Australian Tennis Great Speaks Out On Roger Federer’s Grand Slam Chances - UBITENNIS

Australian Tennis Great Speaks Out On Roger Federer’s Grand Slam Chances

Is the Swiss tennis legend too old to win more Grand Slam titles?

By Adam Addicott
4 Min Read

One of Australia’s most decorated tennis players of all time believes the issue Roger Federer is facing in his bid to add to his Grand Slam tally in the future has nothing to do with his level of play.

Former world No.1 doubles star Todd Woodbridge believes Federer’s biggest problem is his age and ability to recover from playing best-of-five matches. The Swiss maestro turned 39 in August and is the oldest player in the top 100 at present. Although Spain’s Feliciano Lopez is the same age as him but was born a couple months later.

“It’s not about the quality of his play, it’s about can his body handle seven matches at a slam?” Woodbridge told Wide World of Sports.
“The actual ball-striking part of his game is probably as good as ever, but the body doesn’t come back as easily. The extra couple of years he’s got on Rafa and Novak makes it tough.”

It has been more than two years since Federer last won a major title at the 2018 Australian Open. Since then, he has only featured in one additional final at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships where he had match points against Novak Djokovic but ended up losing in the deciding tiebreaker.

Federer’s record Grand Slam tally of 20 is now under threat after Rafael Nadal drew level with him by winning the French Open on Sunday. Furthermore Djokovic, who is the youngest player out of the Big Three, is currently on 17. Triggering the debate once again about who should be regarded as the greatest player of all time. Although Woodbridge says he is hoping Federer and Nadal will end their careers on the same number.

“I don’t expect Rafa to retire, but there’d be something special about them finishing on the same number,” he said.
“I think it would be a testament to the amazing rivalry he and Roger have had, that one of them wasn’t considered better than the other.”

Woodbridge, who won 16 men’s Grand Slam doubles titles during his career, has also hailed Nadal’s latest triumph at Roland Garros. In Paris he became the first player – male or female – to win the same major for the 13th time by dominating Djokovic 6-0, 6-2, 7-5, in what was one of his most one-sided victories over the world No.1 in his career.

“To be able to go to a tournament and win it 13 times, be fit, healthy and mentally able to cope with the stresses of being one of the top players, I don’t think there’s any sporting feat that I can think of that has had that continuity, longevity and dominance.” Woodbridge commented.

Federer will not be playing again this season after undergoing knee surgery earlier this year. Meanwhile, Djokovic is set to play in Vienna later this month and Nadal is still yet to finalise his plans.

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