Roger Federer’s view when asked if the top 10 was better when he was playing or when Pete Sampras and John McEnroe were

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Roger Federer enjoyed a legendary tennis career, holding the number one ranking for 310 weeks and winning 20 Grand Slam titles.

The Swiss star dominated the ATP Tour for several years during the 2000s and continued to enjoy success when his two greatest rivals, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, rose to the top of the men’s game.

It wasn’t just Nadal and Djokovic, whom Federer had to contend with, however, as several other players competed for the sport’s biggest titles.

The likes of Andy Murray, Andy Roddick, and Juan Martin del Potro were all dangerous at Grand Slam and Masters 1000 events throughout Federer’s career.

Asked in 2010 if he believed the top ten was stronger then than during Pete Sampras and John McEnroe’s prime years, Federer provided an interesting answer.

Roger Federer said it was a ‘tough call’ between which era was stronger

Speaking to ESPN during the 2010 Australian Open, Federer gave his verdict on whether the top ten was stronger then than in the 80s or 90s.

“That’s a tough call. Back when [Pete] Sampras played, [Boris] Becker and I think even [John] McEnroe was still around and Jim Courier and all those guys,” he said.

“I think it was tough back then as well. I just think it’s also what you make of it.

“Sometimes you have more marketing behind some players, and I think with Rafa [Nadal] and myself dominating for so long, I think sometimes you create new stories now like [Novak] Djokovic and [Andy] Murray and [Juan Martin] Del Potro that when they win a Slam it’s such a big deal.”

Between the 2005 French Open and the 2009 US Open, Federer and Nadal won 17 of the available 19 Grand Slam titles.

Their dominance was interrupted just twice, by Djokovic at the 2008 Australian Open, and by Del Potro at the US Open in 2009.

Bouncing back from Del Potro’s shocking win at Flushing Meadows in 2009, Federer and Nadal shared all four Slams in 2010.

Over the next decade, Djokovic joined Federer and Nadal in dominating the Slams, as once again, very few players were able to pick up titles of their own.

Non-‘big-three’ players to win Grand Slams (2010-2019)

• Andy Murray (2012 US Open, 2013 Wimbledon, 2016 Wimbledon)
• Stan Wawrinka (2014 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, 2016 US Open)
• Marin Cilic (2014 US Open)

Federer was well aware of the challenges Djokovic could pose in 2010, as he shared his thoughts on the Serbian youngster.

Roger Federer said Novak Djokovic was ‘very solid’ in 2010

Asked about what makes Djokovic so difficult to beat, Federer highlighted the many qualities of the future world number one.

“I just think he is one of those athletes we have around, like Murray and Djokovic and Del Potro as well now,” he said.

“They are all tall and strong, and they move really well for their height, so they have a good serve and they return really well. They are very solid.

“I think that combination is very tricky on all surfaces, and I think that’s why they are so tough.”

Federer and Djokovic played one another five times in 2010, as the Swiss star won the ‘year head-to-head’ 4-1.

Djokovic’s sole victory over Federer in 2010 came in the US Open semifinals, when he emerged victorious in a five-set thriller on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

However, whilst Federer had the better of Djokovic during the Serb’s first few years on tour, things quickly turned around.

When Federer retired from tennis in 2022, he did so with a losing 23-27 head-to-head record against Djokovic.