Roger Federer’s verdict on whether he was a better player in 2006 or in 2017

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Roger Federer produced many fantastic seasons throughout the course of his illustrious career.

From the time he captured his first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003, there was no stopping the Swiss Maestro as he took the sport to new heights and broke plenty of records.

2005 was one of Federer’s greatest seasons as he lost just four matches over the course of the year.

But there are two other seasons which come to mind that many regard as two of the greatest that he produced over his two decades on the ATP Tour.

Roger Federer says if he was a better player in 2006 or 2017

Fans can point out multiple seasons in which Roger Federer has some of the best tennis ever seen in the sport. His level of consistency during his dominant years of nothing very few players can match.

Two seasons that seem to stand out for many are Federer’s 2006 and 2017 campaigns, which came at very different times in his career.

During a video on the ATP Tour’s YouTube channel from 2021, Federer commented on which of those seasons he thought he played better tennis.

“I would probably think that somehow 2006, some of my best years when I was barely losing,” he said.

“In 2017 I also had a wonderful year but somehow I would pick 2006 or 17, even though in 17 I am more experienced and have a bit more power, my game is a bit more rounded and I know more about what is going on but probably I was a bit of a better mover in 2006 and also the game was different.

“Maybe I had a bit more time in 2006 so things were a little bit different, opponents were different, except a few!”

Comparing Roger Federer’s results in 2006 and 2017

Both 2006 and 2017 were two of the best seasons in Federer’s career.

Back in 2006 when Federer was 25 going on 26, the Swiss Maestro won 81 of his 85 matches, with three of those four defeats coming against Rafael Nadal.

He won 11 titles, three of which were the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open, and remained on top of the ATP Tour rankings.

In 2017, Federer shocked the world with his seven titles at the age of 35 going on to 36, following a knee injury that sidelined him for several months back in 2016.

He began the year by beating Nadal for the first time at the Australian Open to win his first major since 2012.

Later that year Federer won eighth and final Wimbledon title, a record for men’s tennis and he finished the year ranked as the World number two behind Nadal.