Roger Federer is considered by the majority of the tennis community probably the greatest player of all time. The Swiss has always found confirmation of his place in the history of the sport from most of the major legends of the past. All congratulated Roger when he started his ascent to the top of men’s tennis, all sticked with the Swiss when he started to beat all records.
Guillermo Vilas decided he wanted to take his place of the pack and made an interesting statement this week regarding the 17-time Grand Slam champion. According to Vilas, his own very best version would have been enough to beat the Swiss Maestro on a tennis court.
Guillermo has never reached the World No.1 ranking in men’s tennis, but has managed to win a total of 4 Grand Slam titles. Clearly one of the best players of his generation, Vilas’ success is still linked mostly to his extraordinary abilities onto clay courts.
Speaking to radio show “Perros de la Calle”, Vilas was asked a question regarding Federer and said: “Roger is fantastic! I love his game, the way he plans it He always sets goals for himself and always manages to reach them. I think we are very similar”.
Asked however who would have won between himself and Federer if they both were 25 years old, Guillermo shocked the audience as he said:
“I would have won. And if we were to meet at the start of our careers, I would have won too, without any doubt. In his first years Roger wasn’t really winning much, he just had an amazing talent. He wasn’t ready to make sacrifices and he wasn’t ready on a mental point of view. He used to break all his racquets. I didn’t think back then he would have achieved great things, and for such a long period of time”.
It is true that Federer may have had to deal with nerves early on in his career, but speaking of early success it is hard to confirm what Guillermo said. Roger was ranked for the first time among the top 20 when he was 20 years and 9 months old. Guillermo reached the same feat when he was 22 years, when the ATP rankings were launched in 1973. Federer won his first ATP title when he was 19 years and 6 months old, Vilas only when he was aged 21 years and 3 months.
Finally, considering the tournaments that matter the most. Federer won his first Slam title when he was 21 and 11 months. Vilas won his first major when he was 24 years and 7 months old.
Are we really sure Guillermo would have been able to stop the Swiss when he peaked aged quarter of a century?
