Roger Federer has always been part of the "greatest of all time" conversation. His numbers already tell a significant story. He won 103 ATP titles, the second-highest in men's tennis history, just behind Jimmy Connors with 109. On the biggest stage, he lifted 20 Grand Slam titles, placing him behind Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the all-time list. But numbers are just one part of it. What truly made Federer special was how he played, especially his forehand. Now, Serena Williams' former coach Rick Macci has made his stance clear in this debate.
Macci on Federer's Forehand
Speaking to TSH Tennis, Macci said he believes Federer has the best forehand the sport has ever seen. His reasoning is simple: Federer made the game feel faster and more uncomfortable for his opponents in a way very few players could. Macci did not hesitate when asked about the best forehand. He said, "I'd go with Federer. Here's why. Simply because he was one of the first of the Mohicans."
He explained that Federer's grip and timing made a big difference. "He played with a hybrid grip, like not really semi-western. He was between an eastern and a semi. He played right on the baseline, and he took it right off the bounce." Then he shared something interesting from players who actually faced all three greats: Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. "All of them said I'd rather play Djokovic and Nadal than Federer because when they went to play Federer, they just felt so rushed."
Macci added that while many people talk about Nadal's heavy topspin, especially on clay, Federer's forehand had a different kind of pressure. "I know a lot of people say Rafa because of all his spin, and obviously, on clay, you would say Nadal; he's brutal to your backhand, but it would be Federer."
Macci on Djokovic's Backhand
When the topic shifted to backhands, Macci was just as clear. He believes Novak Djokovic stands alone there. He said, "It's not even close. It's a rubber band man. The Serbian sniper, Djokovic." He broke it down in simple terms: "His range of motion, the way he does it, right arm straight, left elbow bent, racket head above. He pulls with the right. He pushes with the left."
Macci also pointed out how easy Djokovic makes it look. "It looks like he's eating breakfast when he hits the ball. He's not even trying. Have you ever noticed that?" He ended with a strong line: "His backhand is a knife through butter; it's money in the bank. Djokovic by far." Over the years, Djokovic also had the edge in head-to-head matches against both Federer and Nadal, which adds more weight to Macci's view.
