Do you think Roger Federer is past his prime?

Question

Do you think Roger Federer is past his prime?

Answer 1

No way, He truly is a talented tennis player..

see how far he pushed nadal today.

he'll be back no doubt...

Answer 2

No way. Federer is still a great player and still young enough to raise his game higher. Think how Agassi came back when people had written him off. Federer has a long way to fall before he reaches Aggassi's level that time. Federer is still arguably the best player in the world.

Answer 3

Not even close, You don't put on an "epic" performance like that when you are past your prime.  So if Federer won, would Nadal be past his prime too?

Answer 4

Yeah, I think he's finally lost his rhythm. I hope he doesn't win the US Open (even though I think he's not going to win any more grand slams.)

Answer 5

Yes I think he is, and if not past it exactly then probably in the last stage of his prime, and definitely past his era of domination of the ATP tour.  First his string of upset losses earlier this year, then his complete rout by Nadal at Roland Garros, and now today losing the one tournament where he feels most at home, I think all pretty much exacerbates the writing on the wall.

Answer 6

No? Let's see...semis at the A.O., Finals at the French, Finals at Wimby (really made Nadal work for that one). He's not number 1 in the world for nothing. Any other tennis player would KILL for those results. If he was playing with results like ...oh...Andy Roddick. Then I would be worried.

Answer 7

i dunno if he is nor not i can guarantee yall that he will break the record of sampras!actually i believe nadal will win more slams than sampras too he only 22 and he got 5!

Answer 8

He is getting very, very, very near to the end of his prime.  I think he might have half a foot past it already!

He is making a lot of errors, failing to convert chances and not hitting the shots he used to hit.  Most of all players don't fear him anymore!

What he has shown this year is similar to what happened to Edberg, Lendl and Becker near the end of their prime

Answer 9

no he proved it in the wimbeldon by nearly winning...

Answer 10

I wouldn't say he's exactly past his prime. '08s been a bad year so far, true. However, at 26, Federer realistically only has another 5-6 years where he can really be considered a threat. It seems that when most players hit about 30 they strt exiting the bigger tournaments earlier. And he's said he's going to play until 2012 at the very least.

I think part of the reason why he's done so poorly this year isn't that he's doing bad as it's the players below him (Nadal and Djokovic (sp?) in particular) who have raised THEIR levels of play.

As much as it pains me to say, Federer's #1 for a reason.

Answer 11

yes

Answer 12

Tough question.  I'm not really sure if it's his level of play that is deteriorating, or if it's the level of play of his two closest opponents that is improving.  Until he starts losing more than he's winning, I don't think I will be ready to say that he is past his prime.

When he does reach the "end of his prime", I"m sure he will still be heads and shoulders above 90% of the tennis players out there.  He may not be as dominant as he has been for the past 5 years, but he will still be a force to reckon with.

Answer 13

Clearly. I mean he lost, what , 9-7 in the 5th?? Clearly hes absolute rubbish. Didn't just almost win Wimby again or anything...

Yeah nah, Federer is still absolutly amazing.

EDIT I think hard court season will be interesting. more competition for both federer and rafa. It seems after grass and clay we forget that Rafa isnt as good on the hard courts. Lots of upcoming players. I'll be really happy if Fed wins the US Open this yr, but I won't be particulary worried if he only makes the semis or the finals. The man couldnt win everything forever, but geez think of nxt yr... less pressure and more points 2 gain. brillant.

Answer 14

Absolutely not. He is head and shoulders above everyone but Nadal. That hardly indicates being past his prime. Rather, Nadal is showing that he will likely lay claim to being one of the best of all time as well, as long as he can stay healthy.

Without Nadal, Federer would have won both the French and Wimbledon this year, and we would be saying how invincible he is. He hit the ball today as well as he has ever done, so the only legitimate conclusion is that he has met someone with even superior skills than his.

Answer 15

Yes, but so was Sampras in 99.

Agassi was past his prime by 98....apparently.

Federer will still win Slams, maybe not 3 of 4 a year but at least one.

Answer 16

No, I do not :)