Impressed by Federer's competitiveness after breaking slam record

[McEnroeisanartist]

Is anyone else impressed by Federer's competitiveness after breaking the all time Grand Slam record in July 2009 - almost five years ago.

At the time, his two biggest rivals, Nadal and Djokovic had a combined 7 Grand Slams.

It is amazing to me that since then Federer has had the competitive drive to do the following:

win 2 more Grand Slams
win 2 more ATP World Tour finals
win 6 more Masters Series titles
win 18 total tournaments
reach a French Open final at
finish another season ranked #1
be #1 for another 65 weeks

 

[Lavs]

Don't forget that you talk about genius

 

[Maximagq]

Is anyone else impressed by Federer's competitiveness after breaking the all time Grand Slam record in July 2009 - almost five years ago.

At the time, his two biggest rivals, Nadal and Djokovic had a combined 7 Grand Slams.

It is amazing to me that since then Federer has had the competitive drive to do the following:

win 2 more Grand Slams
win 2 more ATP World Tour finals
win 6 more Masters Series titles
win 18 total tournaments
reach a French Open final at
finish another season ranked #1
be #1 for another 65 weeks

2010-Nadal
2011-Djokovic
2012-Djokovic
2013-Nadal

Am I missing something here???

 

[Nathaniel_Near]

2010-Nadal
2011-Djokovic
2012-Djokovic
2013-Nadal

Am I missing something here???

Federer got the Slam record for himself at Wimbledon 2009.

Roger Federer ended 2009 as the world #1.

 

[Bobby Jr]

Plus he reached #1 again and surpassed Sampras' weeks at #1 - probably Sampras's most important career metric aside from Wimbledon titles won.

 

[Maximagq]

Federer got the Slam record for himself at Wimbledon 2009.

Roger Federer ended 2009 as the world #1.

Oh I apologize, I thought he meant he recovered the YE #1 after the 2009 season.

 

[90's Clay]

Its not like he has a choice but to keep plugging away since Nadal is breathing down his neck.

If he would have kept Nadal at bay he would have been able to retire a few years and enjoy retirement. Unfortunately, he couldn't so he has to press on

If Fed had mental toughness vs Nadal at all he could have retired back in 2009 and been set

 

[tennisaddict]

If Fed had mental toughness vs Nadal at all he could have retired back in 2009 and been set

How so ?

Nadal has won 7 of his 13 majors from 2010.

Fed did not lose 7 majors to Nadal before 2009.

 

[90's Clay]

How so ?

Nadal has won 7 of his 13 majors from 2010.

Fed did not lose 7 majors to Nadal before 2009.

He didn't keep Nadal to single digit slams which essentially hurt Fed in the long run (thus why he has to continue to play and can't retire).

He lost ALOT of costly matches to nadal at the slams (Even when his level was high) in which if he would have won he would have kept Nadal at bay and he could have retired a long time ago.

He essentially could have retired with all records in tact and Not have to worry about Nadal breathing down his neck if he just could have won maybe 4 more slam matches vs. Nadal. But instead, Nadal has 13 (probably gonna win some more) and as long as he continues on, Fed's slam record is in jeopardy.

Wimbledon- 2008
AO-2009
French- 05 or 06

All matches he COULD have won and was in position to do so.

 

[Djokovic2011]

He didn't keep Nadal to single digit slams which essentially hurt Fed in the long run (thus why he has to continue to play and can't retire).

He lost ALOT of costly matches to nadal at the slams (Even when his level was high) in which if he would have won he would have kept Nadal at bay and he could have retired a long time ago.

He essentially could have retired with all records in tact and Not have to worry about Nadal breathing down his neck if he just could have won maybe 4 more slam matches vs. Nadal. But instead, Nadal has 13 (probably gonna win some more) and as long as he continues on, Fed's slam record is in jeopardy.

Wimbledon- 2008
AO-2009
French- 05 or 06

All matches he COULD have won and was in position to do so.

Do you honestly believe the only reason Fed hasn't retired yet is because of how close Nadal is to his slam record? Nothing to do with Fed wanting to win even more and continuing to play because of his love for the game?

 

[TheMusicLover]

^^ well said.

90's Clay is still butthurt about Sampras' decision to quit the game after GS #14, as at that time that record appeared to be 'unbreakable' - and lo-and-behold, only 10 years later it indeed got broken.

 

[90's Clay]

Do you honestly believe the only reason Fed hasn't retired yet is because of how close Nadal is to his slam record? Nothing to do with Fed wanting to win even more and continuing to play because of his love for the game?

Yes... I think thats a BIG reason (if not the sole one). You think Fed WANTS his records getting overtaken by his main rival (the guy hes 10-23 against in the h2h)


Use common sense

Fed HAS to continue on and try to win more so he can keep that lead over Nadal and hopefully snatch another slam or two.

"love of the game?" You can play tennis forever without having to be on the pro tour even when you love the game. Old guys continue to play in various seniors tourneys or at the country club long after they retire

Hell Sampras would have kept playing if Agassi had 11-12 slams (instead of eight) by 2002. But I'm Sure Pete knew Andre's best days were done by the early 2000s (which they are as far prime/peak level is concerned) so he knew his records were safe so he finally retired.

Like I said, Fed isn't in that position now because Rafa only being 28 (and with a few more good years left) is only lacking 4 to tie it

 

[edberg505]

Yes... I think thats a BIG reason (if not the sole one). You think Fed WANTS his records getting overtaken by his main rival (the guy hes 10-23 against in the h2h)


Use common sense

Fed HAS to continue on and try to win more so he can keep that lead over Nadal and hopefully snatch another slam or two.

"love of the game?" You can play tennis forever without having to be on the pro tour even when you love the game. Old guys continue to play in various seniors tourneys or at the country club long after they retire

Records? What other record besides the slam count is in jeopardy?

 

[90's Clay]

Records? What other record besides the slam count is in jeopardy?

Nadal has the masters record, h2h DOMINATION over Federer and is 4 slams (with more good years left) to tie. Those are big records

 

[edberg505]

Nadal has the masters record, h2h DOMINATION over Federer and is 4 slams (with more good years left) to tie. Those are big records

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the masters record was never in jeopardy. Nadal has had a comfortable lead for quite some time. H2H domination? LOL. He's still playing so he can even that out? Hahahaha, whatever you say. So basically it's just one record, the slam record. Like I said before. And since Federer can't beat Nadal anyways, and will more than likely have to beat Nadal to win another slam. You aren't really making any sense.

 

[psYcon]

Federer's accomplishments (after breaking slam record) are those that pro players would only dream about.

 

[Goosehead]

Federer enjoys playing tennis..thats all he wants to do, winning is extra on top, no big mystery. he has said it enough times.

 

[urundai]

The guy must really love this sport. To still have the motivation, determination, put in day-in and day-out of practice and travel with a big family takes a lot of energy.

Unlike many of younger players, when Fed shows up on the court, he really wants to play and stay focused. Difficult to do after these many years and so much accomplishments.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Yes... I think thats a BIG reason (if not the sole one). You think Fed WANTS his records getting overtaken by his main rival (the guy hes 10-23 against in the h2h)


Use common sense

Fed HAS to continue on and try to win more so he can keep that lead over Nadal and hopefully snatch another slam or two.

"love of the game?" You can play tennis forever without having to be on the pro tour even when you love the game. Old guys continue to play in various seniors tourneys or at the country club long after they retire

Hell Sampras would have kept playing if Agassi had 11-12 slams (instead of eight) by 2002. But I'm Sure Pete knew Andre's best days were done by the early 2000s (which they are as far prime/peak level is concerned) so he knew his records were safe so he finally retired.

Like I said, Fed isn't in that position now because Rafa only being 28 (and with a few more good years left) is only lacking 4 to tie it

I think this says more about your way of thinking.

 

[LazyNinja19]

Yes... I think thats a BIG reason (if not the sole one). You think Fed WANTS his records getting overtaken by his main rival (the guy hes 10-23 against in the h2h)


Use common sense

Fed HAS to continue on and try to win more so he can keep that lead over Nadal and hopefully snatch another slam or two.

"love of the game?" You can play tennis forever without having to be on the pro tour even when you love the game. Old guys continue to play in various seniors tourneys or at the country club long after they retire

Hell Sampras would have kept playing if Agassi had 11-12 slams (instead of eight) by 2002. But I'm Sure Pete knew Andre's best days were done by the early 2000s (which they are as far prime/peak level is concerned) so he knew his records were safe so he finally retired.

Like I said, Fed isn't in that position now because Rafa only being 28 (and with a few more good years left) is only lacking 4 to tie it

Actually, this makes perfect sense!

When Sampras retired, he had the Slam record safely tucked under his belt. He had 14, to the next closest number 11 (in open era), and none of the active players at the time were anywhere near close to him.
So when he retired, he had nothin more left to achieve. Hence, the fall in motivations.

Federer on the other hand, has always had Nadal breathing down his neck. Nadal being so close to his record, makes Fed motivated to keep playing & trying to add to his Slam tally. He wants to make it out of reach for Rafa.

Nothing wrong with that. It's commendable that Federer still has the fire in him to keep competing & adding records, despite being a family man.

But the situation Sampras was in, and Federer is in now, are completely different & it's not fair to compare them.

Had Nadal not been there, and Djokovic with 6 Slams was the next closest to Fed's 17, I'm sure he would have retired by now.

 

[merlinpinpin]

Had Nadal not been there, and Djokovic with 6 Slams was the next closest to Fed's 17, I'm sure he would have retired by now.

This implies that all champions have the same mentality and, barring exceptionnal circumstances, would all stop playing at the same age, which is obviously totally wrong.

Do you, for example, believe that Connors kept on playing past 40 because he could feel Borg, then McEnroe, then Lendl, then Wilander, then Becker, then Edberg, breathing down his neck? Seriously?