Patrick McEnroe : Tennis without Federer doesn't look good

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Djokovic is a great player. He might even win the CYGS this year. I think it would be good for the sport if he does.

However, Fed is in another class. There has never been a player as important to the sport. It's surprising to hear a tennis commentator say it out loud.

Long may the GOAT play !

If Djokovic wins the Grand Slam, he will be one of the true GOAT players--a level far above Federer, Nadal, et al.

 

[bullfan]

So true. If the game ends with a single player, then how is the game important?

 

[BeatlesFan]

If Djokovic wins the Grand Slam, he will be one of the true GOAT players--a level far above Federer, Nadal, et al.

If Djoker wins the CYGS this year, he will have 14 slams. How in the world does that put him above Fed? Laver won two CYGS and he's still below Roger on 99% on GOAT lists.

 

[Nostradamus]

Tennis without Federer will be DEAD forever..

 

[fundrazer]

In all honesty, you're going a bit overboard with this post. Posting in ALLCAPS doesn't help you get your point across, rather the contrary.

Fed-Nad matches have been of pretty good quality for the most, whatever the outcome. Perhaps you should take a bit of time to actually watch those, especially the Rome 2006 final.
No Djok-match comes close in pure quality of TENNIS. Oops, sorry, tennis.

Not joking, sorry.

Ignore him. He calls Murray a savior of tennis in his post. lol...

 

[Tshooter]

Look up some old footage from the late 70's and watch how Borg brought Rock Star status for the first time to the top players. Not saying Borg's accomplishments match Fed's but believe me, the sport felt it when Borg retired (way too soon)

I don't need old footage. I was there.

I grew up with Borg. I saw him play in person numerous times. I met Borg in his tennis prime. I was a wee lad and Borg made a big impression. Like every other little kid I tried to hit the big Borg topspin. I wore Borg style Fila warm-up suit.

I remember the time surrounding Borg's retirement. He was telegraphing it way in advance that he was going to prematurely (at least to his fans, sponsors and others) retire. So much so that like others I used to hope for his upset at USO being told the gap in his tennis resume was a major factor keeping him around.

Borg was huge for the sport. But not in Fed territory, IMO.

 

[Tshooter]

If Djoker wins the CYGS this year, he will have 14 slams. How in the world does that put him above Fed? Laver won two CYGS and he's still below Roger on 99% on GOAT lists.

Djoker winning a CYGS will be up there with the greatest ever tennis accomplishments. And something Fed never did. Deal with it.

 

[cc0509]

Djoker winning a CYGS will be up there with the greatest ever tennis accomplishments. And something Fed never did. Deal with it.

Yes. I think I would have to agree with that and I'm a Federer fan and not much of a Djokovic fan. IF Djokovic does win the CYGS his GOAT claim will skyrocket.

 

[Sentinel]

Can;t wait for the Karlovic-Murray five setter today.

Tennis looking very good right now.

 

[octobrina10]

Do you have any possible recognition of how many true Nadal-sympathizers you are constantly bugging off with your totally idiotic posts?

Oh dear. What have I just done...

The members of the AntiRafaBrigade shouldn't pretend to be 'true Nadal-sympathizers'.

 

[octobrina10]

Tennis without Federer will be DEAD forever..

Without Federer, a lot of members of the AntiRafaBrigade will be DEAD forever.

 

[octobrina10]

No, you missed the point of my post, Dull fangirl.

Your post was pointless. I'm a colorful fangirl.

 

[mandy01]

Your post was pointless. I'm a colorful fangirl.

Hahahaha yes, given your low intellect, as is the norm with a majority of Dull fans, it probably WAS pointless for you.

 

[octobrina10]

Hahahaha yes, given your low intellect, as is the norm with a majority of Dull fans, it probably WAS pointless for you.

Your imagination was pointless.

 

[mandy01]

In all honesty, you're going a bit overboard with this post. Posting in ALLCAPS doesn't help you get your point across, rather the contrary.

Fed-Nad matches have been of pretty good quality for the most, whatever the outcome. Perhaps you should take a bit of time to actually watch those, especially the Rome 2006 final.
No Djok-match comes close in pure quality of TENNIS. Oops, sorry, tennis.

Not joking, sorry.

Dude, what nonsense is this? I agree Djokodal matchup is boring but Novak presents a MUCH more interesting match-up against Federer and is a better all-round player than Nadal. Other than the "FH DTL" which is anyway not a shot he can consistently execute and raw movement on clay, I cant think of anything that Nadal does better than Novak. He just came up at the wrong time and his overall tendency to be a defensive baseliner is difficult to find endearing after Nadal already showed the prototype.
Tennis needs more attackers. Novak/Murray simply aren't there.
Fed-Nadal got boring/predictable a long time ago. It's not even a rivalry anymore. Fed-Djoko is an interesting match-up even outside Fed's prime.

 

[mandy01]

Your imagination was pointless.

No, that'd be pretty much all your posts here.

 

[Novak And The Net.]

No, it does not. Tennis may live on, but it's going to take a MASSIVE hit. And another hit when Rafa retires. Everywhere djookovic goes he will be getting booed IMO, because most people will be sick of him winning titles with no competition or flair like Fedal. Not to mention his lack of charisma also.

 

[zep]

Is Federer being missed? Sure. But this is an overreaction. The game will be fine without him. The major problem right now is not lack of Federer but lack of new exciting young players. When Kyrgios is your best bet, there is something seriously missing. People had similar thoughts in the early 2000s when Sampras retired and Agassi was on the verge of retiring but tennis actually did much better world wide because of players like Federer and Nadal. Right now it needs a few similar young players. There maybe a temporary decline in popularity but eventually things will pick up, they always do.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Is Federer being missed? Sure. But this is an overreaction. The game will be fine without him. The major problem right now is not lack of Federer but lack of new exciting young players. When Kyrgios is your best bet, there is something seriously missing. People had similar thoughts in the early 2000s when Sampras retired and Agassi was on the verge of retiring but tennis actually did much better world wide because of players like Federer and Nadal. Right now it needs a few similar young players. There maybe a temporary decline in popularity but eventually things will pick up, they always do.

Don't see how Agassi was "on the verge of retiring" when he was self admittedly playing some of his best tennis in the early 2000s.

 

[mistik]

Federer surely missed by his fans but the real problem in tennis is talentless young generation and current No 1 is most boring and the most charmless NO 1 off all time. Nadal is also not the same player as he once was who can make even his haters get excited.

 

[5555]

So? That doesn't mean Lex Luthor is more popular than Federer who is a greater player.

My point is that tennis is not a popularity contest. When all is said and done, my favorite player (Superman) will be greater than yours (Lex Luthor).

 

[zep]

Don't see how Agassi was "on the verge of retiring" when he was self admittedly playing some of his best tennis in the early 2000s.

When Sampras announced his retirement in 2003 after not playing for a year, Agassi was 34. How long did you think he was going to play for? There were definite talks at that time about how tennis was going to suffer.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

When Sampras announced his retirement in 2003 after not playing for a year, Agassi was 34. How long did you think he was going to play for? There were definite talks at that time about how tennis was going to suffer.

Sure there were talks about that, but he ended up playing another 3 years beyond that point.. What I'm saying is Agassi wasn't considering retirement in 2003, not at all.

 

[beltsman]

Tennis is DEAD

Take it out back and shoot it, it's DEAD

Low energy sport, very sad!

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Djoker winning a CYGS will be up there with the greatest ever tennis accomplishments. And something Fed never did. Deal with it.

True.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

And while the lamenters lament, I enjoy Dominic Thiem's wonderful strokemaking. I don't know and don't care if he will be as good as the Big Three. It's just good tennis, so watch it while you can.

 

[tacou]

had to stop reading once I realized it was a chain of iPhone notes pictures.

 

[AceSalvo]

Without Federer, a lot of members of the AntiRafaBrigade will be DEAD forever.

funny how things change pretty fast..

"Without RAFA, a lot of members of the AntiFedBrigade will be DEAD forever. "

 

[zep]

Sure there were talks about that, but he ended up playing another 3 years beyond that point.. What I'm saying is Agassi wasn't considering retirement in 2003, not at all.

And how do you know that Federer is considering imminent retirement? He has clearly said that he's not. So it is quite comparable.

 

[ibbi]

Tennis as a sport looks just fine without Federer, but as a business... If the empty stadia of Roland Garros are anything to go by (hard to know if it's caused more by the absence of popular players, or the awful weather) certainly may struggle some.

 

[sureshs]

Learn to appreciate Djokovic, the GOAT

 

[tennisaddict]

Learn to appreciate Djokovic, the GOAT

But he does not have either the clay slam or the real slam. Are you sure ?

 

[Steve0904]

I gotta laugh at the "real tennis fan" argument being made here. While there's no doubt that some people will only watch for player X,Y,Z and don't care for the sport in general, I think it's hypocritical to criticize depressed Federer fans. Fact is, everyone, including the "real fans" who watches the sport will develop a fondness for player X,Y,Z over time. Back to Federer, it's only natural that his fans are disappointed by his absence from the tour this year, however that doesn't necessarily make one a lesser fan of the sport. Watching tennis matches is time consuming, we all have a schedule and things to do, so if your favorite player isn't playing, then perhaps you won't invest the 2-3 hours to watch a tennis match on TV, or the couple hundreds of $$ to attend a tournament because the incentive/excitement is gone.

I'm a proud Fed fan, who started to watch in the Sampras era. For me this kinda feels like "déjà vu" even though Roger is an even bigger star than Sampras. They're will be a transition period after Roger hangs the Wilson wand. It may last a couple of years like when Sampras retired, or it might last more than a decade like in the WTA, but eventually someone rises. Will that someone transcend the sport and become an icon like Federer/Nadal? Maybe, maybe not. Until then, does that mean I will stop watching tennis or even playing because Roger is gone? Not at all. Will I invest as much time watching tournaments or even traveling around the globe to watch tennis tournaments? Probably not. I'll still watch, but I won't go out of my way to do so. Does that make me a lesser fan of the sport? I don't think so.

Absolutely amen! Could not have said it better. Of course there will be glory hunters. There always are, but the "real tennis fan" stuff is complete bull s.h.i.t. I guarantee you I'll be here long after Federer is retired (because Federer made me a tennis fan in the first place). I won't stop watching like some will after he goes. With that said however, I will not be waking up at 5 in the morning to watch a big AO match for anyone else on tour right now. I won't be pulling late nights watching the USO for anyone else.

That is what P-Mac is trying to say and tbh I think only the Federer fans really understand it (or even try to understand it). Tennis will survive. We know that. But Wawrinka vs Rosol and Murray vs Borgue being good/great tennis is cold comfort. And I watched Wawrinka vs Rosol (couldn't catch Murray vs Borgue) and I enjoyed it. I also watched Thiem vs Goffin today and enjoyed that, but nobody replaces Federer's genius. That is what P-Mac is saying here. No disrespect, but nobody else touches Federer in tennis right now. The only one even on the same planet is Rafa Nadal. That's the truth and most people can't handle that.