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Post by AustinHoya03 on Jun 7, 2009 12:59:50 GMT -5
Is Roger the G.O.A.T.?
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RDF
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 8,835
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Post by RDF on Jun 7, 2009 14:19:12 GMT -5
I think the #1 thing to support Federer's claim--the 20 STRAIGHT Semifinals he's reached in Grand Slams--which is still going now. That is ridiculous and I don't care what era or sport we're talking about. To keep getting to the last weekend of a Slam is unbelievable consistency. As for GOAT status--he's still got formidable years left, so let's see how many more championships he can rack up and how long this streak continues--because that is up there with Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak in my opinion. For an indvidual sport athlete to be that consistent for 5 straight years with everyone gunning for him--one of the more impressive stats you can put out there.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,487
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jun 7, 2009 14:22:24 GMT -5
Not many arguments can be made against it right now. The win is a nice cap since he's now won them all AND won the most (a star-spangled gut punch equalling Andre and Pete in one swoop).
But the 20 semis in a row (Rafa's high is 5, Andre's was 4, Pete's was 3) and getting to the final of each of the majors at least 4 times (Lendl and Agassi are second with at least two at each) are what seals it.
Here's how you know a guy is the greatest of all-time. He ONLY won one of the last 4 majors and was runner-up in the other three and heading into the tournament the talk is of his "sharp decline."
If anything, Rafa's human #1 in the world display (Sampras or Agassi got bounced by no-names semi-routinely) highlighted how good Fed is.
So yes, he is. And with the pressure off it will be interesting to see if he can add to the stack.
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Post by jgalt on Jun 7, 2009 19:33:28 GMT -5
He probably is, like 99% definately is. Beating Nadal in next years French Final would guarantee it. I dont really like that logic but considering how dominant Rafa is on clay except for just this clay season it would be hard to say Federer is the greatest ever with out beating the best clay player of the day. Of course if they never have an oportunity to meat in the French final again, then that wont mean Federer can not be the goat, just there could a reasonable case made against it.
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The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
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Post by The Stig on Jun 7, 2009 19:51:54 GMT -5
I don't think that Federer has to be GOAT on every surface to be GOAT overall. Nadal could well be one of the best ever on clay. Federer is clearly #2 to him, and there's no shame in that.
For that matter, I think Nadal might still be the best player in the world at the moment, but Federer is still the best ever when you consider his career.
Either way, the guy is absolutely tremendous. His game is beautiful to watch. When he's at his best it's absolute tennis perfection. It's hard to imagine the game being played any better. And to top it off, he's a tremendous class act, just like a tennis champion should be. Pete Sampras will always be #1 in my heart, but Federer really tennis at its best in every way.
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 10,441
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Post by hoyarooter on Jun 8, 2009 11:37:26 GMT -5
Being a geezer, I still vote for Rod Laver. Back in the day, when a player turned pro he couldn't play in the grand slam tournaments any longer. It's hard to imagine how many majors Laver would have won playing under today's rules. That said, Federer still has a great argument, and I agree with RDF that his 20 semis in a row streak is amazing.
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