Roger Federer retired last week. If you follow tennis, you'll know what a seismic event this was in the tennis world. Federer is still considered by many the greatest tennis player ever. When he came onto the scene, he pushed tennis to a new stratosphere of otherworldly genius. His game was not only the most devastatingly efficient the sport had ever seen, but also a thing of beauty. His great rivals Djokovic and Nadal are incredible, once-in-a-lifetime players in their own right. But stylistically they are “grinders”, players who win wars of attrition by making their opponents hit one more ball. Federer, in contrast, played a dazzling style of attacking tennis that took the game out of his opponents’ hands altogether. It's true that, in the end, Djokovic’s and Nadal’s defensive games may have surpassed Federer's in terms of sheer effectiveness. For all his greatness, Federer revealed at times a certain fragility that slightly punctured his aura as tennis’s magician. But somehow this vulnerability only made Federer the more beloved. Whenever and wherever he played, in stadiums around the world, the crowd was on his side.
A fearless, organized and dedicated practitioner in any walk of life deserves praise and a high level of respect. That is certainly due Roger Federer-as it is due Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal, for that matter. That Federer met his nemesis, and overcame him, is a thing of beauty.
My favorite Federer quote is that he lives by the 24 hour rule. Celebrate your wins for 24 hours, or mourn your losses for 24 hours and then regardless of which it is, move on. Brilliant.
A fearless, organized and dedicated practitioner in any walk of life deserves praise and a high level of respect. That is certainly due Roger Federer-as it is due Serena Williams, and Rafael Nadal, for that matter. That Federer met his nemesis, and overcame him, is a thing of beauty.
Beautifully written, what a lovely read.
Awesome. I’ve just become a tennis fan! Send this to Sports Illustrated or a prestigious tennis magazine. They’ll gobble it up…or they should. Bill
My favorite Federer quote is that he lives by the 24 hour rule. Celebrate your wins for 24 hours, or mourn your losses for 24 hours and then regardless of which it is, move on. Brilliant.