Roger Federer is NOT the Best Ever

Ok I wasn't planning on writing about tennis again so soon, but I feel as though I need to get this off my chest. Roger Federer is NOT the greatest tennis player ever. Just because he won the French Open does not make him the best ever. Sure, on paper you can definitely make an argument for him. He has made it to 20 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals, which is unprecedented. He is also now tied with Pete Sampras for most Grand Slam titles with 14. He won the French Open this year to complete his career Grand Slam of winning them all. at the age of 27 (turning 28 in August). He is still in his prime and definitely has at least 2 more years of prime tennis left in him before we begin to see any small decline. On paper you can definitely make a case for him being the best of all time. But tennis is not played on paper it's played on the court.

All these tennis critics calling Federer the best of all time because he won this tournament seem to be ignoring the elephant in the room. Sure he won the tournament. His opponent was on a roll and playing the best tennis of his career. Then Robin Soderling remembered he was Robin Soderling and completely crumbled into a shell of the player we saw just a week before take out Nadal. It was obvious his nerves got to him as he had never been to a final in a Grand Slam, but hey, Roger Federer did what he was supposed to do.

So my question is this. Can you call someone the greatest player of all time in their sport if their is one guy that has his number? Back when Michael Jordan was playing we already knew he was the best of all time and it still holds true today. If you could take anyone on your basketball team for one game isn't almost everyone taking Jordan? If you had to pick a golfer to win a major tournament aren't most people taking Tiger? Which brings me back to my original question. If there was a tennis match on a major stage and you had first pick of your tennis player and your buddy had second do you think most people would take Roger? If you do take Roger you know your buddy is taking Nadal. Would you really feel confident in your pick now?

Rafael Nadal has won three different Grand Slam titles (6 in all) with the exception of the U.S. Open. If he wins that tournament this year then he will already have a career Grand Slam at the young age of 23 (which he just turned a week ago). Not to mention he is still ranked #1 in the world! If Rafael Nadal never came around we would all be in agreement that Federer is the greatest of all time, but as the old adage goes, to be the best you have to beat the best. So until Federer shows he is better than Nadal on the big stage while they are both in the prime of their careers, then this best ever discussion should remain on hold.