you think it is an unpleasant word, one that I would never utter myself, yet you feel that someone who actually used the word on live worldwide TV should be held up in high esteem and be given the sportmanship award, what double standards.

It is a reported speech of Federer's, if the link had shown the first two letters with stars in between or just said the f-word, how different would that be to the writer quoting directly what Federer actually said.

By the way chr18, I actually have a recording of that match with Federer actually using the word, so there is concrete evidence that he actually said it, it's not a figment of someone's imagination.

chr18, carrie is right.

the youtube video above with subtitles, you can hear and read what he said. there is no denying it. roger was wrong. he was fined.one incident where federer should not have sworn, and ordinarily, the mic would not be on and we would not be able to hear what fed said. unfortunate for him and fortunate for people who hate him.i do swear (very occasionally), when i think people are not hearing me,(under my breath),I would hate it to be on a mic and i dont do it that often, though i have said the "f" word when i dropped a whole lot of files on the pavement near my workplace and even worse, in a puddle, raining hard.two colleagues nearby laughed at me,i ended up laughing too.it was funny.in a way, to see fed swear on subtitles was very naughty.but he is human and i would like to think he wouldnt do it again as he does do such a great job in tennis and trying to make tennis a better sport with rafa also as vice president. i hope this one incident does not put people off federer as i think he is overall, a great man.and it is nice to know that this one incident did not put the players off from voting for him.i think that this is important to notice.

Oh god these rafa fans are driving me insane!

Let us get some obvious facts straight:

1) The award is voted on by players

2) sportsmanship is best judged by the opponent since it is directed against him and not by bloggers/fans/officials. this si because on court behaviour affects the other player and hence those players have the right to decide who is the best sportsperson

3) even though all players might not get a chance to see federer, they also follow tennis as much as any fan on this blog and has the same criteria for judging him away from their own opposite end of the court and hence is better qualified to judge him. (By having played, practiced, travelled with him plus following and being as much and a greater fan of The Tennis Sport than any Blogger, fan or official)

4) Rafa even though a very nice guy off court , is universally known to get on everybody's nerves by his 'techniques' of time wasting and needless aggression (at times). Most commentators, even some players in interviews have talked about how rafa gets on their nerves.

5) hence no matter how mach they might admire his achievements, the chances of the same players who carry that resentment from the court considering him for a sportsmanship award is negligible.


Now some conjectures (not facts) -

1) nadal is probably the one player who irritates others most on court.. i mean they probably just cant help coming off the court feeling he cheated them with all that fake aggro to win.

2) the above point was probably stupid. i quite admire his aggro.. it is just that whenever i play, i hate it when an opponent overdoes it.

3) someone commented that apart from the top four, everyone likes to fawn before federer, knowing nadal, i am pretty sure his vote went to federer. after this Aus Open and nadal's unfair retirement ( he himself said it was because he didnt want to take a risk) Murray's vote was definitely not for nadal and probably for fed after that final ceremony. Djoker probably never votes for anyone but himself. Delpo MUST have voted for fed after that geat favour he got in the US open final. roddick 100% for fed. then what??



Conclusion - rafa will probably never win such an award. federer will continue to do so in all probability (ya, dont jump on me now quoting examples. a multiple-grand slam champ has to win some award otr the other. makes the sport look bad others. for everyone cribbing about how everything is rigged for Fed, here is food for thought- more possibility is there that a few awrds had to be rigged for rafa, even tournaments, becuase officials know that the rivalry was really good to bring crowds in)





now, questions -

1) @cherryl, after reading my first two points, pls tell me how a 'sportsmanship' award should be awarded and who is best qualified to vote for it?
2) was Rafa even nominated for this???


@carrie

- you obviously have the hots for nadal -- the so called 'electricity' you feel is just that, nothing to do with tennis, so get over it. Rafa has better things to look forward to than a middleaged house wife (my impression of you) . Of course, the way he is going he might need a walking stick before you do.

- rafa has moved on from tennis to areas whee he can use his physique and rugged spanish looks to better effect. maybe it is time you stopped watching tennis because obviously it is not good tennis but guys like nadal that excite you.

@maxi

- i am a big admirer of you for being such a huge federer fan as to continually defend him day after day on this forum and that too without loosing your cool or poise. a worthy fan of fedex i must say. cheers to you.



__ One important thing I believe in is that the rafa brand of tennis is quite boring. in fact people were only interested in him originally for being so young. later interest waned cos of his consistency (only) on clay and cos of his boring game. it was the rivalry with federer that really brought in the mass crowd appeal. Even french open was suffering due to low level players reaching finals and winning and then only one player consistantly winning ( pre-rafa and rafa periods) untill federer decided to mount serious challenge year after year. fresh life was thus injected into clay not by rafa but because federer decided to go out of his comfort zone to challenge the ultimate clay court specialist.

Roger's ambition made Rafa. he would never have won a wimbledon or a aud open if not for the confidence gained form defeating a great champ multiple times in GS finals. nothing can inspire aplayer more. Rafa owes everything to roger and hence his consoling arm and his kind words and admiration and probably his vote evey year for the best sportsman! :) Cheers all! PEACE.

Two pints i forgot to mention -

1) most of the senior players and players who really respect the game might, i repeat, might have reservations about voting for nadal because of his on-court behaviour and now even his off-court antics. i refer to the two low blows earlier by chr18 and fedexfan.

I mean, how would anybody consider someone who has no table manners and keeps picking his nose at a dinner table a sportsman especially when he keeps roaring needlessly. same could be what players opposite him feels when he keeps digging into the behind of his shorts repeatedly in front of millions of fans. I wish i could avoid all this in a thread dedicated to a true gentleman like federer because it is a demeaning to him that these f words and underwear mention share the same thread as his award which he accepted humbly.

2)And while the f-word might have slipped of his mouth in a moment of passion, it is only hypocrites who would crucify a person for that. Everyone does it only a few are unlucky enough to be caught on camera. most does it in their own languages and hence escapes. i am sure no player considered it a amajor infringement. they know what Passion On COurt is.

FEDistheGOAT, it is so typical of Fedfans to attack the messenger. You are trying your hardest to berate Rafa against your idol who was disciplined by the ATP for swearing live on TV, and making assumptions about who the players voted for. I can prove to you that some of what you said above are complete fiction, see a quote from Andy Murray below after the SF at the AO, when Rafa retired plus the link so you can check it for yourself -

Murray, 22, paid tribute to the defeated champion and then set his sights on taking his crown.

?I am gutted for Rafa who is my favourite player and someone I have looked up to since I was 13,? he said. ?I knew it was going to be tough but I found the right tactics and now I am facing Cilic and I am looking for some revenge after that US Open defeat last year. I have a good chance against him and of reaching another Slam final so there will be lots of nerves.


http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/article-2379 9143-andy-murray-v-rafael-nadal---live.do

This just proves that a lot of what you said above should be taken with a large helping of salt.

federer has given more information about his lung infection - jyannis, god bless to him and hope for a swift recovery.

for all fans of murray and novak, best wishes at dubai. i shall be watching tomorrow though it won't be the same without federer, it will still be great to see top players playing.

Federer is hoping to have recovered in time to play at the ATP World Masters at Indian Wells which starts on March 11, or if that came too soon then at the following tournament in Miami.

"He has got a lung infection," announced ATP circuit official Stephen Duckett said. "He saw a doctor and he was advised not to play for a fortnight."


OpenThe Australian Open winner said: "There are no guarantees that I will play at Inidan Wells - this could be a maximum of six weeks, but if it's treated properly everything should be fine and I should be back fairly quickly."

Federer, a four-time Dubai champion, was due to appear here for his first tournament since beating Andy Murray to win his fourth Australian Open at the start of the month.

That was the Swiss ace's 16th Grand Slam and it secured him the top ranking for a 268th week.

Explaining how he had come down with the infection he added: "Ever since I I came back from Australia I've been practising really hard but Tuesday was the last time I could practise.

"On Wednesday I couldn't get up anymore - and the next day I just wasn't in shape at all. I survived all the travelling from Australia to Dubai and into the practise routine again - but as you've heard now I can't play.

"It's a lung infection - it's the first time I've had it - breathing is difficult - I feel I am not fine, I'm still very tired and slow.

"The doctors say it's too serious for me to try - and that I should rest for at least two weeks - obviously I can't take any more chances."

@carrie
of course everything i said should be taken with a pinch of salt.

How can you expect a player to say anything else about a fellow player? what you feel and what you say can be two different things. Also, 'favorite player' and 'most respected player' can be two different things for Murray. My guess was only that in the context of this award he wouldn't vote for rafa they might be good pals but it doesnt figure in this argument.

That was actually a sensible post considering that i was very unfair to you in the last post but you must forgive my two posts because i have overlooked so many of your enraging posts till now and held my peace.

carrie,
If you read any of my posts on the issue, I have never denied that Fed cursed. Others have. I heard it word for word on ESPN Deportes which did not cut to commercial. He said both the s and f words very clearly.

My complaint was that the rules of tennistalk.com say no swearing yet the #1 Rafanatic can get away with it. It doesn't matter that you quoted it from someone else. You typed it yourself. I recall that in the past zoey234 used some curse words while intoxicated (though not the f word) and was banned for a period of time. The rules should apply to everybody but it seems they don't. I'm not surprised here on tennistalksaboutNadal.com.................

FedistheGoat, having you been following tennis or do you just pop in to see what the scores are? you are dilusional, my friend!

ask yourself these questions:

who is the player that exposed roger's game and at the same time created a roadmap for other players on how to attack roger, especially his backhand? RAFAEL NADAL

who is the player that most players would rather beat? RAFAEL NADAL

Who is the player that intimidates federer more than any other? RAFAEL NADAL

Who is the most feared player on tour? RAFAEL NADAL

who is the player that took roger down at wimbledon? RAFAEL NADAL

who is the player that has a 5:2 edge in slams over roger? RAFAEL NADAL

who is the player that has an overall 13:7 edge on roger? RAFAEL NADAL

who is the player that fedfans pray will lose early so that roger's chances of winning will increase? RAFAEL NADAL

who is the player that kept roger from winning the french open four years overall? RAFAEL NADAL

and the list goes on:

now, you tell me if rafafans should be jealeous of roger federer's award!

@chr18

let us not crucify someone for quoting a post... No need for fed fans to rally and try to ban carrie right? :) afterall without the fed haters, we wouldn't have the opportunity to keep on about our fav hero without sounding obsessed.

Besides, it was not used on anybody or directed at anybody. at best, probably the offending post should be deleted.

Actually chr18 I did not type anything, I only cut and pasted it. Your high standards do not stand up because you are very selective in your application.

As for you FED is a goat, you will not face the facts so no point in arguing with you. Did you know that Rafa came 2nd in the poll and Djokovic came 3rd? So much for no one liking Rafa.

@FEDistheGOAT

Thank you very much for the well compiled informative analysis, and to the point answer to those detractors who try to vindicate the great champion at every single instance in this forum, forgetting all the huge achievements over the years, only to up held Nadal as the best tennis player in the world, even at a time when the man himself is constantly under denial!

Anyway, it would have been an embarrassment had these awards being awarded to anyone else than Federer, because he deserved them so much more than even any of his nearest rival, specially for the concluding year of 2009. He is surely going to many more such tournaments, and prove time and again how wrong those people like carrie can be, trying to put ahead clay court specialists like Nadal ahead of all time greats like Federer. In fact, Nadal is only comparable to some good clay court winners only, and is no match even to players like Ivanisevic and Rafter when it comes to tournaments played outside clay courts, no matter what his achievements are so far!

@ memi,
I happen to be more of a tennis fan than a pure fed fan. And as a true tennis fan, i couldn't hel, though i resisted mightily, become a fed fan. I resisted because i didnt want another period of dominance after the sampras era. I shamefacedly admit that i have cheered for Safin and Roddick against fed in grandslam stadiums.

and in that context, i would like to ask myself the questions you asked me to ask:


"who is the player that most players would rather beat? RAFAEL NADAL

Who is the player that intimidates federer more than any other? RAFAEL NADAL

Who is the most feared player on tour? RAFAEL NADAL"

my answers right now to first and last questions are: Roger Federer. Just see how Murray took apart nadal and crumbled to federer. the menatl attitude is evident.

To the second question, in my opinion it is true. But probably npt anymore. i wouldnt classify it intimidation though.. It is just what a gentleman would feel having to play down at the level of a brat.


"who is the player that fedfans pray will lose early so that roger's chances of winning will increase? RAFAEL NADAL"

Actually, I always cheered for nadal till the final so that i could watch the great Rivalry.

And now of course every true Federer fan would be hoping hoping hoping for nadal to come back to REALLY PEAK FORM so that fed can get that H2H monkey off his back. Murray used to strut around showing off his H2H against Fed, but it is all but erased now.. We should understand that some of these H2H's were built upon on riding fed's injury hit year or on clay

solitudine, some of you Fedfans just say things you cannot substantiate, Rafa won more matches on hard courts in 2008 than any other player, including the Olympic Gold. You just don't know what you are talking about.

@carrie

- you obviously have the hots for nadal -

FEDistheGOAT , 2/21/10 9:14 PM


Yes, my middle name is Shakira.

@ carrie - Firstly, ha ha get your facts straight, now read on -

you said - "As for you FED is a goat, you will not face the facts so no point in arguing with you. Did you know that Rafa came 2nd in the poll and Djokovic came 3rd? So much for no one liking Rafa."

WRONG.

-- http://www.atpworldtour.com/Fans/Fan-Favorite/Fan-Favourite.aspx

Ro ger Federer: The Swiss, who is admired for his work on and off the court, continues to be a fan favourite by millions of fans around the world, who have voted him as ATPWorldTour.com Fans' Favourite for a record seventh consecutive year. Federer received 52% percent of all votes, followed by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

So it was in this that nadal came second and djoker third.. (they together wouldnt add up to fed of course)I never said he is not liked by fans only not by fellow players!

HE WAS NOT EVEN NOMINATED for the Edberg Award!

The 2009 Nominees are: http://www.atpworldtour.com/tennis/1/en/awards/default.asp
-
Roger Federer
Ivan Ljubicic
Carlos Moya
Jarkko Nieminen

NO Nadal.

among them if fed was absent, i would have to pick Moya.. But rafa ? come on! He was not even proposed for nomination :)


@ Cherryl murray
The criteria for the award-

The player who, throughout the year, conducted himself at the highest
level of professionalism and integrity, who competed with his fellow
players with the utmost spirit of fairness and who promoted the game
through his off-court activities.

That should settle all dispute.

FEDistheGoat, this debate is not based on murray vs nadal or murray vs federer! we're discussing nadal vs federer remember!

how murray beat nadal or how any other player beat nadal has nothing to do with how nadal beats federer or how federer beats nadal! is that your only defense! if so, you've lost the case! i am referring to the times when federer and nadal have met!

btw, a win is a win, whether it's clay or grass! saying that nadal has won over federer mostly on clay is a copout, a big fat excuse! i figure if nadal could adjust his game to beat federer on grass and hardcourt of a slam final, federer being arguably the greatest player ever should be able to do the same to nadal on clay. in fact, roger had 3 years to beat nadal in the slam final of roland garros. we will see what the future holds! i don't think that's asking too much! great champions welcome that kind of challenge and it should be expected of them!


i do agree with you on one thing, i wish more than anything for federer and nadal to meet more this year, and then, we will all see if he can get the h2h monkey off his back as you stated.

that would be the highlight of my tennis year!

FedistheGoat, use some common sense! if you were a pro player and a federer fan, would you nominate nadal for an award, any award?

like i said, the sportmanship award is nothing more than a popularity award given to federer as a gift from players who supports him; it's not about objectivity or who actually deserves it. it's subjective decision-making by most players! people usually vote for who they like the most, given the opportunity! come on!

i'm sure nadal didn't cry himself to sleep because federer got all the awards; he's use to it, just as i am and a whole lot of other people are too!

@memi,
You brought up a question of 'who is the player that most players would rather beat? & Who is the most feared player on tour?'

I gave a straightforward answer as I think explaining whyothers dont fear him, with an example stating murray's dominance over nadal. That is all. I dont see according to what rules of a debate I lost there :) Not that i care much.

As for what you were saying about the FO, See for a few years before nadal, the FO was being left alone by the worls as a place for clay court specialists only. Sampras well nigh ignored it. fed would have gone the same way. nadal just confirmed the earlier preconceptions about how boring the clay court season is with the world's top players not being able to compete with the clay ocurter's and then them not being able to compete outside the clay season. nadal confirmed these steroetypes too

BUT THEN THINGS CHANGED

the king decided to grace the clay witth his full attention. And as the fed's attention and focused turned to winning the elusive FO, then there was this dramatic adversary to be conquered there.

The tennis world was enthralled by the spectacle of the great player mounting a challenge on clay like some of the great monarchs of olden times attacking a tribal fortress. and thus nadal was catapulted into a celebrity and constant limelight.

But unfortunately fed took some time to adjusting to clay and to the barbaric chieftain holding fort there and he gained enough confidence to mount a challenge on fed's most cherished territories.

The point is that the chieftain aka Rafa would never have dared that or had the confidence for that if not for Fed's original (perhaps untimely) invasion and surrender.

Hence, Federer's ambition made nadal. Federer is the player nadal has to thank every day that he ever managed a GS outside the FO.

Federer created a challenge. He made Nadal. geniuses sometimes tend to do that hard for mortals to comprehend

@carrie!
Well, first of all, I am no Fed Fan. I am a tennis fan .
And secondly, yes, Nadal did that only once until now, but Fed did the same thing or even more many times over. And still when anywhere it is mentioned that his tennis abilities are any less than someone like Nadal, just because he did it once in 2008, it sounds lame.
As far as sportsmanship is concerned, Federers Sportsmanship is recognized by people outside Tennis fraternity and he carries him self as a rightful ambassador of not just Tennis, or sports , he is in fact recognized as the ambassador of humanity UNO as well. So, it's insane to think he doesn't deserves that award. then nobody does, because there is not a single player in the circuit who is better behaved as a whole.

FEDistheGoat, i beg to differ, nadal would have been who he is without roger; it's just a more convincing testament to his greatness that he has accomplished this kind of record against the great roger federer. personally, i love it that rafa is playing tennis in the federer's era, because it can always be documented that he is/was the "stand out" player against roger federer. in addition, rafa can always measure his achievements by playing the "greatest player ever" and winning more often than not.

i love it! roger and nadal playing at the same time in history, couldn't be any better!


also,i don't consider murray's domination of rafa just yet, especially since the h2h is 7:3 favoring rafa. of course that can change; we will see! "consistency" is key for me!

@memi

'i love it! roger and nadal playing at the same time in history, couldn't be any better!'

exactly! aren't we lucky!

and as to your other points, see, right now as you said rafa is - "the "stand out" player against roger federer. in addition, rafa can always measure his achievements by playing the "greatest player ever""

if he wants to be more than just a chapter in the Fed's biography and go down in history as the 'roadblock' that The mighty fed had to overcome' and have an identity of his own like what agassi managed to do, He has a Loong way to go and need a lot of luck too.

FEDistheGoat, nadal is already more than a chapter in federer's life; his name with be attached to federer forever, regardless of how people deny it!

nadal has achieved at age 23 what no other player, past or present, has achieved at that age. his legacy is already one of greatness! again, i love that no one can say with any amount of legitmacy that nadal's achievements are less than authentic; after all, he has been fortunate to be challenged by "the greatest player ever." i'll say that some identity rafa has created for himself!

Nice article-

Tramlines: Federer gets nervous

Eurosport - Mon, 22 Feb 15:21:00 2010


Oscar Wilde's famous novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' revolves around a man who makes a pact with the devil to keep his youthful good looks.

The main character, Gray, strikes a bargain with the devil that keeps him untouched by the ravages of time while his portrait in the attic ages instead.

Tramlines has always wondered if Roger Federer has struck a similar bargain; does the Swiss legend have a painting in his loft of a crocked tennis player, one who is forced to waste entire seasons as he struggles with a dodgy ankle or painful elbow, while the record Major winner maintains perfect fitness?

Presumably he's just been lucky; but it seems like all the talk after the Australian Open about his extraordinary good health has got even the great man himself worried that it's bound to come to an end: he has pulled out of a major tournament in Dubai with the sort of complaint that he would normally play straight through.

"I can't play, it's too risky," said the Australian Open champion after pulling out of the Dubai championships with a lung infection.

"I'm still very tired and a bit slow with everything," he added.

Does that sound like Federer to you? Timid, nervous, cautious? It doesn't to Tramlines, that's for sure. But after the mystery illness that robbed him of the crucial final five per cent of his form in 2008 he is taking no chances this time round.

Rafael Nadal's knee trouble robbed tennis fans of what looked like becoming one of the great rivalries in sport, and the next tier of players - including both Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - have also suffered injury or fitness problems in their careers. But not Federer; he has been almost invulnerable.

Yet now the world number one seems spooked by his good fortune - something that flies in the face of his general ability to stay positive. After all, only the greatest of optimists would attempt the sort of ridiculous shots that he does on the court - shots that most tennis coaches would scold their players for even suggesting.

The fact that he gets those reckless shots in so often is what makes him such a joy to watch. Get well soon, Rog.

FEDistheGOAT, the way i see it regarding federer's recent withdrawal, in all due respect to roger, i don't doubt that he is ill, but i think he is also trying to relieve some of the pressure of being looked at as being perfect in every category including his health! there are a lot, i mean a lot of expectations on him now! it must be extremely tough trying to live up to what people believe you are when you're only human! i wish him well and hope he's back at IW because although he's not my favorite player, i certainly don't want him going anywhere! i love great competition!

FEDistheGOAT, what strange article i have read - if you saw the youtube video of fed, you can see him talking to press and just bout hear a very nasal voice - obvious he not himself and i would assume that as he had a severe gland/nose/throat infection in 2007, now he says he doesnt want to take any risks, is completely the right decision. i hope only 2 weeks FITG, tennis is just not the same.will post the link (it's on BBC website), so you can see/hear for yourself.thanks for posting above.

memi,i really believe that though fed went from australia to dubai,we know that he took 2 days to travel to ethiopia also spend a day during this time, he didnt mention this at all in his press con,though i just cant stop thinking that he picked up a mite,a bug,speaking to a friend who has said that in Africa you can pick up so many different things airborne/waterborne, so it does make some kind of sense. and you are right memi about having "great competition", we need all of them back, roger, rafa, roddick, soderling(recurring elbow injury)delpotro,and it still only beginning of year memi!

FEDistheGOAT,

here is the live link of fed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/8526928.stm

@maxi

Ya i know fed is too much of a competitor and loves playing too much to withdraw. I posted the article only because i thought it was funny in a way.

PS. thanks for the BBC link.. Hope he gets well soon..

@memi

When you keep saying what nadal has done by age of 23, what you are forgetting is what fed did by age 23 true he had only 3 slams but from age 24-27 he racked up 9 slams!! besides borg had 5 slams by 23 but he had 7 by the time he was 24!

And borg is also tied with rafa for most of the FO records so nadal has not done anything that 'no player past or present' has done. in fact he does not have any outstanding/unmatched GS record or statistic except for his 31 consecutive match win streak on FO clay
What he has achieved is no doubt significant, but he'll still be remembered as a part of the Federer legacy than as an identity in himself as things stand. It could change as all rafa fans are hoping. but seems unlikely to me.

@memi

When you keep saying what nadal has done by age of 23, what you are forgetting is what fed did by age 23 true he had only 3 slams but from age 24-27 he racked up 9 slams!! besides borg had 5 slams by 23 but he had 7 by the time he was 24!

And borg is also tied with rafa for most of the FO records so nadal has not done anything that 'no player past or present' has done. in fact he does not have any outstanding/unmatched GS record or statistic except for his 31 consecutive match win streak on FO clay
What he has achieved is no doubt significant, but he'll still be remembered as a part of the Federer legacy than as an identity in himself as things stand. It could change as all rafa fans are hoping. but seems unlikely to me.

FEDistheGOAT, did you even understand my statement. "by age 23" is what significant!i said no player, past or present, equal or better the achievements of rafa nadal by age 23. stop stressing over what you can't change; i'm not disputing borg's achievements, again, they do not equal rafa's at that age; simple facts!

try not to change this into what you would like for it to be! we are not talking ages 24-27. we have yet to see what rafa will achieved by then! in case you are forgetting something, rafa has a 81 winning streak on clay, not 5 or 4 or 3 or 2 slams, but 6; he is 23 years old!

you worry too much about rafa's legacy! that's the future, this is the present! like i said before, rafa has already created an undeniable great identity! nothing will change that! it obvious that you would like for it to be different, but it is what it is!

btw, you made an interesting statement, you stated that nadal has no outstanding/ unmatched record except for on clay; on the contrary, rafa's outstanding/unmatched record is his record against the "greatest player ever." no one can claim that record, but rafa! using your description, it is "outstanding/unmatched." then of course, there are other records like 15 masters at age 23, 5 consecutive monte carlos, 5 barcelonia, 4 romes, olympic gold, and federer's winning streak on grass or hardcourt does not equal rafa's streak on clay, and so on, and so on, but who is counting!

chr18,

You are the last person here who should be criticizing anyone! After some of the things you have posted on this site, you have the nerve to go after carrie and try to get her banned for merely quoting what Fed said verbatim. That's quite different from directly attacking someone here and you know it! It's reprehensible for you to blatantly use a quote from YOUR guy using that word and then think it justifies banning carrie.

As far as your sarcastic renaming of this site as "tennistalksaboutnadal", well, no one is forcing you to be here. Your inference that there is favoritism and the rules are enforced selectively, depending on whether or not you are a Rafa or Fed fan, is insulting to both Cheryl and Ricky. But coming from you, I must say that it's not at all surprising.

I wanted to add one more thing which I forgot to include in my previous post. I send my wishes for a speedy recovery to Fed. I battled pneumonia a few months ago and know full well just how difficult it can be when you have any kind of chest infection. I hope to see him back on the court and playing his best as soon as possible.

NNY,
I would have been satisfied with a warning. Ricky and Cheryl are not the only writers here and neither of them are the Administrator in any case as far as I know. I guess you're the acting Administrator since you replied, which would not be surprising. FYI, I have never posted any swear words on this site. Is it alright if I quote Roddick? By your faulty reasoning, obviously it is. The only outrageous poster of recent memory was that Nadal fan known as ATR and he left because Fed won the AO and not Murray as per his prediction. Get your facts straight next time.

chr18, the administrators know the rules, they don't need you to tell them how to do their job. I am absolutely sure that if anyone violated the rules they will say so, it's is not up to you to determine what the interpretation of the rules are.

All Fedfans have a misconception that there is bias towards Nadal on this site, there isn't. I would say that it's equally balanced, and you cannot on the one hand hold someone in high esteem for using a word that you so vehemently object to and blame someone else for merely reporting it.

You have made several unsavoury comments about Nadal on this site, making asumptions about aspects of his life that you have no basis for, so perhaps you might like to think twice before posting some of your musings.

solitudine , 2/21/10 11:06 PM

people outside the tennis fraternity are just that - 'outside' of it. that's why they don't see what those who follow closely see. i have friends who never watch tennis but say fed is their favourite player - yet have no idea about his game, his achievements outside of slams and the things that come out of his mouth!!

better behaved my ass. he's only well behaved when things go his way...but even then he can still be foul-mouthed because everything should be about him.

despite being one of the greatest players in the game, i'll be happy to see the back of him anytime. bring on a junior in his place - i'll enjoy it better!

homos, you are absloutely right that people just go with the flow. In any case it is not a credible voting system because it is possible to vote as many times as you wish, and I doubt if anyone bothers to count the votes registered.

For 2008, they could not but award Rafa player of the year, because it was plain for all to see that he was streets ahead of the rest of the players.

Some Fedfans say none of the players like Rafa, which is patently untrue, some may dislike him because of all the attention he gets at tournaments and because he is better looking than them, and he has got the X-Factor. I can't imagine any of the spanish players voting for Federer because they are so patriotic that they would want their top man to win.

Challenging the voting system and the tennis structure and the sporting fraternity in general.. and on and on and on.
How far will nadal fans go before they accept that by no definition can nadal's on court behaviour be considered to be in the spirit of good sportsmanship.
It is calculated to irritate and throw the rhythm and composure of the player.

It is as much a part of nadal's success as anything else primarily because tennis player's tend to be cultured players who expect decent behavior on court and nadal's whole game itself rebels against that idea.

it would take a specilal person to be on court with nadal and not come off it hating him, it might be easy for fans to like him but not for players. as far as i know it is only fed who has managed the feat of being at the recieving end of the worst of nadal's on court excesses and still come off it with a genuine liking for him (this of course i attribute to the fact that rafa brought a much relished challenge for the fed).

Major Announcement: There's a new kid on the block: LACKO. (Actually, he's 22)

First time I've seen him and Wow! Flows around the court almost like federer, terrific skill and feel, and smiles all the time like ronaldinho (sorry, wrong sport).

This guy is just great to watch. If you haven't seen him, see him now on channelsurfing.net against Youzhny.

alex, LACKO has been playing doubles for quite a few years and switched to singles i think, a year ago.

alex: just checking him out! Yes, he moves beautifully, is so relaxed and smiley, isn't he a cutie? Not a gr8 range of shots though, as far as I can see. As usual Youzhny, whom I just like so much he's such a brilliant player isn't he, is defeating himself on court. I see Rog and Rafa fans would like their own thread, well I'd like one where we can discuss OTHER players, in order to do that here, we've had to nab Fed's.

deuce,good point.
alex, i may have got my luKas's mixed up with another Lukas,showing my lack of tennis knowledge! I think i was meaning the blond player from poland? who switched to singles after playing doubles for, forever! just switched over and your Lacko is dark, similarities to rafa with the hair and the pirate shorts - yes he is very good - let's talk about this for a change, a different player and some intelligent conversation!

You just wonder if this guy can keep up playing at this level. And why it's taken him until 22 to get here.

Another tie break! Take this one and you've beaten the world #15.

hey deuce -

LOL - the mighty federer's just been knocked off his thread:D

We need to do this more often. But then, where else was there to write about this guy?

The bouncers will be on in a minute to tell us to shift :)

alex: u spoke too soon! Unless Youzhny falls apart his greater shot variety should win the day. He just (!) needs to keep the ball away from the little cutie's mighty forehand. BTW He's been playing on the Challenger circuit but took 6 games off Rafa at the AOpen.

Uh-oh! and broken at the start of the third. Well if lacko can come back from this now he really is the real deal.

Yeh, great forehand. Good depth to his shots too.

What d'ya think maxi, is he going to sink now?

Yes, alex, nowhere else to post. They should create a general comments place at the start of each tourney. I had to post a general comment about yet more withdrawls on Dkjo thread, nowhere to go. BTW we've got very tough defending Andy, we can chase off any bouncers....yes we can!

chr18, my guess is attacker & torres are one and the same person! i noticed that during the time attacher was consistently running off at the mouth, particularly about nadal, torres was nowhere to be found. once attacher left, torres appeared and attacher hasn't been back since. my theory is that torres uses the name attacker to say things about nadal that he is too cowardly to say under the name torres!

carrie & homos, you are absolutely spot on! FEDistheGOAT will be alright once he accepts the fact that nadal is already considered among the greats even without the sportmanship award! that piece of history has already been written! give him some time to come to grips with the facts!

alex, i thought (to be honest) that youzhny was toast.but he proved me wrong.and lacko is a cutie,very handsome and do you notice, he smiles when he wins and loses.extraordinary.one for the future alex?his inexperience showed t'wards the end, but youzhny showed some solid shots in third set alex, so pleased he is through(as thought he was going to withdraw with injury in thigh).

yep, experience came through in the end

Lacko played against Rafa at the AO this year, Rafa won 6:2 6:2 6:2.

FEDisthegoat, you are making it up that the players don't like Rafa. Murray has said on many occasions that Rafa is his favourite player, all the spaniards like him, Monaco and Nalbandian are very good friends of his, Gasquet has nothing but good to say about Rafa, I could go on and on.

Pack it in!

ha ha I just posted on Lacko on the Djoko site before reading any of this. You could always talk on Ricky's blog about the week ahead.

yes.you could go on and on.and you do.on the other thread carrie, you said you were speechless.
I'm tired.fed up tonight."carrie on". *yawn*

Any video links of this lacko? i am sick and tired of todays game of just power tennis and players running to fetch every ball as if that is the biggest achievement in tennis. More players like federer, henin, safin etc is what tennis needs to break this disappointing trend. in fact what i used to love about safin was how he used to let go some chaseable balls fully confident of his ability to rack up as many points as he want later. If this guy Lacko marks a move in that direction, he'll surely find many fans.

pls post any links here.. TIA

@carrie, no player is going to come out and say they dont like any other player. besides, i was not saying they dont like rafa as a person, but that after a player plays rafa, he cant help but come out feeling very cross at rafa style of play and mannerisms calculated to irritate. In act rafa i think deliberately makes an effort to bulid up the other players irritation factor with him. that is all. i am not going to discuss this anymore with you. if you want to believe that everyone loves rafa and that he is the paragon of all sporting virtues, i dont care, go ahead.

maxi, I get the impression that you don't fully grasp some of the points people are making so you go on the attack.

FedistHG - You know all this because the players confide in you do they?

FEDistheGOAT, you seem to be the authority of what the players are thinking and what goes on in the locker room, as you have given us details on why they don't vote for Rafa, perhaps you could go through the top 100 and let us know why they don't vote for the others. After all Roger and Rafa are not the only players in the ATP.

FEDistheGOT, is someone forcing you to watch "power players"? i don't know if you know it or not, but if you don't like a certain player's style, you can turn off the television or perhaps watch a player whom you do like! is that what you are whining about! if you are not the one writing these players paycheck, i'm sure none of them could care less if you watch!

why don't you just focus on watching federer, and whomever else you enjoy and save yourself some stress, because a mixture of styles is what makes tennis exciting; if everyone played like federer, what do you think would happened? i suggest if you are "sick & tired", don't watch! you need to accept the fact that not everybody cares about federer's style either, i'm for one, but i certainly can watch him play other players. doesn't bother me one bit because i know who my favorite player is! it's simple!

chr18,

If you want to go at it, then it's fine with me! I have no problem getting into it with someone like you. All you do is post the slimiest garbage about Rafa, the nastier the better. If this place was biased in favor of Rafa, then half your comments would be deleted! The fact that they aren't is proof that the people who run this site (that does NOT include you!), are being fair.

I don't know who the administrator of this site is and neither do you, but what I do know is that Ricky has given warnings and also threatened to delete and deleted posts on many occasions. You would know that if you were paying even the slightest attention.

Your smarmy sarcasm is something I don't have to tolerate. If you want a war of words, I will be more than happy to accomodate you. Defending carrie or anyone else, doesn't make me a self-appointed administrator. It makes me someone who doesn't like to see a hypocrite like you try to get another person warned or banned because of nothing. You invent things that don't even exist. Talk about not getting your facts right! You don't even know what on earth is going on here.

Why don't YOU get YOUR facts straight before running your obnoxious mouth off for no reason. It may be true that the use of profanity will get a person warned or banned, but there should be another category for some of the truly tasteless drivel you have posted about Rafa. You are in a class by yourself and that's not a compliment.

I'm surprised that some people are getting all gooey eyed about Lukas Lacko, only last month he played Rafa in the 2nd round of the AO and no one said what a wonderful refreshing player he was then against the player whose style they say they don't like - by the way, Rafa won 62 62 62.

I'm quoting now from Brad Hobbs here what he said last summer in Tennis.com when Rafa was injured:

"This is a peculiar time in professional tennis where it is painfully obvious how much the game loses when Rafael Nadal is missing from the tournament draws"...........

This is what Rafa means to tennis however much some people might like to run him down.

well bloody said, native!! couldn't have expressed it better myself.

NNY,
You really scare me with the use of bold caps. Good argumentative skills......not! If you want "to go at it" perhaps you should meet up with homos; he seems to like you. Maybe a conversion is possible. Really I don't have time for childish arguments. You should really get over that AO by now. Hasta la vista!

no one's argumentative skills come up to your standard - which entails trashing rafa and than quickly claiming "p.s. i don't hate any player". vyer mature.

you should really get over yourself by now.

Can someone please put this thread to sleep - too many bored children misbehaving on it:)

carrie, just wanted to say, yes. you are right. i do get wrong end of stick sometimes. i dont mean any offence at all.bad day yesterday. assertiveness training at work,find it difficult sometimes to get my head around it.so just wanted to apologise to you.you have every right to feel that i was personal.you are,of course, as is everyone, entitled to your opinion - best - carrie.

@memi
, 2/24/10 3:37 AM

why dont you direct your comments at carrie who has been complaining that the entire tennis world is bored of everyone else but rafa and that tennis itself would be extinct soon if he doesnt come back and starts grunting and chasing. i only complained that i am bored of a particular brand of tennis, just my personal opinion. or do you get worked up only at non-rafa fans?

PS.i happen to be a fan of rafa too, it is just that i dont like the direction tennis would take if rafa was adopted as a role model by too many youngsters. i have other wishes too like faster courts at wimby, atleast one arena should be there to encourage the dying breed of serve-volleyers. i guess you'll have some irrational argument against that also since that would mean a first round outing for rafa.

despite being one of the greatest players in the game, i'll be happy to see the back of him anytime. bring on a junior in his place - i'll enjoy it better!
homos , 2/23/10 3:02 PM


homos, i think that's such a sad thing to say.i really do.dont watch him if you dont like his game.that's probably the easiest solution.

ahhhh-hahhaaaaaaaa!!!

nice to know TT is still ALL venom and vinegar. couldn't have it any other way, now could we....mkay?

are ricky and cheryl the same person? how administrates this low standard.

not that i am above "rolling in the muck" as the rest of you, including the her highness NNY, mother of all threats..."yeah c'mon have a go at me" always up for a fight, that NNY.

where's malteser1.... laughing are you malty? me too. shout out to you wherever you are! and i miss reading you!

FEDistheGOAT, carrie has a right to her opinion as do you! if she feels that tennis is boring without nadal, she's entitled! problem with you is that when words like that are coming from fedfans they sound perfect, but you just can't stand it when the same words come from rafafans! i suggest, if you don't have a mirror, buy one, and then take a look at yourself!

btw, so now you are a rafafan too; i couldn't tell from your earlier posts. what sparked this turnaround?

Right now, tennis will not be extinct without Rafa, but it will be greatly diminished. That's my opinion and everyone is entitled to it.

Nadal is so yesterday in tennis!

He is retired from tennis and is going into soft-porn industry now. Since all his fans are after only his oomph and not concerned about tennis this is widely considered now to be a very clever move by industry experts. Federer might be the greatest ever and getting all awards but Murray is the future, just wait till this wimby!!

Murray so owns the future! So owns it! Untill now nadal used to get all worked up and injured by trying to beat the best (federer), but now nadal is sent packing to a hospital by MUzza! He wept the floor with him and packed him off to rehab!

And now nadal has set his Greatest Record - He has become the youngest tennis player to retire from professional tennis after having won atleast one slam!!!

So all my dear fans of nadal, you can now start watching your favorite pass time (soft-porn) and not worry yourself watching tennis because tennis is a sport for men like murray not gigolos like nadal!

By the way, he cant even find young girls anymore! With a 35+ aunty he is doing all this! Sheesh! Xisca is a former beauty queen she is not going to stick around with a has-been!

GO Muzza!

zoey,

I have requested that you not address me directly. But since you have decided to do so in your usual crass, disgusting manner, then I will respond.

I am not royalty, nor do I pretend to be. What I find interesting is that I don't recall directing my comments at you, yet you felt the need to jump in here and run off your big mouth. I wonder what was in that comment that Ricky deleted, when he suggested that you e-mail me if you wish to personally attack me. Yet here you are, back again like a cancer that just will not go away.

My comment wasn't a threat, but trust you to put your own twisted spin on it. It was a challenge, now do you know what that means? I guess not. You just jump on any blog where I happen to post, only to publicly trash me in a most vile manner.

I notice you did not attempt to even pretend to make an argument or any valid point. Of course, that's not why you are here. You are here to do what Fed fans do on tennis-x. Spread hatred and venom and mount a concerted plan of intimidation. You are the one who threatens and you do it in such a way that your posts have to be obliterated. So who's kidding who here!

You are a troublemaker, an instigator and someone who doesn't have the ability to stand up and debate points or have something of merit to contribute. Just crass insults. Apparently that's all you are capable of writing. It doesn't take much to do that.

whatever.....keep sermonizing and maybe an anger management class while your at it.

lighten up. i don't spread hatred about any tennis palyer nor fans. just my opinion on the redundancy of the fed v rafa debate and your eagerness to mix it up. so what. there is more to tennis. and i do not care what you think of me, that's for sure. nor would i email you or have you emailing, ranting away at me. it's bad enough you do it here, publicly.

Rafans put forward rational arguments, we do not resort to insults and childish comments like maxi suggesting that I settle for sending love letters to Rafa, chr18 pleading for getting me banned for simply pointing out the word that his hero uttered in public on world TV, and Lulu telling me that I think a GS is a high school musical, and calling me a fangirl.

If people care to take a closer look they will see that Federer's achievements in the last two years at least, are not those of the greastest player that ever lived. Nineteen tournaments qualify for the rankings system and in 2008 and 2009, Federer only won 4 in each year.

People like to point out how h/c is the be all and end all of tennis, but the greatest tennis player on earth in two years, only won 2 outdoor h/c tournaments (one - GS & one - 1000), plus 1 indoor h/c (250). Rafa won - 4 outdoor h/c tournaments, (two - 1000, one -GS and the Olympic Gold)

ATP Titles Summary - Federer:

2009 (4) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Cincinnati (Outdoor/Hard) , Wimbledon (Outdoor/Grass) , Roland Garros (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid (Outdoor/Clay)

2008 (4) Basel (Indoor/Hard) , US Open (Outdoor/Hard) , Halle (Outdoor/Grass) , Estoril (Outdoor/Clay)


Let's look at Nadal - Thirteen titles in those two years:

ATP Titles Summary ? Nadal:

2009 (5) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome (Outdoor/Clay) , Barcelona (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells (Outdoor/Hard) , Australian Open (Outdoor/Hard)

2008 (8) Beijing Olympics (Outdoor/Hard) , ATP Masters Series Canada (Outdoor/Hard) , Wimbledon (Outdoor/Grass) , London / Queen's Club (Outdoor/Grass) , Roland Garros (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Hamburg (Outdoor/Clay) , Barcelona (Outdoor/Clay) , ATP Masters Series Monte Carlo (Outdoor/Clay)

How on earth can a player who only won 4 out of 19 qualifying titles in the year be nominated for Player of the year, or whatever it is, it simply doesn't add up. In 2009, when Rafa did not compete at full strength for the whole year, he won 5 titles as opposed to Federer's 4. Three of Federer's 4 titles in 2008 were 250 events, one was a GS.

So the evidence is plain for all to see. The mood music goes in favour of Federer and that's all it is - mood music, it's nothing to do with his achievements in the last couple of years. I am absolutely sure that a lot of people who proclaim that Federer is their favourite player could not name 4 players in the top 100. I will never accept that Federer deserves the accolades he has had in the last two years, not based on the evidence.

carrie, ur post is very illogical. lets break it down. You say that fed only won 4 0f the 19 qualifying titles in 2009. Well he won 2 slams and 2 masters. Please dont tell me that rafa got injured, its simply because of the way he plays. (Every playing style has its weaknesses, and getting injured seems to be rafas, and Federer didnt play at full strength for a yr and a bit, due to mono and a back injury)

The maximum titles won by a player for 2009 was 6 by Andy Murray, but guess what, he won no majors. As for Nadal, he won 5 titles, but he didnt win a title after Rome. I dont think it has anything to do with the NUMBER OF TITLES, but how big they are. Like even in 2008 when Nadal won it, he won 3 masters 2 slams, and the olmypics.

PS: why do u expect fed to actually take all the tournaments he plays in seriously right now? he is entering the latter stages in his career and wants to save energy for the slams.(u notice how fed never misses out on majors due to injury unlike nadal) when he retires, people are going to remember him for the number of slams he wins, not how many times he won another title like Cincinnati. As for 2008, why are you complaining? fed had huge probelmes with mono and Nadal won the award fair and square.

Just adding a few more points from mu previous post:im not saying masters series events, wtf, atp 250/500 events dont mean anything in relation to this award the slams mean a lot more. and i think federer deserved the award(u dont have to agree with me, but do me a favour and dont force me to agree with u)

tj, in my eyes, if you are going to be called the GOAT, you should be able to win more than 1 good title in a year, not 3 minor events and 1 GS. When you look at the bare facts, all these accolades simply do not stand up. I cannot follow your blinkered view of the facts.

Federer will retire empty handed of an Olympic Singles Gold on retirement.

You drum up the back and mono everytime you are stuck, but don't want Rafa's injury time-out mentioned.

carrie, how do u know that he wont have an olympic singles gold on retirement? if you ask me, he has a better chance of doing it than rafa is going to of winning the US open. and u know which any tennis player would prefer, a US open win or an olympic gold medal.

furthermore, with the mono and back injury thing, who says im using it as an excuse? its not an excuse for him not winning the aus open final or not winning a title for the first few months of 09. Or only winning one slam in 08. The point is, the same goes for rafa. his knee injury is no excuse for not winning a title since rome last year. roger won the player of the year fair and square. and i will repeat this again, history will remember the number of slams he ends up winning, not the number of masters series or smaller tournament wins. (jimmy connors won 109 titles, but does anyone ever say he's the goat. no. its always either borg, laver, sampras or fed in most experts opinions.)

Federer is not the GOAT, that's my point. You can't be called the GOAT if your performance is so dismal that out of 38 tournaments, you only win 8. That is ridiculous. Of course the people who are creating the GOAT (not the ATP, I might add) would never consider Connors, no matter what he'd achieved - people like McEnroe who is an arch enemy of Connors. I'm not saying that Connors should be considered, by the way.

I long for constructive debates, not the low level below the belt insults that Fedfans go for.

"I long for constructive debates, not the low level below the belt insults that Fedfans go for."

Then put your money where your mouth is and stop participating in these free-for-alls. Your subjective reading of the records and non-stop relentless parrying with Fed fans to "correct the record" is as much part of the problem as the insults coming from the other direction. If constructive debates matter to you -- and I seriously doubt that that's true -- then "vamos" when the debates turn to a poo-flinging contest.

That's all I'm saying ...

Nothing constructive to add then SP. You cannot argue with the facts, and that's evident from the reaction of Fedfans. In the last couple of years at least, Federer has been nothing but average.

Carrie, I would argue with your choice of words, as I do in another thread. There's nothing average about winning four Grand Slams in a six Slam run. If there were, more players would do it. That simple.

What I would say is that Federer is not as dominant as he once was and leave it at that. That's absolutely true. But he's still No. 1 in terms of ATP ranking. There's a reason for that, and it has nothing to do with voting but a point system that favors certain tournaments -- the Slams -- more than others.

That he's No. 1 alone suggests that he's not "average" in the literal sense of the word, and to argue against that is not logical. Again, if you want a constructive debate, arguing that Slams don't mean more than other tournaments is not a good building block for creating said debate.

ha ha carrie, then you agree that murray is the best player last year and more deserving of the award right? i think it is time you joined the Muzza camp and left the loser rafa! After all we all know that it is not just GS that matters!! So what i fed wins all GS, Muzza will still win more tournaments ok!! And so Muzza only should get the awrds! i agree with you hundred percent carrie!! These stupid fans dont understand that it is not which tournament that matter but how many! Winning is tough ok and muzza won more than anybody else last year!

And also he is the bet thing for tennis ok, remember last year wimby and all the news with the ticket prices and Queen herself and everything??

Anyway, all i want to say is my respect for you carrie has gone up for pointing out the fact that even a calendar grand slam doesnt mean anything if in the end Muzza has 6 titles and fed has only 4!! Look at serena for example she can win only the stupid grand slams!!

You have to be able to win in different countries in different climates not in same four places every year!! but carrie, according to your argument, rationally it should be muzza ahead of nadal ok, just pointing that out, dont take me wrong

I don't doubt that according to the ranking system, Federer is No1. I was not disputing his ranking, I am trying to take a closer look at the aura that surrrounds Federer.

Fedfans keep telling me that I know nothing about tennis, whilst I'll be the first to say I'm no expert, I know as much as any poster here how it works, I'm not just a pretty face. Lol. To make that charge against me, is actually nullifying all the people around the world who profess to have favourites in the game, but couldn't name 4 players in the top 100. Are you saying that everyone should be tested on their tennis knowledge before they qualify to vote for their favourite player?

And I am telling you this year is Muzza's year! already one final, next will be the trophy! just wait till Wimby!! I would have said FO, but FO will be between Muzza and federer in final nd it is too close to call! But Muzza is sure for Wimby!!

Go Muzza!!!!

i'm not a big stats person as you know, but I think we need to keep it simple here:

Untill Wimby ?03 Fed was 29-16 in Grand Slams
From Wimby ?03 up to OZ Open ?10 he?s 166-11!!!!

Roger federer is simply amazing.

Solitudine post of
solitudine , 2/21/10 10:25 PM and
solitudine , 2/21/10 11:06 PM
were excellent by the way. It's always difficult to read all posts properly, especially when people want to bring federer down, but nice to read that some posters can be more objective.

I think I've scored a hit here, Fedfans are absolutely lost for words, when they see the bare facts.

politely as possible carrie, please give it a rest. we are only lost for words at your continuing blocking of a thread that requires decent discussion and proper conversation. these are the "bare facts".
cheers carrie.

How am I blocking the thread, and what is decent discussion and proper conversation? - You cannot disagree with the points I have made, so as usual as it is with Fedfans, you go on the offensive. I would respect you more if you just disagreed with me and told me why.

*yawn*

carrie, frankly, thou dost protest to much. I did tell you I disagreed with you and why.

Then you changed the subject on me. You don't have to know anything about tennis to have a favorite player -- that's proven on this site on an hourly basis -- but so what? What does that have to do with your original assertion -- the topic of our debate -- that Federer was merely average?

The facts show that Federer is clearly above average (how far is a matter of interpretation). You admit yourself that he is the No. 1 player according to ATP.

But if it is your OPINION that Federer is merely average, you're certainly welcome to that opinion, but I would then argue:

1.) That you're dead wrong.

2.) That you don't know what the heck you're talking about and therefore rational debate is out of the question. Rational debate only happens when both sides have a similar wealth of knowledge on a subject.

It's one thing to not like Federer -- his game, his accomplishments, his demeanor, his fans. That's all fine. But it's another to deny reality.

Reality, where I live, carrie, is that Roger Federer is ANYTHING BUT an average tennis player. To deny that is to invite ridicule -- and later insult.

If you want rational debate, you need to up your game.

I would also suggest that repeatedly citing an opinion that can quickly be shown to be ridiculous, you are inviting attack and insult, because to some it would appear that you're just trying to cause trouble.

SP you sound like it is a sin to say that Federer has just been an average player particularly in the last 2 years, why are the people who condemn Rafa not wanting to cause trouble. How are you going to ridicule me, by changing the match facts?

I backed up my opinion with the facts, an above average player would not only win 8 out of 38 tournaments in 2 years, he'll be sweeping the board. Any sane person can see this. Only the blinkered Fedfans would think those are the achievements to be expected from the Greatest Player that ever lived.

carrie, you can say what you want, but saying it doesn't make it right.

It's apparent that you don't know the meaning of the word average or above average. It's that simple. It's not your facts that are the question; it's your interpretation of them that's the problem.

I do agree that "an above average player" would not win 8 out of 38 tournaments.

That would be an OUTSTANDING player.

Do you know how many players have even won 8 tournaments -- any eight -- in their last 38? Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. That's it besides Federer. If winning 8 of 38 were an "average" accomplishment, more players would do it than JUST FOUR!

In other words, your facts refute your own argument: Federer in winning eight of 38 tournaments remains an outstanding player. So while it's no sin to say that, the truth is you're just dead wrong to say that.

Now let's move on your notion of what's to be expected from someone who is to be considered the Greatest.

No one has ever won every tournament -- no one ever will -- and no one has ever been expected to do so. Being the greatest is not the same as being perfect. If it were, then NO ONE would be the greatest. Pick any player in the GOAT argument -- Laver, Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Borg, Nadal. You pick him, doesn't matter. I bet I can show you a 38-tourney run where he not only didn't win eight tourneys but didn't win half that many. (In fact, for the guys who played into their 30s, I bet each had 38-tourney runs where they didn't win anything.)

So does that mean that those guys automatically weren't the greatest of all time, because they had stretches where they didn't win more than other players? Of course not. So why does it somehow eliminate Federer?

You're starting skip, carrie. (That one's for any Braves fans who might be reading.)

sp, i completely agree with u. to make 7 consecutive grand slam finals is anything but average. what she doesnt realise is than an average player probably never makes a grand slam final in their entire career. There are countless more stats i could give, but i wont waste them on her.

ps: what is is about u that makes carrie shut up? can u give me some tips:P

senorplaid, an example. after the 2000 wimbledon championship, sampras didnt win a title till his us open win in 02

Carrie with her distorted logic,

She forgot that Fed seldom play in 500 tournaments like Rotterdam, Serbian Open, Malaysian Open etc etc.

If Fed is crazy about getting more titles than others not caring if it's a GS, Masters Series or 500, then he'll just play in this 500 tournaments more.

But we all know Fed likes to play in the most competitive field in the most difficult format.

Being the greatest is not the same as being perfect.

SenorPlaid , 3/1/10 11:45 PM

So now we know, Fed is not perfect.


I don't buy your perspective of who qualifies as the greatest player that ever played the game, no matter what arguments you put through, I still maintain that I am right in saying that Federer is not the GOAT.

Yes torres, Federer doesn't play in many 500 events, what about 1000 events? You say he likes to play in the most competitive field, yet in 2008 of the 4 tournaments he won, three of them were 250 events. Who has didtorted logic?

tj600, SP did not shut me up, there is a time zone issue here, so I could not respond to his post until I woke up this morning. You can't shut me up, so don't even try!

Then how about the other 4 carrie?

4 GS is equal points with 8 Masters Series 1000 points and he made to the final of the other 4 GS.

Are u saying it's better for him to win more Masters Series and 500 tournaments than Slams?

Carrie, we all know u dont think Fed is the GOAT. But it doesnt mean you're right becoz a lot of tennis greats does think Fed is the best player ever so u can post all u want but in the end, it's the McEnroe's, Borgs who people will listen to.

and they are the bandwagon jumpers we refer to who ONLY listen to the greats and don't "watch" tennis.

i don't understand how one player - any player - can be the greatest of ALL time when time hasn't ended yet and not all future tennis players have played. why don't we wait til armageddon to continue this topic?

btw torres, this isn't directed at you so pls don't reply. the depth and extent of your arguments are "sourgrapes, sourgrapes, sourgrapes" which is beyond dead boring.

and as for you carrie: you should refrain from ever to bed. sleep is surely overated!!

yes torres, ur right. at this stage in his career, he is focused on winning the slams. Lets not forget that when he was 23, he started and then continued racking up titles at a very quick pace.
every1 knows feds not perfect carrie. no one on the planet is.

homos, your argument is 'u dont know what u are talking about x100 and toilet breaks' Boringest comments of ALL TIME.

Greatest of all time means greatest up until now. He is the best PAST and PRESENT and the future remains to be seen.

But up until 2010, he is the best player that ever lived.

tj600, yeah, they forgot the pace was so fast, no one has yet to emulate 04-07 run.

Thank you homos, 'bandwagon' was the word I was looking for. The general public hear this constant indoctrination about Federer, so can't help believing what they hear, a lot of them only take a passing interest in tennis, so could not even name 4 players in the top 100. If you asked a lot of the Britiish to name the tennis players they know they would say, Federer, Nadal, Murray probably Tsonga, that's all. I am hosting a Swedish student at the moment, 18 years old, during the Dubai final, he asked me who was playing I told him and he looked at me blankly and said he'd never heard of them, but Federer is his favourite player. He doesn't even know what rank Soderling is, and he is a Swede.

torres, the answer to your question is that I happen to believe that GS are probably easier to win than 1000s, if you think about it, players have much stiffer competition in 1000s because top players can't coast for the first 3 rounds playing qualifiers, and WCs, some of them no 1087 in the world as Federer did in the first round at the USO. So yes, I know GS has a lot more points, but I don't think it is worth twice as many points as 1000s.

I happen to believe that GS are probably easier to win than 1000s

So if GS is easier than 1000s, why dont Rafa win all the Slams then since it's easy or any player in that instance.

Have u forgotten the fact that in the Slams is where the pressure is the greaittest and is where the players try hardest to win.

And if u consider a 2-setter tournament is better than a 3-setter tournament than I dunno what's the logic in that. Altho they get wildcards and qualifiers, the from 4th round onwards the competition gets stiffer.

Most people who actually watch Fed plays know there's something special with his play especially when he makes it look so easy.

Like Tim Henman said, people always forget how hard it is to play like that.

Rafa is special too but there are players who have already emulate his physical approach like Murray, Roddick (emulate doesnt mean 100% the same as Rafa). But has anyone been successful enough to play like Roger.

It's one thing to win matches, but to win it with creativity.

It's the equivalent of Arsenal and Brazil in football. They play and entertain at the same time.

Torres9, leave it alone mate. What can you possibly say to someone who thinks that the longest tournament with best of five sets and ALL the top players competing at the same time with highest media pressure and most at stake is easier to win than 1000 tourneys with best of three sets and a more relaxed atmosphere?

It is impossible. seeing that rfa cant win GS anymore, carrie has decided with her own strange logic that GS are not worth watching anymore and to focus on smaller tourneys. Let her be.

SenorPlaid >
SenorPlaid , 3/1/10 11:45 PM

your above post: was just amazing. have just read it, (twice) getting home from work and i think you are incredibly gifted with your writing.(I note that you are still waiting for a response).
I| cant match what you have said, but i think the thing for me about federer is his continuing presence and longevity in the game:

He is 28. He has never missed a major tournament, and the mark of a truly great - unique -champion is longevity. tennis would just not be the same without federer. He makes tennis for me. His durability in the game (10 plus years now) has allowed him to win (with fight and grit) 16 Grand Slams, making him the most successful player to have graced a tennis court.

when others want to degrade this amazing player, i just dont get it, dont understand it and never will. FEDistheGOAT, I am coming around to your way of thinking. There is just no pleasing some people.

This will be an ongoing point, but again, i wish sometimes people would see things from different angles:

That nine-match advantage (Rafa?s lead in the head-to-head) - so what? Federer's failure to secure a clay-court Grand Slam title until 2009. How fantastic - that he was able to win RG last year. I've said this before, and i will repeat again, if tennis history stopped right now, this much could be said: the only man who was able to win a title at Roland Garros during the "Nadal era" was Federer. I mentioned way back that Douglas Perry had reported on this in a piece recently, but sometimes its interesting to turn things on its head and look at things in a different light.

@ maxi,
you are right about Senorplaid. Brilliant bit of writing without trying the 'i am so intelligent so dont dare argue with me' angle which is supposed to command respect but only gets sympathy.

I think rafa fans should start hating other players than fed now. After all, rafa is no longer in fed's league. There is fed at the top and then there is the rest. Rafa's competition is the younger brigade now, fed is too far ahead.

If you thin Rafa is never going to win a GS you will have to eat your words soon. Federer will end this year 2010 as No 4 in the world, because he will not be able to defend his GS titles. And I don not think GS are not worth it, I just think that 1000s are just as much hard work, because you are facing good players right brom Rd 1.

Of course Fed can't win 1000s anymore, he is more a 250 and GS man. He plays qualifiers in GS until he gets to the qtrs, and if he is lucky not to meet Rafa in the final, he wins them.

wishing thinking carrie. As usual.

As FedistheGoat said, you must be on cloud nine that roger is ill.

*more yawns*.

@carrie,

What is wrong if fed focuses on GSs? He plays a few 250 tourneys due to personal commitments and to give himself match practice. It is all part of the strategy. in another year he might cut down on his commitments even more. His last statement says that larger blocks of time off is due :( Of course, he has a family to think of too, has to prioritize.

according to you, Serena and venus would then have to be the worst players in WTA then, i presume??

@maxi,

i bet you are yawning so much because we are not seeing The Best in court right now. Dont worry, california is arranging a grand cure for you. Be sure to tune in

FedistheGOAT, i ur right, the grand slams ARE the 4 most important tournaments to win. And they are generally easier to win,.

The only reason Carrie is saying this, is beacause her man has stopped winning grand slams. i bet that if Rafa was dominating in the majors, she would be singing a completely different tune.
Seriously, who in their right mind says comments like, "federer wont defend his grand slam titles" But thats not a fact, its just a totally biased opinion.

If masters series are harder to win than slams, then why have Tomas Berdych(yes, im serious), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray won masters series events, but never won a slam.(berdych has never made it past the quarters.) There have probably been a few exceptions to this rule(people with more slams than masters) but these are definitely small in number.

PS: you can never write fed off, last year people were saying he would never win another hc masters series event, but he ended up winning cincinnati quite easily.