Roger Federer gives his thoughts on the GOAT debate and Wimbledon

Arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, Roger Federer was speaking to the press ahead of the ATP 500 event in Halle. Federer, who surprisingly lost to Tommy Haas in the opening round of the Stuttgart Open, spoke on a variety of topics. Most notably, Roger Federer gives his thoughts on the GOAT debate and Wimbledon.

Federer was asked if considered himself as the greatest of all time. This is what he replied,

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‘If I win every tournament from here going forward for the next 10 years, I might be considered the best ever, yes,’ Federer said, ‘but otherwise there will still be the debate because I didn’t do things when I was 15 years old or I didn’t do things in the middle.I can only do as well as I can.’

He was also asked about the ATP Masters 500 in Halle, a tournament which he has won eight times in his career.

‘I love playing here. Yes, I think I can come in here with good confidence.’

 

Roger Federer then spoke about why he did not want to compromise the goal of playing in Wimbledon and the US Open.

For a long time the schedule was to play Paris but all of a sudden I just felt that I wouldn’t be comfortable doing it. I didn’t want to compromise the goal of the grass-court season, Wimbledon, the US Open and beyond.

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I felt that the French Open may potentially have a negative effect on what’s to come. It may have been helpful, but I felt there was more risk that it would go the other way. Based on health, that’s why I decided to skip.

But it’s not a trend that I might follow in the future. I don’t know what the future holds. This was just a one-off decision.’ ‘Naturally Wimbledon is the big goal of this season right now,’ insisted Roger.

‘But it’s been this way ever since I lost the semifinals against Raonic in the previous year. Me knee wasn’t well, so my goal was to be 100% healthy again by the time Wimbledon 2017 is near. That’s why I expect a lot from myself….so far I am, I’m completely on track.