Re: Was Federer a Sore Loser?
I missed the edit button then found it on another post.
I wouldn't say Nadal has had a completely free ride (I mean just as recently as this FO he had some scrutiny). But I think in comparison to Roger, he has had it pretty darn good. The difference between these two has been a product of many different things. Federer spent years straight at #1 and had to hold up to that expectation for a long time. I don't want to get into the argument about weaker competition, different technology, or anything, but the fact is that the experience of having that #1 label next to your name is hard no matter if the competition is there or not. That being said, Federer held the weight of the world's expectations on his shoulders for a long time and had to answer to the world when things didn't go well which is normal. However, the thing is with champions, the bar doesn't just fall when competition shows up on the door step so the media and fans still held the same expectations of multiple majors a year even when that was becoming near impossible. I think Federer has had a unique experience being at the top for so long and having to answer to so many people that it probably started to get very very hard for him to say the right things over and over again year in and year out. Not a total excuse for some of the things he has said, but I think I can see where he is coming from. Nadal has in my opinion not gone through an exactly similar circumstance as Federer did. Nadal has handled himself well, but I think we will all see soon enough that all greats have to eventually start getting asked tough questions like Federer has had to deal with for so long. Nadal's time to get truly grilled is coming. I think he is ready for it too. But until then, I will not give the same respects to him as I do Roger because EVERYONE in sports has to go through at least one very very tough patch. Doesn't matter what sport you follow. And it's these moments that define you.
In all honesty, these guys will go down as the greatest of this time. It is really not fair to judge head to heads and everything with these two because the numbers cannot speak near to the extent of the greatness these guys have shown.
Hopes for good tennis and maybe a different winner for a change. My votes for the scotsman to get it done.