Roger Federer is 'the ultimate sportsman', says Greg Rusedski
Monday 24 August 2015 06:16, UK
Sky Sports expert Greg Rusedski has hailed Roger Federer the "ultimate sportsman" after the tennis great picked up his 87th career title with a win over Novak Djokovic in Cincinnati.
The 34-year-old 17-time Grand Slam champion rolled back the years with an emphatic victory over the world No 1 in straight sets on Sunday.
Federer, who now moves up the rankings to world No 2, utilised his full arsenal of stylish shots to blast his rival off the court and take one match advantage in their head-to-head record 21-20.
US Open finalist Greg Rusedski told Sky Sports Tennis that the Swiss star should be held in highest respect for being the "ultimate sportsman".
Rusedski said: "I'm a little bit partial to Roger and I love seeing him playing so well.
"I knew him as a youngster when he was 16 years of age coming through and it's great to see him still having that joy in the game.
"And he's such a great ambassador. Let's not forget he speaks five languages and he takes two hours in every press conference.
"He is the ultimate sportsman. Whether you're a tennis fan or not you've just got to respect what he's done."
The win was Federer's seventh in Cincinnati and now he will turn his attention to the US Open which starts on August 31. Federer has not won the Flushing Meadows Grand Slam since 2008 and has not reached the final since 2009.
Without a major since 2012's Wimbledon, Rusedski insists Federer needs to play at this same level over five sets if he is to win, but with his impressive form this week - where he did not lose a service game - he will get the opportunities in New York.
He (Federer) is the ultimate sportsman. Whether you're a tennis fan or not, you've just got to respect what he's done.
"Last time Djokovic lost to [Kei] Nishikori in the semis, you thought this is a chance for Federer. But all of a sudden, it was a magic two matches from [Marin] Cilic to win that title.
"If you have those great opportunities, he's got to serve like he did [today], he's got to play like he's got to, but he's got to do it at three out of five sets.
"At 34 years of age, that's a little bit more difficult to do. But if he plays like he did this week, not having dropped serve once playing the likes of Murray and Djokovic back-to back, it's so impressive.
"Every time he needed a big point he was one it. It was sublime on the serve all day long from Federer."
