We’ve been lucky enough to see him a bit over the last few years and he’s always been impressive, but what he did to Andy Roddick earlier this week was just obscene. I don’t ever remember seeing a top class player get so completely and utterly dismantled before. Roddick was lucky to pick up six games, frankly. Could very easily have been much worse.
I’m confident that in 15 years time we’ll look back at Federer as not just the greatest tennis player who’s ever lived, but simply the greatest individual sportsman ever. He just defies belief, the guy is incredible, but the best bit is he’s a joy to watch. Skipping… jumping… almost dancing his way through his matches, he’s unlike any other player before him. He combines the best of all worlds and I absolutely love watching him play.
Kai MacMahon: On Life, The Universe & Everything 
1. His Airness.
2. Tiger
3. Roger
In that order (for now).
Likely to end up looking like this:
1. Tiger
2. Roger
3. His Airness
See, Tiger’s playing against himself and the course, Roger’s directly opposite real humans. And I don’t buy the argument that there’s no quality out there to face him. Folks like Safin, Roddick, Hewitt & Nadal are absolute top class players. Roger is simply so good that he makes them look like amateurs. He’s completely redefined the game, is inventing shots… just absolutely sick.
If anything the ‘no decent opposition’ argument would be more appropriate for Tiger. Who’s he had to challenge him, in all seriousness?
As for MJ… last time I looked basketball wasn’t an individual sport, though I could see the argument (were you to make it) that when he was playing it was.
For now it’s
1) Jordan
1.1) Federer
2) Pele
3) TBD
Woods is not on the list because I only rank athletes.