Is Roger Federer’s career nearing the end?

Roger Federer: World Number 7. This seems surreal to many fans that arguably the greatest tennis player of all time can be ranked as low as 7. But this is the sad reality today for the man who was the embodiment of the Rank Number 1 which he had held for an unbelievable 302 weeks. And last night’s crushing straight sets defeat in the 4th Round of the US Open against the relatively unknown Tommy Robredo, against whom Federer had 10-0 win record until last night, confirms the worst fears that Federer’s time is running out. Getting defeated does not mean end of road but the manner in which the 17-times grand slam champion was eliminated does.

So the question is can he add to his 17 grand slams. It remains possible, of course, and as long as it does remain possible there will always be hope. Not much belief, but at least some hope. Andre Agassi did it, after all. So did Pete Sampras. But things have changed today, though. The ATP Tour has an unbelievable wealth of talent, and I doubt even Agassi or Sampras would be able to enjoy a late-career run of glory against the likes of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and a fit Rafael Nadal.

Federer remains the most talented tennis player in the world, but the problem is that his indisputable talents are no longer enough to keep him above the rest of the pack in gruelling, physical match-play. Federer used to have an aurora about him but that has thinned out in recent years. No longer does the name Federer strike terror into the hearts of weaker opponents as it once did, as evidenced by his Wimbledon loss to 116-ranked Sergiy Stakhovsky and other unexpected stumbles in minor tournaments. And it is not only tough physically, but it will also be hard for him mentally to stay motivated. 

However every sports lover would wish Roger Federer to prove everyone wrong. They say form is temporary and class is permanent, and as long as he has a tennis racket in his hand he will always be a class act. We must recognise what he has achieved and cherish the fact that we are lucky enough to witness one of the greatest sportsmen of all time.