Two factors that make it near-impossible to pass Federer as GOAT - even with Slam total exceeding 17 - certainly for the current crop of players, forget past ones.

1. Super shot making ability with versatility mixed in leaving very little space for what can be termed a bona fide weakness. That feature HAS to transcend the surface, competition, windy conditions, sometimes even an injury or an illness over LONG haul spanning at least a decade.

2. That talent HAS to be backed by matching stats - consistently - over at least a decade. That means, you should pass or at least challenge nearly EVERY record. Passing the ones 'that matter' like Slam total, weeks @ No. 1 etc. is just the most basic requirement. You have to reach FAR beyond that and rewrite even insignificant ones right after the meaningful ones that follow the 'that matter' ones.

Without the two, you are just spinning your wheels for nothing. Above twins of theory and reality HAS to synchronize on a large canvas to indisputably reach the undisputed state.

The ONLY argument Sampras and Borg may have is weak competition considering the TOTAL non-existence of ANY Hall Of Famer during Federer's prime - except Nadal. And that 'only one' couldn't be bottled - over long haul - @ ANY surface.

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