Federer is just too good.

[spooky3]

up two sets (both tiebreaks).

On his way to 12 major titles; only two more to catch Sampras, and he's only 26.

[Link93]

1. Best tennis player ever.

And he has a long career ahead.

[spooky3]

7. I've agreed with that for more than 3 years.

I hope he stays injury-free.

[Reciprocity]

18. You know he does stretching exercises every day to help prevent injury.

[xchrom]

2. he's brilliant.

he's not my fav -- but he is the best.

[spooky3]

6. he's so graceful and smart as well as extremely talented.

He most definitely is the best.

[undeterred]

9. ok, but is he as good looking as Pete? is he as charming as Andre?

I know, they don't really count those things in Tennis.

[spooky3]

11. well, that's up to you, but the other things make it a lot more fun

to watch him than the sluggers who make tons of unforced errors and use stupid (or no) strategery.

[Reciprocity]

13. Yes to all.

[spooky3]

14. my oh my! where did you take that pic (or find it)?

What a shame Marat has not done as much with his talent as he could.

And I wonder where Mirka is going to spend some of that $2.4 million.

[Reciprocity]

17. I found it last year somewhere.

I though Mirka looked nice today. You can always tell if Fed is doing well if she is chewing her gum. When she stops, you know he is in trouble.

[spooky3]

24. I hate that gum chewing, but she has great fashion sense

and dressing him would be fun too.

[zonkers]

3. The more you throw at him, the better he gets. It's spooky, spooky3.

Roddick sure gave it a good shot. Jokovich did too.

[spooky3]

4. yes it is! He zonked 'em, zonkers! His play against Roddick was fabulous

the untouchable Roger zone. I felt sorry for Roddick because he really played well, but no one could have beaten Roger that night. Since Djokovich is so young, he may get his chances later.

The US Open audience was lucky they got to see the best 2 hardcourt players this season in the finale.

[zonkers]

10. Yes. Great Tourney. So many good matches and new faces. I thought

Monaco played pretty good against Jokavich.

[spooky3]

12. yes, and unbelievably good weather.

Wish I could have been there.

[SPKrazy]

5. he is amazing

damn kid

awesome player

[undeterred]

8. They should make him tie an arm behind his back or something.

:shrug:

[BlooInBloo]

15. On his way being the best ever. Still has to win at least 1 French, of course.

[spooky3]

16. I'm not sure he does, though that would make it a slam dunk.

When some of the past champions won multiple slams (such as Laver), 3 of the majors were played on grass and the 4th on clay. Now there are 4 different surfaces (Rebound Ace is considered a hard court but it's pretty different from the US Open surface). And the level of competition was nothing like it is today; many talented people were excluded from competition because of money, their race, the nation in which they grew up--where there may have been no opportunity for playing tennis at a high level, or other factors. And Federer has come much closer to winning the French than did Sampras, for example.

[BlooInBloo]

19. Of course he does. That, and more wins in general. There's no rush....

.... He's probably not going to achieve Borg's rate-of-win, or 3-in-a-row of BOTH Wimbledon AND Roland Garros, but Federer could still be the best without that. He obviously needs more wins though, both French and in general.

People are always in such a hurry to name to current-hot-thing "the best ever", typically forgetting all about history.

[Reciprocity]

20. True.....

but I look at what the competition is like as well as the wins.

[spooky3]

21. I have been watching tennis for a very long time

and I'm in no rush to do anything. I can assure you that Borg, while outstanding and one of my favorite players (I saw him play as a teenager--did you?), is not in the same class as Federer, and he has said as much. If you look at ALL of the numbers and comparisons, you'll find a much stronger case can be made for Federer than Borg. And, Borg never won the US Open or the Australian Open.

Had Borg not retired so young, it would have been interesting to see what he would have achieved.

[BlooInBloo]

22. Age-authority aside, Borg has achievements Federer hasn't matched....

... as do numerous other players.

There's no hurry. Let Federer win some more, get some records, then we can call him the best ever, as opposed to "the best today", or "the best to never win the French".

[spooky3]

23. it's a matter of watching him play and seeing what he can do

as much as the records, that makes me call him the best. He has no weaknesses, unlike Borg, McEnroe and many of the other top players, and so many strengths.

You may want to check out the records, though, because it's hard to think of many important records that Open era players have that Federer hasn't already surpassed, such as the number of consecutive slam finals (11 vs. 4 for the next closest competitor), # of slams won at age 26, # of consecutive Wimbledons, etc. If you want to reach back into the era before then, comparisons get more dicey.

You're welcome to wait as long as you like and hope you'll grant the same opportunity to others to form their opinions.

[BlooInBloo]

27. Is Federer's measley 40/50-odd titles even in the top *ten*?

I'd be surprised if his match wins is even in the top 20.

Does he have the singles Slam wins record over Sampras yet?

How many Grand Slams has he won?

Is he in the top 5 for match winning streak?


On the "others form their own opinions": Where did I even remotely suggest that others weren't permitted to their own opinions?

[Reciprocity]

25. Well I have only been watching tennis.....

for little over ten years and in my opinion he is the best I've ever seen. My satellite provider has added the Tennis Channel for last year and I've been able to watch a lot of clay court tennis. If not for Rafa he would have been able to win the French easy.

[BlooInBloo]

26. If not for everyone else *I* would have been able to win the French easily...

... Being the best ever means not having to say "if but for".

[Reciprocity]

28. What would be the point of saying your the best......

if you competition was substandard.