Left field

Roger Federer lost 6-4 6-4 to Juergen Melzer in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals on Friday prompting renewed speculation the Swiss master is well past his best. He is down to world number three now having won only one tournament so far this year.

But hang on a minute, this is the probable GOAT we are talking about, you don’t ignore 16 grand slam titles so easily. Here are 10 reasons why Federer might still be able to bounce back from his shaky form.

1. Monte Carlo is clay and the first clay event of the European season. It’s always been his least favoured surface and he had never won the Monaco tournament anyway.

2. There was a nasty wind out there which was causing the clay dust to fly in his face.

3. Melzer is world number nine, very decent and a left-hander. He’d beaten Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic previously.

4. Despite playing poorly, Federer still had seven breaks points he could have taken.

5. He is still only 29.

6. He has had fewer injury problems than Nadal, whose knees could go again at any moment given his style. Federer on the other hand still makes it look effortless.

7. He will want to up his number of slams knowing that Nadal is not far behind and could one day be the GOAT.

8. Players still have huge respect for Roger. Melzer said the win over Federer was more important to him than the victory over Nadal.

9. Some pundits reckoned Federer’s era was over when he lost the Wimbledon final to Nadal in 2008. He’s won four grand slams since.

10. Never write off a man who can speak so many languages perfectly.

PHOTO: Switzerland’s Roger Federer leaves the court after being defeated by Austria’s Jurgen Melzer during their quarter-final match at the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament in Monaco April 15, 2011. REUTERS/Olivier Anrigo