Fed fifth greatest on clay of all time

[Hs0022]

And second best of his generation. Had he chased small fish tournaments like the 250 series like Muster or Ferrer, he could have had a better winning percentage than his stellar 76.6%. At RG he is 80%. One FO title winner, played five finals, one semifinal appearance. His legacy is solid on clay. Its his success rate over all surfaces that make him the greatest of all time.

 

[SteelersPride]

 

[cezero]

Yeah,I agree with the clay ranking for Fed.

If not for Nadal, Fed would have at least 3 french opens.

 

[Hs0022]

Yeah,I agree with the clay ranking for Fed.

If not for Nadal, Fed would have at least 3 french opens.

I dunno if I am expert enough to judge, but I read in an article, "Clay courts require more patience, not necessarily better skills".

Federer was always at a disadvantage with his 90 sqin, vs 100 sqin from both Nadal and Djoko and Murray. Given that he had 10 sqin less, it is just mindblowing that he has beaten these guys on all surfaces. It takes that much artistry and precision to be a clean ball striker with the least forgiving racquet on tour and hang in rallies with top five guys. I mean you are playing with a "Hard to play racquet" as any recreational player will agree with me. So how much skill you have to not only play with a hard racquet like the 90 sqin but also to win 17 slams with it is amazing.

I am not saying Fed would have solved the Nadal issue (its a match up issue) but had he had a larger frame racquet after 2007 (where he tapered off from his sky high success ride), he would have had a higher match winning percentage than what he has.

 

[Hs0022]

Actually five titles. They played four finals, and in 2005 Nadal beat him in SF to meet Mariano Puerta in the final. I really don't see Federer losing to Mariano Puerta in the final. He had become FedEx by then.

 

[nuraman00]

Who are the four better? Borg, Nadal, ???

 

[cezero]

Who are the four better? Borg, Nadal, ???

Wilander and Lendl for sure


...and I think I'd have to put Kuerten very close to Fed as well.

 

[bksballer89]

Yeah,I agree with the clay ranking for Fed.

If not for Nadal, Fed would have at least 3 french opens.

So would you agree Roddick is one of the top grass players also using that same argument?

If not for Fed he probably would've on 3 or 4 Wimbledon titles

 

[Hs0022]

So would you agree Roddick is one of the top grass players also using that same argument?

If not for Fed he probably would've on 3 or 4 Wimbledon titles

Totally agree. Had he been in the Krajicek era he would have won two or three.

 

[cezero]

Totally agree. Had he been in the Krajicek era he would have won two or three.

i agree.

if not for fed, roddick probably would've had at least 1 wimbledon.

 

[bksballer89]

i agree.

if not for fed, roddick probably would've had at least 1 wimbledon.

More than 1....At least 2 IMO if not 3.

Fed really killed Roddick's career in terms of winning majors. I think Andy would've won 4-6 GS titles if not for Fed. He probably win 2 more US Open and at least 2 Wimbledon titles and quite possibly an Aussie Open title but Fed was never really his problem at the Aussie Open because usually he did not make it far enough to get to Fed

 

[cezero]

i loved andy.

he was a natural big serve and a natural big inside out forehand. no other real physical weapons. everything else in his game he maximized as much as possible through hard work and determination.

if only the likes of harrison and sock would develop the same professionalism and work ethic, and put in the hard yards off the court, they might be able to make some noise at majors. (alex kuznetsov is a real grinder, and a great kid. hope he develops the same roddick-like ethic, and if he does, watch out)

i look a a little guy like michael russell, and imagine if he just had a bigger, more athletic body like some of the younger americans. homey would have made it to the 2nd week of majors consistently over the past decade.

 

[cezero]

herp derp

i meant stefan kozlov, not alex kuznetsov.

kozlov almost made it to the 2nd round of newport last year as a 15 year old. crazy good.

no more booze for me tonight

 

[Hs0022]

The problem with American kids in pro tennis is that they just kinda happened to be in it and don't go at it with a whole heart. There are so many distractions here that the environment doesn't create a desire or hunger to succeed. Also they look at the tape measure set by Pete Agassi not to mention their predecessors and they just fold mentally. It's how they train that is the problem I think.