With all this said, I do really enjoy watching someone at least challenge him. That way he’s forced to hit balls and shots mere humans could never have hoped to.
It’s just like, “That’s right, I’m the best. Bitch.” 
If he’s fit, I’d say Nadal would take him out in straights, 4 max.
I remember last years final, in the 3rd set, there was a point where Nadal had a love-40 lead on Federer’s serve, a break would have surely meant the match.
Despite his French Open win, what makes you think he is playing better than he did in previous years?
I would have Lendle up there in the top players of all-time. A truly dominant player. I do believe that the level of competition was better in the 70’s and 80’s.
Also, imho, if I had to name one player to win in a must-win match then I’d pick Connors. Great player with one of the strongest “wills to win” I have ever seen in professional sports (I’d put Tiger Woods and Roy Keane on a similar level).
I think Nadal is a bigger fighter than Federer, although Roger does have more inherit talent.
Need proof? Watch this tie-break against Djokovic in Madrid, in what turned out to be the longest 3 setter in history: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeRfNqsl34A
How on earth would Nadal beat Federer in straight sets on grass when they played five sets in the last two Wimbledon finals - and five in Australia earlier this year? They’re more evenly matched than that!
It remains to be seen how both of them will bounce back from what happened in Paris. Federer has to be feeling the best he’s felt in a long while, perhaps since 2007, with this French Open pressure off.
One remarkable thing about Federer is his ability to absorb huge, soul-crushing defeats and then bounce back. He has done it twice now after his Wimbledon and Australian losses to Nadal. Admittedly it helped that he didn’t have to play Nadal but winning any grand slam is a big achievement. I sometimes think that his superlative talent leads people to underestimate his fighting spirit.
Oh but I disagree. Nadal played a 5 hour 14 minute match before facing Federer in the final in Australia, and was not favored to win, but did so anyway.
I think Federer’s level has been dipping over the last couple of years. However to his credit he has played clutch tennis when it matter in the slams.
As I said, look at his previous Grand Slam results, prior to this French Open win and this has been by far Federer’s toughest slam to win.
In 2007 Federer played to a higher level than in 08 in my opinion and not just because he won the Wimbledon Final.
In 08 Nadal had a chance to win in straights, but did not as Federer played some great shots in the tie-breakers particularly the 4th set.
One could make a similar argument to Federer “being back” after he won the 2008 US open vs. Andy Murray. His year had been pretty bad (for his standards) until he won that slam. He did not win a single title again till he played Nadal in the Madrid final who had just beaten Djokovic in the longest 3 setter in history.
I don’t think it was a huge shock to see Nadal lose that one.
I think the only time Federer has beaten Nadal with ease has been in the Shanghai matches they had in 06 and 07 as well as the 2006 Wimbledon final.
On the other hand, Nadal has beaten Federer easily many times on clay, with a few tough matches in between such as the 5 hour long Rome Match in 2006 or the 2006 French Open Final.
I think it has to do with the match up issue more than anything else. Federer has more talent, Nadal more willpower.
Who says he has to play better than in his “previous years”? He was the World #1 for five consecutive years prior to 2008- and didn’t lose to Nadal on grass.
Had a chance, but didn’t. I think that speaks for itself. Tommy Haas had a chance to beat Federer in straight sets this week, but that didn’t happen either. I’m sure Nadal’s tiredness helped Federer in Madrid, but then again, that was on clay. The record at Wimbledon shows they’re closely matched on grass.
True. We’ll have to see if this is different. Meanwhile I don’t see a healthy Nadal beating Federer in three sets on grass given that he’s never done it. But before that happens, we’ll have to see how healthy Nadal is.
No, he doesn’t have to, your right.
He’s damn awesome. But given the high expectations he gave his fans from 04 to 07 and to not have him win a Master Series shield for over a year is surprising.
His consistency on slams has been what has made him who he is. But, having stated that he is playing at a lower level and I think that he better be careful with the top players in Wimbledon, or he might be in for a disappointment,
Yep. I agree.
I do think Federer is favorite to win this year, but Murray or Djokovic (if he plays well like he did at Queens last year) can have a nice shot at beating him IMHO.