‘Form is temporary, class is permanent’ might just be the most overused phrase in sport writing, but players like Roger Federer make it ever-relevant.
The final of the Australian Open 2017 probably was the biggest event in modern (or all-time) tennis history. How could it not be? Two giant forces of the game not only clashed against each other but also brought along Herculean legacies with them to transgress time itself. At the end of it all, it was Federer who outlasted the resilience of Rafael Nadal to clinch his 5th title at Melbourne.
The Swiss maestro rewrote history with this achievement, continuing to belie his age. He transformed the “Bel18ve” slogan from an indulgent fantasy to a drool-worthy fact. He truly has taken a giant stride towards the ‘GOAT’ or ‘Greatest of All Time’ appellation now; his numbers tower over those of his contemporaries as well as his predecessors in a daunting and dangerous fashion.
It seems like the 18-time Grand Slam winner has ticked off all boxes of accomplishment in his area of expertise. But can we really dare to be this presumptuous about a man like him – someone who has a zeal of steel?
With the roaring comeback that he has made, Federer has a strong chance of achieving even more – in this season itself. Now that he has nothing to lose, numerous opportunities will pull at his racket strings consistently; he will go into tournaments with all guns and rackets blazing, and leave no stone unturned.
Here are a few things he can look to achieve before his retirement, even though he may have seemingly achieved everything there is to achieve in the sport:
#1 100-plus singles career titles
Roger Federer already has 89 singles career titles to his name, and is at the top of the pile among his contemporaries. Next on the list of current players are Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, with 69 and 67 titles respectively. This shows that a mammoth gap of at least 20 titles separates the Swiss from those closest to him in the list!
Federer is no longer a nobleman – he’s a king now. The kind of king who does not need to invade alien castles, but the kind who would rather build a buttress for his fortress. His huge title lead is his fortress today – he must look to preserve and protract it as much as possible.
With 89 titles spanning over 17 pro years, the 35-year-old has an average of 5.2 titles per season. If he keeps going down the same road, winning 95 tournaments before he hangs up his boots is a strong possibility. He also has 137 finals to add to his prestigious titles, which will surely go down as one of his most gigantic achievements.
Federer is consistently adapting to the changes in the game and going toe-to-toe with the best in the business today. That is what will help him pursue more ATP championships and augment the grandeur of his trophy cabinet even further. If 95 is a strong possibility, maybe dreaming of 100 is not that far-fetched?
#2 Even more Wimbledon glory
The presence of the prestigious Wimbledon crown in this list also takes inspiration from the strengthen-your-fortress theory. Federer, the master of grass and the conqueror of Wimbledon, clinching his crown again – can there be a more glorious cap to his career? If he manages to achieve this, he need worry about anything else in this list, or any other tournament in the world for that matter.
In the last three seasons, Federer has come agonisingly close to doing it. He had a glimpse of his 8th Wimbledon trophy in 2014, 2015 and 2016, but couldn’t get his hands on it. He was stopped by a ruthlessly dominant Djokovic two times, and last year the combination of an improved Milos Raonic and that fall stopped the Swiss from reaching the final, which also marked his first loss in a Wimbledon semi-final.
After winning the first Major of the year in 2017, Federer has a huge chance to get to 19 at SW19. His chances look stronger than they did the last three years, and to add to that he has nothing to lose now. On his best day, even Andy Murray would not be able to rattle Federer on the grass courts of London.
This year might just be Federer’s last and best opportunity to add to his silverware there. It would probably be ideal for him to take a break during the clay season so that he can be refreshed and ready for Wimbledon. If he feels that the break is too protracted, he can give a shot at Roland Garros in isolation, before turning to the grass season.
#3 Top 3 year-end ranking
Federer was World No. 17 when this season began, and in the space of just one tournament, he has climbed seven spots to reach the No. 10 ranking. He needs to perform the same way throughout the season to end up in the top 3 rankings once again.
2016 was a year where the Swiss did not win a single title for the first time since 2000. However, that could now act as a blessing in disguise. He has a pittance of points to defend up to Wimbledon and literally nothing to defend after that!
The gap between the points of World No. 1 Murray and World No. 2 Djokovic is 1,715 and that between World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka and World No. 7 Federer is 2,430. Not that much of a disparity, is it?
Ending the year in the top 3 at the age of 36 will only add to Federer’s legacy of incomprehensible achievements!
#4 Six US Open crowns
Thanks to his incredibly good record at Wimbledon, Federer’s dominance at Flushing Meadows is considered almost pedestrian. However, it is imperative to note that the Swiss, along with Jim Connors and Pete Sampras, actually has the highest number of US Open titles (5) in the Open Era.
If he manages to win a 6th championship in Flushing Meadows, he will be a man who solely holds the highest number of titles at two Grand Slams – that would be quite a story to tell!
Since he has already won a hardcourt Grand Slam this year, his chances at the US Open look good. Moreover, the faster DecoTurf court at New York suits Federer’s game more than the slower courts of Melbourne. Many factors could thus be tilting in favour of the World No. 10 when it comes to the possibilities at the US Open this year.
#5 Preserving his record at the ATP World Tour Finals
Like many other tournaments, Federer holds the record of most titles here too (6). However, with Djokovic closing in with five titles under his belt, winning the World Tour Final one more time might just be the perfect way for Federer to end his season, or even his career.
The best-of-three format of the tournament will ensure that the matches do not get too tenuous for the 35-year-old. The indoor hardcourt enhances his game well and will give steeper angles to the maestro’s groundstrokes.
By the time he retires, the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters might be the only trophies that do not find a place in Federer’s trophy cabinet. But after all that he has achieved, do they really matter at all?
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