Tennis world hails Roger Federer

Tennis world hails Roger Federer

September 9, 2008

 

Trophy boy: Federer has been hailed by his peers for regaining his grand-slam winning form

 

Trophy boy: Federer has been hailed by his peers for regaining his grand-slam winning form

Ben Smith

 

After a season plagued by disappointments and setbacks, Roger Federer rediscovered his aura of invincibility at Flushing Meadows last night and the tennis world has responded by hailing the man many believe is the greatest to have played the game.

 

The familiar Federer footwork and impeccable timing returned as the world No 2 won the US Open title for the fifth time in succession with a straight sets defeat of Andy Murray in New York.

 

It was only his third tournament victory of a year that has seen him relinquish his No 1 ranking and caused many to question whether his career was on the slide.

 

Yet Tim Henman, the former British No 1, said he now expected Federer to surpass the record of 14 grand-slam titles won by Pete Sampras.

Expert View

Simon Barnes

Opening quote Murray is not your polite public schoolboy. He’s a ferocious stand up and be counted Scot Closing quote

Simon Barnes

 

Murray has reason to be happy despite defeat

 

For the Briton, this was an astonishing introduction to the highest levels of the sport, a place where he seems destined

 

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Federer returns to his magical best

 

Andy Murray played part of subservient pupil to 21st-century master of Flushing Meadows, who won 13th grand slam

 

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"I think it is important when you look at the final you really just have to applaud how good Federer was," Henman said. "If you look at some of the tennis Federer played in the final it is easy to see why some people think he is the greatest player to have ever played the game.

 

"His game is so complete, there are no holes in it, and with another slam under his belt I expect he will go some way past Pete Sampras's list of grand-slam titles."

 

Mats Wilander admitted he was one of a number of doomsayers who thought Federer's best days were behind him. "This is a huge moment for Federer," the winner of seven major titles said. "I was one of those critics who maybe thought the days of him winning grand-slams were over.

 

"After this, I would say he's going to win more grand-slams, many more, if he continues to play with the kind of passion he has now. It was an unbelievable performance against Murray and I'm now 100 per cent convinced he will break Pete Sampras's record."

 

Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, said Murray could hold his head high after losing to one of the all-time greats of the game.

 

"Federer is something else," Cash said. "He just seems to play that much better in New York than almost anywhere else in the world. Murray was a class act in the final and he lost to one of the best players of all time.

 

"People have been saying [Federer's] best days are behind him. To be fair, that's probably true but he still played very, very good tennis throughout the tournament and he was just so determined to win."