Forget Rafael Nadal... Roger Federer has three new rivals
ROGER FEDERER will need to see off a gymnast, skiier and handball player if he is to win the latest top gong.
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Federer, 36, is used to battling it out with fierce rival Rafael Nadal for honours at the back-end of tournaments.
But the Spaniard - for obvious reasons - doesn't fit the bill to be nominated for the Credit Suiss Swiss Sports Person of 2017 award.
Federer, who hails from Basel, managed a phenomenal comeback that included his 18th and 19th Grand Slam titles in 2018.
He then skipped the clay season but still finished the year ranked number two in the world.
Standing in his way in Sunday's ceremony are gymnastics champion Pablo Bragger and downhill skier Beat Feuz.
Roman Josi and Andy Schmid, who play international ice hockey and handball respectively, are also in the running as is Nino Schurter, who has won every title a mountain biker can win.
Federer tweeted on Saturday night: "Honored to be nominated for the @CreditSuisse Swiss Sports person of 2017."
Roger Federer in 2017
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
Wins his 18th Grand Slam title and first for five years against Rafa Nadal in a five-set thriller.
DUBAI TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
Suffers a shock exit in the second round to Russian qualifier Evgeny Donskoy.
INDIAN WELLS MASTERS
Back to winning ways. Federer beats Stan Wawrinka 6-4 7-5 in an all-Swiss final.
MIAMI OPEN
Two tournament wins in a row. Another final against Nadal goes Federer's way as he wins in straight sets.
STUTTGART OPEN
First match on grass of the season ends badly. He loses to Tommy Haas in three sets.
HALLE OPEN
Usual service is resumed. He beats three Germans on his way to a record ninth Halle title, thrashing rising German star Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-3 in the final.
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Wins his 19th Grand Slam without dropping a set, beating Marin Cilic in the final. He becomes the first man to win eight singles titles at the Championships.
CANADIAN OPEN
Finishes runners-up. Zverev gets revenge and beats Federer in the final.
US OPEN
Federer isn't 100 per cent fit. He pays the price and loses to Juan Martin del Potro in the quarters.
SHANGHAI MASTERS
Sees off world Nadal in 72 minutes to clinch his sixth title of 2017, his 94th career title.
SWISS INDOORS
Victory in front of his own fans but Federer then pulls out of Paris to hand Nadal the No 1 spot.
SHANGHAI MASTERS
Dumped out in the semi-finals by David Goffin, who ends up losing in the final to Grigor Dimitrov.
