After losing in the semi final of the 2013 Australian Open some tennis experts think Roger Federer has lost a step. With players like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray routinely getting to the finals of grand slam events Federer appears to have lost his edge. Competitive balance has been restored. On the surface these comments may seem valid and warranted, but when you look at his entire body of work it's obvious Roger Federer is a victim of his own success.
The only reason critics find fault with the play of Roger Federer is because they are comparing him to Roger Federer at his best. Sustained greatness can spoil fans and media people to the point they expect nothing less than perfection. they forget Roger Federer has won more grand slam titles (17) than anyone in the history of tennis. They forget Roger's last grand slam title (his 7th at Wimbledon) was less than 7 months ago. They forget that 3 years ago Roger Federer lost 4 matches ALL YEAR! It is unlikely he will fall out of the top 10 before his career ends. Making it to the semis of a grand slam is nothing to complain about unless your name is Roger Federer.
Here's an ironic thing about sports fans and media types you might not be aware of. As much as they respect greatness and want to see dominant athletes eventually they will get tired of liking someone. Eventually they will covet a player or a team that's capable of beating the unbeatable. It's the melodrama of sports and society that keeps things interesting. For now Novak Djokovic is the new sensation, but make no mistake about it. When it's all said and done his career will pale in comparison to what Roger Federer has been able to accomplish.
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