Rafael Nadal could surpass my Grand Slam tally: Roger Federer
The current World No. 2 Roger Federer is arguably the greatest player of all time if stats are anything to go by. The Basel native has pocketed 17 Grand Slams in his career so far, but it has been 32 months since he last tasted Major success.
The man chasing his record, Rafael Nadal, is perched at 14 Grand Slams and is five years younger than the Swiss meastro. And Federer, never one to mince his words, feels that the Mallorcan can easily overtake him in some time.
"If he wins two more French Open titles and I don't manage to win again, Rafael Nadal can easily beat my Grand Slam titles record,” he said.
Nadal is clearly the favourite at Roland Garros and can add at least two titles in Paris if his health holds up. It remains to be seen if Federer can add to his Major tally, but if recent form is anything to go by, he surely can.
He beat World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to win his seventh Dubai Open title recently and had a brilliant 2014 which saw him notch up the most wins on the ATP World Tour. Nadal on the other hand had a injury plagued season and was forced him to pull out of the US Open and a few other hardcourt tournaments. The Spaniard faltered in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open this year, a tournament he has won only once in his career.
Federer (17 Slams) on Nadal (14): 'If he wins French Open few more times & I don't win anymore then clearly he can catch me very quickly'
— Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) March 10, 2015
If Nadal has to go past Federer’s Major tally, he would have to win Wimbledon and/or the US Open again. There is a bit of unpredictability in men’s tennis after Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic won their first Grand Slams last year. Nothing can be taken for granted in Majors any more, and Federer and Nadal know that better than most.