Former world No. 3 David Nalbandian was the latest to reiterate the greatness of Roger Federer in the sport.
Nalbandian, who went up against Federer 19 times in his professional career, is convinced the Swiss Maestro is the greatest of all time and is the most complete player to compete at the Tour. In an interview with Todo Sobre Tenis, the 34-year-old Argentine revealed how he witnessed the evolution of Federer's game.
"With Roger we played at junior level and when we started on the professional Tour, I saw his evolution. Roger wasn't good on clay, but had an incredible evolution and lost only to Nadal. He was the most complete player in the history," Nalbandian said via Tennis World.
It was not the first time Federer was labeled as a "complete player." Pete Sampras, who has 14 majors in his record, is also astonished by how Federer's achievements on the court have become unprecedented.
"I think he was the most complete player we've seen," Sampras said, reports World Tennis Magazine. "He's won on all surfaces. He's tough. He moves well. He's got a big game. He's got a huge forehand. He just has the whole package."
Federer has already established himself as one of the best players to ever play the game, owning an all-time record 17 Grand Slam titles. The Basel native has won on all surfaces and has often competed against some of the toughest players in the Open Era like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Injuries have slowed down Federer in the past two seasons and limited his chances of competing for another Slam. After suffering two major injuries this year, it is difficult to picture Federer winning another major.
But Federer has vowed to return stronger, and if he could fully recuperate from his latest setback, 2017 could be the year for Federer to finally cement his legacy as greatest of all time.
"I have thought about that these few weeks-what'll it be like when I return...will I feel pressure," Federer said, reports Tennis. "I will have dropped a few rankings.
"But if I can train the way I am hoping [during the offseason], I'm thinking that I can quite rapidly rejoin."
Video courtesy: YouTube/Fed RF Maestro