Many fans have felt his play all year validated this rise, now the rankings do as well. In the August 18th rankings, Roger Federer will be 2nd for the first time since the rankings on February 1st, 2004. Some notable facts:
*Federer's 237 consecutive weeks atop the rankings is the best streak of all time by 77 weeks.
*Nadal has been second for 159 straight weeks, also a record.
*Federer's current and only reign as world #1 of 237 weeks is good for 4th place all-time on the career list, but still 49 weeks shy of Pete Sampras' all time record of 286 weeks.
eXcentris
08-03-08, 09:17 PM
I was going to start that. :)
Kudos to Rafa, coudn't have happened to a more classy and deserving guy. Well done.
I heard a story that after the Wimbledon final, Rafa and his entourage (uncle Toni, etc...) gathered in the locker room. Fed was also there, sitting in a corner, obviously crushed by the defeat. There was no shouting, cries of joy, fist pumping, jumping up and down or any kind of celebrating by Rafa while Fed was there. Pure class.
*Federer's 237 consecutive weeks atop the rankings is the best streak of all time by 77 weeks.
To me that's just an astonishing accomplishment. This means you have to reach the semis or finals of almost every tournament you play. That's a hell of a lot of tennis and maintaining mental and physical toughness for such a long period of time is truely amazing. Especially pretty much on his own (with his girlfriend), without the usual entourage (coach, fitness trainer, physio, etc...) top players usually have with them.
For example, Rafa has had an amazing year so far. But after losing to Djoker in Cinci, he said he was both physically and mentally tired. Now imagine keeping that up for 4 1/2 years.
I think it's going to get crowded at the top on both the men's and the women's side for a while. I doubt we'll see anyone take a stranglehold on the #1 ranking for long periods of time. Good for tennis if you ask me.
LurkerDan
08-04-08, 12:01 PM
Incredible streaks by both men.
Slumbering Fist
08-04-08, 12:11 PM
They both are kinda', sorta', mostly, pretty good. ;)
It is pretty funny too. About two yrs ago the tennis world (press) was going on an on that Fed would probably be #1 until he was, oh, say, 45 yrs old. Now they talk like he's on a career downslide. Yeah, I'd love to have his "downslide."
I think I said this in the French Open thread, but the only thing that worries me about Nadal is how hard he plays. He seems to always have it in a high gear and I worry about the longevity for that kind of physically punishing style. Hope his body holds up and he continues a great run for yrs to come.
El Scorcho
08-04-08, 12:27 PM
Too bad nobody in the US really gives a shit since there hasn't been a relevant top American in a long while.
eXcentris
08-04-08, 12:46 PM
It is pretty funny too. About two yrs ago the tennis world (press) was going on an on that Fed would probably be #1 until he was, oh, say, 45 yrs old. Now they talk like he's on a career downslide. Yeah, I'd love to have his "downslide."
Yeah, Fed is struggling right now but the guy is 26, so to call for his demise is a tad premature. I think the fact that he had little competition for a long time hurt him more than anything because tough competition makes you better. His game remained pretty much the same while others have or are catching up. I hope that, at this point in his carreer, he realizes that he needs a full time coach.
And I think pretty much everybody, us here, amalysts, etc... overestimated what Fed was going to accomplish and underestimated how quickly the new generation of players would adapt. I mean I had him winning 17-18 slams, some had him over 20. We should have known better because the same thing happened with the Williams sisters. Everybody said they would dominate tennis for years to come. It only took a few years for "big babe tennis" to develop and for the sisters to be challenged.
I think I said this in the French Open thread, but the only thing that worries me about Nadal is how hard he plays. He seems to always have it in a high gear and I worry about the longevity for that kind of physically punishing style. Hope his body holds up and he continues a great run for yrs to come.
That used to worry me too. Not so much anymore because of the way his game has improved and evolved. He used to stand 10 feet behind the baseline, run like a madman, and return everything with heavy topspin. Now, his serve is much improved, he can still defend but he'll stand closer to the baseline, flatten out his shots and attack when he gets a chance. That makes for shorter points and takes less toll on his body.
The rest of the hardcourt season should be interesting. Rafa won in Toronto, but lost to Djoker in Cincinnati where the courts were much faster. Plus Murray beat Djoker in the finals. And then you have young guys like Gulbis and Cilic steadily improving.
Quake1028
08-04-08, 04:12 PM
Murray is improving rapidly, and it wouldn't shock me if he made a run to the US Open finals or even won it.
Barings
08-06-08, 02:49 PM
Yeah, Fed is struggling right now but the guy is 26, so to call for his demise is a tad premature. I think the fact that he had little competition for a long time hurt him more than anything because tough competition makes you better. His game remained pretty much the same while others have or are catching up. I hope that, at this point in his carreer, he realizes that he needs a full time coach.
Nadal seems really classy based on what I read in eXcentris' first post. It just seems like Federer has become emotionally fragile this year. A reporter inquired to him losing his #1 ranking after his latest loss and he replied, "I don't care." It may have been in a matter-of-fact manner or ordinary frustration, but I don't know.
I know he's been training without a full-time coach for at least a year which was I attributed to his intense drive and work ethic. It also spoke well of his having a brain to analyze opponents and gameplay. I think we're probably going to see him re-vamp his strategy to come back strong in 2009 regardless of how he performs in the US Open because of his bout with mono and Rafe being in his head.
Roger's still going to break Pete's record. With four good years of tennis left in him, I think's it's reasonable for him to win one or two slams a year.
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