Australian Open 2011: Can We Get Used to Roger Federer As The World's New No. 2?

For sports fans, some transfers of power are harder to stomach than others. 

When Jack Nicklaus became the world’s dominant golfer in the mid-60s, he not only usurped a King but vanquished Arnie’s Army in the process.  My dad puts it simply: “I hated Jack.”

More recently, Lee Westwood overtook Tiger Woods as the world’s top golfer.  Westwood’s a fine player, but his claim to No. 1 is dubious; he didn’t earn it as much as Tiger loaned it out while tending to his personal life.  Tiger in the two spot is like Augusta National being ranked the second best golf course in Georgia.

Same goes for Caroline Wozniacki.  Like Westwood, Wozniacki’s No. 1 without having won a major.  That’s stomach-churning stuff.  If she and Serena were both healthy and went head to head in a major final, where do you think the money would fall?  

In men’s tennis, however, the flip-flop between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal has been palatable—even appetizing.  After a bit of back in forth in 2009, Nadal has established himself as the world's top player by winning the last three majors.  Ironically, in the argumentative, who's better than who world of sports discourse, no one really seems to care Federer's been bumped from the pedestal.

It's because Nadal is such a worthy successor.

I’m as big a Federer fan as everyone else who admires his other-worldly shot-making and appreciates his artistry and gentlemanly conduct.  From 2004-2007, when Federer was collecting majors like Marvin Harrison collects fines, it was hard to imagine anyone swiping his No. 1 ranking.  But if anyone could do it the “right way”—in a way that sports fans could not only tolerate but celebrate, it was Rafael Nadal.  It’s hard to hold a grudge against a guy’s who's just that nice.

Nadal doesn’t self-promote on Twitter.  He usually flies coach.  He earns about a third of what Federer makes in endorsements.  And he doesn’t have enough support staff to constitute an “entourage.” 

Even better, Nadal never utters a disparaging word about anyone.  What other player could embarrass Federer in a major final (1-3-0 at 2008 French) and then turn around and call him the best player of all time?  Nadal could be accused of nauseating humility—if he wasn’t so sincere.  He doesn’t seem to have a disingenuous bone in his ripped body.  No wonder he earned the 2010 Stephan Edberg Sportsmanship Award.

Look, I hate seeing Federer lose.  Watching him sobbing at the Australian two years ago was painful.  You felt maybe his time had come and gone.  But there was Rafa, hugging Federer and whispering in his ear and affirming his greatness.  Rarely do we see such genuine respect between rivals in the sports arena.  Imagine the Patriots and Jets getting together for a group hug after a playoff game?

No one likes to see their favorite player or team bumped from the top spot.  But everything seems just fine in the tennis world with Federer at No. 2.  Sports chat boards, which are often laced with spit and venom and my team is better than yours, are free from such dreck when it comes to Federer vs. Nadal.  Instead of acrimony you find an outpouring of respect for each player’s skill and dignity—evidence that a genuine rivalry outranks, well, rankings.

Still, don’t be fooled into thinking Federer is content in the VP role.  "It's not that important to be two, three or four," he was quoted as saying last October. "For me it's either No. 1 in the world or everything else.  After being No. 1 for so long and having been there it's obviously the best feeling to be there. When you're not ranked No. 1 in the world, you obviously try to get back there."

What’s great about this quote is that it smacks of reality.  Many former No. 1s are happy to fade into the background; the grind of maintaining alpha dog status is just too much.  Not so for Fed.  He’s seen the new face of tennis in Nadal—a man who is younger, stronger, and possibly the most ruthless competitor since Michael Jordan.  Federer seems undaunted.  He reclaimed his mojo at the end of 2010 by adopting his own ruthless style of play.  The wins have followed. 

Nadal may be the slight favorite on the eve of the 2011 Australian Open.  But Federer may be the man to beat.  As to whether he reclaims his No. 1 ranking this year?

Would you bet against him?