Is Federer's grand slam career over?

Question

Federer is phenominal and I'm crushed he didn't win Wimbledon, but I didn't expect him to win. His form has been questionable since the first set of last year's French Open final when he had 10 break pt chances against Nadal and couldn't convert. That's the difference between Federer now and the Federer of 2004-2006. He doesn't play the big points as well as he once did and some of the errors that come off his racquet make me feel good about my own game.

I am wondering if he has the confidence to win another slam? Federer says he is confident when asked by the media, but what else would he say? No? Of course he'll say he's confident even when it is obvious he is not.

Only 3 more to break Sampras' record, but can he do it?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

stick a fork in him cause he's done. What people don't realize is when he loses the #1 ranking the draws will be tougher for him. No more cakewalks to the second week.

Answer 3

I think he can def. break Sampras' record. It's really strange everyone is writing Federer off and saying his career is dead and blah blah blah. I mean he wasn't #1 in the world for nothing.  Semis at A.O. ,Final at the French, Final at Wimby (almost won).  Any other tennis player would kill for those results. If he had the results of oh...say... someone like Andy Roddick...THEN I would start to wonder, but I think he will be able to break it.

Answer 4

No way.  He loses one match and your ready to declare him dead.  Not a chance.

Answer 5

It surprises why people have hailed Federer as the greatest of all time given the lack of competition over the past 7 years.

During Sampras' reign there were at least 6 or 7 players who could beat each other - a point people have missed I think with Federer. To this extent, Sampras still managed to win 14 grandslams and in my mind, although not quite as complete as Nadal, is the greatest grass court and hard court player there has ever been.

People are now questioning what has happened to Federer why isn't he winning? Well the simple answer is he was never that great and only really achieved greatness due to a lack of true competition. I guess this would be similar to my running against Carl Lewis in the 1980s - Lewis would have won every time. Does that make Lewis the greatest of all time? I don't think Federer is a poor tennis player but by no means great, rather a good player playing in a weak era.

Nadal who in my mind the most complete player since Borg has exposed Federers' weaknesses and I think will now go on to dominate men's tennis.

Federer is at the tail end of his peak which for men is around 26/27 so although it's feasible he could win another 1 or 2 grand slams, I think from hereon in he will only deteriorate further. I expect next season to be his last competitive season - thereafter he will be 29 and I can't see him winning after that.

Answer 6

federer is still the number 1 player in the world but the gap between him and rafa is closed while djokovic is inching closer to fed also....he can win i say 1 or 2 more slams before he retires matchin sampras 14 grand slams but as long as nadal is playing he will never win the french

Answer 7

Very observant question.  You bring up a good point about him failing to convert break chances against Nadal.  It will haunt him whenever they play in slams.

When I answer Nadal v. Federer questions, I point to one recent match that makes me question Fed: The Hamburg Final a few months ago.  

It was a clay court match, so Rafa's surface.  But in that match, Federer was up 5-1 (a double break) in the first set and lost it 7-5.  He won the second set in a tiebreak, but lost the third set.

He should have won that match and he probably knows it.  I think had he won it, he would have played better in the French Final and taken Wimbledon.

Answer 8

I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will.  Come on, he came really really close today.  It came down to one break of serve.  Even though he lost to Rafa today, it's obvious he's no slouch on the court.  Believe me, he will keep trying until he at least ties Sampras' record... and he will achieve it!

Answer 9

it cracks me up that dr d calls himself a federer fan, ur sooooo not!!!

no way is his grand slam career over. if he had lost easy 2day i might have been biting my nails. but this match just proved fed has exactly what it takes 2 win more!! its great! fed is back after his poor start 2 the season. and c'mon guys, nadal is hitting some fantatic form but hes gonna have some off days. and hard courts are coming!

Answer 10

People keep saying Federer only lost one match, and we're pronouncing him dead. No it's not just one match. It's many matches now  and they're occurring more regularly than ever before. Finally the biggest nail in hte coffin - losing Wimbledon to the guy who has denied him the French Open 4 years in a row.

Honestly, I am a Federer fan myself, but I don't see how he can ever win another grandslam. He needs to change some things. He needs to rediscover something that he has lost. I just can't put my finger in it.

Earlier this year, I predicted zero grand slams for Federer. Unfortunately, I have not been proven wrong yet.

*EDIT*

Kait: I am not a typical Fed fan, say like yourself. I'm certainly not a Fed fanatic. You think anyone who criticizes Roger can't be a fan. You see, you are a fan of Roger in that you like his arms and legs and hair and his smile. I like his tennis. And I've missed the great tennis he showed me 2 years ago. Anyway, say what you want, all of my predictions have been true so far.

Furthermore, it's not a big deal for a top 3 player to consistently reach the semis and finals, considering that men's tennis today is dominated by the top 3 players. But it is a big deal for a player who once dominated the way Roger has to be consistently failing to win those grandslams and masters events. And if Federer had lost in straight sets, you would have just made another excuse for him.

Answer 11

I think he will.

He just had bad luck today,but I'm sure he'll manage to bring himself up again.

:)