Why is Roger Federer Considered the GOAT?

Former World No. 1 Roger Federer has arguably been the greatest player to grace the sport. Some of his exploits in the sport are simply out of this world. Many would agree the fluency and sheer grace in his style of play make him stand out from the rest of the guys on tour.

One of the most remarkable records Roger holds is that he held the number 1 ranking for 237 consecutive weeks. Considering a year to be 52 weeks, Federer dominated the rankings for well over four years. Overall, he’s held the top rank for 310 weeks. In the years 2004, 2006, and 2007 Roger won three out of the four Grand Slam events conducted. 

Roger Federer’s Favorite Surface Is Grass

It is no secret that grass suits him best. Federer is the only man to win eight Wimbledon titles, which puts him in an elite league of his own. He was previously tied with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw on seven titles, but that was never going to last.

Besides his success at Wimbledon, Roger has won ten titles on the grass at Halle, in Germany. The former Wimbledon champion has a special bond with this tournament in particular. The organizers had given him a wild card in his early days, thus lending him a helping hand in showcasing his talent.

However, the fact that Federer has had a tremendous amount of success on other surfaces is what makes him a complete player. 

The man from Switzerland has won 20 Majors in his glittering career, namely eight Wimbledon titles, six Australian Open titles, five US Open championships, and a solitary French Open title. The 2009 win at Roland Garros most certainly has a special place in his journey. 

Roger Federer Has Enjoyed Great Rivalries, Most Marketable Athlete

Apart from his Grand Slam titles, Federer has won the season-ending ATP Finals a record six times. He has enjoyed rivalries with players from previous generations like Marat Safin, Andre Agassi, and Andy Roddick. However, his most notable rivalries are undoubtedly against Djokovic and, the greatest of them, against Rafael Nadal. 

Coming to matters outside the tennis court, Roger has been the only tennis player over the past decade to feature in the top 10 rankings of the Forbes list of the highest-paid athletes. In 2020, Federer topped the rankings, emerging on top of the likes of soccer superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The amount of income he generates from endorsements is unmatched. 

Taking into consideration his success on and off the tennis court, he is arguably the greatest player of all time. Other than a large faction of tennis fans believing so, there have been many greats of the game who in the past have voiced similar opinions.  

Also Read: WATCH: Roger Federer Spotted Training For Australian Open 2021 in Dubai