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Roger Federer deserves praise for his 2018 ATP World Tour

By Harry Floyd

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 17: Roger Federer of Switzerland shows appreciation to the fans after his semi finals singles match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during Day Seven of the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 17: Roger Federer of Switzerland shows appreciation to the fans after his semi finals singles match against Alexander Zverev of Germany during Day Seven of the Nitto ATP Finals at The O2 Arena on November 17, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Tennis legend Roger Federer completes an incredible year on the 2018 ATP World Tour. Here’s a look at why he deserves some praise.

Roger Federer is ousted from the 2018 ATP Finals after his semis meeting with rising star Alexander Zverev. His path in London was representative of his tour this year. After an opening match loss to Kei Nishikori, it looked as though Federer’s chances were in doubt. Then, the 37-year-old tennis veteran rallied though, winning back to back matches over both Dominic Thiem and Kevin Anderson. Both wins came in convincing fashion.

The major takeaway from Federer’s play on the 2018 ATP World Tour is that you can never discount him – even at his current age.

Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have all reemerged as the best players in men’s singles tennis this past year. Federer and Nadal began their revivals a bit before Nole. The Serbian great struggled to bounce back from ongoing injury issues but has recently rediscovered his game, winning both the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open. Nadal, on the other hand, has dealt with more injuries as of late, causing him to step away.

Roger Federer takes home four ATP singles titles on the 2018 ATP World Tour.

Nadal’s absence has forced Djokovic and Federer to battle for supremacy yet again. If the Spanish superstar were still in the mix, we would have an even more jam packed battle for world number one.

As Federer exits the ATP Finals in London, that is not before putting on a run capable of challenging Djokovic. He won another Grand Slam event at the Australian Open, defeating Marin Cilic in the finals. Then, he wins in Rotterdam, Stuttgart, and Basel. Four titles at 37-years-old is beyond impressive for anyone. He continues to cement his legacy as one of the best to ever play the sport.

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One can only guess when Roger Federer will actually slow down. He continues to defy the odds and remains one of the top players in men’s singles tennis. Djokovic may be surging, the sport may be seeing the likes of Zverev and Thiem make headlines, and plenty of other rising stars are challenging the older generation, BUT Federer is still here and still winning. If he can remain healthy in the coming year, there is no reason to think that the Swiss tennis legend won’t be atop the rankings yet again.

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