Roger Federer: 10 Reasons Why Australian Open Win Is a Must for His Legacy

Roger Federer enters the 2012 Australian Open as the No. 3 seed in the tournament, behind young guns Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

The Swiss Maestro is arguably the best tennis player of all time. Nevertheless, there is still plenty at stake for his legacy in this tournament.

A championship run in Melbourne would show that he's still an elite force, a dynamic player, and that he is primed to compete for titles for the rest of his career. A loss could mark the beginning of the end for Fed.

Here are ten reasons why the Australian Open is a must-win event for Roger Federer.

Hard Court Dominance a Thing of the Past?

It wasn't too long ago that Roger Federer was the front-runner for every grand slam championship, hard court or otherwise. But lately, for various reasons, his hard court dominance has disappeared.

Since 2008, his only championship at a hard court Grand Slam event was the 2010 Australian Open.

If Fed can win this year's Australian Open, it will signal to people that he is still an elite hard court player. If he falters, people will wonder whether the latter part of his career will consist of him continually playing second-fiddle to Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

Must Prove He Can Keep Competition at Bay

Today's men's tennis field has more fierce competition toward the top than ever before. The 2007 and 2008 days had Rafa and Roger miles above everyone else, and no one could foresee the flurry of competition that would soon come.

Not only are Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray contending for titles throughout the year, but players such as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin Del Potro, and Robin Soderling are threats to knock off Federer in the middle rounds (and they've done just that in recent Slams).

Federer must prove that he can dominate into his thirties. Keeping the young competition at an arm's length will boost his legacy because it will prove that he maintained championship form in his veteran years.

Still Considered the Flawless Machine?

The Swiss legend is widely considered the best tennis player of all time, and is still one of the top three players at this point in his career. However, his status as a flawless player has diminished.

Federer's gradually declining athleticism has made him a bit more vulnerable, as he doesn't quite have complete control of rallies like he used to.

A strong performance and championship at Melbourne Park would go a long way in affirming his status as a precision shot-maker.

Aussie Win Would Balance Grand Slam Resume'

New York and London have been kind to Federer over the years, as Roger has won six Wimbledon titles and five U.S. Opens.

His success in Melbourne and Paris has been less frequent, as he's won four Australian Opens and just one French Open. He needs more French and Australian titles to balance out his stat sheet.

A championship in Melbourne would give him five titles or more in three different Grand Slam events, a feat that Pete Sampras didn't even come close to.

Still Physically Fit to Contend?

Federer's current back injury, which ended his stint at Doha, is a bit unnerving even though it is a minor injury that he should be able to play through.

It's not so much the actual injury that worries Federer fans, it's the fact that he got injured so easily after a decent amount of rest.

Is this back injury something that could continually nag him for the remainder of his career? Is it the first of more injuries that will hinder him from regaining top form?

A title run in Australia would quiet these doubts and signal that he's ready to be dominant throughout his entire career.

Fading at Age 30 Would Be a Disappointment

For the sake of everyone who loves tennis, let's hope that Federer can win this year's Australian Open and compete for more titles in the future.

It would be a shame to see Federer fade into second-tier status before his 31st birthday. It would deprive everyone a few more years of intense rivalry with Rafael Nadal and epic matches with Rafa, Djokovic, and others.

He would be remembered as the uniquely remarkable player who fell from prominence sooner than anyone wanted him to.

If Fed Wins in Melbourne, He Will Maintain "Big 3" with Djoker and Rafa

A championship run in Melbourne would keep Federer in the discussion of who is currently the best tennis player in the world.

It would also solidify his place as a member of the "Big Three" with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. A poor showing or disappointing loss might bounce him out of the upper-echelon, making it a "Big Two" of Djokovic and Nadal.

People have short-term memories; if Federer doesn't win a major for the rest of his career, many people will remember him as the player who eventually succumbed to the "Big Two."

Federer fans should be optimistic though. He is a competitor and won't go away faintly.

He Needs More Slams to Bolster His Record

As the king of the Grand Slam events with 16 titles, the Swiss Maestro stands alone at the top. But he's barely above Pete Sampras, and he could soon be eclipsed by Nadal.

That is, unless he gains a few more trophies before he's done.

The 25-year-old Nadal already has ten Grand Slam tournament titles and is poised to collect several more.

A couple more championships for Federer would elevate him that much higher than Sampras, and would make it extremely difficult for Nadal to break his record.

An Aussie Win Would Prove Doubters Wrong

For most of his career, there wasn't really anyone who doubted whether Roger Federer could win a given match or championship.

But things are different now. At this point in his career, with the competition stiffening, there are plenty of folks out there who highly doubt that he can win the 2012 Australian Open.

He's the No. 3 seed in the tournament, as Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are the favorites.

A championship performance in Melbourne would be extremely gratifying and prove to the whole world that he can win championships even when he's not the top tennis player in the world.

Needs to End His Career Strong

Let's face it: Roger Federer has only two or three years of top-notch tennis left in him. In those years, he needs to win a couple majors to finish his career on a high note.

As mentioned earlier, it would be a shame if 2010 was his last dominant performance. We all want to see him be at the top of his game during the last few years of his career.

An Australian Open triumph would be great for his veteran legacy. A loss would just push him further into the era of dwindling primacy.