Pheasant
G.O.A.T.
I think that this is huge for Fed. One knock on Fed was that he was barely over .500 in 5 set matches for his career until 2017. But last year, he turned a corner by going 5-0 in 5 set matches. So I think that Fed can gut out a tough 5-setter now against somebody like a Djokovic or a Nadal, provided that his form is good enough that day to get him to a 5th set.
On another note, I rewatched the 2005 AO semi vs Safin last night . I couldn’t believe how much better Fed was back then. His speed and endurance were off the charts; about 2-3 levels better than now. Of course, this should be a given. Look at How much speed that Olympic sprinters falls lose at age 30+. Usain Bolt retired at age 30. His times were nowhere close to his best times of 7-8 years earlier. But the biggest difference for Fed was his laser of a forehand. His forehand back then was so accurate, powerful, and consistent. And anybody who says that Safin was a pushover should watch that match. Safin was bombing serves up to 137 mph. Safin’s backhand was off the charts. But Safin’s best part of his game was his return of serve. As a case in point, Sampras was stunned after getting straight-settted in the 2000 USO final. Sampras said in the interview that he tried everything with his serves, but couldn’t get them by Safin.
What I cannot believe today is that Federer was somehow 10-2 against Safin for his career. Safin was an amazing player.
What makes Federer so great is his immense versatility. Here is what I believe:
I believe that Federer royally screwed himself over by being loyal to that 90 inch racket. I think that had he ditched that racket 5 years earlier, then he could have played Nadal and Djokovic even, despite this era of slower surfaces. Fed is 5-1 vs Nadal since switching rackets, but 6-8 vs Djokovic.
However, move all of those players back to the era of faster surfaces and that is where you would see Fed pull away. 19 year old Fed had enough of a serve and volley game to be able to beat Sampras at the 2001 Wimbledon. He did this on the fast grass while using the same 85 inch Wilson racket that Sampras used. I think that a prime Sampras would have his way with a prime Djokovic on those fast surfaces. Once Djoker runs acros a bomb server like Kyrgios, Karlovic and Roddick(he was a losing record against all 3 of those players), he has a challenge. Toss in Pete’s net game and the faster surfaces of that era and Novak would be in big trouble. And so would Nadal. But to be fair, Nadal and Djokovic would destroy Pete with today’s surfaces, except at Wimbledon and fast hardcourts like Cinci or Shanghai.
I think that a peak-Fed hangs with all of these guys, regardless of era. And that is what separates Fed from everybody else that I have seen.
Lord.. enough of you withholding reasoning to humans. Please enlighten such souls.
