Australian Open 2011: Can We Get Used to Roger Federer As The World’s New No. 2?

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at Internationaled.org

Published: January 16, 2011

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For sports fans, some transfers of power are harder to stomach than others. 

When Jack Nicklaus became the world’s dominant golfer in the mid-60s, he not only usurped a King but vanquished Arnie’s Army in the process.  My dad puts it simply: “I hated Jack.”

More recently, Lee Westwood overtook Tiger Woods as the world’s top golfer.  Westwood’s a fine player, but his claim to No. 1 is dubious; he didn’t earn it as much as Tiger loaned it out while tending to his personal life.  Tiger in the two spot is like Augusta National being ranked the second best golf course in Georgia.

Same goes for Caroline Wozniacki.  Like Westwood, Wozniacki’s No. 1 without having won a major.  That’s stomach-churning stuff.  If she and Serena were both healthy and went head to head in a major final, where do you think the money would fall?  

In men’s tennis, however, the flip-flop between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal has been palatable—even appetizing.  After a bit of back in forth in 2009, Nadal has established himself as the world's top player by winning the last three majors.  Ironically, in the argumentative, who's better than who world of sports discourse, no one really seems to care Federer's been bumped from the pedestal.

It's because Nadal is such a worthy successor.

I’m as big a Federer fan as everyone else who admires his other-worldly shot-making and appreciates his artistry and gentlemanly conduct.  From 2004-2007, when Federer was collecting majors like Marvin Harrison collects fines, it was hard to imagine anyone swiping his No. 1 ranking.  But if anyone could do it the “right way”—in a way that sports fans could not only tolerate but celebrate, it was Rafael Nadal.  It’s hard to hold a grudge against a guy’s who's just that nice.
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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