Roger Federer is one of the greatest tennis players to ever grace a court and certainly takes the vote when it comes to elegance.
Ahead of the Laver Cup, Federer has been hitting some balls in San Francisco as he prepares to take in the competition.
From the moment Federer stepped onto a tennis court, stardom was in his sights, and he finished a wonderful career with 20 Grand Slam titles.
Federer and Joao Fonseca enjoyed a conversation ahead of the Laver Cup, and one day, he might become one of the game’s very best players.
Over the years, Federer has had some kind words for a number of players and in 2017, he admitted his surprise that two players had never made it to world number one.
Photo credit should read SEBASTIEN FEVAL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe two players Roger Federer thought would be world number one
In 2017, Federer had just won Wimbledon and looked on course to progress deep in the US Open after a fourth-round win over Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Juan Martin del Potro was his opponent in the quarterfinal, however, and set him packing after a brilliant performance in the last eight.
Del Potro beat Federer in the Flushing Meadows final in 2009 to claim his only Grand Slam, and eight years later, the Swiss admitted his surprise that the Argentine had never been to number one.
He said in his press conference: “Well, I don’t quite know what he went through, to be honest. I wasn’t with him. He was gone for so long that it’s just really nice to see him back playing these kinds of matches.
“That’s what he came back for, to get crowd support the way he got it.
We could even hear it on the centre court. That’s the first time I experienced that. Clearly, Grandstand wasn’t where it used to be. But, I mean, they had epic crowds.
“He’s a good guy. I know him well. But when he was hurt, clearly, I didn’t see him for a long time. I was sorry for him because I think he had a legitimate good chance to become world No. 1 at that time.”
There was another player who Federer felt would get to world number one and didn’t, and it was Nikolay Davydenko.
The eight-time Wimbledon champion continued: “Him and Davydenko, actually, both of them got hurt at the wrong times in their careers. Both had a chance to go for world No. 1 at that time. ’09, I think it was.
“So I’m really happy for him. It’s a good match to look forward to. Reminds me clearly of the 2009 finals that we had, which was an epic, too. I hope we can produce another good one.”
Del Potro and Davydenko deserved more
Both players were quality in their prime, but Davydenko couldn’t do what Del Potro did and get over the line to win one of the game’s big prizes.
Del Potro was brilliant on his day and perhaps should have won more than the single Grand Slam title, which he did get his hands on.
Federer and Rafael Nadal were just too strong during that period in 2009 and ultimately, other players simply weren’t consistent enough to topple them from the top spot.
Despite Federer’s claim, Del Potro and Davydenko were no different…