Roger Federer could put a full stop the Nadal-Federer debate by winning the 2011 Australian Open
After the world number one Rafael Nadal completed his career Grand Slam on the tour by winning his maiden title at the United States Open in New York, experts as well as fans alike have been openly debating on his standing as the top player of this era.
Some of the sports former greats such as John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova have made the claim for him to be even greater than the Swiss tennis maestro, Roger Federer.
Although, there is no doubt about the fact that Roger’s record will always be striking, Rafa appears to be catching up extremely quick. The professional tennis ace from Spain has already won nine major titles at just 24 and also registered his name as the
first player to capture French Open, Wimbledon and the United States Open in a single season in 2010 since Rod Laver back in 1969.
What is even more astounding is the fact that the Spaniard picked up each on a different surface, showing that he is undoubtedly one of the most versatile winners of the present day game.
Rafael’s impressive level of success has not only been at the majors, but in fact he has also proved his class at the prestigious Masters competitions in 2010. While Pete Sampras in his glorious professional life captured a total of eleven Masters Crowns
and Andre Agassi seventeen, Rafa has already surpassed both of them with a mark of eighteen Masters Wins at such a young age on the tour.
If the Spaniard continues at this speed, he will perhaps finish with twenty five Masters titles. His Grand Slam record, on the other hand, also looks to be getting more impressive without any question.
However, it is expected that the Manacor born’s longevity will not be as remarkable as Pete’s or Agassi. According to some of the analysts, the left hander won’t be playing at Grand Slam events by the time he turns twenty nine. Anyhow, for the next couple
of seasons, it looks that the world number one has enough game to capture at least four to six more slams.
The Spaniard, who made his debut on the ATP World Tour back in 2001, is expected to pick up two to three in Paris, whereas, his class to triumph on any court makes him a threat to majors elsewhere as well.
However, these all are speculations as things do change in tennis within no time. For instance, Roger Federer picked up his ninth major title at the United States Open back in 2006 .At that point of his career, the Swiss was looking good for twenty slams.
However, now after four years, many are writing him off. It does look that the Fed Express might end up with just a single or two more slams in his career.
However, let’s assume that he will finish at seventeen whereas Rafa at fifteen. Now, who will be the greater of them?
It will not be fair to say that Roger is the greater of the two if Rafa continues to dominate the Swiss native at the major events. However, according to some tennis experts, if the 29-year-old Roger Federer manages to capture 2011 Australian Open title,
the Nadal- Federer debate will be over for ever, irrespective of whether Roger falls in the opening round of every other competition he ever plays on the tour.
A victory in Melbourne would provide him five crowns Down Under making the Swiss the only tennis contender in history to capture five trophies each at three different major events. That along with his five victories at the season ending finale would make
Federer an unprecedented dominator of four of the sport’s five biggest crowns.
What would make his dominance even more stupendous is that he would have achieved all of this within a span of only eight years on the tour.
It is extremely unlikely that Rafa will catch up to Roger’s mark at the Barclays World Tour Finals. Neither is he expected to dominate another major like the Spaniard has in Paris. Majority of the sports analysts do not predict him winning many successive
United States Open or Australian Opens to give him the dominant tag at such competitions.
The Spaniard, although, has set up quite a mark at Wimbledon, however unless he triumphs in the next three, his dominance at the All England Club would never be up to mark with Roger’s.
According to the experts, that will also put a full stop to the Federer- Nadal debate. Everyone will remember Rafa as a thorn in Roger’s side. History will prove that while the Swiss dominated three majors, the Spaniard was just the big Roland Garros maestro
who could make his way through any competition however most of the times fell short.
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