MANILA, Philippines – With the International Premier Tennis League wrapping up its Manila leg on Tuesday, the tournament will now move on to India with Swiss maestro Roger Federer set to debut with the Obi UAE Royals.
As tennis fans highly anticipate Federer's outing at the IPTL, we take a look at the reasons why he is considered by many as the GOAT (greatest of all time):
1. Federer has 17 majors, three ahead of his arch rival Rafael Nadal's 14. Federer leads male players in the number of majors won.
2. Federer is the first man in the last 45 years to be in the four grand slams finals in a single year. And he achieved this amazing feat not just once, not just twice, but three times. In 2006 and 2007, he took three of the four titles. In 2009, he won two of them.
3. Since turning pro in 1998, Federer has never retired from a match.
4. In the early part of his career when he was most successful, Federer had no coach.
5. Federer, on many occasions, was likened to a graceful dancer on court. His style of tennis has been described as "easy on the eyes".
6. Federer still holds the longest weeks at number with a total of 302, of which 237 were consecutive.