Throwdowns > Closed

Bigalke said 03/05, 08:58 PM
Roger Federer is a player in decline... entering 2008, it appeared inevitable that Federer would be pouncing on Sampras' career Grand Slam record -- and far surpassing it sooner rather than later. But, two-plus months into the season, Federer is without a victory on the ATP and is looking far less dominant than he has in years past...

With Nadal and Djokovic breathing down his neck in the ATP rankings and the overall talent level of the men's field growing stronger, it appears that Federer's reign as the undisputed number-one player in the world is fast approaching the end...

I contend that another player on the men's tennis tour will take over the number-one position at some point in 2008, ending Federer's run...

Disagree? THROWDOWN...

Bigalke said 03/06, 08:28 AM
Federer IS only 26... yet he already has played nearly 700 pro matches in his career. There is nothing to indicate that he is simply going away... merely that the pack is rising in stature, and that it is getting imminently close to catching the front-runner...

So, with the rise of young & talented players such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga & others, it becomes apparent that facing the invincible Federer -- long as dependable as the clocks from his native Switzerland -- is no longer a guaranteed defeat for his opponents. For a player who has 12 Grand Slams & 53 total pro titles, has won 90% of his matches over the past 5 years & sat atop the ATP rankings for FOUR STRAIGHT YEARS, this sudden lapse seems indicative of more than mere early-season cobwebs...

There is simply too much talent coming up currently in the sport for Federer to reign atop the mountain forever. This is the year where Roger's number-one streak (currently 212+ weeks & counting) eventually falls. While Federer may regain it back, I assert that, before the 2008 ATP season concludes in Shanghai, another player besides Federer will have held the #1 ranking in men's tennis...

Bigalke said 03/06, 05:22 PM
Let's look @ this analogy to which you keep returning...

The Patriots were the class of the NFL this season... the Roger Federer of professional football, if you will. New England went the entire season as #1, only to tumble at their most critical juncture...

The Giants represent all those hungry young players, gaining valuable experience and building a talent base with which to rival the Goliath that is NE/Federer...

You cannot be perfect everyday, certainly... but three months into the season, for Federer to be without a victory yet is indicative of more than mere fluke defeat. Federer DOES have a lot to lose -- his consecutive-week #1 streak, the chance to break Sampras' Grand Slam record this season or next, his preeminent status...

And this is the season where it will happen. Currently #1 with 6330 points, Nadal lurks behind with 5930 and Djokovic, on the strength of winning the Aussie Open, is third with 5010. Federer has little buffer to continue his streaky ways as of late. Worrying more about his exhibitions w/Sampras than ATP victory, Federer will cough up the #1 streak this season... he may get it back by the end of the year, but he won't hold it the whole way...