Federer will win at least one Slam - most probably AO. As things stand today, who will defeat him there? Nadal? Sure!!!!!
Since Wimbledon falls almost on his 37th birthday, it may not be as much of a Slam dunk as AO. Still winning two Slams is quite probable. Maybe even possible.
Nadal will win two Slams. FO? USO? If Federer falters @ AO, Nadal may step in to complete the second Career Slam piece. If he does, he may STILL end the season with just two Slams (Nothing @ USO then). Worse case scenario? Just FO.
This back and forth between Federer and Nadal (Federer winning just enough to deny Nadal gaining ground on the Slam pole) will end in 2018 leaving Nadal to then 'employ paper cuts' (winning one Slam per season @ 2019 and beyond) to close the gap.
Point: If Nadal somehow is the all-time leader on the Slam AND the Masters pole - with Federer still holding the 6-0 lead @ WTF - will the WTF advantage matter for Federer @ GOAT table? And that's if Nadal doesn't extend his Masters lead to six from three today thereby neutralizing the advantage - at least statistically.
Shouldn't the following provide some insight as to how long:
Everyone had unanimously predicted Nadal will not last past his 28th birthday. There was more than enough evidence to not even attempt to refute the 'claim'.
If he has not only lasted beyond that date, but is also winning multiple Slams - in one season - there must be something he is engaged in - legal or illegal - that is working.
AND if it has worked thus far, it is reasonable to assume it will continue to - even after factoring in 'advanced' age.
I mean, the likelihood of him shutting down abruptly - for good - continues to wane with above as backdrop. Sure there's always that possibility given the severity of injury but if he has survived this long with this severe an abuse going out in 'phases' appears more plausible - since he is still 31. Add Federer, Connors and Agassi and it may switch to more of a certainty.
If above BS is true, then are we looking @ what three more years - till age 34? Four - till 35 MAX?
That's about 12 Slams (3 years) with no Federer (soon) and no competition.
Shouldn't everything Pederer and Mowgli do from now on - on and off the court - be tempered with GOAT 'impressions'? Duh!!!!!
With that as backdrop, how can winning another WTF (Federer already holds all-time record) trump year-end No. 1 rank when it will tie Sampras' all-time record. Heck, more importantly it will deny Nadal from bagging No. 4 - JUST one short of Federer's (5)?
Conversely, EVEN if Nadal wins WTF the GOAT needle will not move as much as it will with fourth year-end title - specially when things tighten up.
There's definitely MOST material here - compared to the other two - to justify ANY scale of bitterness.
However, you do have the 'human' factor that defies logic with respect to the reaction - as each clown deals with a given situation based on how he or she is wired - instead of what's reasonable, expected and understandable - specially when you insert time (10 years).
But Federer's history of behavior warrants a strong response - far beyond what some Sumo wrestler called Agassi is currently exhibiting.
Serena - Sharapova?
19-2 Serena.
Serena has won the last 18 matches - 15 in straight sets - with two bagels and nine breadsticks.
Just the on-court history between the two is sufficient to evoke chronic bitterness. Add US, Russia, Serena's eagerness to be THE most stylish woman - forget tennis player - and Agassi may have some competition - soon.
Sampras - Agassi?
20-14 Sampras.
Agassi clearly leads the pack TODAY but will he reign supreme a decade from now - too?
TP, respectfully, I agree with one of the comments made recently by another member, what's the point of these photos here on The Planet? We don't come here to look at photos, we come here to argue about GOATs, take English lessons from Gary, read poetry at Christmas ...
So if Nadal is @ 20 Slams and Federer @ 19................
Even though there's no debate as to who is the more talented player - by a continent - don't think that ONE piece can bridge the GOAT bridge far enough to allow Federer the undisputed GOAT status like Jordan and Ali.
Oh, what did you say? "Why? What's the difference? If Ali and Jordan qualify..........."
The ONE major difference is that Nadal and Federer are contemporaries. The contrast meter is TOO 'stark', 'naked' and 'in your face' to ignore unlike the scenarios with the other two clowns.
That eliminates the 'other era' excuse - with respect to competition, technology, rules, player physical attributes, nutrition etc., for starters, to impede the bridge construction all the way to the other end.
Then you have the obscenely lopsided H2H stat that pushes the 'stark' same era factor to the severely extreme post - further convoluting the GOAT conclusion.
Add to it the ABSOLUTE domination of Nadal @ 99% of the 'that matter' stats: Slams, Masters 1000, Olympics, Davis Cup, 10 FO titles, 10 titles @ three tournaments - and counting, Clay GOAT, Condom carefulness, WTF, most weeks @ No. 1 (OK not making the last two - yet - cannot be held against him).
Irony? Clown overtaking Federer is NOT someone equally or even 'close to' as talented as him. Heck, the clown is universally acknowledged to be a ONE trick pony with questionable social graces. Heck, just a pony. Forget that he cannot even get married and have twins already. And that he has fake hair. And that Toni was robbed of 'Y' (Tony) - when he was still in his shorts. And that his female sister looks like him - and works as substitute at times.
Bottom line: Federer will be relegated to the 'most talented player to ever play tennis' dungeon which is just another way to add insult to injury.
Here are the 'arguments' two are 'presenting' to push their case:
NADAL:
Has NEVER missed Roland Garros.
On the most demanding surface there ever is and was, he is dominating like Tyson did in the ring. Heck, better. Heck, second best player of current season skipped the entire clay season 'significantly' partially because there was no freaking chance. Has that EVER freaking happened?
Yannick Noah cannot be completely wrong. After all he is from France the country that houses FO and he has won just ONE Slam in his entire 'gap ridden teeth' life. That one Slam? Roland Garros. Point? He has solid credentials!!!!!!!
French minister has accused Nadal. She cannot be completely wrong too. After all, she was the former minister for health and sport. That should carry some weight!!!!!!
Has destroyed previous clay records so ruthlessly that the second clown on the ladder has been removed from the world data base that tracks 'existence'. So there's nobody there now!!!!!
Has mysteriously recovered from recurring injuries far sooner than expected.
Every time he has returned from the 'break' he has produced form that's better than the one he 'left' with.
Given his style of play, even Tony's shorts had predicted Nadal will end his career LONG before age 30 AND abruptly. He just thrashed everyone on clay at (nearly) 31. Heck, he is the best player of the 2017 season. Proof? He could be No. 1 in a few days. Any freaking questions????
FEDERER:
Has demolished Nadal like has never done in his entire 'long-nosed' career.
Has won a Slam after being out due to surgery for nearly the entire season.
Wins another Slam after taking another long break that included attending wedding, gala functions @ New York, vacationing, bathing people.......
Wins just his second Slam - out of 19 - without dropping a set.
For the first time won a Slam with back to back five setters in the semis and the finals - forget the Nadal part being in the final.
All this when clowns five to six years younger than him are almost about to end their careers. Heck, forget 'almost'.
Won back to back Masters 1000 tournaments @ age (nearly) 36. Any freaking questions??????
Has won five out seven tournaments he has competed in this season.
Shouldn't there be some minister from UK 'surfacing' right about now? How about some player who has won Wimbledon??????
Even if Federer wins the 2017 Wimbledon, the possibility that Nadal may one day pass Federer may still exist - barely - given how things appear today.
Insert other likely options like Murray or Djokovic winning the 2017 Wimbledon title and suddenly 'realistic possibility' begins to appear - given the fast closing window (36) Federer is staring at.
How about if Nadal wins? Think that could bring something to 'life'?
No matter how and when Nadal passes Federer, wouldn't the following come to mind first:
Talent alone, regardless of how abundant and concentrated it is, WILL lose to meticulous and calculated planning?
It will be like officially declaring that the Tortoise can run faster than the Hare, no matter how insane it may sound.
How else will you be able to rationalize this overflowing and rich talent losing to some clown who some may say is 'surviving' with ONE 'trick' AND ONE surface?
It would be the first time in the history of sports, if not mankind, that this apparent and this undisputed a powerhouse of skill bordering @ genius, if not there already, will have suffered a humiliating defeat.
All the shinny objects (stats) that currently validate Federer's super talent will turn inside out to highlight the humiliation even more. Conversely, everything that's holding Nadal down today will snap to let him soar - without a blemish.
I mean, if you can bring down this massively gifted individual with arsenal that on paper is not even close, can there be any other conclusion?
Heck, just the freaking fact that there's a GOAT debate (was?) is degrading enough but for it actually end up with the Tortoise on top can be nothing but shameful and painfully embarrassing.
This is assuming Nadal is able to match or pass Federer's Slam total. Oh, what did you say? That's impossible now? Yeah? Have you been alive since January this season? If you have, you might reconsider.
So if both are, let's say, @ 18 and the separation after factoring in everything is minimal, if not not in existence, what then will be the ONE most glaringly determining factor?
TP, it's your site and you can do what you want, but a request please.
We seem to be moving toward to HOF habit which really comes down to filling in the blanks. That means it often comes down to one's knowledge of English rather than tennis or, as you often favor, tennis strategy and psychology. It's less fun and, perhaps more importantly, it is harder for those for whom English isn't a first language.
Can we please have more old time HOF contests? Focus on tennis rather than English.
It allows MANY MORE people to participate as nearly 25-50% of the puzzle is solved after just filling the blanks. However, you don't get to win the contest without explaining and connecting the dots - allowing the 'tennis strategy and psychology' bit to 'remain'.
Remember one WOF contest where you provided the link to the site to solve the blanks and someone did and still nobody won?
Imagine this contest without the 'blanks'. It's so wide open that it may even seem irrational or like a wild spaghetti shot on the wall leaving most to pass without even attempting. This way there's hope with a credible 'hint' and direction.
