John McEnroe was a maestro, nimble at net and sharp of tongue. Jimmy Connors would sooner mug his opponent than concede defeat. Pete Sampras won more big matches than any player in history, yet he usually looked like someone had just punched him in the gut. Ivan Lendl was an immovable object who frustrated his opponents – and often his audience – until they surrendered.

In tennis, greatness comes in many forms, and for the past 82 weeks, Switzerland’s Roger Federer has shown himself to be among the best of the best. Is Federer better than all those who came before him? Should the new greatest be crowned already, only two years after Pistol Pete’s retirement?

Despite the fact that the 24-year-old has played at his peak for only two years and won five major titles to Sampras’s all-time record of 14, the debate is legitimate, owing to Federer’s astonishing versatility. Never before has a no. 1 player flashed so much talent in so many ways. Federer owns the best forehand in the business, his serve is among the best, and his backhand – once less steady – is no longer a weakness. You won’t mistake him for Stefan Edberg at the net, but he volleys better than most. Scarcely a skill exists at which Federer does not excel: footwork, speed, stamina, tactics, returning serve.

McEnroe has extolled Federer as the best he’s ever seen. And while it’s always difficult to compare players past and present in their primes, Federer is certainly on a level with Sampras, whom he defeated in five sets at Wimbledon in 2001 (Sampras was fading by then, but he was still good enough to reach two more U.S. Open finals).

So far this season, Federer is 64-3 with nine titles under his belt, including his third consecutive Wimbledon crown. Last year, he lost six matches. His streak of 82 straight weeks at no. 1, dating back to February 2004, is the fourth longest in history, behind Connors’s record of 160, Lendl’s 157, and Sampras’s 101. (If Federer’s reign continues, he would pass Connors at the end of February 2007). In finals, Federer has won 22 consecutive matches, a tour record.

Federer dominates in terms of match-by-match statistics, too. Of the 10 categories the ATP regularly tracks – various measurements for service and return of service performance – Federer is among the top 10 on the tour in eight of them. He has not lost in straight sets since the 2004 French Open.

As impressive as this all is, some observers – and at times even Federer himself – have portrayed this season as a disappointment, since he was thought to have a chance at the single-season Grand Slam. It’s a sure sign of greatness when pushing the boundaries of what is humanly possible is not enough.

“When Tiger [Woods] won – what did he win? – I mean, seven out of eight or eight out of nine majors,” Andy Roddick said last week, “that made the other guys better. It made them elevate their games. I think that’s what Roger is doing right now with tennis. I’m a better player than I was two years ago basically because I have to be.”

To tennis aficionados, and seemingly to his rivals, Federer is otherworldly: a player who can do everything, who respects his opponents, who does not act superior no matter how superior he is. No player so regularly turns a thrashing into art. With Federer, a shellacking is stylish: sharp angles, deft touch, and small, rapid-fire steps that would make a ballerina proud. And while the Swiss master is no stranger to conceit – “I amaze myself” he said after Wimbledon – he’s not arrogant. He often sounds like the rest of us: truly amazed that he is so good. Federer even loses with grace, invariably paying a compliment to the man who beat him.

It’s unlikely he will have any such conversation at the U.S. Open these next two weeks. Fresh off his ninth tournament win of the year – in which he played below average – Federer should find his footing by Round 2 and become near impossible to stop.

Rafael Nadal, the dazzling Spanish teenager who come closest to matching Federer’s strokes and outdoes him in pizzazz, has the best shot, and they cannot meet until the final. Beyond that, the rest of the field must pray for a bad day. Roddick is now 1-10 against Federer, though his hard work both on and off court has produced an aggressive net game that will improve his chances down the road. Australian Lleyton Hewitt, ranked no. 3, has lost eight straight. Marat Safin has the talent to repeat his Federer upset from the Australian Open, but he is recovering from knee surgery.

If there is one battle Federer likely will never win, it’s with fame, and largely because he chooses not to seek it. Most of the year he travels without a coach; his girlfriend and family act as his agents and handlers. Federer approaches tennis with caution: He places his bets on the tour’s most sound events, and happily rests and trains during off weeks (he played just one event this summer, and won it). For Federer, the long term counts most, and he does not try to generate publicity and other short-term monetary gains, nor does he let marketers do it for him.

“He’s not a story like [Terrell Owens] where you’re going to be all in this drama,” Roddick said. “He goes and does his business, he goes home. He’s not looking for anything besides winning. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been embraced.”

The world may not have embraced Federer yet, but there’s time. Here’s counting the days until February, 2007.

Taking Aim at Federer

Roger Federer has sat atop the men’s rankings for 82 weeks, during which he’s won 19 tournaments (three of them majors) and lost just nine matches (that’s including the 2004 Olympic Games). In finals, Federer has now won 22 straight times; his record this year is 64-3. Hard to believe that before Wimbledon, Federer himself had been disappointed with his season, which many expected would end with him holding championship trophies from all four majors. No one is likely to stop Federer from winning his second straight U.S. Open, but here’s a look at the players who have more than a fleeting chance:

THE TOP DOGS

Rafael Nadal
Record vs. Federer: 2-1

The man-child from Majorca, Spain, is the only top player who can boast of a winning record against Federer. It’s hardly a large sample, but Nadal has the best chance of beating the Swiss champion. He combines the consistency and speed of Lleyton Hewitt – usually no trouble for Federer – with the strength and incredible passing shots of, well, Federer himself. Add to this the remarkable spin Nadal imparts on the ball, and we find a game that can make the unflappable Federer look out of sorts. Though his serve is a weakness, being left-handed helps his cause. The Spaniard is also fearless. If the two reach the final, they may put on one of the best shows the tournament has seen in some time.

Andy Roddick
Record vs. Federer: 1-10

If given three serves rather than two, Roddick would be in business. Once the ball is in play, however, there’s little hope. The American too often finds himself out of position and can’t force Federer to miss. His mediocre returns make it easier for Federer to hold serve and put more pressure on his own serve. Despite Federer’s lopsided 6-2, 7-6(2), 6-4 win in the Wimbledon final, Roddick’s performance there was admirable for its creativity and persistence. To succeed against Federer in Flushing, he’ll have to charge the net and connect on his booming first serve close to 70% of the time, if not better.

Andre Agassi
Record vs. Federer: 3-7

When the American legend takes the court, he still moves and swings like a 25-year-old. But the 35-year-old Agassi is having a hard time even getting there. A sciatic nerve in his back continues to flare up, requiring consistent cortisone shots. Luckily for Agassi, he doesn’t need to play much before finding his rhythm. A great deal needs to happen for Agassi to make a run here: The weather must cooperate (he’s not fond of playing on consecutive days), his back must remain stable, and Federer, who has won their last seven matches, must have a bad day.

Lleyton Hewitt
Record vs. Federer: 7-10

Normally feistier than a terrier, the Australian is a kitten against Federer, having lost eight straight while winning just two sets. Is there a mental block at work? Perhaps, but Hewitt just doesn’t match up well with the world no. 1. He does not generate enough of his own pace, and hits clean strokes that bounce just so, making it seem as if Federer is hitting the ball out of his hand. If Federer plays terribly, Hewitt has a chance. But an average Federer wins easily, while Federer at his best beats the Australian senseless – last year’s 6-0, 7-5, 6-0 romp in the Open final being a case in point.

Marat Safin
Record vs. Federer: 2-7

The Russian has done what no one else has this year: defeat Federer on a surface other than clay. And Safin is capable of doing it again. He can match Federer blow for blow off the baseline – in Australia, he dictated play and pressured Federer with pace, a rare feat. Considering Safin’s recent knee surgery and his flameout in Cincinnati last week, logic suggests he will not have enough to challenge Federer this year. Then again, logic rarely applies to Safin, one of the most talented, inconsistent, and confounding players in the world.

THE DARK HORSES

Robby Ginepri

Now that the 22-year-old American with the bodybuilder’s physique no longer goes for broke on every shot, he could find himself in the second week at the Open.

Gael Monfils

The Frenchman, who turns 19 next week, has quietly moved inside the top 50, posting a winning record in his first full year on the tour and winning a title. Monfils’s huge serve and forehand are perfect for the hard courts in Flushing.

Chin Fidds

The much-heralded son of a Chinese gymnast and a Finnish hockey player, Fidds makes his Grand Slam debut at the Open after years of self-imposed exile from the tour (he claims he was too shy to play in front of crowds). Andre Agassi once called Fidds the game’s greatest talent; Andy Roddick was reportedly left speechless after a recent practice with the 26-year-old in California. Fidds, who stands just 5-feet-8 inches tall, is said to serve upwards of 225 mph, though his control is suspect (he once broke an opponent’s sternum with an errant blast). Can Fidds keep it together and threaten Federer, or will the lights, cam eras, and action of Flushing send him running for cover?