Roger Federer stood as a showcase of elegant, effortless tennis that starkly contrasted with the phenomenal power he generated through his whiplash arms at his peak. Not one to possess bulky muscles, most of his success on court was attained through impeccable technique and an undying knack for wearing down his opponent.
His unique style of play wasn’t developed overnight but was honed through years of slogging it out in the junior level of tennis in the 1990s. Spectators back in those days would have seen a star in the making, but one player, whom the Swiss played back then, begs to differ.
Who is Fernando Gonzalez?
Fernando Gonzalez had some unpopular opinions on Roger Federer in a recent interview. The Chilean is a former world no. 5 who turned professional in 1999. He achieved his career-high ranking in 2007, when he reached the Australian Open final. En route, he defeated players like Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake and then world no. 2 Rafael Nadal.
In the final hurdle, he faced Roger Federer, a player he knew too well. Despite his understanding of the Swiss’ game, a rampant Federer defeated Gonzalez 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 to lift his third title in Melbourne.
The following years saw Fernando struggle to replicate his peak form, and his career slowly waned in comparison to earlier years. He retired in 2012.
Fernando and Federer have met 13 times in total, with the Swiss maestro leading a lopsided battle 12-1. Results like that should have given the Chilean an appreciation of Federer’s prowess but instead he chose to share some unkind words about the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s talent.
Gonzalez calls Roger Federer a terrible tennis player
While talking as a guest on TNT Sports’ Sabor a Gol program, Fernando Gonzalez mocked former world No. 1 Roger Federer.
“Federer was a terrible tennis player. I’ve known Roger since he was 12 or 13, and at that age he was a terrible player. I remember in a U-14 tournament, when I was the best in the world in that category, Federer was certainly not one of the best,” he said.
“Also, he was a year younger, which is very noticeable at that age. He approached me and asked me some questions. I gave him some advice. I got on very well with him and we went everywhere together,” he added.
The comments will not go down well with fans of the sport, who often put Federer as one of the top contenders in the GOAT(Greatest Of All Time) debate. Additionally, Fernando’s self-professed tag as a better player than Federer in their earlier days will be up for debate, given their awfully one-sided encounters later on.
The timing of the statement is another topic of contention, as it has been put forth after the 42-year-old’s retirement. Federer, who is busy chauffeuring his kids to school and mingling with businessmen in his post-retirement life, shouldn’t put much thought into these spiteful comments, as sparse as they may come by.
Hateful words of unattained pride or an attempt at devaluing an icon’s legacy? Let us know in the comments section below.
