04/25/24
July 05, 2010
Federer Slips to Lowest Rank Since 2003: Fresh off his early exit from Wimbledon, Roger Federer fell to No. 3 in the ATP rankings Monday behind Rafael Nadal and new No. 2 Novak Djokovic. It's the first time since November 2003 Federer been that low. "[T]he Swiss maestro's best days are now behind him," writes William Johnson for The National in Abu Dhabi.
Federer won a major in 2010, and his best days are behind him?
I think some one is rushing to be the first in line to announce his demise without really thinking it through.
posted by grum@work at 01:07 AM on July 06, 2010
They wrote him off before, and they write him off at their peril.
/Might get some good odds for the US Open.
posted by owlhouse at 04:01 AM on July 06, 2010
Nah - the bookies aren't stupid. He's still ~11/4 joint favourite with Rafa. Murray is third favourite ~4/1 and you can get Djokovic at 9/1. Do the seedings work strictly on world ranking at the US? And if so, does that make life better or worse for Novak?
posted by JJ at 05:36 AM on July 06, 2010
His best days may be behind him, but I'd venture to guess that he still has at least three more Slam victories in him. After he went out in the Quarters, he complained of some nagging injuries, and I tend to believe it isn't just sour grapes.
I've cheered for Fed for years, but my contention is that in previous game interviews asking him about the exact same thing, he always responded, "Everything is great with me. I feel perfect and have no injuries!" That's what makes it hard for me to believe he is injured and not just a sore loser. Then again, if I won as much as he did, I might not know how to loose.
posted by jmd82 at 09:18 AM on July 06, 2010
His comments - in the interview I saw - were more along the lines of "I've had a few niggling injuries for a while, but they definitely didn't cause me to lose. They're not that bad."
posted by JJ at 10:41 AM on July 06, 2010
How quickly some look to write this guy off. Didn't he win Wimbledon and the French just last year?
I agree with JJ - the bookies aren't stupid (but their also not picking winners, so much as trying to drive money).
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:39 PM on July 06, 2010
No one won the French and Wimbledon since Borg until Rafa did it in 2008, then Fed did it last year and now Rafa's done it again. But yeah, he's past it now. Daft.
posted by JJ at 06:32 PM on July 06, 2010
His best days may be behind him, but I'd venture to guess that he still has at least three more Slam victories in him. After he went out in the Quarters, he complained of some nagging injuries, and I tend to believe it isn't just sour grapes. Also, his renaissance from breaking down in front of a global audience after losing to Rafa yet again to winning the French last year (if I remember correctly) makes me believe that he isn't ready to be put out to stud just yet - despite the recent birth of his twins.