Hey Fed, just in case your not quite competent with your math here, For the record, Rafa has won FIVE French at the age of 24, not FOUR as you were quick to point out.

"Federer - like Nadal - has always been ultra polite when speaking of his hottest rival."

Do you follow tennis news because this is complete rubbish! He's not always been polite about ANY of his close rivals or anyone who beats him! Give me a break!

Politeness is for fans who like womens netball. Its much better with players throwing some venom around.

I totally disagree. Nadal, yes, is always polite towards his opponents (not to include the RG 2009 after losing to Soderling). Federer, on the other hand, does not know, how to respect his opponents. He likes to put himself on the top all the time and is not likely to say something good about the other players or will do that after he has praised himself. And now, during the US Open, I do not understand, how Federer thinks he is in the position to tell whether Nadal will be all-time best in tennis or not? If he would respect Rafa, he would have said in the press conference, that he himself is not the one who decides whether Rafa will be all-time best (or something like this). Not to say, that IF Rafa win US Open once, what he will do for sure, he will be the best. I have sad news for Federer - it does not matter whether Nadal will win US Open during his career or not, Rafa will be the best tennis player ever in my mind. And not only how he plays with passion, but also for his create personality. And I am sure, there are plenty of tennis fans who think the same.

Federer is in awe of himself.


VAMOS RAFA!

This site has become hopeless the last few months, a lot of fans are just there to belittle every talk of FEDERER, be it in defence of his drop in form or the praise for the other gyes on tour. This site has already become what we call with me or against the TMF. Be there and have fun. Please stop this baiting. Its just a game men and dames! TMF, dad or grandad is not going to go away soon and we would love to crack the mild jokes of Murray winning a grandslam someday, Nad getting one more on hardcourt in USO10, HE HAVING A VERY GOOD CHANCE and so on.

As long as he does play Tennis would remain a beatiful game till someone of his class and touch strides on court on the tours.

Sorry newfangkc, I have to correct you, that not all people think that Fed's game is beautiful. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and one man's meat is another man's poison. What you say about Fed's game represents only your view and those of Fed's fans, but not the views of others. You speak as though all other players do not play beautiful games, and as though you represent everyone of us here. I strongly protest!! May it helps when you say something like 'in my opinion...'

I agree with newfangkc.. Just being the fan of Nadal doesn't mean we need to belittle Fed / his acheivements... He has the most GS titles... and having seen 3 generation of players he can definitely have the right to comment... And he hasn't said anything wrong about Nadal... so why make big issue??

@RMadhu, the 'issue' I think here is with the sentence: "Federer - like Nadal - has always been ultra polite when speaking of his hottest rival."

The fact is this is really NOT the case. There were times when Fed has been a little less than polite where Rafa is concerned, and thats the truth. I remember when Fed made the comment about Rafa wining all three masters clay tourneys does not really measure the success of Rafa's clay court season, and what really counts is winning the big prize, or something along those lines!

But like nirv02, i agree that sometimes its okay to bait ure opponent. Its one of the the things that made Mohammed Ali a boxing legend!!

nadline, 9/7/10 9:01 AM ............ and has an ego that wont lie down.
But it's that self belief which is his strongest weapon. I'm sure it is this overwhelming air of confidence which intimidates all but a handful of players - many of whom seem to play below their best level when it is against Roger. e.g. Melzer last night!

Also he does love the sound of his own voice. Throw out a question and he will give a discourse for the next 4-5 minutes. No wonder journalists lap up what he has to say - he provides them with ready made copy and an endless supply of quotes.

PEOPLE, READ THIS.............

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/us-open-federers-class -and-nadals-humility/130454-5-22.html


posted by jaskarans

Thank you Monalysa... nice article...
OK...once even I can do a little "copy-paste"

New York: ?I guess he would need to win the US Open to put himself there.'' were Swiss maestro Roger Federer's words after winning his third round match at Flushing Meadows against Paul-Henri Mathieu of France. He was commenting on his friend and long time rival Rafael Nadal's bid to win his maiden US Open title.
The five times US Open champion may well have a valid point but what has probably slipped Fedex's mind is the fact that the French Open which eluded him for quite a while was won by him only last year. He would probably also not like to be reminded that Rafa was not fully fit during his fourth round loss to Swede Robin Soderling at Roland Garros in 2009.
Federer, arguably the greatest ever in the game's history has never been one to miss an opportunity to have a go at his opponents.

Quite a contrast to the affable Nadal who more often than not has a word of encouragement for fellow players.
The perfect and most recent example that comes to mind is the way Scotsman Andy Murray's failure to win a major was dealt with by the two tennis greats.
"I know that he'd like to win the first title in British tennis in, what is it 150,000 years?" was Federer's patronizing and cocky attitude towards Murray before the two clashed at the Australian Open finals earlier this year.
Whereas when Rafa was asked whether Murray would ever win a grand slam title, he very sweetly remarked 'very soon'. This was after the Spaniard proved to be too good for the Scot at this year's Wimbledon.
The Swiss ace once even had a jibe at the legendary Andre Agassi claiming that he could beat the American even if he (Federer) played badly.
Last year when things were not going his way, he talked loosely about Jelena Jankovic's number one ranking on the women's tour.
After being outplayed by Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych at 'The Championships' in June he complained of a bad back and a troublesome leg.
Who can forget the memorable Australian Open final in 2009 when, yet another loss to Nadal reduced the Swiss ace to tears. Federer was one away from Sampras' record of fourteen grand slam titles and was still to win the French Open.
Rafa on that occasion made it a point to acknowledge his rival as one of the all time tennis greats and also said that he would go past Sampras.
Aged 24 Nadal has eight majors to his name, aged 29 Federer has 16 slams to his name. Who is to say that Nadal won't overtake Federer's tally of grand slam titles?
The Spaniard also enjoys a 14-7 head to head advantage against Fedex even though a lot of their meetings have been on clay which definitely favours Rafa.
Both are champions in their own right and it's too close a call to pick one over the other, but one thing is for sure, Nadal is the one who is gracious, even though Federer is grace personified.

@Monalysa , 9/7/10 5:13 PM
@zare , 9/7/10 6:05 PM

(I repeat here my post on the same article in anoher thread)
I looked at the Fed & Rafa picture in this article. This picture expresses very well the difference between the two men described in the article: Roger the Hostile & Rafa the Friendly, Roger the Bitter & Rafa the Sweet.

Is it true that Murray goes down to 5 on Monday because Sod won his match yesterday?

That would not surprise me! There are not that many points separating the two.

@nadline , 9/7/10 7:23 PM
Not yet, according my calculation:
Murray has 5125 points,
- he had to defend 180 points (R16 last year)
- he has earned 90 points (R32 this year)

Söderling has 4910 points,
- he had to defend 360 points (Q last year)
- he has earned 360 points (Q this year)

But, you can calculate yourself:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/Rankings/Singles.aspx

@ Augustina08.........yeah i think ure right. If Sod goes on to beat Fed then he may become #4...............and Fed will be #3!! Djoko will be #2!

newfangkc. wonderful. In a forum here, is there almost only a fan of nadal. lol. Most is broken.

But, because other tennis forums exist, too. GO TO TENNIS etc.

There is a face book if Roger's fan, too. There is His page.

And, there is a topic, and it is possible discussion

recommended.

i clocked two years in this site, had the best of Keli, 'federer winning everything....", got the best of the diguised Cheryl ' fed does not the credit he desreves' and then the hateful of them all, the not so lucky star, mona , deuce, and the many more who had been licking as the TMF (*peter bodo, who of tennis.com) kept his locomotive whinning and now the bloody f***ing baiters are just round the corner to have someoneone or anyone stop him get back what belongs to him.

nadal can do it.

i don't admire his game but he can do it.

but and a blooddy big but that he has to earn it and no one would give it to him.

jai ho!

I played unbelievable, and if it was not Roger Federer on the other side of the net I would have won, 400 per cent. Thomas Berdych, No. 10 in the world, Davis Cup tie, Sept. 23, 2007

He's an artist on this surface. He can stay back. He can come in. No weaknesses. Federer could win Wimbledon six, seven, eight times. He can play on any kind of surface, he is so complete. And if he continues the way he has been doing and stays away from injuries and still has the motivation, he will be the greatest player ever. I think the motivation is the key thing and he has the motivation to continue to play for another three or five years.

Bjorn Borg, winner of 11 Grand Slams,

He's probably the most talented person to ever carry a racquet around?the shots that he can come up with, the way he's kind of become a totally complete player. But I think off the court, it's huge. There have been a lot of good champions, but he's just classy. He is never high and mighty in the locker room or anything like that.
o Andy Roddick.

He hasn't changed a bit. He hasn't been arrogant in the locker room. He never is. That's great to see someone that does it with class. He doesn't intentionally get in anyone's face. He doesn't put people down.
He is on his way to becoming possibly the greatest of all time. But he's still human.
o James Blake

He put tennis, the bar very high?very high. It's incredible what kind of game he can play.
Marat Safin,

We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game a way I haven't seen anyone?and I mean anyone?play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated?and the wonderful feel he has stays with him?he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.
Boris Becker,

We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game a way I haven't seen anyone and I mean anyone play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated and the wonderful feel he has stays with him he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.
Boris Becker,

Nice effort ... totally fruitless..
Yawnnnn... and I am not even Rafa's fan.

lol. thanks for the article on the prejudice.

Anytime, my mate...anytime...
Anything for truth!!!

He's probably the most talented person to ever carry a racquet around?the shots that he can come up with, the way he's kind of become a totally complete player. But I think off the court, it's huge. There have been a lot of good champions, but he's just classy. He is never high and mighty in the locker room or anything like that.
o Andy Roddick.

He hasn't changed a bit. He hasn't been arrogant in the locker room. He never is. That's great to see someone that does it with class. He doesn't intentionally get in anyone's face. He doesn't put people down.
He is on his way to becoming possibly the greatest of all time. But he's still human.
o James Blake

He put tennis, the bar very high?very high. It's incredible what kind of game he can play.
Marat Safin,

We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game a way I haven't seen anyone and I mean anyone play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated and the wonderful feel he has stays with him he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.
Boris Becker,

He's probably the most talented person to ever carry a racquet around the shots that he can come up with, the way he's kind of become a totally complete player. But I think off the court, it's huge. There have been a lot of good champions, but he's just classy. He is never high and mighty in the locker room or anything like that.
o Andy Roddick.

He hasn't changed a bit. He hasn't been arrogant in the locker room. He never is. That's great to see someone that does it with class. He doesn't intentionally get in anyone's face. He doesn't put people down.
He is on his way to becoming possibly the greatest of all time. But he's still human.
o James Blake

He put tennis, the bar very high very high. It's incredible what kind of game he can play.
Marat Safin,

We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game a way I haven't seen anyone?and I mean anyone?play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated?and the wonderful feel he has stays with him?he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.
Boris Becker,
tennisnba
, 9/7/10 10:09 PM

We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game a way I haven't seen anyone and I mean anyone play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated and the wonderful feel he has stays with him he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.
Boris Becker,

oh..sorry

I really hit with him when he was 15, during a tournament in Basel, and I knew then he would be good, but not this good. If he stays healthy, it will actually be a miracle if he doesn't win more Grand Slams than Pete Sampras. The way he picks his shots is unbelievable. He is fast, he has a great volley, a great serve, great backhand, great everything. If I was his coach, what can I tell him. He is a magician with a racket. Even when he is playing badly, which is rarely, he can still do things with his racket nobody else can do.
Goran Ivanisevic

Well, I think when I look at Roger, I mean, I'm a fan. I mean, I'm a fan of how he plays, what he's about, just the fact that I think he's a class?I don't know him personally, but seems like he's a class guy on and off the court. He's fun to watch. Just his athletic ability, what he's able to do on the run. I think he can and will break every tennis record out there.
Pete Sampras

we get tennisnba!!!!.........................we know you worship Federer.............pity for you he does not know it though!!

newfangkc - so not agreeing with you that Fed plays beautiful tennis is considered 'hateful' about Fed and I become not so lucky star?? So you have the authority to decide who plays beautiful tennis and who doesn't and all of us here have to bow down to you and your beloved Fed?? What a dictatorship!! Since when watching and appreciating tennis become so restrictive and so authoritarian?? Only one player can play beautiful tennis but others can't?

Tennisnba...look at just one thing: How far you have to dig on net to find those statements.
Man, it's already archive... :-)
Every comment is two or more years old!

lol. worship nadal fan. Please settle down.

Maybe I could win more championships and prize money if Federer was not in the same age with me, but you have to know that there is something money can not buy?that's playing against Federer.

He is the best man in the game, on and off the court, and he has a great personality. I enjoy so much having opportunities to compete against him.

I am so proud to have him around. It is very pity that I am not able to play with Pete Sampras, but it's OK, I can see Federer on the tour. I could tell my grandson someday that I have competed against the greatest player on the planet.
Ivan Ljubicic.

He's probably the most talented person to ever carry a racquet around?the shots that he can come up with, the way he's kind of become a totally complete player. But I think off the court, it's huge. There have been a lot of good champions, but he's just classy. He is never high and mighty in the locker room or anything like that.
o Andy Roddick.

He hasn't changed a bit. He hasn't been arrogant in the locker room. He never is. That's great to see someone that does it with class. He doesn't intentionally get in anyone's face. He doesn't put people down.
He is on his way to becoming possibly the greatest of all time. But he's still human.
o James Blake

He put tennis, the bar very high?very high. It's incredible what kind of game he can play.
Marat Safin,

We have a guy from Switzerland who is just playing the game a way I haven't seen anyone and I mean anyone play before. How fortunate we are to be able to see that. If he stays healthy and motivated and the wonderful feel he has stays with him he is the kind of guy who can overtake the greatest.
Boris Becker

Maybe I could win more championships and prize money if Federer was not in the same age with me, but you have to know that there is something money can not buy that's playing against Roger.

He is the best man in the game, on and off the court, and he has a great personality. I enjoy so much having opportunities to compete against him.

I am so proud to have him around. It is very pity that I am not able to play with Pete Sampras, but it's OK, I can see Roger on the tour. I could tell my grandson someday that I have competed against the greatest player on the planet.
Ivan Ljubicic.

You read only what you post, isn't it... everyone here knows that I am not Rafa's fan!!!
Go and spam some other site... or get some professional help!!!
You are pathetic!!!

@tennisnba, nothing others say about Federer is going to change how us Rafa fans feel about Fed or RAFA!!!..............thats a given!

And no wonder all the likes of Ljubicic and co, who were blinded by the light of the sun that they think shines thru Federer's arse could NEVER beat him and it had to take RAFA to show them how its done!!!...........boohoohoo!!!!

VAMOS!!!

[Nadal says winning the U.S. Open not an obsession]
I think if we are talking generally, I probably arrived a little bit better than (in the) other years, said Nadal, whose first opponent will be Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili. But I did two semi-finals (in the) last two years, so it wasn't a bad result. I was there.
Physically Im fine. I was always fine mentally, just one time in 2008 when I lost the semi-final against Andy (Murray). I was too tired to win this tournament.


Nadal looked a little rusty on his return to the tour in Toronto and Cincinnati earlier this month but said there was no reason why he could not win the title in New York.
?After a few years I am playing better and better in this tournament, but still the centre court is difficult to play, with more wind than the rest of the grand slams.
?Sometime when you are against the wind, it seems like you are not moving the ball. But I did well. When you are in the semi-finals for two years, why not
http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=reu-opennadal

I've never enjoyed watching someone playing tennis as much as Roger. I'm just in awe. Pete Sampras was wonderful but he relied so much on his serve, whereas Roger has it all, he's just so graceful, elegant and fluid?a symphony in tennis whites. Roger can produce tennis shots that should be declared illegal.
Tracy Austin

@tennisnba , 9/7/10 9:58 PM
---I played unbelievable, and if it was not Roger Federer on the other side of the net I would have won, 400 per cent. Thomas Berdych, No. 10 in the world, Davis Cup tie, Sept. 23, 2007---

And what Federer said after losing to Berdych at Wimbledon this year? He said: "I'm struggling with a little bit of a back and a leg issue. They don't allow me to play the way I would like to. The leg issue came in the final of Halle and returned a little bit after my first-round match here. It went away again but just kept creeping back during the matches. For the last five or six days the back has been really bad. "

Isn't it obvious who of these two men is classy ? Not Federer!

@tennisnba , 9/7/10 10:09 PM
This guy who reportedly "doesn't put people down" in the locker-room, has openly revealed that he is so jealous of the success of Rafa that he would rather see somebody else to be #1 in the World. After losing at Wimbledon, Federer dreamt Del Potro to be #1 in the world.
<<Q: Some of these big, flat hitters seem to be having an effect on you. Do you need to alter your game to adjust to that?

ROGER FEDERER: Well, if I'm healthy I can handle those guys, you know. Obviously it's a pity that Del POTRO is not around, because I think he would have a run at world No. 1 or a run at another Grand Slam. It's unfortunate for him.>> [From Roger Federer Interview at Wimbledon on June 30, 2010]

Roger's got too many shots, too much talent in one body. It's hardly fair that one person can do all this?his backhands, his forehands, volleys, serving, his court position. The way he moves around the court, you feel like he's barely touching the ground. That's the sign of a great champion.

The best way to beat him would be to hit him over the head with a racquet. Roger could win the Grand Slam if he keeps playing the way he is and, if he does that, it will equate to the two Grand Slams that I won because standards are much higher these days.
Rod Laver

Roger Federer is the only guy I watch for his strokes. He is just beautiful. He can hit every single shot you could ever think of. John [McEnroe] and Ilie [Nastase] were very talented but you always knew there were some shots they couldn't hit. Not with Federer. I would go and watch him practice, he's so good.
Ivan Lendl

[Nadal says winning the U.S. Open not an obsession]
I think if we are talking generally, I probably arrived a little bit better than (in the) other years, said Nadal, whose first opponent will be Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili. But I did two semi-finals (in the) last two years, so it wasn't a bad result. I was there.
Physically Im fine. I was always fine mentally, just one time in 2008 when I lost the semi-final against Andy (Murray). I was too tired to win this tournament.

Nadal looked a little rusty on his return to the tour in Toronto and Cincinnati earlier this month but said there was no reason why he could not win the title in New York.
?After a few years I am playing better and better in this tournament, but still the centre court is difficult to play, with more wind than the rest of the grand slams.
?Sometime when you are against the wind, it seems like you are not moving the ball. But I did well. When you are in the semi-finals for two years?, why not?
http://sports.yahoo.com/tennis/news?slug=reu-opennadal

Roger's got too many shots, too much talent in one body. It's hardly fair that one person can do all this?his backhands, his forehands, volleys, serving, his court position. The way he moves around the court, you feel like he's barely touching the ground. That's the sign of a great champion.

The best way to beat him would be to hit him over the head with a racquet. Roger could win the Grand Slam if he keeps playing the way he is and, if he does that, it will equate to the two Grand Slams that I won because standards are much higher these days.
Rod Laver

tennisnba , 9/7/10 11:27 PM


All these 'spontaneous' testimonials cannot take away from the fact that no matter how they spice it up for Roger, he does not have enough of anything to overcome Rafa.

It feels like that one of us thinks that the more you say the same thing the more it counts...I have my reasons to beleive that those good praising remarks from other players can not eliminate what and how the beloved Federer is saying in press conferences.

Go home... like your idol will go...after Nole send him home!!!!

Current players yet to match with fed for the best ever player title.
His titles, no of Finals, SFs etc.. cannot be matched.
Even @ FO He played four finals, Can other current players think about anything like this in AO or USO. GS wins in 2008 & 2010 are too little in comparison with roger.

Numbers of finals, semis, quarters, who cares???? Title do matters.... at age 24, 8 slams, 18 masters, 1 gold.... who said 16 slams cannot be matched by this humble and charming player, our No 1, Rafael Nadal?

@sabs, stats alone are insignificant...u have got to apply logic and reasoning keeping in mind the circumstances and everything... for e.g, roy emerson had 12 grand slams to his name and borg and laver only 11, but borg and laver are rated MILLESS above emerson and this makes a lot of sense, i know it quite well why they are but if u know why then i guess i have made my point clear..if u dont then please do research u'll understand what i mean

another example, dominik hrbaty has winning records against both federer and nadal (3-1 over rafa and 2-1 over fed) so onen wonders WHAT THE HELL?? then u need to apply reasoning here and u get to know why hrbaty has the adv and that this stat is rather meaningless to a good extent becoz majority of hrbaty's wins came over them when they were really young and not mature enough (especially nadal )...similarly correjta leads against rafa but hey rafa was just a kid !!

u can find 1000 scenarios like this !!

stats mean a lot but they are insignificant sometimes if you take into account circumstances.

vamosrafa-laver didnt win 11. he won 17.(if you count what he did on the pro tour) And the reason borg is rated above emerson is bcoz he accumulated his slams so quickly,and if he hadnt retired earlier,he would have won more. Plus,he dominated the game more than emerson did.

Actually, tj600, "Emmo" picked up his 12 slams between Australia 1961 and Roland Garros 1967, a span of just 26 slam tourneys. BB got his eleven titles between RG 1974 and RG 1981 inclusive - that's 29 slams. So it was not as intensive as Emmo, in fact. Borg tended not to play in Australia, but that was his choice.

Anyway, the main thing is that it looks like Roger's prediction might be coming true sooner than he feared - another stellar display by My Guy last night.

VAMOOOOSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tj , u jsut strengthened my point. but i shud correct you..laver won 19 MAJORS but how many ppl know this? majority just knows laver won 11 SLAMS but it is when u do research that you come to know that he was more than just those 11 slams !!

and emerson's feat,you got it partially right mate..the reason emerson isnt rated that high is that he won all of his slams as an AMATEUR but whenever he used to compete on the pro tour, some one liek pancho gonzalez used to swallow him up ! he was of no match to gonzalez , so this is the main reason emerson isnt rated that high ! becoz he won almost everything on the amateur circuit! , i can add further details if u want to but i guess i have proved my point now..

so the conclusion : stats alone are quite often insignificant if you donot apply proper reasoning and logic and refuse to fully take circumstances into account.by means i want to demean any champions achievement , i just have a point and I think I have proven it in a solid way :) i can give 1000 more examples.

*by NO means i want to ....

In any sports, stats alone won't say the whole point. How the individual plays the game as well is important. Does the player has all the variety in the game? all kind of shots... (like how we do in cricket sometimes as well... Sachin is good example)... Nadal is slowly looking to that level of domination.. with the kind of improvement he has made in past few years... in serves, BH, FH, etc.,

NICE FEDERER!!!

the usual backhanded compliments. nothing new here.

New??? It's so old that you have to take older computer to find it under the dust...