Why is there a NEED for a GOAT

Haha, GOAT is just the evolution for fandom. In the Mac-Borg days just having a few Wimbledons/French/US opens is worthy of high praise. Then later in the Sampras/Agassi era Aus open finally became a factor plus Sampras' high slam counts = slam count is the new standard. In this day an age we have Federer and the media to thank because all the talk about being GOAT that all contenders there after have to be lump into the conversation to feel their man has worth.

Think about all the pressure right now. Stan the man has won one slam in this brutal era, dip in play just a little bit and we are already having "what is wrong with him" threads. And think of all the pressure the next generation has to deal with. Oh you won 2-3 slam and reach #1 just for one year? That's cute.
 
The worthless lives of most Federer fans and their own self worth is completely dependent on living vicariously through their heroine. They feel when he achieves something, they are achieving something, even as they pee themselves again in a nursing home/psych ward/community shelter or get a loud knock on their door at the crackhouse they live at their 220 for the month in rent is overdue. Thus for them creating a fantasy world Federer, and by extension in their own fantasy bubble they themselves are the GOAT, is the only way they can go on living. :lol: It is what gives them the power to get out of bed, pick up a spoon, occasionaly even using the bathroom on their own will, living in ephoria of thinking they are the GOAT with a glow surrounding them.

Tennis fans who aren't Federer addicts are rarely, and rarely ever were, that interested in the insistence of crowning a singular GOAT.
 
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jg153040 said:
I can ask you similar question. Why is there a need for some people to stop or ban goat discussions? A lot of people here like it and have fun. So, if you don't like it you don't need to read goat posts or respond to them. Or even you don't need to be in this forum if you don't like discussions.

Nobody is forcing anyone here, so I don't see what the problem is. Guess what I do if I don't like some discussions. I don't read or respond in those threads. Simple and this is what freedom is all about. And this is how we all can be happy.

I don't see why there is a need to try stop something, when nobody is forcing it upon you, people just have fun with it.

You would have a valid point if there was a rule that you were required to participate in goat discussions.

Live and let live.
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Then feel free to disregard this thread, as you read the title and chose to answer in a manner inconsistent to the thread is about. That's your point right?

Even in this thread people start talking about WHO's the GOAT, and it wasn't who, by why -get it? I go into threads and then which looks like full intentions of discussing something, then Type A's like you hijack it, and turn into a GOAT discussion. At which point I stop, so in some ways, yes, it does get forced upon people. If you don't see it, that's cool.

And lastly, is it fun to hurl insult at people at these threads, I don't like seeing it, and I'm sure most don't. You find it fun, congrats, you have a unique sense of humor. I say you're one of a kind... have fun with that.
 
staceyliving said:
The worthless lives of most Federer fans and their own self worth is completely dependent on living vicariously through their heroine. They feel when he achieves something, they are achieving something, even as they pee themselves again in a nursing home/psych ward/community shelter or get a loud knock on their door at the crackhouse they live at their 220 for the month in rent is overdue. Thus for them creating a fantasy world Federer, and by extension in their own fantasy bubble they themselves are the GOAT, is the only way they can go on living. :lol: It is what gives them the power to get out of bed, pick up a spoon, occasionaly even using the bathroom on their own will, living in ephoria of thinking they are the GOAT with a glow surrounding them.

Tennis fans who aren't Federer addicts are rarely, and rarely ever were, that interested in the insistence of crowning a singular GOAT.
Click to expand...

Translation :

Federer being the greatest hurts me no end.

So i cry and whine that there is no greatest. Everyone who took a racket are all equal.
 
jg153040 said:
This is semantics. Of course goat can be proven if we agree on the definition.

I mean, I can prove I'm not human and that humans don't exist if I change the definition of human.

That is what you are doing when saying goat doesn't exist. Changing the definition.

So, mostly people are arguing semantics, without even realizing. But most people agree on the definition of goat and can prove it with math.

So, we can have some objective definitions of goat. Like we have what a human is. Sure, you can come here saying being human is relative, it depends how we define a human or whether we agree on the definition. You can say, is reality even real? But, that doesn't lead to anything, so no point in having this, we will just not talk about it.

But the rest of us will use some objective stuff, some subjective, common sense and logic and try to determine who the best is. Sure, it is not perfect, but it is still good enough. Even in science there is nothing 100%.

But, just because things aren't perfect, it doesn't mean they don't work or we can't use them. Also we learn and improve.

But even if things are subjective, there are never 100% subjective. We still will find some absolutes, where we all agree. For example, I haven't seen anyone claiming Roddick is the goat for example.

Ok, my point is, while determining goat is not perfect, that doesn't mean we should stop or dismiss the notion. Sure, there is a lot of problems, but should we just stop and say there is no goat? In science we don't know exactly how the Universe came into existence. But, that doesn't mean we don't know anything or that we aren't close. We know a lot and are pretty close. A lot closer than hundred years ago.

So, I don't see why we need to just say it's impossible to know about the Universe or goat.
Click to expand...

So WHY do you feel there is a need to have one, or at least WHY do you feel there is a need to have the discussion? If for you, it could be you like discussion, then fine, say that, "I like have discussions" There are very passionate people on these boards defending, or not, who the GOAT of all time is, and my curiosity stems as to why people go to great length to try and convince people otherwise. However, I'm sure you have personally contributed your own opinion in these discussion, and not acted merely as a moderator, so again, the question is Why?
 
I'm with the OP 100%.

This used to be a place of interesting discussions about pros and well thought threads. Now everything is about "Federer vs Nadal vs Djokovic".

Even if you just say something positive or negative about one of these guys, you'll automatically be attacked by some fanboys who interpret all sorts of things into your post and of course call you a fanboy of the biggest rival of their favourite or a b***hurt fan of players of the past.

It's just so damn annoying. As if their stupid fanboy GOAT war would ever make a difference in reality (or whatever they're trying to accomplish).

There is no such thing as a GOAT. There are way too many variables to ever tell which one was clearly the best of them all. Even if we could put all these great players together in their prime to let them play a few seasons against each other, it would still be hard to say and we would also never know which great players are still to come.
 
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Sysyphus said:
This is exactly right.




Yes, and semantics is about meaning, and meaning is not exactly a trivial matter. The point is that the definitions, or premises for a GOAT-argument aren't given, objective, or something that is "out there" for us to just find. They are subjective constructs, and completely arbitrary.




He's not changing any definition, just acknowledging that such a definition isn't given, it is arbitrary.



Again, semantics isn't just some trivial matter in such a discussion. And, no, almost no one agrees completely on the definition of GOAT. Everyone weigh different feats, stats and accomplishments a little differently. Not to mention that these things change continuously between eras. So what does this show us? That definitions of GOAT-hood are subjective and arbitrary!

And even if the majority people were to mostly agree about the definition, that would not prove your point at all. This is a basic logical fallcy.



But there is no end all objective definition of animal species. When would you say that people started being human? Can one draw a line and say "this is the very first human"? No, it is just categories that makes thinking a lot easier for us, but the practicalness of such categories does not imply that there is some absolute truth or objectivity to them.
And in any case, your comparison is still not really meaningful, since fields like biology deal with describing physical properties, whereas "greatness" is just an abstract value judgement.




Again, the agreement of something does not imply some objective truth. We could collectively agree that there are only 10000 people in the world, but that wouldn't make it true.




Again, you can't really compare "goat-discussions" with natural sciences. There are plenty of things in the universe that can be described, but the goat-debate just rests on arbitrary and subjective premises. It is therefore completely meaningless.
Click to expand...

Best post in more than a year. Sadly, even though it is quite obvious, most people here will ignore it.
 
Pete.Sampras. said:
I'm with the OP 100%.

This used to be a place of interesting discussions about pros and well thought threads. Now everything is about "Federer vs Nadal vs Djokovic".

Even if you just say something positive or negative about one of these guys, you'll automatically be attacked by some fanboys who interpret all sorts of things into your post and of course call you a fanboy of the biggest rival of their favourite or a b***hurt fan of players of the past.

It's just so damn annoying. As if their stupid fanboy GOAT war would ever make a difference in reality (or whatever they're trying to accomplish).

There is no such thing as a GOAT. There are way too many variables to ever tell which one was clearly the best of them all. Even if we could put all these great players together in their prime to let them play a few seasons against each other, it would still be hard to say and we would also never know which great players are still to come.
Click to expand...

EXACTLY my point Pete.Sampras :)
 
YetAnotherFedFan said:
Two observations. If is so inane and does not matter why do you feel the need to discuss it?

Secondly, you play the reverse GOAT game in other threads. You were quite happy to speculate about how many GS's Federer might have won if so and so did such and such. Why the double standards?
Click to expand...

I was asked about how many Fed might have, first of all. Secondly, that isn't really the same as a discussion about who the GOAT is.

Thirdly, I think I already explained point number one in the previous thread. I would never seriously argue the topic but if it's the direction the board wants to go, so be it.
 
For drinking some brews and shooting the sh#t with your mates after playing 3 hours of singles tennis. Or for taking a break from work and swinging by the TT threads to find a healthy lighthearted argument to take you mind off of the real worlds effed up troubles. Beyond that serves no purpose at all.
 
staceyliving said:
The worthless lives of most Federer fans and their own self worth is completely dependent on living vicariously through their heroine. They feel when he achieves something, they are achieving something, even as they pee themselves again in a nursing home/psych ward/community shelter or get a loud knock on their door at the crackhouse they live at their 220 for the month in rent is overdue. Thus for them creating a fantasy world Federer, and by extension in their own fantasy bubble they themselves are the GOAT, is the only way they can go on living. :lol: It is what gives them the power to get out of bed, pick up a spoon, occasionaly even using the bathroom on their own will, living in ephoria of thinking they are the GOAT with a glow surrounding them.

Tennis fans who aren't Federer addicts are rarely, and rarely ever were, that interested in the insistence of crowning a singular GOAT.
Click to expand...

Despite the fact I may have a more fanatical sympathy for a certain tennis athlete, I found your post very funny.

EDIT: upon reflection you are not quite so funny, as I see you spamming the same stuff on every second post you write. Amusing the first time but a big yawn thereafter.
 
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If people suggest it is too subjective to argue the GOAT case and are stripping out the objective facts which support a case for a particular GOAT candidate then can how they categorically state that there is no GOAT when I can subjectively state that there is one?
 
Goat discussion exist in every other sports and tennis is no exception. Whether you like it or not, people will always compare athletes respect to their sport. You don't have to agree who's the goat is, but can't deny that which players are generally accepted as the greatest player of all time. Jordan, Federer, Gretzky, Graf are among the goat in their sport.
 
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When Federer was winning his 12th, 13th, 14th and so on...grand slams.... he was the GOAT.
Now that Nadal is getting closer to him "there is no need of a GOAT" :)
 
People also accept Nadal as clay GOAT and good on him, his mark on clay is truly exceptional.

But people can't accept Federer as the GOAT. Too many small minded bitter people to ever acknowledge that possibility...
 
tipsa...don'tlikehim! said:
When Federer was winning his 12th, 13th, 14th and so on...grand slams.... he was the GOAT.
Now that Nadal is getting closer to him "there is no need of a GOAT" :)
Click to expand...

The entire nonsensical GOAT discussions started off with Sampras winning his - at that time considered unbeatable - 14 GS tally.

Unfortunately the fact we are seeing already two players having easily equalled that tally within a decade did not put an end to this silliness. Unfortunately.
 
Praetorian said:
Serious question. Why do you all need to argue incessantly who the GOAT is? By the very definition alone, there can't be one until "All Time" has expired; and if you're reading this, it hasn't. So really, I'm curious to you die hard fans, what's the obsession of trying to prove why the person you support is GOAT, or the person you don't like isn't GOAT. Can't we just agree that the likes of Federer, Sampras, Nadal, are among the Greatest. I mean let's say Federer, or Nadal, or Sampras, or whoever really, has been systematically, and objectively considered the GOAT (for argument sake). What then? Will you pat your self on the back and boast how knowledgeable your are? Perhaps you have a wager? Or maybe a petulant school yard riff, "I told you so?" Or has the internet, in it's anonymity turned everyone in Type A personalities?

I mean really, almost every thread in the "General Pro Player Discussion" has turned into some kind of GOAT discussion, they should rename the section, the GOAT Discussion, and ban trolls who try to bait people in the GPPD, that's me. (yes I realize the hypocrisy, but there's no "GOAT Discussion" section as of writing)
Click to expand...
Its all good fun.
 
tipsa...don'tlikehim! said:
When Federer was winning his 12th, 13th, 14th and so on...grand slams.... he was the GOAT.
Now that Nadal is getting closer to him "there is no need of a GOAT" :)
Click to expand...

Lets say for argument sake that we could all agree there both was a GOAT and who that individual is. Would there continue to be any discussion on these boards?
 
We live in a world where we have the fastest runner, the quickest swimmer, the highest high jumper, the longest long jumper, the highest scoring cricketer, the most accurate skeet shooter, the most accomplished Olympian.

But when it comes to tennis we are stuck in a time warp where the avuncular Rod Laver remains the trump card, despite the fact that 95% of the participants on this forum have never seen the fellow play.

How crazy is that?
 
YetAnotherFedFan said:
We live in a world where we have the fastest runner, the quickest swimmer, the highest high jumper, the longest long jumper, the highest scoring cricketer, the most accurate skeet shooter, the most accomplished Olympian.

But when it comes to tennis we are stuck in a time warp where the avuncular Rod Laver remains the trump card, despite the fact that 95% of the participants on this forum have never seen the fellow play.

How crazy is that?
Click to expand...

We have the fastest server. Isn't that enough? ;-)
 
Sysyphus said:
We have the fastest server. Isn't that enough? ;-)
Click to expand...

Well you've got a sense of humour and I like your name. But I feel I am pushing the rock up the wretched hill to have you kick it down Buster!
 
YetAnotherFedFan said:
We live in a world where we have the fastest runner, the quickest swimmer, the highest high jumper, the longest long jumper, the highest scoring cricketer, the most accurate skeet shooter, the most accomplished Olympian.

But when it comes to tennis we are stuck in a time warp where the avuncular Rod Laver remains the trump card, despite the fact that 95% of the participants on this forum have never seen the fellow play.

How crazy is that?
Click to expand...

Awww but there are many sports (or games) in this world. So your initial list, while seemingly long, is still a very small percentage. BTW one of your references is incorrect. The long jump WR is still held by Mike Powell, from way back in 1991, yet he is not even considered a top 10 long jumper of all time, while Carl Lewis who never got the WR is considered by nearly all in track in field the greatest long jumper ever still today.

The worlds best ever golfer was someone whose career was predominantly the 60s and 70s.

The worlds ever race car driver died over 20 years ago.

The worlds best cyclist was at his peak at around the same time as Laver.

The worlds best ever soccer player as well.

The worlds best ever hockey skater, hockey goaltender, basketball player, pitcher in baseball, slugger in baseball (discounting the meaningless proven druggies), all did not even play in the current century.

The best ever winter Olympic and speed skater was from 35 years ago.

The best football player in history was at his peak over 20 years ago now.

and so on. :)

btw the current WR holders in the high jump and pole vault are not considered the best ever in those particular event either. You wont find anyone in track and field who calls the current WR holder in those events greater than say Sergei Bubka, just as even if the WR long jumper was current, he would be rated as clearly inferior to Carl Lewis by all, unless he dominated for 16 years in the event like Lewis did. Of course the current will always be better in the sense they are faster, higher, higher MPH, faster time, since that is how things always go in sports. That is not how you accurately judge and compare players though. How great each player was within their own era is the only accurate measure of comparision and it is why players like Laver and Gonzales who were the worlds best for 7 or 8 years (even longer than either Sampras or Federer ever were) and achieved all the things they did, still have valid GOAT claims. If overall highest MPH of shot (along lines with saying the WR holder in a timed sport is automatically GOAT) was the determining factor to be GOAT like the WR in high jump or long jump supposably were, then that would be mean Cilic, Wawrinka, or Gulbis is the GOAT anyway. :lol:
 
staceyliving said:
Awww but there are many sports (or games) in this world. So your initial list, while seemingly long, is still a very small percentage. BTW one of your references is incorrect. The long jump WR is still held by Mike Powell, from way back in 1991, yet he is not even considered a top 10 long jumper of all time, while Carl Lewis who never got the WR is considered by nearly all in track in field the greatest long jumper ever still today.

The worlds best ever golfer was someone whose career was predominantly the 60s and 70s.

The worlds ever race car driver died over 20 years ago.

The worlds best cyclist was at his peak at around the same time as Laver.

The worlds best ever soccer player as well.

The worlds best ever hockey skater, hockey goaltender, basketball player, pitcher in baseball, slugger in baseball (discounting the meaningless proven druggies), all did not even play in the current century.

The best ever winter Olympic and speed skater was from 35 years ago.

The best football player in history was at his peak over 20 years ago now.

and so on. :)

btw the current WR holders in the high jump and pole vault are not considered the best ever in those particular event either. You wont find anyone in track and field who calls the current WR holder in those events greater than say Sergei Bubka, just as even if the WR long jumper was current, he would be rated as clearly inferior to Carl Lewis by all, unless he dominated for 16 years in the event like Lewis did. Of course the current will always be better in the sense they are faster, higher, higher MPH, faster time, since that is how things always go in sports. That is not how you accurately judge and compare players though. How great each player was within their own era is the only accurate measure of comparision and it is why players like Laver and Gonzales who were the worlds best for 7 or 8 years (even longer than either Sampras or Federer ever were) and achieved all the things they did, still have valid GOAT claims. If overall highest MPH of shot (along lines with saying the WR holder in a timed sport is automatically GOAT) was the determining factor to be GOAT like the WR in high jump or long jump supposably were, then that would be mean Cilic, Wawrinka, or Gulbis is the GOAT anyway. :lol:
Click to expand...


You show 'em Stacey....

Though it is comforting that you accept there is grounds for a GOAT. Even your tiresome long bloated post opens the door for measuring tennis greatness in the 5th sentence of the last paragraph.
 
staceyliving said:
Awww but there are many sports (or games) in this world. So your initial list, while seemingly long, is still a very small percentage. BTW one of your references is incorrect. The long jump WR is still held by Mike Powell, from way back in 1991, yet he is not even considered a top 10 long jumper of all time, while Carl Lewis who never got the WR is considered by nearly all in track in field the greatest long jumper ever still today.

The worlds best ever golfer was someone whose career was predominantly the 60s and 70s.

The worlds ever race car driver died over 20 years ago.

The worlds best cyclist was at his peak at around the same time as Laver.

The worlds best ever soccer player as well.

The worlds best ever hockey skater, hockey goaltender, basketball player, pitcher in baseball, slugger in baseball (discounting the meaningless proven druggies), all did not even play in the current century.

The best ever winter Olympic and speed skater was from 35 years ago.

The best football player in history was at his peak over 20 years ago now.

and so on. :)

btw the current WR holders in the high jump and pole vault are not considered the best ever in those particular event either. You wont find anyone in track and field who calls the current WR holder in those events greater than say Sergei Bubka, just as even if the WR long jumper was current, he would be rated as clearly inferior to Carl Lewis by all, unless he dominated for 16 years in the event like Lewis did. Of course the current will always be better in the sense they are faster, higher, higher MPH, faster time, since that is how things always go in sports. That is not how you accurately judge and compare players though. How great each player was within their own era is the only accurate measure of comparision and it is why players like Laver and Gonzales who were the worlds best for 7 or 8 years (even longer than either Sampras or Federer ever were) and achieved all the things they did, still have valid GOAT claims. If overall highest MPH of shot (along lines with saying the WR holder in a timed sport is automatically GOAT) was the determining factor to be GOAT like the WR in high jump or long jump supposably were, then that would be mean Cilic, Wawrinka, or Gulbis is the GOAT anyway. :lol:
Click to expand...


staceyliving, as you see, you will not receive a rational reply to those who drink from the well of Federer delusion. That is the nature of their posts: flame, deny, or (eventually) post trivia lists while dodging historic achievements Federer would not win at his best.
 
Praetorian said:
Serious question. Why do you all need to argue incessantly who the GOAT is? By the very definition alone, there can't be one until "All Time" has expired; and if you're reading this, it hasn't. So really, I'm curious to you die hard fans, what's the obsession of trying to prove why the person you support is GOAT, or the person you don't like isn't GOAT. Can't we just agree that the likes of Federer, Sampras, Nadal, are among the Greatest. I mean let's say Federer, or Nadal, or Sampras, or whoever really, has been systematically, and objectively considered the GOAT (for argument sake). What then? Will you pat your self on the back and boast how knowledgeable your are? Perhaps you have a wager? Or maybe a petulant school yard riff, "I told you so?" Or has the internet, in it's anonymity turned everyone in Type A personalities?

I mean really, almost every thread in the "General Pro Player Discussion" has turned into some kind of GOAT discussion, they should rename the section, the GOAT Discussion, and ban trolls who try to bait people in the GPPD, that's me. (yes I realize the hypocrisy, but there's no "GOAT Discussion" section as of writing)
Click to expand...

Never got that obsession either ... Settled for GOHT(as in his/her time) a long time ago.

As far as I'm concerned, there's no such thing as 'GOAT' ... Unless of course, we're talking about the animal;)
 
staceyliving said:
Awww but there are many sports (or games) in this world. So your initial list, while seemingly long, is still a very small percentage. BTW one of your references is incorrect. The long jump WR is still held by Mike Powell, from way back in 1991, yet he is not even considered a top 10 long jumper of all time, while Carl Lewis who never got the WR is considered by nearly all in track in field the greatest long jumper ever still today.

The worlds best ever golfer was someone whose career was predominantly the 60s and 70s.

The worlds ever race car driver died over 20 years ago.

The worlds best cyclist was at his peak at around the same time as Laver.

The worlds best ever soccer player as well.

The worlds best ever hockey skater, hockey goaltender, basketball player, pitcher in baseball, slugger in baseball (discounting the meaningless proven druggies), all did not even play in the current century.

The best ever winter Olympic and speed skater was from 35 years ago.

The best football player in history was at his peak over 20 years ago now.

and so on. :)

btw the current WR holders in the high jump and pole vault are not considered the best ever in those particular event either. You wont find anyone in track and field who calls the current WR holder in those events greater than say Sergei Bubka, just as even if the WR long jumper was current, he would be rated as clearly inferior to Carl Lewis by all, unless he dominated for 16 years in the event like Lewis did. Of course the current will always be better in the sense they are faster, higher, higher MPH, faster time, since that is how things always go in sports. That is not how you accurately judge and compare players though. How great each player was within their own era is the only accurate measure of comparision and it is why players like Laver and Gonzales who were the worlds best for 7 or 8 years (even longer than either Sampras or Federer ever were) and achieved all the things they did, still have valid GOAT claims. If overall highest MPH of shot (along lines with saying the WR holder in a timed sport is automatically GOAT) was the determining factor to be GOAT like the WR in high jump or long jump supposably were, then that would be mean Cilic, Wawrinka, or Gulbis is the GOAT anyway. :lol:
Click to expand...


I was a tired fisherman last night and didn't have the energy to see what I had caught. I was hoping an articulate lobster would fall into my trap, but had to be satisfied with a small prawn. Even they taste good when grilled.

I stand corrected on Powell thank you. Shumacher may have something to say about Senna. Merx was a doper. Messi and Ronaldo are currently breaking all the records. International football had more weight in the 60's but club football is what it is all about these days.

It's the Jack Nicklaus example which wins the day though. He is considered the greatest, because guess what he won the most amount of majors!! Therefore you are also inferring that Federer by proxy is the greatest!!

You have unwittingly, as a consequence of your hatred, made a compelling case for Federer's GOAT status. You truly deserve a special place in the echelons of TTW trolls!
 
Wrong again

THUNDERVOLLEY said:
Yes, and the supreme achievement--the Grand Slam--is the hallmark of GOAT Laver.
Click to expand...

The supreme achievements are based on the following:

* Number of Major Titles won
* Overall performance at Grand Slam Events
* Player Ranking
* Performance at ATP/WTA events
* Performance(Win/loss record) at Davis & Fed Cup events
* Records held or broken
* Intangibles(contribution to tennis)



1. Federer
2. Laver
3a. Nadal
3b. Sampras
5. Borg

1. Graf
2. Navratilova
3. Chris Evert
4. Serena
5. Court
 
How about "The Player with the Greatest Achievement in Overall Categories and Grand Slam Titles since the Open Era"

Or just GOAT for short?

p.s. To answer the OP's question, the concept of GOAT inherently means "GOAT" at the time of press, and for the foreseeable short-term future.

Nobody here lives forever, so we're all about short-term accomplishment by necessity.
 
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If Rafa stays injury free in the next 4 years or so, I think this whole debate would look somewhat different then
 
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
Yes, and the supreme achievement--the Grand Slam--is the hallmark of GOAT Laver.
Click to expand...


No, the CYGS is an outstanding record that occurred in one year. Incidentally Federer was two sets away from the CYGS in two years and three sets away in another year. Nadal was 6 sets away from it once, so if that is your benchmark for greatness then Nadal is many leagues behind Federer and even behind Djokovic who was only 5 sets away from it.

In the amateur era Rod Laver played retired gym teachers and country club enthusiasts in the first 3 rounds of so called GS'. Rod Laver was in many ways the best of his generation but he is a long, long way from being the GOAT.

In the modern world, of which you and I are living in, tennis has been truly professionalised. Tennis players today in the top 150 can dedicate their lives to tennis and don't need to be come accountants and doctors to finance their enthusiasm for tennis. The field is much deeper today, millions of people play tennis, we have continued to evolve physically over the last 50 years. The GOAT is still playing tennis, indeed even adding to his titles and even threatening a major ranking upset.

Allez Roger Federer!

EDIT: Federer was actually for 3 years only two sets away from winning CYGS in 06 07 09. Nadal was nine sets away in 2010.
 
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