Why is everyone in the establishment so respectful to Federer?

sureshs

Bionic Poster
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two. It is always couched as "we are blessed to see these two play each other", "great champions are like this", "it will be a dream matchup", "regardless of who wins we are in for some great tennis" etc etc. And Federer's few miraculous strokes, which probably went in by accident, are glorified, while his shanks and weak pushes are never discussed.

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?
 
They are respectful of him because he has accomplished virtually all possible things in this sport, dominating two surfaces and being the 2nd best of his era on his weakest surface. They generally don't think Nadal is the outright better player because he hasn't proven it to anyone (yet).

As for the shanks, yeah, people don't discuss that as much as they should. His backhand is so much less reliable now than it was in his dominant period. But really, people remember him for the period when his "miracle" "lucky" shots you discuss were the standard in every match. And what's wrong with appreciating a match between two players who will be top 5 all time?
 
Last edited:
Same reason commentators don't say Woods is better than Jack Nicklaus. You have to respect the dinosaurs.

According to this logic, Sampras should be given more respect than Federer. But that's clearly not the case, and the difference is that Federer is the all-time slam king over Sampras, whereas Woods is not the all-time major king over Nicklaus.
 
Same reason commentators don't say Woods is better than Jack Nicklaus. You have to respect the dinosaurs.

And when Woody retires, they will respect him all the time and his "adventures" won't be mentioned.

Seems to me sports is a very hierarchical structure where being respectful is rewarded. There are questions you must never raise. You pay your dues, and then the next batch pays its dues to you.

Also, I think tennis is still dominated by the older generation who secretely like wood racquets and 1-handed backhands and identify with Federer. They won't accept that the game has moved on.
 
Learn to appreciate legends while they are still playing. Your going to regret you will never see such a player maybe ever again. Appreciate them. I'm in awe of both Federer and Nadal. I wont go trashing Nadal when he is close to end of his storied career.
 
According to this logic, Sampras should be given more respect than Federer. But that's clearly not the case, and the difference is that Federer is the all-time slam king over Sampras, whereas Woods is not the all-time major king over Nicklaus.

But Woods would demolish Nicklaus in their respective primes. That's not really disputable.

I would never say Federer's win over Gonzalez, Philippousis, Roddick, Hewitt and freakin Baghdadis are the same as Sampras's wins over greats like Agassi, Courier, Becker and Rafter. Achievements are like statistics. They lie.
 
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two. It is always couched as "we are blessed to see these two play each other", "great champions are like this", "it will be a dream matchup", "regardless of who wins we are in for some great tennis" etc etc. And Federer's few miraculous strokes, which probably went in by accident, are glorified, while his shanks and weak pushes are never discussed.

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?
Simmer down. Fed still leads the hard court H2H with Nadal. So understandably, the pundits are not going to put the cart before the horse and say something stupid as "Nadal is better".

Why is everyone in the establishment so respectful to Federer?
Why are *******s everything that Nadal isn't? (stupid, jealous, paranoid whinge-poles)?
.
 
Last edited:
Ture.

I remember Cahill talking with, I think, Carillo on one of his matches this FO.
" ....everything about him is high class..." Cahill was saying.

That's why.
 
But Woods would demolish Nicklaus in their respective primes. That's not really disputable.

I would never say Federer's win over Gonzalez, Philippousis, Roddick, Hewitt and freakin Baghdadis are the same as Sampras's wins over greats like Agassi, Courier, Becker and Rafter. Achievements are like statistics. They lie.

Looks like you don't seem to think Nadal is any good...but anyway, you can always leave out good players from one guy's list and leave out bad players from another guy's list to make one or the other look bad.
 
Yeah Federer is considered classy. The stylish guy, the James Bond of tennis, the guy with big ego whom no one wants to see lose. Nadal is the opposite.
 
Why don't you guys chill out it is possible to like both these players. I bet they both appreciate each other more than some of you people Trashing the other.
 
Why don't you guys chill out it is possible to like both these players. I bet they both appreciate each other more than some of you people Trashing the other.

No, I dont think they apperciate each other more. Each of them is better off if the other leaves the scene. Nadal would have 2 more and Rodge would have 4-5 more majors?

Sure it's possible to like both. There are things I like about Nadal. One is to be successful with pure will power when you are not that gifted.
I cant think of anything else for now... but could be more..
 
Federer plays in the traditional way and is excellent at it. That is why the tennis establishment likes him so much. Nadal plays in the gladitorial, get your hands dirty, kind of way. That appeals more to the youth and to rebels than to the establishment.

Federer is art. Nadal is fight. The preference is entirely subjective.
 
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two. It is always couched as "we are blessed to see these two play each other", "great champions are like this", "it will be a dream matchup", "regardless of who wins we are in for some great tennis" etc etc. And Federer's few miraculous strokes, which probably went in by accident, are glorified, while his shanks and weak pushes are never discussed.

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?

because he has won the real slam ( cincy ) 4 times and nadal has not even reached the finals there ? :lol:

Today's semifinals feature the top 4 players. Unlike the last 2 "Slams". I contend that whoever wins here is the real #1 and the GOAT. I have a feeling it won't be the guy with the elegant strokes.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=282818&highlight=real+slam
 
Yeah Federer is considered classy. The stylish guy, the James Bond of tennis, the guy with big ego whom no one wants to see lose. Nadal is the opposite.
So you're saying that everyone wants to see Nadal lose? Not that I'm disagreeing..... :)
 
Most aesthetically pleasing game combined with more accomplishments than anyone as well as a nice, non-confrontational personality. His peak was probably the highest level of tennis the sport has ever seen.
 
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two. It is always couched as "we are blessed to see these two play each other", "great champions are like this", "it will be a dream matchup", "regardless of who wins we are in for some great tennis" etc etc. And Federer's few miraculous strokes, which probably went in by accident, are glorified, while his shanks and weak pushes are never discussed.

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?

(SIGH)


Maybe THEY don't believe Nadal is the better of the two. You don't think we are lucky to see these two play? I do. It's great tennis.

I'm sure they have mentioned Federer's weaknesses from time to time. The guy has won 16 (whoops 18 Cinn.) GS. I think he's earned some respect. Think of how difficult it is to win 3 out of 5 sets for 7 matches against the top pros these days. What kind of fitness that takes. Pretty good to me.
 
I love Nadal and think he is a class act but his fans are ********. Reminds me of guys who have some sort of inferiority complex even when they are doing pretty well.

I shouldn't generalize I mean some of his crazy fans....
 
Why don't you guys chill out it is possible to like both these players. I bet they both appreciate each other more than some of you people Trashing the other.

That is exactly the nonsense that I keep hearing. They "respect each other" and "push each other". No they don't. Nadal does not think much of Fed's game at all but won't say it in public. Fed is scared of Nadal but won't say it in public. That is the truth.
 
But Woods would demolish Nicklaus in their respective primes. That's not really disputable.

I would never say Federer's win over Gonzalez, Philippousis, Roddick, Hewitt and freakin Baghdadis are the same as Sampras's wins over greats like Agassi, Courier, Becker and Rafter. Achievements are like statistics. They lie.

So apparently Nadal's achievements over the same players that Federer has beaten aren't in the same league as Sampras.
 
Yeah, it looks like Nadal's 2010 RG and Wimbledon titles are "weak" since he didn't do them against greats. On the contrary, though, Nadal deserves those titles for playing GREAT for seven consecutive matches like in any major. The same is true for Federer in 2007 AO, etc. He played his best tennis and no one else would have beaten him had they faced him.
 
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two. It is always couched as "we are blessed to see these two play each other", "great champions are like this", "it will be a dream matchup", "regardless of who wins we are in for some great tennis" etc etc. And Federer's few miraculous strokes, which probably went in by accident, are glorified, while his shanks and weak pushes are never discussed.

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?

Tennis is not partisan politics (or professional wrestling), where the point of the commentary is debate and antagonism. The "talking heads" are former players themselves, and they have nothing but respect and admiration for Federer's accomplishments. He's set dozens of records, raised the profile of the sport, and become its most internationally celebrated star in 30 years.

Any living legend in any sport gets this respect, past their prime or no. Brett Favre, Wayne Gretzky, Martina Navratilova, Nolan Ryan...ever hear a broadcaster say a bad word about any of them late in their careers?
 
I love Nadal and think he is a class act but his fans are ********. Reminds me of guys who have some sort of inferiority complex even when they are doing pretty well.

True, there are a lot of "********" Nadal "fans" but guess what, since Nadal has come on the scene, he has been put down by ...drumroll... fed fans, who couldn't stand that there is/was ONE GUY that could challenge Roger. I've heard it all from this lot, from roid monkey, topspin monkey(notice the racist undertones), buttpicker, he pumps his fist too much, moonballer, attacks on his uncle and coach, his lack of english skills, attacks on his countrymen just cause Nadal beats them etc. I could go on forever.

Not to mention all of these fed fans who fancied themselves as "real tennis fans" wouldn't recognize Nadal's greatness and only put Fed's defeats at his hands down to his leftyness, fed's mental strain against him, coaching from his uncle from the stands and other similarly silly factors. Basically according to them Nadal had no say in his matches with Fed and it was Fed who always let him of the hook by squandering BP's. Nadal just got lucky 14 times. I have seen some fed fans, on other forums, that have recognized Rafa's greatness only after his 8th slam despite the fact that Rafa has been a living legend for quite some time now.

These fedal wars are moronic, there are two sides to a very stupid coin. Nadal fans try to pump Rafa's status up(as if he needs that) by denigrating Fed's achievements forgetting that Rafa played against the same field(but with weaker results, especially on HC) and Fed fans try to bring Nadal down just cause he beats Fed, not wondering how the hell did the GOAT lose to this buttpicker moonballer clown 14 times and in six GS finals, on three surfaces. It's funny in a way cause both of the **** camps are dead without eachother.
 
Because Fed really is great... JMac will say "nobody _______ like Rafa" Nobody includes Fed. As of right now, fed does stand above everyone else.
 
True, there are a lot of "********" Nadal "fans" but guess what, since Nadal has come on the scene, he has been put down by ...drumroll... fed fans, who couldn't stand that there is/was ONE GUY that could challenge Roger. I've heard it all from this lot, from roid monkey, topspin monkey(notice the racist undertones), buttpicker, he pumps his fist too much, moonballer, attacks on his uncle and coach, his lack of english skills, attacks on his countrymen just cause Nadal beats them etc. I could go on forever.

Not to mention all of these fed fans who fancied themselves as "real tennis fans" wouldn't recognize Nadal's greatness and only put Fed's defeats at his hands down to his leftyness, fed's mental strain against him, coaching from his uncle from the stands and other similarly silly factors. Basically according to them Nadal had no say in his matches with Fed and it was Fed who always let him of the hook by squandering BP's. Nadal just got lucky 14 times. I have seen some fed fans, on other forums, that have recognized Rafa's greatness only after his 8th slam despite the fact that Rafa has been a living legend for quite some time now.

These fedal wars are moronic, there are two sides to a very stupid coin. Nadal fans try to pump Rafa's status up(as if he needs that) by denigrating Fed's achievements forgetting that Rafa played against the same field(but with weaker results, especially on HC) and Fed fans try to bring Nadal down just cause he beats Fed, not wondering how the hell did the GOAT lose to this buttpicker moonballer clown 14 times and in six GS finals, on three surfaces. It's funny in a way cause both of the **** camps are dead without eachother.

Amen to that!
 
Yeah Federer is considered classy. The stylish guy, the James Bond of tennis, the guy with big ego whom no one wants to see lose. Nadal is the opposite.

Oh suresh you are so asking to end up with your foot in your mouth! What is Nadal? unclassy? A guy with a small ego that everyone wants to see lose? Not even sure what the opposite of james bond is. lol.
 
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two......

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?

Jmac and BG give Nadal his due. They admire him more than the Crying Swiss Pansy and rightfully so :) .
 
Oh suresh you are so asking to end up with your foot in your mouth! What is Nadal? unclassy? A guy with a small ego that everyone wants to see lose? Not even sure what the opposite of james bond is. lol.

Opposite of James Bond would be King Kong
 
Yeah Federer is considered classy. The stylish guy, the James Bond of tennis, the guy with big ego whom no one wants to see lose. Nadal is the opposite.

Sure he is....I mean just look at last night, all three commentators mentioned him talking and receiving signals from his uncle. It's while goofs praise him for his toughness yet he goes to papa whenever in trouble.
Pathetic, laughable class.
 
Sure he is....I mean just look at last night, all three commentators mentioned him talking and receiving signals from his uncle. It's while goofs praise him for his toughness yet he goes to papa whenever in trouble.
Pathetic, laughable class.

True, nadal is known for being a mental midget.

He surely needed signals from toni's cap to beat another mental midget, verdasco.
 
True, nadal is known for being a mental midget.

He surely needed signals from toni's cap to beat another mental midget, verdasco.

Well, The clear truth is that he has done it repeatedly and has even received warning for it. Whether he needed it or didnt does not change the fact.
And that's low class.
 
Federer plays in the traditional way and is excellent at it. That is why the tennis establishment likes him so much. Nadal plays in the gladitorial, get your hands dirty, kind of way. That appeals more to the youth and to rebels than to the establishment.

Federer is art. Nadal is fight. The preference is entirely subjective.

Interesting perspective though it would be nice if Nadal didn't take it to a literal level when we say "get your hands dirty".
 
But Woods would demolish Nicklaus in their respective primes. That's not really disputable.

I would never say Federer's win over Gonzalez, Philippousis, Roddick, Hewitt and freakin Baghdadis are the same as Sampras's wins over greats like Agassi, Courier, Becker and Rafter. Achievements are like statistics. They lie.

What about Sampras' wins over Moya? Pioline (2x), Todd Martin? Hmmm????

Then again, there are some Fed achievements you didn't list. Like a French Open title? How many of those did Sampras win? Or how many French finals did Pete get to?

Consecutive Wimbledon titles for Pete? Consecutive US Open titles for Pete?
 
Both have amazing records but I think most tennis minds know that what Federer brought to the game, the mixture of power and grace, the composure, his ability to look effortless , the intellect of his game are more appreciated and more difficult to duplicate.
 
That is exactly the nonsense that I keep hearing. They "respect each other" and "push each other". No they don't. Nadal does not think much of Fed's game at all but won't say it in public. Fed is scared of Nadal but won't say it in public. That is the truth.

And the source of this...truth would be.......
 
Because he has earned it.

BAM!!!!!!!!!

And to the OP BG said the other day that if Nadal beats Fed @ USO "No one can tell me Nadal isnt better." or something along those lines.

To make a thread like this u would have to watch every second of every broadcast of the talking heads u are referring to. Generalizing makes u look stupid and inexperienced.
 
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two. It is always couched as "we are blessed to see these two play each other", "great champions are like this", "it will be a dream matchup", "regardless of who wins we are in for some great tennis" etc etc. And Federer's few miraculous strokes, which probably went in by accident, are glorified, while his shanks and weak pushes are never discussed.

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?
Simply because he's the greatest that ever played. Not perfect, but still the greatest. Like it or not, he has the numbers and records to prove it. Plus he is very classy, with fluid strokes and an uncanny capacity to remain calm and composed in big situations. His movement is also excellent, because he makes it look easy and graceful. Nadal has an edge over him because he's an amazing player in his own right and has a lefty's forehand that naturally goes high on Fed's 1HBH.
 
But Woods would demolish Nicklaus in their respective primes. That's not really disputable.

I would never say Federer's win over Gonzalez, Philippousis, Roddick, Hewitt and freakin Baghdadis are the same as Sampras's wins over greats like Agassi, Courier, Becker and Rafter. Achievements are like statistics. They lie.

gonzalez? hahahaha. you dont know what you're talking about. he was playing amazing that tournament, he would've beaten any of those guys you listed. gonzo had one of the toughest draws ever and came through it dropping a couple sets, and he completely demolished nadal. baghdatis is the only guy who deserves to be on that list, the rest are great players. and good job listing hewitt and philippousis, two players who beat sampras in straight sets in a slam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noD-RnmYQcs

enjoy
 
I mean, all the commentators and talking heads on TV will never openly say that Nadal is outright the better of the two. It is always couched as "we are blessed to see these two play each other", "great champions are like this", "it will be a dream matchup", "regardless of who wins we are in for some great tennis" etc etc. And Federer's few miraculous strokes, which probably went in by accident, are glorified, while his shanks and weak pushes are never discussed.

Why this hero worship? Are they afraid of losing their jobs if they say anything against Federer?

Will you promise to become a ******* if Federer beats Nadal in the final?
 
Back
Top