Before this news gets very old, Roger Federer has proved himself to be the greatest tennis player of all time ... almost. In winning the French Open a couple of weeks ago, he passed a major milestone: he won the French Open. Rafael Nadal had denied Roger this, the only Grand Slam event he hadn't won, in the last four finals. Now the Majorcan Madman wasn't there, having been knocked out in the quarter-finals (!) by the truly-crazed Swede, Robin Soderling. A great match, and it looked like he might restore the Viking dynasty of old: Borg (in-the-stands), Edburg, Willander, etc., especially after he took apart his next opponent in the semis. But, no. Straight sets for the Roger of old.
The French made Federer a "career" Grand Slammer, in the company of only five others (incl. Laver and Agassi) who have won Wimbledon, U.S and Austalian Open too. And he's won those and others a bunch of times already, accounting for his record five years at #1 in the world. He's tied now with Pete Sampras for MOST Slams at 14. If he wins at Wimbledon next week or the U.S Open (defending champion) later in the summer--one of which, I have no doubt--he will have won the most of all time. I'm hoping for a re-match with Nadal at the All England Croquet and Racquet Club--Fededer's hard-fought 5-set defeat last year was one of the greatest matches I have ever seen. (see DM #22 from last year)
So ... fair warning ... tune in if you can to "Wim-blee-dawn"-- as the wonderful Bjorn Borg always pronounced it.
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