Roger Federer – He came, he saw, he conquered… He is still conquering!
People said it would be all over when Roger Federer failed more than once to equal Pete Sampras’ record 14 Slams. He broke down at more than one presentation ceremony finishing runner-up. The agony reached its peak at the 2009 Australian Open where he was yet again beaten by Rafael Nadal after which he broke down only to be warmly consoled by his long-time friend-rival-Winner Spanish Bull from Mallorca. The very year, Robin Soderling beat Rafael Nadal in the Quarter Finals which tilted the scales in favour of Roger Federer to pip the title and complete a career Grand Slam as well as equalling Sampras’ record. Pundits said he wouldn’t stretch himself anymore, but he just went from great to the greatest after he won the Wimbledon for the sixth time, beating long-time rival Andy Roddick in a 5-set thriller, the same year only to etch his name amongst the greatest players to take to the tennis court.
You would think he would have stopped there, but he didn’t, he went on to win the 2010 Australian Open when his draught started and he went Slam-less until Wimbledon 2012 and in that phase, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal purloined his glory by sharing honours at every Slam but for once when Del Potro shattered Roger’s hopes of another US Open at the Flushing Meadows. As the Swiss’ hopes of claiming just one more Grand Slam waned, his tryst with glory got an extension at The Championships, Wimbledon, 2012. He beat the gutsy Andy Murray to reclaim the trophy that he had previously won 6 times.
In the better half of the 2000’s Roger Federer would run down balls placed wide of the court, just to show the world his genius by unleashing one of the most beautiful backhands you’d ever have seen. But ageing is inevitable. As age caught up, he cut his wavy royal hair and also his prancing on the court. From what looked like a kid playing hopscotch to a ballerina dancing a duet with a racquet in her hand, the transition was as smooth as velvet. He compensated the detrimental effects of ageing with his genius, with finesse and with sheer brilliance.
Yes, his supple wrists are getting tight, but we just cannot get enough of those inside-out forehands and winners down the line. Insurance companies will run out of money if Roger tried to insure his wrists. He showed us this long back when his pony-tail peeked from behind as he served against the big-serving Croat, Goran Ivanisevic. Goran, who always loved to flirt with the net, took to volley when Roger struggled with Ivanisevic’s nicely played volleys. But, like the cliched line goes, Genius ruled the roost. Federer flicked a forehand that sent the ball whizzing past Ivanisevic for a cracking winner. The Croat was all over the Swiss, but all of a sudden seen to be thumping his racquet on the court smashing his tool to pieces.
In what was Andre Agassi’s last Grand Slam, the American made it to the finals, only to be met by the man in form, Roger Federer. The American Hall of Famer was shown no mercy as Roger packed away Agassi in front of the latter’s home crowd. Commentators and writers and poets have tried their describing Roger’s game, but what they have done is gross injustice. They call it resplendent, magnificent, genius, brilliant, gorgeous, marvellous, elegant, exquisite, drop-dead beautiful, ravishing. I call it Divinity in Motion.
If you gave me a ten dollar note for every winner Roger hit that left the crowd gasping for breath, then I would be a millionaire by now.
He came, he saw, he conquered, and he is still conquering.
Tags: Australian Open, Grand Slam, Grand Slams, Pete Sampras, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Tennis
