Federer - simply the best (Getty Images).
BECKER HAILS 'SUPREME' FEDERER
Boris Becker hailed the "supreme" Wimbledon champion Roger Federer after the
Swiss world number one destroyed Andy Roddick to claim his third consecutive
title.
Federer joined a group of just eight players in history to win three in a row
at the All England Club with a 6-2 7-6 6-4 victory.
And Becker believes the best is yet to come from 23-year-old Federer who
already has Pete Sampras' modern Wimbledon record of seven titles in his sights.
Becker, champion in 1985, 1986 and 1989, told the BBC: "Federer is on top of
his game and at the pinnacle of his career right now - we are watching greatness
unfold.
"It really is a privilege to be a part of this whole time - this year he was
supreme out there, he was oozing confidence and I can't believe the way he
played in the final.
"He is different class to everyone else, he has raised the bar and everybody
has got to look up to him.
"But the bad news is Roger is only going to get better. He is only 23 and he
has got another three or four years of great tennis in him at least."
Eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors - victorious at SW19 in 1974 and
1982 - also paid tribute to Swiss star Federer and warned Roddick things could
be about to get worse before he can bridge the gap.
"Federer is certainly a class above," said Connors.
"Roddick had a successful event and got to the final where he lost to the
number one player in the world.
"But for him to win the Championships and beat Federer he is going to have to
suffer, to go away and pay the price, adapt his game and work out what can get
him to the next level.
"Federer was really just a pleasure and a joy to watch."
Former British number one John Lloyd also hailed Federer and predicted his
dominance would continue for some time to come.
Lloyd said: "You see magic moments when you're watching matches but Federer
seems to have one almost every game.
"It's a privilege to watch him and he is the complete player.
"He is raising the bar all the time and the rest are going to have to work
extremely hard to get near to him. He is on a different planet to everyone
else."
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