How I grew up with Roger Federer

Tennis to me is nothing without Roger Federer in it. Like millions of people my age, I grew up watching Federer play tennis. At that time, no one could play Tennis like the Swiss did (or I thought so). Everything other than Roger Federer was completely out of focus for me and the only thing that I loved about Tennis was how Federer won every single tournament he played.

Now, I have come terms with reality. The reason why you see many “Federer – hooligans” on Internet forums is because the man has affected the teenage of so many people like me. We were drawn into Tennis by his elegance and we simply cannot accept that any man can be better than him.

When I began watching tennis in early 2000, Pete Sampras had just left the sport after winning 14 major titles. My father, an ardent Sampras fan said to the TV, “Its going to be a lo-ong time before someone breaks that record“. Now, I’m sure that he was stumped when Roger Federer broke that record in less than eight years. I’m sure that the whole world was stumped to see that.

When Federer won the 2007 Wimbledon after fighting it for five sets, I was screaming outside my house, it was roughly around 10.30 PM. I didn’t mind, why would I? Exactly one year later, when he lost the same title to Nadal and received the runners cup in near darkness, I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t go to school the next day, I didn’t read the newspapers or watch the television for a week. Every time people mention that the match on TV, I turn it off.

When he broke down in The Australian Open in 2009, it was another media shutdown for me. I had trouble sleeping for weeks. Some months later, Federer was against Roddick at the Wimbledon fighting to win his 15th major, a record which would see him overhaul Pete Sampras. Prior to the event Federer had won his first ever French Open. When Rafael Nadal announced that he will not take part in that year’s Wimbledon, I could swear that I was the happiest person on earth. I don’t mind if you call Rafael Nadal a better player than Federer, for me even God is next to Federer.

As all of us know, Federer went on to defeat Roddick in the longest Wimbledon final ever. The final set read 16-14 and I didn’t see a single shot in that set. My father was seeing the game on TV and I was sitting in my room hearing the commentary. I couldn’t see the game and when the commentator screamed “It’s 6 for Roger Federer”, my eyes were moist.

Thankfully, I left to college last year and I was not able to see the games live. I’m not sure if I would have actually seen them. Tennis to me is not a big deal without Federer winning. Yes, I don’t care if Novak Djokovic produces a masterpiece, I don’t care if Rafael Nadal comes back to win a great game and I don’t give a damn to any others out there. So do thousands of other people who grew up with Roger Federer.

One day last month, I was reading the newspaper in my hostel and the left corner has a small piece that said “Federer wins Basel title“, the next week I saw a big story which said “Federer triumphs at Paris” and I was thinking “Oh, yeah“. Then, I came home to witness the happiest moment of my life after two years, Federer bageled Nadal. He then went on to defeat Tsonga to life the year end Master’s cup. Now, they are saying that he is the favorite for the Australian Open 2012.

I don’t know if he will win there or not but as far as I care, thank you sir, we have been privileged to grow while watching you play. It was like watching poetry in motion!