Federer 'the complete player'

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Federer 'the complete player'; says Roche
Topic Started: Jan 31 2009, 07:34 AM (186 Views)
Mao	Jan 31 2009, 07:34 AM Post #1
Brett Forsyth ftfw Posts: 50,503 Group: Full Member Member #306 Joined: 27 June 2006	“At the moment, he's one of the greatest players of all time and, if he stays healthy and continues to win grand slams, he'll go down as the greatest player,'' Roche said. “It's probably just a matter of time before he breaks Sampras's record.'' Roche lauded Federer as the complete player and, fittingly on the 40th anniversary of Rod Laver's 1969 grand slam sweep, likened the Swiss ace to the Rockhampton Rocket. “He plays the game the way it should be played,'' Roche said. “He's got all the shots; he's got variation. He can slice, he can volley, he mixes it up well. “He's a great mover; he's got beautiful balance. He's smart; his court craft is very good. “And also his temperament. I think that helps him a lot. He seems to be quite calm and collected in tough situations. “And like all champions, he plays his best when he needs to.'' Roche, who coached the 27-year-old for from 2005-07, during which the Swiss ace collected six majors, said the French Open remained the long-time former world No.1's last frontier. “He'd love to win the French. If he can achieve that, he's definitely the greatest player that's ever lived,'' Roche said. And the 1966 French champion believes Federer, a three-times runner-up to Nadal at Roland Garros, has the game to triumph in Paris. “He's played some good matches against Nadal on clay,'' Roche said. “I remember in Rome a couple of years ago he pushed him to five sets, had match points. He beat him in Hamburg. “He struggles a little bit in Paris but I think it's just maybe the conditions need to be in Roger's favour - with the weather and the climate. “If that happens, yeah, it's possible.'' --------- And, in the ultimate accolade, Roche - who also has coached fellow world No.1s Pat Rafter and Ivan Lendl and now mentors Lleyton Hewitt - said Federer was the one modern-day player he'd love to have seen taken on Laver in his prime. “He is the one player playing the game today that you could put a wooden racquet in his hand and he'd probably play just as well,'' he said. “It would be a good match.''



Phat	Feb 2 2009, 03:12 AM Post #2
Reporters I like: Joel Duffman, the Newsly Times Posts: 19,593 Group: Full Member Member #1,039 Joined: 5 June 2007	I can't believe how these accolades keep flowing for Federer ata time where he's clearly not the best in the world at the moment, let alone of all time. He is a super player and they may well be right, but isn't it strange how the moment a genuinely world class challenger arises, Federer's dominance diminishes? Compare the guys Federer has been beating to get to his current level and compare it to the guys Sapras had to beat and there IS no comparison.



Macka	Feb 2 2009, 07:02 AM Post #3
The Mack truck full of Loooove Posts: 16,134 Group: Full Member Member #282 Joined: 25 June 2006	Federer was Mr perfect. Nadal is a superman. Clearly the greatest tennis anyone will ever see.



Mao	Feb 2 2009, 08:57 AM Post #4
Brett Forsyth ftfw Posts: 50,503 Group: Full Member Member #306 Joined: 27 June 2006	Phat Feb 2 2009, 03:12 AM I can't believe how these accolades keep flowing for Federer ata time where he's clearly not the best in the world at the moment, let alone of all time. He is a super player and they may well be right, but isn't it strange how the moment a genuinely world class challenger arises, Federer's dominance diminishes? Compare the guys Federer has been beating to get to his current level and compare it to the guys Sapras had to beat and there IS no comparison. Michael Chang ftw :agree: However, i think its unfair to compare because how do we know that the people Sampras played was better than who Fed played? how would Sampras go on the slower courts nowadays? particularly Wimbledon.... its a joke :nono: and i dont think Sampras was #1 for all his time.... just like Fed isnt #1 now



Mao	Feb 2 2009, 09:14 AM Post #5
Brett Forsyth ftfw Posts: 50,503 Group: Full Member Member #306 Joined: 27 June 2006	If Nadal can get a US Open in his lifetime he will have a 'career grand slam' (Roland Garros, Wimbledon, Olympic gold medal and Aus Open atm) :shocked: Nadal becomes the 14th man in the Open Era to win three or more of the four Grand Slam titles and just the fourth man (Connors, Wilander, Agassi) in history to win Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces. Who knows, with 6 grand slams atm he could well get the record..... he is only 22! Although i guess Djokovic and Murray will have more of a say in that in the coming years Curious - does anyone know Raffa's clay streak atm? and who beat him last on clay? Edited by Mao, Feb 2 2009, 09:19 AM.



Hodgo	Feb 2 2009, 10:08 AM Post #6
Professional Punter Posts: 30,565 Group: Global Moderator Member #82 Joined: 14 November 2005	I was surprised to hear that Nadal has 6 majors and at the same age Federer only had 1. Whats to stop Nadal overtaking Federer's record ? He is just about unbeatable at the French like Fed was at Wimbledon for so long. If Nadal can win the US then he will complete the "Grand Slam" as well which is a sensational record.



Neutral Observer	Feb 2 2009, 11:40 AM Post #7
Straight Posts: 1,107 Group: Full Member Member #1,030 Joined: 25 May 2007	What's to stop Nadal? His body. The way he plays tennis, he'd be lucky to still be playing at 25 I reckon.



Phat	Feb 2 2009, 01:02 PM Post #8
Reporters I like: Joel Duffman, the Newsly Times Posts: 19,593 Group: Full Member Member #1,039 Joined: 5 June 2007	That's what people said about Chang, Agassi, Courier, all the great baseliners of the last 15 or 20 years. Hewitt was fitter than all of them yet he has had nothing but injuries recently, so who knows what toll a style will take on someone. I don't see how Rafa's running will do him any more damage than Roddick's effort in the service action, or Federer's equally determined style.



Dodgy Curry	Feb 2 2009, 10:48 PM Post #9
Full House Posts: 14,113 Group: Full Member Member #275 Joined: 25 June 2006	Phat Feb 2 2009, 01:02 PM That's what people said about Chang, Agassi, Courier, all the great baseliners of the last 15 or 20 years. Hewitt was fitter than all of them yet he has had nothing but injuries recently, so who knows what toll a style will take on someone. I don't see how Rafa's running will do him any more damage than Roddick's effort in the service action, or Federer's equally determined style. Federer's style is far more suited to a long career. When he's dominating his opponent he gently places the ball where his opponent can't get to it. Roddick is often beaten early in tournaments, meaning he plays less. He either blasts his opponent off the court in straight sets, or get smoked in straight sets himself. Nadal is always going to make it to the latter stages of a tournament, & plays his share of 5 setters getting there. He has even called for the ATP season to be shorter just yesterday, & also stated that there should be less hard court tournaments. Even he knows that he's doing mass damage to himself.



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