Measured against Tiger, it’s advantage, Federer

Shaun Powell

He currently has a foot resting across the throat of his country club sport because he makes winning seem routine, if not easy. As the big tournaments creep to a conclusion, he’s always in the hunt, sending shivers through most of the field. He could be the best who ever lived.

And yet, when you mention this, folks automatically figure you’re talking golf and Tiger Woods, not tennis and Roger Federer.

Well. You can understand why. Tiger’s record in golf speaks for itself. And get this: hours after Federer on Sunday became the biggest winner in tennis, here comes Woods, seeing red during another routine final round on tour, capturing the AT&T National tournament and stealing a small bite out of some other guy’s epic day.

Our sports world has a healthy appreciation for the rare individual who transforms the game in multiple ways, and one man certainly fits that description. If you judge awe and respect by the weight of a man’s endorsement dollar, and his legions of worshippers, and his flair for the dramatic, and the size of his swoosh, and the ferocity of his fist pump, then yes, Tiger Woods is the greatest sportsman of our time.

But is that possible, when you can also make a case that his career — right now, right this very second — might run a close second to Federer’s?

The moment Federer celebrated the record-setting singles title at Wimbledon by letting out a yell and whispering a prayer of thanks, we all had a reason to kneel at his quite impressive altar. That’s 15 Grand Slam tournament titles now, one more than Woods and also Pete Sampras, who watched history unfold from the Royal Box at Centre Court with Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg and gave the marathon win over Andy Roddick an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“He could get 17, 18 Slams when he’s done,” gushed Sampras, who anointed Federer the best tennis player ever.

With a body of work more head-turning than Megan Fox’s, there is the very real possibility that we’re looking at the most dominant athlete of any major sport, if only by the slimmest of margins. He’s now made the semifinals or better in 21 straight major tournaments, which means that, while nobody can win all the trophies all the time, Federer gives himself a chance like nobody else, Tiger included.

He wins in Europe and Asia, over here and Down Under, on grass and hardcourt and even clay, which was supposed to be his weak spot, until you understand that in the past five years he beat everyone on clay except one person, which does not indicate weakness.

Actually, the fact he’s had to deal with Rafael Nadal, 5-2 against Federer in Slam finals, only makes you appreciate the man’s work even more. Fifteen Slams and a box full of minor tournament victories and No. 1 rankings doesn’t seem like much when there’s no real threat on the other side of the net. By pushing Federer to the limit, even to tears, Nadal gave Federer a dose of legitimacy during an intense and now-legendary rivalry that’s currently on hold until Nadal heals from a bum knee.

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It’s the same sense of greatness we got from Jack Nicklaus because he was constantly measured by Arnold Palmer and Gary Player; and from Muhammad Ali, sized up by Joe Frazier in three epic fights. The pressure applied by rivals is needed because they authenticate the champion and make us understand that what/who we’re seeing is for real.

There are those who swear that Laver remains the top tennis player of all time, and those who continue to stick by Nicklaus in golf as long as he holds an 18-14 edge in major victories over Tiger. But everyone will concede that what we’re seeing in those sports by Tiger and Federer is once-in-a-generation stuff. Tiger is one-man revolution, and the one athlete who amazes him most is Federer. Their friendship is built on mutual respect.

Interactive In-depth look at Woods' career wins

Federer has already done what Tiger is desperate to achieve, meaning Federer is finished chasing the immortals in front of him. He has more Slams than Sampras, more mystique than Borg, and because of Laver’s lost years as a professional during the pre-Open, more highlights than Rocket Rod. Tiger’s main purpose for playing golf, besides the love for the sport and the almighty dollar, is to pass Nicklaus. In that respect, Tiger wants to be like Federer.

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This isn’t about a straight-up comparison between Woods and Federer, about who’s better than the other, or whether a Wimbledon win is more impressive than a Masters win, or if beating Nadal carries more weight than beating Phil Mickelson (well, we’ll answer that one: yes). This is about the only thing Federer and Woods care about, and all that matters at this stage of their careers: winning big tournaments.

In that respect, Federer has the edge over Tiger, in a tiebreak.

But let’s talk again after the British Open.

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