As Roger Federer seeks to claim his sixth title at Wimbledon in the next two weeks, some experts question whether this championship will be legitimate if he wins it without Rafael Nadal present. Nadal had to pull out of Wimbledon the week before due to the nagging tendonitis in his knees.
Nadal has been Federer's main foe over the last couple of years, but Nadal's absence at Wimbledon does not nullify Federer's would-be victory. It actually just illustrates the unwavering consistency that he has shown throughout his career.
Federer is in the midst of one of the greatest streaks the sport, or any sport for that matter, has ever seen. Since his win at Wimbledon in 2004, he has made 20 straight Grand Slam semi-finals.
To put that in perspective, the previous record was 10 successive semi-finals. Also, from Wimbledon in 2005 to the United States Open in 2007, he made 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals. Both of these records stand alone in history and show his longevity in the game of tennis.
As for Rafael Nadal, he is a great player and is sorely missed in this year's Wimbledon Championships. However, his absence would not diminish Federer's achievement of winning his 15th and record-breaking Grand Slam at the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
Nadal's injury just reminds us of how durable Federer has been over his outstanding career. Nadal has had an exceptional run in the last year of men's tennis. He won the French Open and Wimbledon in 2008. These victories propelled him to the No. 1 ranking in the game overtaking Federer. Earlier this year, he defeated Federer in the Australian Open.
However, even after this great stretch of play, Nadal has succumbed to the wear and tear his grinding game has put on his body. Already, he has felt the pressure of maintaining a healthy physique throughout the battle of competing for Grand Slam titles.
On the other hand, Federer has not missed a Grand Slam since 1999, and he has done so presiding over the top of the men's game. The unprecedented streaks of Grand Slam finals and semi-finals just prove his endurance and greatness in the last decade.
So, do not blame Roger Federer if he takes advantage of Rafael Nadal's absence in the 2009 Wimbledon field. Instead, let us consider the amazing feat that Federer is still going strong after all these years and hope that his prominence in the men's game withstands for some time.
Ethan Lannom is a sophomore electronic media communication major.
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