Federer forever?
Can anyone dethrone champion Roger Federer? Join the debate
Last updated: 17th June 2008
Reigning champion Roger Federer is preparing to challenge for a sixth successive Wimbledon title but do you think the Swiss can hang on to his crown?
None other than Wimbledon legend Bjorn Borg believes his days of dominance at SW19 are numbered but do you agree with the Swede?
Is French Open champion Rafael Nadal the man to take Federer's crown or can the Swiss keep winning on Centre Court.
Are there other challengers waiting in the wings who can go on to dominate on the grass as Federer has since the turn of the century?
Join the debate using the form below.
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Comments
Olabode Adewale says...
It is evident that Nadal is an upcoming star on center court but, i will always remain faithfull and loyal with my all time Tennis player '' Roger De Federer''. He is so skillful that he seems flawless on the grass. I see him loose one or two finals sometimes before his retirements but he will never be second fiddle for years before he retires. Long live Roger Federer, Long Live the game of Tennis.
Posted 11:49 5th July 2008
Adrian Cotterill says...
I hope Federer goes on to win Wimbledon, he's certainly the best all round player I've seen, combining Agassi's artistry with Samprass's killer instinct.Nadal is a great player too, I just feel the slow clay surfaces best suite his game as he is so athletic and can always dominate the rallys.
Posted 23:23 27th June 2008
John Ellis says...
Federer will give the bookies mlore money than the grand National. Everyone's betting on him. His favouritism is based on grass court prowess, but he's been injured is in decline, and Nadal is very hot. Despite Nadal's liking for clay, he is superb and is rising. I agree noone can stay at the top of their game. Federer has had a great run. So did Sampres. This is the year for Nadal. He should be odds on.
Posted 04:40 24th June 2008
David Stone says...
I think Roger is the greatest tennis player ever, but my confidence in him winning this year is diminished. Roger's defeat in the French Open Final was shockingly lopsided and really makes me think that his decline has started and is irreversible. All the tennis greats started to decline unexpectedly and rather quickly. However, I think we need to wait until the end of 2008 before we can know definitively. Roger still has a chance to win Wimbledon and the US Open which will halt his decline if he is indeed in the midst of one. Allez Federer!
Posted 17:25 22nd June 2008
Iain Wilson says...
While i think Federer wont win wimbledon this year i agree with the comments posted on this site. I fully expect him to surpass both Sampras's record number of wins at wimbledon and Grand slam wins. It amazes me that some people question his ability and are too keen to say he is on the decline. For the past 3 years his record has been amazing and its only natural that this year has seen a downturn in his fortunes. Every professional sports player goes through rough periods in their sports lives but i fully expect Federer to come back a stronger and better player. Its sad when people seem to take pleasure from his loss of form and seem to get a kick out of saying his time is up. In my opinion he is one of the all time great tennis players and will continue to be at the top of his sport for a long time. I hope he can win wimbledon and the US open this year and shut up the people who claim he is on the way down.
Posted 22:58 21st June 2008
Ryan Bachoo says...
Luckily i'm a huge tennis fan so I knew what happened at the Roland Garros Final but if a new comer or someone not familiar with tennis tuned on to ESPN on that day, he/she would have thought Rafael Nadal was the World's Number 1 while Roger Federer was everything but the World's Number 1 yet the fact remains that great players have great days and also very bad days. That day wasn't only Roger's worst day on the court but i'm sure tennis' along with his fans. Since then the debate has risen " Can Or Does Roger Ferderer has a chance to win his sixth sucessive Wimbledon? " What I think? Like any class player, there are ups and downs and this was just a down, I believe Roger Federer would again defend his Wimbledon crown but Rafael Nadal may face it. It's going to be a match like no other. The fact that Rafael Nadal is growing better and more mature while Roger Federer is consistently using his strength and experience to counter attack makes the " Student vs Veteran " clash the perfect one only if, if, both can get to the final. With Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Mardi Fish all beginning to peak it would make the World's Number 1 and World's Number 2 introduction a very torry one. I assure however Roger Federer would play his best at Wimbledon, who doesn't give there best at Wimbledon but the fact that The King Of Clay has had his struggles on the faster courts makes the debate very interesting whether not the top ranks will get to the final. It has happened to every great player, Brian Lara ( cricket ), Zinidine Zidane ( football ), Johnny Wilkinson ( rugby ) and it will happen to all athletes at any level for any sport. The hard part: Getting Back Up and Bouncing back to your best. While the contest is very keen on being a very good one, I expect Roger Federer to come away with the Wimbledon Championship this summer as Rafael Nadal's maturity to the faster game hasn't reached the level that is required to win.
Posted 19:12 20th June 2008
Luna Tirana says...
Yes, Roger can win it, despite the discusting comments coming from everywhere...He is only human and a great sportsmen and person...He is going to be the greatest tennis player of all times, so please stop talking rubbish about him. Go Roger!!!!! We love you
Posted 10:57 20th June 2008
Randall Rash says...
I love the Fed. I think he will end up winning 20 slams. I am so sick of Borg and his little predictions that I could vomit. However, I want to temper this by explaining Agassi is the only one with the male career Grand Slam (IN THE OPEN ERA & no disrespect to Sampras) and, until the Fed completes the career Slam, he has to be the greatest ever.
Posted 07:17 20th June 2008
Lisa Brown says...
Its annoying for Federers fans and especially for Federer himself that the media continually talk about him being on a decline. He had mononucleosis which can be a debilitating disease and still reached the semis at the Australian open as well as finals during the clay court season, He is the greatest tennis player ever and will surely show all his critics at Wimbledon this year, Go Roger!
Posted 01:21 20th June 2008
Master Miyagi says...
Roger is NOT the greatest, Pete Sampras is and my opinion by FAR!!! Sampras had Becker/Agassi/Lendl/Courier all multiple grand slam winners to contend with during his reign and he still managed to dominate. Let's face it Roger is a great player but before Nadal who was his real competition? Roddick?? Even with Nadal and Djokovic there are only two dangerous players other than Fed who can win Wimbledon or any Grand Slam for that matter. No doubt Fed is a great champion but it is funny to see how quickly people forget about the Heros of our past!
Posted 15:54 19th June 2008
Raj Raj says...
By far THE GREATEST !!! I mean u hardly find a player with such sublime skill and talent to play on all type of surfaces (it is only RAFAs gr8 clay court play failed roger to win in Roland garros in last three occasions ) but i feel he ll conquer roland garros before he goes off. Rest is he is genious ..there were times when he ws simply unbeatable ..lately he looked little bit rusty and lacking desire but he ll get over it on coming wimbledon and equal sampras... BYthe time he goes off he will set such high standards that others will find it hard to reach. Its GAME SET AND MATCH FDERER ALWAYS!!!!!
Posted 12:40 19th June 2008
Rick Stevens says...
I honestly can't see anyone beating federer. He's still the favourite by a mile despite people claiming Nadal will beat him. No doubt, Nadal has talent and he will surely win wimbledon next year if he continues the way he has but i don't think he is quite up there yet to challenge federer. He put up a good fight last year but was always a close second
Posted 13:27 18th June 2008
Chirag Dhara says...
Federer's undoubtedly up there with the best of all time. And it's sad to see that he may now be in the decline. No doubt Nadal and Djokovic are fast catching up - if not already there- but even in his decline Federer's the man to beat at this Wimbledon. Next year.. it's tough to admit it, but he may be more like a sentimental favourite. For now, it's still Federer.
Posted 10:46 18th June 2008
Markus Ableitinger says...
Roger Federer is one of (if not 'the') the greatest tennis players. Certainly, as older he gets as more difficult it is to defend titles of so big tournaments such as Wimbledon or any other Grand Slam. He can't win forever and the Youngsters are picking up, are hungry to win and want to become stars as well (which is the nature of any sport). Is it this year that Roger will start descending from his peak? Timing is difficult (not only in sport) and no one can tell for true - but eventually and ¿sadly¿ it will happen some when. However, the sixth Wimbledon title, and some thing no-one ever has achieved so far, may still be within his reach and capability to win. Raffael and Novak are exceptional players and have the skills and willingness to succeed over Roger but they have to play their best at the right moment. For me it is not about who will win, although certainly I would love if Roger does since he represents everything what an outstanding tennis players stands for - genius talent, charisma, integrity, sportsman ship and smart. I am looking for nothing else than a thrilling combat of the best and 'The Best ' at Wimbledon should win. If Federer loses than it was meant to be so. But it will not change my opinion ever that he is one of the greatest tennis players ever, who has amazingly dominated its opponents longer than any one else and who has leveled tennis as a sport of entertainment and professionalism to where it is now!
Posted 04:41 18th June 2008
Lynne Danley says...
It's interesting how people are ready to write Federer off. Anyone who has ever had mono knows how debilitating it can be -- on and off -- for quite awhile. It can wreak havoc with your immune system and cause periods of weakness, which we have seen in Federer this year. I think once he is completely well again he will dominate as much as he ever did. But I also see great improvement in Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, so it should be a fun tournament to watch as long as Roger is healthy and Rafa and Djokovic are uninjured.
Posted 22:29 17th June 2008
Marlow Marlow says...
I am a total Federer fan though he has had a rather lean year after his glandular fever. He has not been able to reach the heights of last year and having seeen the way Nadal beat him in Paris it will take a tower of strength for him to win Wimbledon. To be the greatest he has to win Paris. Good luck Roger!!
Posted 21:23 17th June 2008
Cm Taylor says...
Roger has an excellent chance to win his 6th straight Wimbledon because he is just that good. But no one dominates forever and it is ridiculous to think so. But if there is one player that would do the sport justice to dominate forever...it would be Roger Federer. He is a brilliant gift to this sport. Good luck Roger!
Posted 19:08 17th June 2008
Ankit Dass says...
Federer is still the favourite to win the wimbledon this year. I think he will be very comfortable on the grass and thus very likely to reach the semis. However if novak is placed in his draw, then we are in for an exciting semi final which Federer will win this time (remember its on grass!!!). Moving on to the finals, nadal is definitely the man to beat and i am sure fed would like to play against nadal in the final. I am also sure about one more thing. Federer will win the wimbledon this time....
Posted 16:51 17th June 2008
Prasanth Radhakrishnan says...
I dont think anybody can dominate grass court as federer did. This year also federer is well capable of defending his title. Djokovic and Nadal will also be the guys, to look out for. But this time also, it will ne Federer Vs Nadal final. Which I expect to be the most thrilling for the year 2008
Posted 15:40 17th June 2008
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