Despite the fact that most of the records have been taken away from him by Rafael Nadal and especially Novak Djokovic in recent years, there is no doubt that Roger Federer can be considered the most loved and popular player of all time.
The Swiss legend who said goodbye to professional tennis at the 2022 Laver Cup having understood that his body would never again allow him to compete at the highest level has had an impact on and off the court that is probably unparalleled in the history of this sport, having combined his innate elegance with impeccable behavior in all circumstances.
Chela pays tribute toKing Roger
It is no coincidence that several fans and former players label King Roger as the GOAT, although Rafa and Nole have won more Grand Slam titles than him. Facing the Master from Basel was a truly incredible experience from all points of view and it was almost impossible to beat him in his best days, having the ability to express such a high level as to humiliate even top-level opponents.
During a recent interview with the Argentine magazine 'La Nacion', former ATP star Juan Ignacio Chela (former world number 15) told how tough it was to play against the Swiss ace: "Roger has always played incredible tennis when we faced each other on the ATP tour and it was always a nightmare for me. I only won one set against him in Miami, while the other times he destroyed me."
Chela continued: "I was a player who needed pace, to hit a lot of balls, but I couldn't do that against Federer. He stole my time from baseline, he had an excellent serve, he could make dropshots and come to the net and he took me off the court. If you ask ChatGPT to choose the ideal tennis player, I think the choice would fall on Roger. Nadal and Djokovic have won more than him, but I don't think anyone has ever had the talent and class of Federer."
