Sporting Icons of the Noughties

As the decade draws to a close I have decided, in the style of Empire magazine, to start a poll for the sporting icons of the decade.

But I need your help! After suggesting one myself I need you to post a link to your own blog post of no more than 300 words explaining your pick.

There is no limit on how many sportsmen/women can be put forward and by the end of November I will post a poll to determine who is the greatest sporting icon of the Noughties.

Roger Federer is undoubtedly the most consistent and talented sportsman of the last decade. He has reached an incredible 22 consecutive grand slam finals, spanning five years, and has won an unprecedented 15 grand slams.

Earlier this year at the French Open he completed a career grand slam, a feet only achieved by six other players.

But enough statistics. Hyperbole is called for when referring to Roger Federer.

He simply has the most complete game the world has ever seen. Where Pete Sampras had a weak backhand, Federer’s subtle flick of the wrist is one of the delights of world tennis. Where Bjorn Borg burnt out, Federer’s career is long-lived. Where Agassi would scuttle back to the baseline Federer is equally imperious at the net as he is from the back of the court.

The 15th Grand Slam

But more than his shot making, it is his mental strength that places him on a different playing field from others.

He has suffered at the hands of great rival Rafael Nadal on numerous occasions. Many condemned his career to the scrap heap after he lost in an epic five-set encounter to the Spaniard at the 2009 Australian Open when he broke down in tears, saying: “it’s killing me.”

Their rivalry has produced arguably the finest sporting moment of the decade in the Wimbledon 2008 final. Federer’s defeats have made him more human and has won him more fans. Nadal shed light on Federer’s fallibility, but Nadal also revealed Federer’s humanity and his humility, securing his appeal as the greatest sporting icon of the decade.

Since then he has bounced back to win his bogey tournament, Roland Garros, add another Wimbledon title to his record, and reclaim the Number 1 berth.

In 2006 Tiger Woods said: “What he’s done in tennis, I think, is far greater than what I’ve done in golf.” In the next three years he notched up another six Grand Slams. Facts and hyperbole are indistinguishable when talking about Roger Federer.

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