Roger Federer may end his career as the third most decorated male player in history, but the comments of those around him show the everlasting impact he has had on the sport of tennis since he turned professional back in 1998.
Roger Federer’s first Grand Slam triumph at Wimbledon on July 6 2003 would go on to become a momentous day in the next 16 years of the sport. The adored Swiss national would go on to win major title number 20 before the same tournament came around in 2018, having won 16 from 27 attempts between 2003 and 2010.
Despite the 38-year-old having a legacy that would have never been matched in any other era, the longevity of his greatest foe Rafael Nadal looks set to dethrone him within the next year having taken his tally to 19 in 2019.
Novak Djokovic is also well placed to reach the top of the rankings with 16 wins to his name and a six-year age advantage over the current leader.
However, even though the numbers might suggest to future fans of the sport that Federer was the third greatest player of all time, the comments of his greatest opponents during their careers show his lasting legacy on those that matter most.
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Nadal was left in tears after beating Federer 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 in Dubai back in 2006 which ended his rival’s sublime run of 56 consecutive hard-court victories.
The youthful Spaniard mentioned his return from injury as one reason for his emotion, and the respect that he had for his opponent another.
Nadal, who was 19 at the time, had beaten Federer for the third time in their fourth meeting, despite being five years younger that his experienced foe.
“I think it is unbelievable to win against the best player in the world – perhaps the best in the history of the game.” Nadal said after his triumph.
In Federer’s most recent final he missed two match points as Djokovic went to within four titles of his record, but he did receive glowing praise for his longevity after the longest ever final in Wimbledon history.
The Serbian said: “I think this was, if not the most exciting and thrilling final I’ve been a part of then definitely in the top two or three of my career.
“And also against one of the greatest of all time in Roger who I respect a lot.
“Unfortunately in these matches one player has to lose. Both of us had our chances. It was quite unreal to have match points against me and come back and then to have a tie-break at 12-12.”
Before Federer, Nadal and Djokovic rose to the top, it was Pete Sampras and Rod Laver that were considered the greatest ever.
Perhaps in the most telling statement of all, the latter, who won all four Grand Slam titles in 1969 on his way to 11, paid tribute to Federer earlier this year which shows how highly he rates the veteran.
“My thought is Roger Federer is the best player in the world,” he told tennis.com.
“Yes, I’ve had a good career but I don’t think it matches up with anything that Roger has accomplished.”