Roger Federer is one of the most iconic stars in the world of tennis, and what he doesn’t know about the sport isn’t worth knowing.
Federer won 20 Grand Slam titles during his career, with eight of those coming at Wimbledon – a record in the men’s game.
After yesterday’s French Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the tennis world has been awash with praise for both players and the match itself.
Federer lauded Carlos Alcaraz after his superb comeback victory and in the process, claimed that it was a stunning day for the game of tennis as a whole.
Another former Grand Slam champion doesn’t agree, however…
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesPaul McNamee thinks Roger Federer is wrong about Alcaraz vs Sinner claim
Tennis fans are just getting their breath back after a frantic finale to a wonderful French Open, but Federer’s claim has been met with some angst.
McNamee isn’t convinced that Alcaraz beating Sinner is a good thing for tennis, especially at a tournament which is played on clay.
With Federer’s comments clearly being put in front of the former Grand Slam doubles winner, he’s gone against what the Swiss legend said.
He posted on X: “So many, including Fed, saying tennis was the winner. Yet, when a guy playing linear power tennis can go within a breath of beating a player with such flair, power and artistry…on the greatest of clay courts, for me, that’s a sobering warning to ask where we’re heading as a sport.”
The clay court season has now drawn to a close, and players will start getting to grips with the grass ahead of Wimbledon, which starts at the end of the month.
So many, including Fed, saying tennis was the winner. Yet, when a guy playing linear power tennis can go within a breath of beating a player with such flair, power and artistry…on the greatest of clay courts, for me that’s a sobering warning to ask where we’re headed as a sport?
— Paul McNamee (@PaulFMcNamee) June 9, 2025
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Sinner and Alcaraz will form a rivalry for many years to come
Yesterday offered tennis fans a glimpse of the future…and it’s hard not to be excited!
McNamee is suggesting that Sinner has no right to get anywhere close to Alcaraz on clay, and perhaps the rackets used these days do level things up a little bit.
However, this is sport in a nutshell, and surely nobody can argue that they didn’t enjoy the drama of the 2025 edition of the French Open final.
Each to their own, and although McNamee is entitled to his opinion, it’s hard to really grasp what can be done to combat the ‘sobering warning’ that he says the game has got with the style that Sinner possesses on court.
Sinner deserves a little bit more respect. Okay, he’s machine-like in the way he goes about things, but his defence is superb, and yesterday he stood up to the flamboyant Alcaraz, which is surely good for the sport.
Whilst the tennis is entertaining, the punters will be satisfied and hopefully, Alcaraz and Sinner get the opportunity of a rematch at Wimbledon in a few weeks.