OT: Roger Federer wins 20th Grand Slam

Submitted by Occam's Razor on

Just phenomenal. He joins Serena, Steffi Graff and Margarette Court in the 20 club. 

I wonder if this is his last year on the tour. He seemed even more emotional than usual in his speech. 

 

 

MGoBoard

Magnum P.I.

January 28th, 2018 at 7:23 AM ^

Thought he was beat at the end of the 4th set. Cilic had seized control. Federer really had to scrap for that one. Just amazing what he's done the past 13 months. I think he's waiting to retire until some nex gen guys show they can block Nadal and Djokovic from passing his records. Cilic could be one of those guys (though he's already 29), but Zverev, Thiem, Dimitrov, and all the other young guns haven't shown the mettle.

Joined: 07/16/2009

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bluebyyou

January 28th, 2018 at 11:11 AM ^

There is always an element of luck… Who your competition is when you are at your peak has a lot to do with your win total. Then there is the issue of avoiding injury. I alwsys think about Bo Jackson and where he might have ended up had he not been injured. I generally look at greatest of all time to mean greatest in a given era.

Joined: 09/07/2009

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rob f

January 28th, 2018 at 11:39 AM ^

I woke at 3:30 am to watch it and I'm glad I did. What a roller coaster of a final, Cilic was so dominating in the 4th set that I was certain that Roger was cooked, ESPECIALLY in the upper 90's heat of Melbourne. But Federer dug deep and turned it around quickly in the final set. He's the GOAT; he's the Tom Brady of Men's Tennis.

Joined: 11/11/2010

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Craptain Crunch

January 28th, 2018 at 8:30 AM ^

I get what you mean, but anyone who has been here long enough knows that someone will always post some sporting result real-time. Best not to even check the boards if you don't want to know the results. 

Joined: 05/20/2016

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Craptain Crunch

January 28th, 2018 at 8:23 AM ^

Greatest of All TENNIS. The man is a simply remarkable. And in an era where many are using PEDS, I have seen no physical evidence that he ever did or did use them while healthy. Maybe he used them to recover from an injury but he never showed tall-tale signs of usage. Regardless, he's the best there ever was at the game.

Joined: 05/20/2016

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snarling wolverine

January 28th, 2018 at 1:45 PM ^

And in an era where many are using PEDS, I have seen no physical evidence that he ever did or did use them while healthy.

I'm not at all suggesting he used them, but what sort of "physical evidence" would you be talking about?  Not all PEDs turn you into a physical freak like Barry Bonds.

I recall reading that Andy Murray apparently used a substance that is banned in other sports but not tennis, so the goalposts are not the same across the sports world, at any rate.

Personally, I'm just enjoying the spectacle of him competiting without making too many assumptions in either direction.

Joined: 12/14/2011

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stephenrjking

January 28th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^

PEDs cover far more than just physical bulk. They also affect recovery, endurance, and energy level, among other things. Recovery and endurance are huge in tennis and I have little doubt that they are a problem in tennis, which has long had weak testing. Indeed, details from Operation Puerto (a major European PED scandal) suggest that tennis players are among the athletes involved that were never identified publicly (along with sports like soccer, also unidentified, and cycling, which was blown to pieces). That doesn't mean Fed is using. But some top guys are. Most, perhaps. It's the landscape. Federer is great. It's not because he's cutting corners no one else is. He's just great.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144031

DOBlue48

January 28th, 2018 at 9:24 AM ^

Roger Federer is a pretty good tennis player.

Seriously, though, best ever and appears to be one of the classiest people around, as well.  

 

Joined: 10/21/2015

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Year of Revenge II

January 28th, 2018 at 10:34 AM ^

To do that at 36 is just amazing.

Someone in the future may come along to dominate tennis in the way that he did, from approximately 2004-2009, but I'm not sure that anybody is ever going to get to 20.

There is just too much depth in today's game.

Nadal probably has another French Open in him, but his game is far too physical for him to be involved in slam contention to age 36.  It is not going to happen, nor should it matter.

It would be hard for anyone to deny that Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time.  Congratulations to RF!

Joined: 11/12/2013

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MileHighWolverine

January 28th, 2018 at 11:49 AM ^

What he's doing now has got me thinking he could be but when it looked like he was done a few years ago I couldn't reconcile his losing record to Nadal (which still bugs me) and that his run seemed to fall off a cliff once Nadal/Novak/Murray started win their slams. How can you be best of all time but lose consistently to 1 guy during your prime. But, Nadal can't string enough good physical years together to be clear cut #1 so it would have to go to Federer.

EDIT - I would still take peak Nadal over peak Federer. Nadal beat him on all surfaces when he was in his prime.

Joined: 09/02/2008

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Hard-Baughlls

January 28th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^

was better, at least head to head. Rafa's style, which allowed him to dominate Fed head to head (huge lefty topspin forhand to Fed's one handed backhand) madd for a terrible matchup for Fed. However, unlike Federer this same style is so much more grinding and has caused his body to break down more quickly...futhre  Rafa, has 10 on just clay, making Federer clearly superior across all surfaces.

I imagine Roger would have had at least a couple more French Open titles (the only one he one was when Rafa was out) had Rafa not been around.

Roger is clearly the GOAT to me because of all around greatness on all courts as well as longevity.  His smooth play allows him to minimize injury and dominate from a tactical and mental place as well as his obvious phyical gifts due to superior anticipation, all around shot making and coordination.  

Love them both and will be a sad day when neither are around the tour any longer.

Joined: 09/28/2016

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stephenrjking

January 28th, 2018 at 4:23 PM ^

Federer Nadal is one of the great rivalries of all time in any sport (behind ours, obviously, but not much else). For me, Nadal's prime seemed to coincide with a bit of a decline for Federer. Roger was, at one time, by far the dominant force in tennis. Then Nadal crossed over to success on non-clay surfaces and Federer simultaneously seemed to become vulnerable. He lost occasionally, even to guys that weren't Rafa. Murray and Djokovic arrived on the same plane. I thought Federer was on his way out years ago. Maybe he'd win Wimbledon occasionally, but his prime in the rear view. Greatness all the same, but a step down from his peak. I think I was sort of right. I think he has been past his prime for almost a decade. But he is so great that he keeps going against a field as good as any in his sport's history. Athletes of incredible skill and charisma. Athletes that are younger than he is, who have learned from him and applied every lesson. He takes them on year after year. And he wins.

Joined: 03/15/2012

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Magnum P.I.

January 28th, 2018 at 4:44 PM ^

I think Fed is a step behind his peak form now, but he's almost made up for it with the improved serve, his aggressive strategy of taking everything early, and going for his topspin backhand more. He straight up dominated Nadal last year with this new-ish approach. The awesome thing about his style now is that no one can emulate it because it requires a level of coordination and timing that only Federer possesses. Pretty cool to watch. He just stands right on the baseline and blats the ball back on the opponent before they can get comfortable.

Joined: 07/16/2009

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Baughsome

January 28th, 2018 at 11:19 AM ^

And I’m sorry if this is troll like or makes anyone throw up in their mouth a little....But Kyle Snyder.....a buckeye....sorry....just won gold for wrestling in Russia for the second time at an event no American in history has ever done twice. Rivalry aside...this deserves an appreciation thread. Especially if Roger Is getting recognized for tennis.

Joined: 04/26/2017

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MIGHTYMOJO91

January 28th, 2018 at 2:32 PM ^

Have always rooted for the guy. Hate to see the day he hangs it up. May not ever see this kind of greatness in tennis again.

Joined: 11/28/2015

MGoPoints: 4532

bluesalt

January 28th, 2018 at 3:19 PM ^

He’s always been emotional at the end of Grand Slams. He still has a few more things he wants to accomplish in his career, one of which he can’t do until 2020 — win an Olympic Gold in singles.

Joined: 11/02/2011

MGoPoints: 8612

Hard-Baughlls

January 28th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^

 was better, at least head to head. Rafa's style, which allowed him to dominate Fed head to head (huge lefty topspin forhand to Fed's one handed backhand) madd for a terrible matchup for Fed. However, unlike Federer this same style is so much more grinding and has caused his body to break down more quickly...futhre  Rafa, has 10 on just clay, making Federer clearly superior across all surfaces.

I imagine Roger would have had at least a couple more French Open titles (the only one he one was when Rafa was out) had Rafa not been around.

Roger is clearly the GOAT to me because of all around greatness on all courts as well as longevity.  His smooth play allows him to minimize injury and dominate from a tactical and mental place as well as his obvious phyical gifts due to superior anticipation, all around shot making and coordination.  

Love them both and will be a sad day when neither are around the tour any longer.

 

Joined: 09/28/2016

MGoPoints: 6637

Navy Wolverine

January 28th, 2018 at 4:56 PM ^

One of the most amazing things about Federer is his ability to stay healthy even at the age of 36. His technique is so good and game so pure that he isn't as prone to injuries. The drought in his career conicided with the emergence of Rafa, Djokovic, Murray and Wawrinka. Now that their bodies are starting to break down as they pass 30, Fed is able to stay healthy when these other guys drop out of tournaments. That coupled with the lack of emergence of the new guys (Zverev, Grigor, Sock talking to you!) has given Roger the opportunity to win his last 3 slams. I was amazed at how easy of a path Roger had winning this tournament. Cilic pushed him a little but I don't think he ever had a great chance. He didn't drop a set before that. The semis with Chung was a complete mismatch. I think Roger will be around and contending for at least a couple more years. What a great champion he is.

Joined: 09/26/2016

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Magnum P.I.

January 28th, 2018 at 7:51 PM ^

I found it kind of funny that Nadal was complaining to the press the other day about how the ATP needs to better protect the health of its players because so many guys are injured. Dude, Rafa, you’re 32. Historically, your tennis career should be over by now—a normal human being’s body will start to break down after 12+ years of professional tennis. Sampras, Borg, Edberg, Becker, and many other greats were all retired by Rafa’s age. Many more were still active but no longer serious competitors. Rafa’s salty because his main rival is defying age, but what Federer’s doing is insane and unprecedented. Rafa, Djoker, and Murray aren’t unlucky or being unfairly worked too hard. They’re just old (for pro tennis) and they’re bodies have about had it.

Joined: 07/16/2009

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Navy Wolverine

January 28th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^

The ATP isn't forcing Nadal to play every week. Rafa should take a page from Roger's book and play a limited schedule. Rafa played in 18 tournaments last year and Roger only played in 12. The big difference being that Roger skipped the entire clay court season. Obviously Rafa would never do that but maybe he shuts it down after the US Open and skips the Asian hardcourt and European indoor tournaments in the fall. He doesn't need to kill himself at the end of the year trying to reach #1 - just get himself geared up for the slams. Maybe he should even strategically skip Wimbledon to get ready for the North American hardcourt season. He has options.

Joined: 09/26/2016

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Indy Pete - Go Blue

January 29th, 2018 at 8:22 AM ^

Roger is exactly what sports fans need right now. He is always respectful of his opponents.  He is always well-prepared.  He plays his best when it matters the most. He cares deeply, but he demonstrates an unusual level of composure. He does not gloat, and he is not implicated in any scandals. Thank you Roger Federer!

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