When did it became clear that Federer was a possible GOAT?

[above bored]

Originally Posted by The Bawss

You liars. After 2003 Wimbly, I and everyone else thought "this guy is good, he will win multiple majors maybe as many as Agassi or Borg" NOBODY was expecting him to become goat in 2003, get over yourselves.

No seriously, after Federer's performance in Wimbledon 2003, a lot of people were saying that was some of the best tennis they had ever seen.

By May of 2004 with only two Majors to his name, people on this very forum were already saying Federer could be the GOAT. I was not a member back then, but I had a look because I was sure some here must have felt as I felt back then. I was right. Pity this forum does not go back as far as 2003.

Check out the link below. Feña14 in post #14 says, "I think that Federer can become greatest of all time". Also, sliceroni in post #31 says, "apparently what we're witnessing is potentially the GOAT".

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=4922

People were making these predictions because of Federer's unprecedented level of play. No one had seen anyone play the game this well.


Montana Realty in April of 2004 in the thread below talks about being in awe of Federer's game and perplexed by it.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=3424


These were common feelings amongst many knowledgeable observers back then.

[dangalak]

Wow, puts into perspective TTMRs claims that Federer's game is thoroughly modern, even though people back then, when he was a 2 times champion, were already calling him a savious of classic tennis.

[roberttennis54]

Here is an article from Drysdale saying Federer is the best he had ever seen.

04/01/2004
Federer had just two slams at this point.


Tennis Week: You beat Rod Laver in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, you watched Pete Sampras' entire career and now you're seeing the most gifted player of this generation in Roger Federer. Who is the best player you've ever seen?

Cliff Drysdale: Federer is the best player I've ever seen play.

Tennis Week: Right now you would say that? If Federer never played again, if he retired tomorrow, you would still say he's the best you've ever seen?

Cliff Drysdale: Yes. I would say that if you put Federer at his best with any other player in history, that I've ever seen, at their best, that Federer would beat them.

Tennis Week: Cliff, that's a big statement. You've seen almost every great champion. That's a big statement.

Cliff Drysdale: It is a big statement. You know, a lot of your readers are going to disagree with me especially since he hasn't been out there very long. But if you ask me to make a definitive statement in that regard and say: "How would Laver have done against him?" Because Laver is the next most well-rounded, complete player I've seen after Federer.

Tennis Week: I thought you would say Sampras.

Cliff Drysdale: No. Because Pete didn't have great ground strokes.

Tennis Week: His forehand was pretty devastating.

Cliff Drysdale: It was good. His running forehand was pretty good. But if he didn't have the serve — if you take the serve away from Pete — he would be relatively naked.

Tennis Week: Federer's game is very strong and exciting in all phases and I'm very impressed with how well he returns and defends as well as his obvious ability to attack.

Cliff Drysdale: His movement, his transition game, his ground strokes, his volley, his serve — Federer is the most complete player and that's why, when you ask me, in my view Federer is the best I've seen.

Tennis Week: So are you of the opinion that the players of today, the depth of the game, the quality of play is superior to any other era of tennis?

Cliff Drysdale: Yes, absolutely. There's no doubt that tennis, the men's game, is better than it's ever been. It's at its best right now. This is an exciting time for tennis and that's another reason I feel so privileged to be in this position watching these players and the game. It's really a very, very exciting time for tennis in my view.

EDIT
Lots of other articles about.
As I said before, as soon as he won the Masters Cup 2003 he was hailed by a lot of people as the Best Player they have ever seen. It was at Wimbledon 2003 he usurped Mcenroe's position as the most talented they had ever seen.

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by dangalak

When did it became clear that Federer was a possible GOAT?

... when davey25 changed his username to federerhoogenbandfan. A long time ago in a TW far far away. There were hints that this was probably a once-in-a-lifetime player. Then SoBad went utterly mental and everyone saw the writing on the wall: The GOAT had arrived.

[smoledman]

It was known in 1870.

[above bored]

Here is an interview with Richard Krajicek in 2004.

What do you think of Roger Federer, the Swiss world number one?

If you are only looking at the tennis and what he has done last year, you will think that he is better than Pete. Which, maybe, he is. But Pete had the desire to play at the highest level for so many years. That is very difficult, mentally. That in turn is the biggest question for Federer. Can he maintain the high level over six-seven years to break the record of 14 Grand Slams? Will he be able to remain world number one for five-six years in a row?

That is actually the only thing he is yet to prove. But if he continues to play tennis like this, he will definitely break Pete's record. Federer can be the best ever; he has the potential. The only question is whether he has the desire.

http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/nov/18inter.htm

And even earlier in 2003, right after Federer won Wimbledon for the first time.

New Straits Times - Jul 6, 2003

London: Roger Federer's stunning Wimbledon triumph on Sunday had tennis fans drooling and pundits predicting a Pete Sampras-like reign for the young Swiss.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...est+ever&hl=en

[RF20Lennon]

August 8, 1981

[kOaMaster]

thanks to everyone for searching and presenting those old pearls. very nice

[Sentinel]

Two thousand years ago, Roger's second coming was predicted and known. But acco to scientific evidence, His GOATness was known from the time of the Big Bang itself.

[beast of mallorca]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

Two thousand years ago, Roger's second coming was predicted and known. But acco to scientific evidence, His GOATness was known from the time of the Big Bang itself.

Is this base on Hindi or Kristlam ?

[Hood_Man]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

Two thousand years ago, Roger's second coming was predicted and known. But acco to scientific evidence, His GOATness was known from the time of the Big Bang itself.

I read this in the voice of a planetarium presentation, "Billions of years ago..."

[SoBad]

Originally Posted by Polaris

... when davey25 changed his username to federerhoogenbandfan. A long time ago in a TW far far away. There were hints that this was probably a once-in-a-lifetime player. Then SoBad went utterly mental and everyone saw the writing on the wall: The GOAT had arrived.

Don't throw his name around like that...