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IS ROGER FEDERER THE BEST PLAYER EVER?
As Roger Federer celebrates yet another career milestone by securing his 700th singles match win, Senior Associate Editor Bikash Mohapatra looks at the elite club of which the Swiss has become the latest member.
Is Roger Federer the best player ever?
This is an argument that will continue for some time to come.
The Swiss, to his credit, has done all he could have to stake his claim.
There were a few who argued it would be difficult to accept Federer as the best ever till he won every major.
However, last year the Swiss, albeit with Swede Robin Soderling lending a helping hand (beating nemesis Rafael Nadal), won the elusive French Open, the lone major trophy missing from his already packed cabinet.
“If anything, I feel a little less pressure, because I’ve proven it to myself - and maybe to many other people,” Federer said after the draw ceremony this year.
The Swiss now has won 16 major singles titles, more than any other male player and the win at Paris last year made him one of the only six players to complete a career Grand Slam.
Federer has also appeared in an unprecedented 22 major finals, and has reached the semi-finals or better of the last 23 major tournaments.
However, also true is the fact that after his win at the Australian Open earlier this year, the Swiss player’s form has been indifferent.
Add to this the fact that Nadal is in imperious form and will go to any length to reclaim the title that he held for four years in succession.
Even Federer admits, he isn’t the favourite to defend his title.
“I’d love to say that I am the favourite but I don’t think that’s right,” said the Swiss when asked about his chances, adding, “The guy’s (Nadal) been on an absolute tear on clay for pretty much five years, he’s lost just one match at the French Open and I think he’s still the favourite.”
However, notwithstanding the fact that the Spaniard remains the favourite in Paris, there are enough records that can make the tournament memorable for Federer.
And the Swiss reached one of them on Friday, with a comfortable 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 win over German Julian Reister.
It was Federer’s 700th career singles wins on the ATP Tour, making him only the 10th player ever, and only active pro, to have won 700 or more singles matches.
Two more wins and Federer won’t just book a 24th successive semi-final berth but also become only the fifth player ever to have won 200 (or more) singles matches at majors.
Biography in brief:
Roger Federer (Switzerland)*
Career singles match record: 700-169
Singles match record in majors: 198-27
Years as a pro: 12 (1998-present)
ATP singles titles: 61
Major titles: 16
* Federer has the best singles record among the active players
