Martina Navratilova on Roger Federer’s future: “It’s difficult to see him climbing back to number one”

Leave it to Martina Navratilova to give a frank assessment of Roger Federer’s career moving forward now that he has dropped to number three in the world behind Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

While promoting this year’s Liverpool International exhibition tournament, Martina told reporters she thought Federer still had the ability to win a Grand Slam event but that it was “difficult to see” him regaining top spot that he held from 2004-2008 then regained in 2009 before losing it again last summer.

Federer has won 16 Grand Slam singles titles (6 Wimbledons, 5 US Opens, 4 Australian Opens and 1 French Open) and held the world number one ranking for 237 weeks.

“I don’t think he’ll ever play as well as he did three or four years ago – that’s not to say he can’t still win a slam, but it’s difficult to see him climbing back to number one,” Navratilova said. “Nadal is dominating and Djokovic’s confidence is off the chart. Roger has lost three matches (this season) to Djokovic and lost to him at US Open last year as well, it will get under his skin.”

Martina was even more candid with her thoughts on British number one Andy Murray who has dropped to number five: “I would have thought he would have won a slam by now, though he still has plenty of time on his side. He’s still in his prime but with every year it gets more difficult, the expectations and the pressure get higher.

“He’s got the talent but he’s got to get tougher on himself mentally – he’s too quick to pass the blame, looking at his box and yelling at them as if it’s somehow their fault he missed that forehand.”

Martina sure tells it like it is!