Federer smashing himself into top five?

When the Australian sport magazine "Alpha" published a wide-ranging article in 2009, in which it selected its 100 greatest sports stars of all time across all sporting codes on the global stage, its number one was the iconic heavyweight boxer, Muhammad Ali. Ali was the man who could float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, and who won remarkable contests against Joe Frazier and George Foreman.

The other sports stars in the top 10 were Australian cricketing legend Sir Don Bradman (number two); Michael Jordan (the basketball star, number three); Tiger Woods (winner of 14 Grand Slam titles at number four); Diego Maradona (Argentinian soccer wizard at number five); Rod Laver, the Australian who won two Grand Slams in tennis, at number six; the Brazilian soccer legend Pele at number 7; Roger Federer, Swiss tennis maestro, at number 8; Carl Lewis, winner of eight gold medals at the Olympics, at number 9; and Lance Armstrong, winner of seven successive Tours de France, at number 10.

The criteria

Skill, dominance of their sport and lengths of their careers are three of the criteria that decided the final winners.

But after the Australian Open, perhaps Federer’s position should be reviewed for a possible move closer to the top five.

Why?

Well, because you cannot argue with the sheer weight of numbers and statistics. Federer has won 16 (the record for the most ever Grand Slam singles titles won) of the last 27 Grand Slams in which he was entered.

He has been a semifinalist in 23 successive Grand Slams. Furthermore, the "FedExpress" reached the final of 18 of the last 19 Grand Slam tournaments.

But let us put some of the other records in perspective.

Pete Sampras, considered by many as the greatest tennis player ever, won 14 Grand Slam titles over a span of 45 Slams.

The previous record for the most consecutive appearances in Grand Slam semifinals was held by Ivan Lendl, who managed 10 on the trot. The FedExpress has done it 23 times in a row.

From 2004 until the end of 2006, Federer won 247 matches and lost 15.

Between the end of 2003 and 2005, Federer won 24 finals in tournaments on a trot, an amazing record.

He already has been in the number-one position on the world rankings for 269 weeks, and is closing in on Sampras’ all-time record of 286 weeks.

Prior to Federer, only three players in history could win five consecutive titles at one of the Grand Slam events. Those players were Bill Tilden, who managed six consecutive US Open titles between 1920 and 1925; Roy Emerson, who was the victor at the Australian Open every year between 1963 and 1967; and Bjorn Borg, who held aloft the Wimbledon singles crown every year from 1975 to 1980.

But Federer won five successive singles titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open, which is unrivalled in this sport.

Federer may not be considered the best sports star ever, but he is making life increasingly difficult for the frontrunner, Ali. And to prove a point, Federer was selected as the Laureus World Sports Star of the year for four consecutive years, from 2005 to 2008, which is also unmatched in sport.

But perhaps the most remarkable feat of Federer’s career has been his decency and human touch. It was portrayed vividly after the conclusion of the Australian Open 2010 where, at the trophy ceremony, he tried to turn his microphone stand to connect with and sympathise with the beaten finalist, Andy Murray.

“You are far too good a player not to win a Grand Slam title. Don’t worry about it,” he told a crestfallen Murray.

Federer had just won his fourth Australian Open, while the Scot Murray has failed to win a first Grand Slam title in singles for Britain since Fred Perry last did it in 1936.

Perhaps part of Federer’s greatness has been his ability to take winning in his stride without becoming arrogant or big-headed. It has been his humility that has endeared him to so many around the globe.

Perhaps he is not the best sports star ever, but the Swiss ace is still a king of hearts.