Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
In an epic battle Roger Federer overcame American Andy Roddick 16-14 in the longest ever men's final. Whilst it may not have had the drama of the previous year's final it was certainly filled with enough tension as both served with consistency and authority.
It could though have been very different had Roddick converted a 6-2 tie-break lead in the second set to go 2-up. However, he allowed Federer to win six points on the bounce and level the score. In fairness, Roddick did well to come back from a set back and make a match of it, but ultimately he fell short when he was broken for the first time in the match to lose.
Gong into the final the head-to-head record was 18-2 in Federer's favour and 3-0 on grass so in the end Roddick did well to compete to such a high level. We witnessed a change in his game when he beat home favourite Andy Murray in the semi-finals with not just the power of his serve, but also the consistency of his ground strokes and particularly his forehand. In addition he came to the net a lot more and challenged the perception that he could not volley.
Roddick has only won one Grand Slam, the US Open back in 2002, and has failed to live up to the expectations placed on him. This was his best chance to arrest that statistic but I would not rule him out to have a good run at this year's Grand Slam in New York.
As for Federer what more can be said? Actually, a lot more now and the main issue to ponder is whether he is the best tennis player ever.
The statistics say he is: 15 Grand Slam titles surpassing Pete Sampras's total of 14, six Wimbledon Championships, 21 consecutive semi-finals, contested the 16 out of the last 17 finals at Grand Slams and a victory at each of the Grand Slam events. This is an astonishing set of results and leads to a very arguable case that he is the best ever.
It is difficult to compare him to Rod Laver as they really are from different eras as three of the four Grand Slams were played on grass and had he not turned professional he would have been able to play a lot longer. Borg also retired at 26 so he could have won more had he chosen to carry on. But longevity is part of the profile that means you are a champion and Federer has this in abundance.
He is planning to carry on for at least three more years, Mirka his wife wants his soon-to-be-born child to watch him play, and with his current record that will probably mean at least five more Slams. This would take him to 20, which would make arguing that he is not the greatest impossible.
There is one nagging feeling that persists amongst those championing his cause, one Rafael Nadal. He missed this year's Wimbledon through injury but has beaten Federer in the last three finals they have contested including last year's grass final where Federer was previously unbeatable. It is difficult to claim you have been the best of all time when it could be argued you are not even the best of this generation.
It will be time that resolves this issue and those doubters now will not have the same issues in 10 years' time as no one remembers how the titles were always won, just the numbers in the book. If Nadal recovers from his current knee problems and comes back fighting fit and takes the battle to Federer and resumes his authority over him, then the question will not be whether the Swiss is the best of all time, it will be whether Nadal is better than him.
The Spaniard still has some way to go to achieve this and until he does, Federer deserves his mantle and it is more than likely he will cement it over the next three years. He is a consummate professional who manages himself as well off the court as on it and whilst he continues playing the rest, Nadal apart, may well have to bide their time for personal glory.
It is appropriate to leave the final words to Pete Sampras whose record he beat, to sum up the greatest tennis player of the modern era.
"He's humble and he's effortless and it doesn't seem like he's working that hard. His serve is big, has a great forehand, great spin and he's so smooth. He's a great athlete - he's got everything. He was a legend and now he's an icon. He's a credit to the game." Roger Federer take a bow.
