Roger Federer has found himself in a difficult situation after an on-court interview video from 2009 resurfaces.
Federer, who is widely regarded as one of the most admirable tennis players to have ever played the sport, has recently grabbed attention on social media due to the reemergence of an old video.
The video in question is a post-match interview from the 2009 French Open, where Federer won the tournament for the first time in his career, making him the only man to have won all four Grand Slam titles.
During the interview, the 42-year-old acknowledged the honor of being called the Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.). With confidence, Federer admitted to having had dominant periods in his career, which contributed to his belief in being the GOAT.
Thanks to the advancements in technology, the video has resurfaced on the internet after 14 years, leading to a frenzy of reactions from fans.
Many fans criticized Federer for not showing respect towards other players, comparing him to another prominent tennis player.
Fans highlighted the contrasting humility displayed by Djokovic in comparison to Federer during the interview. While Federer openly embraced the idea of being the greatest player, Djokovic rejected such a label and did not allow himself to be called the GOAT.
Even after so many years, the internet continues to bring up old videos from players’ pasts, fueling ongoing controversies. The recent resurfacing of Roger Federer’s French Open speech from 2009 has sparked a wide range of reactions.
In 2009, Federer defeated his opponent in straight sets to claim his 14th Grand Slam title, putting him on par with a legendary player.
Although Federer ended the tournament on a high note, winning his first Slam on clay courts, his post-match speech drew attention from fans who wanted to perpetuate the Djokovic-Federer rivalry.
Here’s what fans had to say about the video, sharing a diverse range of reactions online:
“It’s great to laugh at frauderer now…”
“Some fans are surprised to see this arrogant side of Federer. He was far from perfect and made statements that, if made by Djokovic, would have been heavily criticized. Federer was the most heavily promoted and protected tennis player of all time, thanks to Nike’s influence.”
“Last year, Djokovic was asked the same question and he couldn’t have been more humble. He made it clear that he would never use that term to describe his career. It’s the complete opposite of Federer’s boastful comments. This says a lot…”
“Lol, I’ve never seen this video before. How can people like him so much? I believe many of them have been influenced by the media’s narrative, always portraying him as someone perfect, which he’s not. Many of the things he said and did are far from positive, but whatever…”
“Djokovic, in addition to his many talents, has a noble soul and genuine intellectual depth. The person being interviewed here is very different.”
“He had everything under control. He thought he had it all figured out. But then, something unexpected happened and changed the course of events. He still can’t believe that it slipped away from him.”
“Oh Jesus. Can’t he at least try to be a little humble?”
“Lol, this is probably the most humble he can be, mate. 😬”
While some supporters defended Federer’s words, many expected him to show more humility. Nevertheless, Federer has maintained an outstanding reputation throughout his career, earning him the title of one of the ‘Big Three’ in tennis.
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