Roger Federer was a man destined to be the GOAT( Greatest of All Time), now some think he is playing like one. Critics are leaping off his bandwagon in unseemly haste, and even Bjorn Borg has said:'I pick Rafael Nadal as ( Wimbledon ) winners, my second choice is Novak Djokovi, my third is Roger.
The champion has been ill, unsure, erratic, brooding and has lately been dismissed by Djokovic off court and dismembered by Nadal on it. Said the Serb this week:' I think he's a little shaken with that loss ( in the French final) and mentally he has been struggling in the last couple of months. New names are coming who believe more they can win against him and I am one of them. Suddenly he is worried a little bit'.
It has not helped the Swiss that Nadal (this summer) and Djokovic ( in January) have unveiled superior models of themselves. But this is expected, for Federer, almost 27, is a finished product, while the Spaniard, just 22 and Serb, just 21 are unfinished constructions.
Nadal looks the superior player now, but in versatility he and Federer are not yet matched. If the Swiss needs Wimbledon to redeem himself, Nadal needs Wimbledon to announce himself as a multi-faceted player. For all the lopsidedness of their head-to -head record (11-6 in Nadal's favor ), the Spaniard has not beaten the Swiss outside clay in 28 months.
If eras have defining moments, this fortnight could be Federer's. We can quibble about this being minor slump or major slide, but he needs to send a message to the field about his greatness.
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