No one's game...Not nadal...Not Djokovic.....Not Sampras......can match the level of beauty in every shot that Roger makes...He is THE ultimate artist.
It does help that the field wasn't as strong at the time as it is now though. You didn't have guys like Alcaraz and Sinner running around. Nadal was there, but 2017 was not his best year on hardcourt.
His backhand in 2017 was on another level never reached before, after that in 2018 his backhand level went drastically down even below his normal level, which cost him at least a couple of slams.
Federer's movement is legendary. But I'm surprised at how hard he hit the ball. Those backhands came back fast. And somehow he did it without all that grunting. The silence makes it more sublime.
It was a Wednesday. After seen Nadal practicing: All muscles and intensity, I thought he will take revenge after losing to Roger AO Trophy… But there was a Matador for this bull. Rafa never hold a chance that day. Federer would defeat any player of any era that Spring of 2017.
I was in the Stadium that day. Never saw Federer play better . It was even more impressive live. His backhand got even more lethal than his trademark Drive.
Yep! That's amazing you saw this Federer Nadal match. Federer had indeed been working on the backhand and making it (even more of) a weapon. No more , or less, framing - this time Nadal was framing shots. This was definitely the height of Federer play and I really don't believe anyone in the universe could play better than he did that day. Players can match it, but it was just way too good. And that's saying something because these are two players whose levels are so, so much higher than anyone in history, save a handful. Djokovic with his maddening consistency, Sampras at points, a few others.
I believe Roger at his peak was better than any other player's peak level. Djokovic and Nadal come close but Federer becomes completely unplayable. Even Djokovic once said that Federer is the only player he's felt completely useless against when Fed was on form, like he had no chance of winning at all. This coming from a huge Djoker fan
I am a big Nole fan since 2011 and I wonder what would be the outcome of a Djokovic 2012 Doha god mode vs Roger 2017 God mode ..🤔 Anyway Roger at this level is insane and for sure the most aggressive of the 3 on hardcourt
Roger was the best striker of a tennis ball, had more ways to hit it, than anyone who ever played the game or will play the game. In other words, a Mozart! He also had a nearly one-sided negative record vs Djokovic in finals, GS finals, and GS events. Roger loses close matches vs his two major rivals especially at crunch time in close, long matches.Something's missing. Brains? Heart? Outside distractions? It's hard to call someone with 20 GS titles an underachiever but.given the enormity of his talent,. indeed he was. Only in the Australian Open final in 2017 vs Nadal did he go full bore with guts and heart. As Patrick McEnroe put it, he out-Nadaled Nadal.l.
Fully agreed, other players have said that too. With Nadal they always felt they had a chance in the rallies, but with Federer they were constantly chasing the ball like beginners.
The 2017 Sunshine Double, as epitomized by this match, was breathtaking. The highest level of tennis I have ever seen, and I've watched most of the slams and 1000's in the last 20 years. A privilege to have witnessed the Maestro perform his magic in person during that time.
Federer's 2017 brilliance is like a supernova, it was the last breath of the great star he once was, and it was one of the greatest brilliances ever seen in tennis.
@@jds5030 oh I think you know lol. did fed coincidentally never play at this "unbeatable" level again once the other guy was back from surgery? was it really a coincidence ?!
The only tennis player who made me able to wake up in the middle of the night to watch his match (knowing that I'll need to wake up at 6 a.m. to work). I remember that match vividly, one of the best pure striking performance on a tennis court, I've ever seen ❤
I am a Rafa fan, no wonder, but holy sh*t, when playing at this level, one has to recognize that he has been the smartest player in history, with unrivaled technique. Watching his facial expressions in slow motion reflects his state of focus, he is thinking 10x faster than his rivals.
Haters will always try to diminish him because Rafa and Nole have more GS now. Don’t forget those who come after have always the advantage to know what landmark they have to achieve to become the stats’ GOAT. But everyone can’t help but thinking no one will ever be more incredible to watch than the Maestro himself. He’s for many the ultimate legend of this Sport
As in most sports, I think that for example men's tennis is different than women's tennis and same with basketball etc. The question of who's the best tennis player ever immediately begs the question as to whether you're talking about women's or men's tennis. To me it's irrelevant that the best male tennis player could beat the best woman player. @@michaelwirth6843
@@michaelwirth6843 no that's not the hypothetical to suggest. The question would be has there been a female tennis player who was as dominating in her career as Federer was in his. Same in basketball, obviously a superstar male basketball player in absolute terms is better than a female superstar, but has Taurasi been as dominating in her career as say Curry has been in his career? To only look at comparisons in absolute terms, I think depreciates the achievement of female athletes.
Aggression, artistry, creativity, precision all of unreachable levels. Some people play grindy errorless games that's great for stats. But some like Roger are made for showing how to imagine and play such excuisite shots and to imagine with such a mindset and gameplay he won so much and gave out such masterclasses. ❤❤❤
doesn't sweat, doesn't grimace, doesn't scream, doesn't protest, doesn't use tricks, elegant both when he wins and when he loses! and how he plays.. that's enough! ROGER NR 1
Yep one of this best matches. When he plays like this it is the best tennis anybody can play...the way he played especially Nadal..total dominance. Would like him to play like this more against Djokovic
@@angerisdiscipline3913 yes, and after that go watch Canada 2007,AO 2008,miami 2009, Rome, basel.. Us open 2010 and 2011, AO 2011.. Rome 2012, Rg 2012, atp finals 2012 😂
The thing that I find most impressive about Federer at his best is that he could make even the greatest players look ordinary. I don't think there is any higher praise because Nadal and Novak etc are insanely special players in their own rights. Fed just has shots and vision like nobody ever ever!
Oh god! Watching this after the reign of himself in the tennis world is killing me. Me now recalling all the moment by his side in front of the TV screen from 2005 to 2020; all the joy, happiness, tears and disappointment just hit back my mind. Without him, i have not watching the tennis world for such a long time. All my passion, concentration on every shots on court have gone with his leave. The tennis world inside me is no longer beautiful as it was before and i believe it is the same to a huge number of people in the tennis world. He maybe not the best player to conquest the most titles but he is always the most lovable guy in the heart of tennis fan by his beautiful shots on court, elegance and dignity in his life. Too much nostagia of him. I really miss him, a lot!
@@loria7043 I think that everyone who truly loves tennis for its aesthetic aspect--i.e. something more universal, something at least close to areas like truth and beauty, beyond mere comoetition--feels exactly the same as you do. I feel it especially during the early stages of Wimbledon when the grass is pristine and plays so fast like the grass of old.. Had they not changed the Wimbledon grass Federer would have won 14 Wimbledon titles.
That's easily the highest level of Tennis game ever produced. That's some insane peak level no one can reach. That 2017 comeback year of Roger was something else. I so much wish he found this no fear, free flowing Tennis game much earlier when Djokovic unearthed his peak level.
Having watched Alcaraz and Medvedev play at the US Open this week, I watch this forgetting how unbelievably surgical Federer was when he was touring. It's just insane. Everyone has their style but Federer just played in a whole different class. Hard to describe without getting specific.
It's not just all these wonderful things we have witnessed about Roger for the last quarter of a century, but the fact that when he wins a match you personally are so satisfied that you go around feeling happy and life is actually great.. But that's Roger for you that's what he does to you, he takes away the stress of life from you, there is no other sportsman ever in history that has personally had the effect on me like Roger has had... Love you man ❤
@@angerisdiscipline3913 Coincidentally the year that that other guy who has a 3-0 record against him at Indian Wells (where this match was at) had an elbow problem. Normal service resumed on his return.
OMG. If we discover how to get old people young again, federer should be the first one. I would like to watch more of his brilliant performance and style.
Roger playing aggressive like this is Roger at his best. This back to his vintage days playing Roddick where he just pasted shots. Great to see play like this this late in his career.
I don’t care who has won or who will win more slams than roger, he is the greatest ever. Almost effortless and just oozed class his game was a thing of beauty
Idk (and dont really care that much) if he is the all time GOAT of this sport, for me he 100% is, but i just loved his gameplay. He had some kind of grace, his movement, his shots, he was something else compared to what was then and now and probably the future. He was not just playing tennis and winning, he was also dancing and giving it color.
When Fed came back it was like he'd temporarily forgotten all of his scars, and we forgot with him. When he was confident, every shot was available, and they could all be winners. The magic died in the wind at FO 2019, and Novak buried it with his relentless defense and consistency at Wimbledon. I'll always remember the Roger's brief return to glory. That he had good results against ND and RF this late in his career is testament to his greatness, through injury and rehab and rebuild. Anyone who's experienced injury and surgery knows that the hardest thing is regaining trust in your body, and confidence to stretch your limits athletically.
Non giocava sempre così, ovviamente. Ma nessuno degli altri ha mai giocato così: servizio, volée, dritto, rovescio, anticipi, eleganza, tutto al massimo livello. Gli altri due sono come Messi e Cristiano Ronaldo, ma di Maradona ce n'è solo uno.
This is what most people don't understand. Uninjured and free-swinging Fed during 2004-2008 was virtually impossible to beat on grass or hard surfaces (even peak Nole wouldn't stand a chance). This is why so many people talk about "weak era" because he made world class peers (Agassi, Hewitt, Davydenko, Nalbandian, Safin etc) seem like second class players.
@Freud_Chicken It was, the difference is that his racket favored his forehand to have a more offensive game on the faster courts there were back then.
His 2017 tennis was a revelation, especially for a man most considered to be the best ever all ready. It was jaw droppingly sublime and absolutely unplayable for the most part. He punched Nadals ticket 5 times that year. This performace in particular just shows you full on attacking aggresion, best ever to play the attacking game.
After playing for so many yrs together Roger surprised Rafa with something perhaps he hasn’t seen all the while . Must ve been some level to cause Rafa appreciate him with a gesture suggesting ‘ mate u were too good ‘
It was expressed in numbers in 2009 when he won his 15th GS. Before Wimbledon in 2009, Sampras was considered the GOAT, after Wimbledon of that year, Federer became the GOAT. I don't see why Djokovic should not get the same treatment. Ps, I'm not a Novak fan. I think Federer's style of tennis is better, it is more aesthetically pleasing, but Novak is a greater and better tennis player by all metrics.
when he plays his best...that's the highest level of tennis nobody else comes close to...untouchable.the technique,the tactics the strategy....he is one of the kind
Federer during the first half of 2017 is the best player I have ever seen. I've seen Nadal, Djokovic in particular play fantastic matches. He was so dominant the other player had no chance. The only comparison is Nadal at a couple of the French Opens.
Greatly missed… what an era! Truly the golden era it was. Tennis will never be the same. Thank you, Roger for all the memories. And Rafa, Novak: Thank you too for the great battles and the stratospheric levels of tennis. Art. Grit. Fight.
Roger thrives on being close to the base line and opening up the angles. Rafa's shots and serve were lacking so much depth on this day that anyone would have swatted these away but it falls to Roger's strength and so looks even more emphatic.
What makes this 2017/2018 special is that young people that never got the chance to see Federer live at his best back in the day, got to see little glimpse of the old master from glory days, also chance to see the iconic rivalry once again.
@@viksinha5410 No, his level in the beginnig of 2017 was something else. He never came close to playing that good again. He only showed little glimpses here and there in a handful of matches of something of similar level as 2017. The match you mentioned for example is one of those matches where he showed it.
Nicely edited video! This match is one of the best examples of taking the ball early to negate the effects of a high bouncing hard court. All you need is Roger's timing and footwork...
Quote from Rafa....."If people think I'm a better player than Roger, then they know nothing about tennis". Love Nadal, but for me Roger is the most gifted player to hold a tennis racquet and will always be the GOAT. Get tired of whoever has the highest number of Grand Slams must be the greatest player ever. Sure, stats play a part, but for me don't paint the full picture. Did Maradona, Pele, etc score the most goals, or even Messi....no they didn't, yet many consider them to be the GOAT.
Der Erste Satz war einfach echt krass.... Roger beherrscht jeden Schlag... aber in diesen ersten Satz hat er nochmal 2 level höher gespielt... mit Abstand das beste Tennis was man spielen kann... der beste aller Zeiten
The power in every shot, the silence makes it scary. The finesse in every movement. Such art. For me, Roger the GOAT.
couldn't agree with you more
Ivan Lendl was a close one in terms on style and power.
No one's game...Not nadal...Not Djokovic.....Not Sampras......can match the level of beauty in every shot that Roger makes...He is THE ultimate artist.
Yeah..
You said it perfectly! He is the GOAT!
@@loria7043 now he is not the Goat! nadal is
@@edysantoso3689 GOAT is not a wardrobe to change
@@edysantoso3689 not anymore
I always said that Federer of the first 7 months of 2017, when he played freely and relaxed, is the best tennis player the world ever saw.
It does help that the field wasn't as strong at the time as it is now though. You didn't have guys like Alcaraz and Sinner running around. Nadal was there, but 2017 was not his best year on hardcourt.
@Patrick fed was just healthy. A healthy semi prime fed easily handles alcatraz and im sorry, did u say sinner? Lol
His backhand in 2017 was on another level never reached before, after that in 2018 his backhand level went drastically down even below his normal level, which cost him at least a couple of slams.
@@MrPatrickbuitAlcaraz and Sinner are good - but c’mon. Peak Federer would crush these guys.
In 2017 was simply unstoppable. Probably the best Federer with the best upgrade on backhand. Really near to perfection
Federer's movement is legendary. But I'm surprised at how hard he hit the ball. Those backhands came back fast. And somehow he did it without all that grunting. The silence makes it more sublime.
Joker might have the most slams, but no one was as magical on the court with the variety, power, and grace of Fed
i will never forget this day. first time seeing federer at a match and he played almost perfect. what a legend
My first time seeing Federer playing in in Madrid 2009 final and I'm was Fed fanatic ever since !
That was my first time seeing him too. I remember the stands being completely filled to the brim
@@Tennishero1997 it sure was packed!
@@crb-llz7707 same here I was in indian wells watching federer and nadal for the first and only time ever in my life.
It was a Wednesday. After seen Nadal practicing: All muscles and intensity, I thought he will take revenge after losing to Roger AO Trophy… But there was a Matador for this bull. Rafa never hold a chance that day. Federer would defeat any player of any era that Spring of 2017.
I was in the Stadium that day. Never saw Federer play better . It was even more impressive live. His backhand got even more lethal than his trademark Drive.
Arh excellent. Thank you for sharing.
Yep! That's amazing you saw this Federer Nadal match. Federer had indeed been working on the backhand and making it (even more of) a weapon. No more
, or less, framing - this time Nadal was framing shots. This was definitely the height of Federer play and I really don't believe anyone in the universe could play better than he did that day. Players can match it, but it was just way too good. And that's saying something because these are two players whose levels are so, so much higher than anyone in history, save a handful. Djokovic with his maddening consistency, Sampras at points, a few others.
Like Kyrgios once said: Federer can make you look like a fool out there on the court! That’s how good he is
I believe Roger at his peak was better than any other player's peak level. Djokovic and Nadal come close but Federer becomes completely unplayable. Even Djokovic once said that Federer is the only player he's felt completely useless against when Fed was on form, like he had no chance of winning at all. This coming from a huge Djoker fan
I believe this too. Well said.
I am a big Nole fan since 2011 and I wonder what would be the outcome of a Djokovic 2012 Doha god mode vs Roger 2017 God mode ..🤔 Anyway Roger at this level is insane and for sure the most aggressive of the 3 on hardcourt
Roger was the best striker of a tennis ball, had more ways to hit it, than anyone who ever played the game or will play the game. In other words, a Mozart! He also had a nearly one-sided negative record vs Djokovic in finals, GS finals, and GS events. Roger loses close matches vs his two major rivals especially at crunch time in close, long matches.Something's missing. Brains? Heart? Outside distractions? It's hard to call someone with 20 GS titles an underachiever but.given the enormity of his talent,. indeed he was. Only in the Australian Open final in 2017 vs Nadal did he go full bore with guts and heart. As Patrick McEnroe put it, he out-Nadaled Nadal.l.
Fully agreed, other players have said that too. With Nadal they always felt they had a chance in the rallies, but with Federer they were constantly chasing the ball like beginners.
Agreed 100%. Well said and well OBSERVED.
This is one of many examples of why Federer is truly the GOAT of this game! Absolutely sublime! 👏🏼
At his peak
No one could catch him
And beautiful shots
Perfect movement
Great footwork
Backhand on fire
🔥
Federer
The 2017 Sunshine Double, as epitomized by this match, was breathtaking. The highest level of tennis I have ever seen, and I've watched most of the slams and 1000's in the last 20 years. A privilege to have witnessed the Maestro perform his magic in person during that time.
This is demolition. And not against some 200 ranked player. Its fucking Rafa. What a performance!
Rafa has thrashed Roger more on clay😂
@@Blue-ik8ij on the other hand, he trashed them all 😂
Rafa leads 3-1 at AO 🤣
@@ruckfules9441 And Federer has 6 AO and Nadal 2. End of story.
@@juangonzalez-anleo2394 Rafa 22 > Federer 20. Won every slam twice which fed couldn’t. End of story.
Federer's 2017 brilliance is like a supernova, it was the last breath of the great star he once was, and it was one of the greatest brilliances ever seen in tennis.
When he plays like this he's unbeatable
@@majesticaaa4131 Thx for the clarification. Will work on that.
its punishing, really! the moment nadal thinks hes got a ball and can breathe, hes even coming to the net and finishing the point even quicker.
oh that was the year where the guy who beat him 3 times out of 3 at Indian Wells was injured wasn't it? 🤣
@@huzcer what are you talking about? Lol
@@jds5030 oh I think you know lol. did fed coincidentally never play at this "unbeatable" level again once the other guy was back from surgery? was it really a coincidence ?!
One of his best matches ever. A peRFect performance
Agreed 100%.
The only tennis player who made me able to wake up in the middle of the night to watch his match (knowing that I'll need to wake up at 6 a.m. to work). I remember that match vividly, one of the best pure striking performance on a tennis court, I've ever seen ❤
Agreed 100%. Well said
I am a Rafa fan, no wonder, but holy sh*t, when playing at this level, one has to recognize that he has been the smartest player in history, with unrivaled technique. Watching his facial expressions in slow motion reflects his state of focus, he is thinking 10x faster than his rivals.
Haters will always try to diminish him because Rafa and Nole have more GS now. Don’t forget those who come after have always the advantage to know what landmark they have to achieve to become the stats’ GOAT.
But everyone can’t help but thinking no one will ever be more incredible to watch than the Maestro himself. He’s for many the ultimate legend of this Sport
The best male tennis player ever. This match shows it. When he was at his best, he was simply untouchable and he did it with such style and grace
So you think some women could beat him?
As in most sports, I think that for example men's tennis is different than women's tennis and same with basketball etc. The question of who's the best tennis player ever immediately begs the question as to whether you're talking about women's or men's tennis. To me it's irrelevant that the best male tennis player could beat the best woman player. @@michaelwirth6843
no need to say "male". A male player who is the GOAT is the GOAT across all genders, all two of them.
The best male tennis player ever? Yes, because obviously he wouldn't be anywhere good enough to play with the ladies.
@@michaelwirth6843 no that's not the hypothetical to suggest. The question would be has there been a female tennis player who was as dominating in her career as Federer was in his. Same in basketball, obviously a superstar male basketball player in absolute terms is better than a female superstar, but has Taurasi been as dominating in her career as say Curry has been in his career? To only look at comparisons in absolute terms, I think depreciates the achievement of female athletes.
Aggression, artistry, creativity, precision all of unreachable levels. Some people play grindy errorless games that's great for stats. But some like Roger are made for showing how to imagine and play such excuisite shots and to imagine with such a mindset and gameplay he won so much and gave out such masterclasses. ❤❤❤
It feels like Federer flying all over the court during this match. Unbelievable performance.
Bring back 2017. Miss Roger so much. The G.O.A.T.
doesn't sweat, doesn't grimace, doesn't scream, doesn't protest, doesn't use tricks, elegant both when he wins and when he loses! and how he plays.. that's enough! ROGER NR 1
Absolutely nobody has ever reached this level of perfection in tennis!
you should watch some Marcelo Rios matches
NO
Watching Roger at work is pure art. His game is eye candy.
That was an unreal level of tennis, nobody beats Federer that day.
Totalmente de acuerdo, es mas me sentí hasta un poco mal por Rafa, por que nunca antes había sido dominado de esa manera. 😮😮😮
Simply Unreal.
The crowd screaming almost scared on those unbelievable backhand...it's something frightning....
Yep one of this best matches. When he plays like this it is the best tennis anybody can play...the way he played especially Nadal..total dominance. Would like him to play like this more against Djokovic
Go watch us open 2008,2009 cincy 09,2012,2015 , wimbly 2012 and ofc rg 2011
@@angerisdiscipline3913 yes, and after that go watch Canada 2007,AO 2008,miami 2009, Rome, basel.. Us open 2010 and 2011, AO 2011.. Rome 2012, Rg 2012, atp finals 2012 😂
@@ivanrandjelovic4022 There's always a butthurt fanboy who can't understand what others say.
Well a few months after Wimbledon 2019 he beat djokovic 6 3 6 4 which is only slightly less dominant than this match
This was at Indian Wells the year Djokovic had an elbow injury. They played 3 times at Indian Wells. 3-0 to Djokovic.
The thing that I find most impressive about Federer at his best is that he could make even the greatest players look ordinary. I don't think there is any higher praise because Nadal and Novak etc are insanely special players in their own rights. Fed just has shots and vision like nobody ever ever!
Oh god! Watching this after the reign of himself in the tennis world is killing me. Me now recalling all the moment by his side in front of the TV screen from 2005 to 2020; all the joy, happiness, tears and disappointment just hit back my mind. Without him, i have not watching the tennis world for such a long time. All my passion, concentration on every shots on court have gone with his leave. The tennis world inside me is no longer beautiful as it was before and i believe it is the same to a huge number of people in the tennis world. He maybe not the best player to conquest the most titles but he is always the most lovable guy in the heart of tennis fan by his beautiful shots on court, elegance and dignity in his life.
Too much nostagia of him. I really miss him, a lot!
That's exactly how I still feel 💔
@@loria7043 I think that everyone who truly loves tennis for its aesthetic aspect--i.e. something more universal, something at least close to areas like truth and beauty, beyond mere comoetition--feels exactly the same as you do. I feel it especially during the early stages of Wimbledon when the grass is pristine and plays so fast like the grass of old.. Had they not changed the Wimbledon grass Federer would have won 14 Wimbledon titles.
You strike a chord with me. I am no longer watching tennis, that is, with the kind of enthusiasm and expectation as in those Federer days.
@@conhillI am like you and do not feel the need to watch Tennis now Roger has retired.
roger federer one and only GOAT.
This was perhaps one of the all time best tennis performances. RF 👑 🐐.
Simply spectacular!!! as a Nadal's fan, I only can admire an inmens legend and the highest masterclass of Federer's style😮
I regret not being old enough to have seen one of Roger’s matches live.
Crazy backhand returns. God mode on 🔥. Lucky to have witnessed many live matches like these of 🐐.
That's easily the highest level of Tennis game ever produced. That's some insane peak level no one can reach. That 2017 comeback year of Roger was something else. I so much wish he found this no fear, free flowing Tennis game much earlier when Djokovic unearthed his peak level.
I thought he kind of did roland garros stopping djok win streak. Semi finals, then Nadal happened in the final..Fed the
King!
@@bronson1392Fed could've easily been 2 sets up in the final against Rafa in 2011 if not for that unfortunate miss
@@sakshamsanwaria7486if if if
The way Federer plays back hand is the best thing I have ever seen in Tennis . Nice Easy and Stylish🎾 . Ultimate GOAT. Undoubtedly The LEGEND 🐐 1:57
The GOAT.
Having watched Alcaraz and Medvedev play at the US Open this week, I watch this forgetting how unbelievably surgical Federer was when he was touring. It's just insane. Everyone has their style but Federer just played in a whole different class. Hard to describe without getting specific.
Nobody in history beats Federer at his peak
It's not just all these wonderful things we have witnessed about Roger for the last quarter of a century, but the fact that when he wins a match you personally are so satisfied that you go around feeling happy and life is actually great..
But that's Roger for you that's what he does to you, he takes away the stress of life from you, there is no other sportsman ever in history that has personally had the effect on me like Roger has had...
Love you man ❤
This is magical. I so wish I had been into tennis in 2017! Federer was just in the zone that year.
My best tennis memories as a fed fan completely unexpected comeback tasted sweeter than the utter prime domination
@@angerisdiscipline3913 Coincidentally the year that that other guy who has a 3-0 record against him at Indian Wells (where this match was at) had an elbow problem. Normal service resumed on his return.
He was not in the zone, he developed an even faster tennis….
And the most incredible thing Is that he played this level effortlessly.
OMG. If we discover how to get old people young again, federer should be the first one. I would like to watch more of his brilliant performance and style.
Perfect match, one of the best he ever played. Even more special as it was against Rafa. I always wished he played Nole in 2017.
Roger playing aggressive like this is Roger at his best. This back to his vintage days playing Roddick where he just pasted shots. Great to see play like this this late in his career.
I don’t care who has won or who will win more slams than roger, he is the greatest ever. Almost effortless and just oozed class his game was a thing of beauty
Possibly the best tennis performance we have ever seen. Simply unplayable
Idk (and dont really care that much) if he is the all time GOAT of this sport, for me he 100% is, but i just loved his gameplay. He had some kind of grace, his movement, his shots, he was something else compared to what was then and now and probably the future. He was not just playing tennis and winning, he was also dancing and giving it color.
Fed's variety and ease of shot making is just on another level altogether. GOAT.
2017 one of the best last years for Federer!! Almost at the same level of 2006 and 2007 year!!! Amazing!!
When Fed came back it was like he'd temporarily forgotten all of his scars, and we forgot with him. When he was confident, every shot was available, and they could all be winners.
The magic died in the wind at FO 2019, and Novak buried it with his relentless defense and consistency at Wimbledon. I'll always remember the Roger's brief return to glory. That he had good results against ND and RF this late in his career is testament to his greatness, through injury and rehab and rebuild. Anyone who's experienced injury and surgery knows that the hardest thing is regaining trust in your body, and confidence to stretch your limits athletically.
When Roger is at his best. Perfect serve, forehand, backhand, footwork all online. Even his buddy Rafa couldn't hold it.
"Tennis nearer the gods no mortal may approach"
An imaginary level, a very impressive performance, and the backhand hit was very special
1:37 best backhand I have ever seen.
Unstoppable play from federer
No one ever made Rafa feel so powerless than what Roger did in this match clinic master class of how tennis could be played
I remember being in the stadium in Indian wells that evening. It was right after the Aus Open win .... this one was jaw dropping
im such a Rafa fan, but this performance from Roger its just PERFECT.
Non giocava sempre così, ovviamente. Ma nessuno degli altri ha mai giocato così: servizio, volée, dritto, rovescio, anticipi, eleganza, tutto al massimo livello. Gli altri due sono come Messi e Cristiano Ronaldo, ma di Maradona ce n'è solo uno.
It’s unbelivable that he played this Level often in 2005/06.
Absolutely
Idk, he did but the backhand was never as good as this back then.
This is what most people don't understand. Uninjured and free-swinging Fed during 2004-2008 was virtually impossible to beat on grass or hard surfaces (even peak Nole wouldn't stand a chance). This is why so many people talk about "weak era" because he made world class peers (Agassi, Hewitt, Davydenko, Nalbandian, Safin etc) seem like second class players.
@Freud_Chicken It was, the difference is that his racket favored his forehand to have a more offensive game on the faster courts there were back then.
@@georgemavrides3434 How on earth do you know that peak Novak wouldn't stand a chance?? What's that based on or did you read it on a cereal packet?
Two of best baseline players ever… federer back hand is beuty ever !!!!
Federer at his prime plays God level Tennis.
Prime or composite..
Against Nadal at rg busted.
His 2017 tennis was a revelation, especially for a man most considered to be the best ever all ready. It was jaw droppingly sublime and absolutely unplayable for the most part. He punched Nadals ticket 5 times that year. This performace in particular just shows you full on attacking aggresion, best ever to play the attacking game.
I wish he could come back for 2024 AO or at least play some exhibition tournament.
this is amazing. so sad that every great player has to retire. childhood idol of mine and this match along with many others is just so crazy good
Unbelievable....no other words to define this level of tennis
That Last return on the end of the line 😱🤩😎🔥🔥
After playing for so many yrs together Roger surprised Rafa with something perhaps he hasn’t seen all the while . Must ve been some level to cause Rafa appreciate him with a gesture suggesting ‘ mate u were too good ‘
if only he could have stayed healthy. This was peak tennis, complete god level. The shots were deadly, accurate and beautiful.
He should've just taken the match point in 2019 and chilled after that. 😢
G.O.A.T . i miss him everyday. No one will be able to match his class. Absolutely perfect
The best tennis player ever, amazing skills and beautiful points. Greatness isn’t expressed in numbers.
It was expressed in numbers in 2009 when he won his 15th GS.
Before Wimbledon in 2009, Sampras was considered the GOAT, after Wimbledon of that year, Federer became the GOAT.
I don't see why Djokovic should not get the same treatment.
Ps, I'm not a Novak fan. I think Federer's style of tennis is better, it is more aesthetically pleasing, but Novak is a greater and better tennis player by all metrics.
when he plays his best...that's the highest level of tennis nobody else comes close to...untouchable.the technique,the tactics the strategy....he is one of the kind
Perfection does exist! He is the GOAT
The most satisfying shots out there
Still remember that game. When Roger's backhand is at 100%, just pack your bags and go home.
Federer during the first half of 2017 is the best player I have ever seen. I've seen Nadal, Djokovic in particular play fantastic matches. He was so dominant the other player had no chance. The only comparison is Nadal at a couple of the French Opens.
Federer was ridiculously incredible that day. Some of his best tennis.
That season Roger was in beast mode!!!! Match b/w Roger and Nick was one of the greatest matches of all time in 3-sets
Greatly missed… what an era! Truly the golden era it was. Tennis will never be the same. Thank you, Roger for all the memories. And Rafa, Novak: Thank you too for the great battles and the stratospheric levels of tennis. Art. Grit. Fight.
Roger thrives on being close to the base line and opening up the angles. Rafa's shots and serve were lacking so much depth on this day that anyone would have swatted these away but it falls to Roger's strength and so looks even more emphatic.
What a legend ! 🙏🏻🤩
What makes this 2017/2018 special is that young people that never got the chance to see Federer live at his best back in the day, got to see little glimpse of the old master from glory days, also chance to see the iconic rivalry once again.
Just look how fast the courts were. Roger is unbeatable on faster courts.
Roger Federer matches at his peak are a beauty to behold
I would have loved to see this Federer play Djokovic.
He did play like this against Djokovic in ATP finals 2019
@@viksinha5410 No, his level in the beginnig of 2017 was something else. He never came close to playing that good again. He only showed little glimpses here and there in a handful of matches of something of similar level as 2017. The match you mentioned for example is one of those matches where he showed it.
If djokovic comes in with his god mode roger will not be able to win
@@RameshPatel-yf9qo Roger's god mode is unbeatable, shows no mercy, bagels easily
@@lukerne9260 well Roger in 2017 with 37 years the level of tennis was absolutely insane
Nicely edited video! This match is one of the best examples of taking the ball early to negate the effects of a high bouncing hard court. All you need is Roger's timing and footwork...
After Federer retirement, I never watch a game till now I only watch this game for Federer. A pure gem ❤
I was at this match, the backhand rips had a fierce sound on the court
I get goosebumps all over
Greatest of All time
Quote from Rafa....."If people think I'm a better player than Roger, then they know nothing about tennis". Love Nadal, but for me Roger is the most gifted player to hold a tennis racquet and will always be the GOAT. Get tired of whoever has the highest number of Grand Slams must be the greatest player ever. Sure, stats play a part, but for me don't paint the full picture. Did Maradona, Pele, etc score the most goals, or even Messi....no they didn't, yet many consider them to be the GOAT.
geez. no matter which way Nadal hit, even when Federer nearly shanked the return, Federer still found a way to utilize the shank and attack.
when you see Nadal stops focusing on attacking Federer's backhand, you know Federer is playing almost unbeatably.
imagine how Rafa felt after that match. Roger was just unplayable, most of the rallies didn’t go past the 3rd shot, insane level from Roger
Roger Federer at his best.❤ Still watching it in 2024...
God mode!!
Even his facial expression when he hit the ball is relaxed.
I don't care what anyone says. No one has ever played a better level of tennis when Roger was in god mode. No one. Not Djokovic, not Nadal. No one.
Der Erste Satz war einfach echt krass.... Roger beherrscht jeden Schlag... aber in diesen ersten Satz hat er nochmal 2 level höher gespielt... mit Abstand das beste Tennis was man spielen kann... der beste aller Zeiten
Brings joy to watch this kind of performance and memories now that he’s not playing anymore!