Once a fan, always a fan - A tribute to Roger Federer

Federer redefined the game for an entire generation of tennis lovers. That is a massive achievement given the illustrious history of tennis that has seen several sporting legends. In the early 2000s when Sampras and Agassi were the torchbearers of men’s tennis, the former more so than the latter, tennis was a widely followed sport but not one that sparked passion and intense debate like it does today. For all his on-court exploits, Sampras was not exactly the most entertaining man in the room. It was a bit of a snoozefest to be honest.

The single handed backhand, swift movement, an effective but often under-noticed serve and a forehand that could devastate the opponent – Roger Federer had arrived

And then came along Roger Federer. The single handed backhand, swift movement, an effective but often under-noticed serve and a forehand that could devastate the opponent; they all made people sit up and take notice. His on-court performances were complimented by his off-court charm and grace. He was every pressman’s delight. He was well spoken, funny and intelligent. Between 2004 and 2008, he notched up victories by the dozen, impressing all and sundry with this incredible talent and mental fortitude. He won the “Laureus World Sportsman of the Year” award four years in a row from 2004-2007.

Then came along Rafael Nadal who started challenging the great man. First on clay and then on other surfaces. It was a rivalry for the ages, something that brought more people into the sport and increased the popularity of the game. This was followed by Djokovic and Murray who became the new contenders for the throne. Federer fought them off as well as he could, for as long as he could. But, given how physical a sport tennis is, Federer’s age and the toll the gruelling time on the tour takes on a player’s body, started to show. Despite that, he was still making it to the finals, giving himself a chance to win and that is not easy, especially when you are six years older than your main competitors.

Federer is no longer the best player in the world. He has not been for some time now. There are those days and matches when he becomes the best again, albeit in shorter spells. Is it worth it, seeing him play just to witness those moments? Or should he stop playing merely because he is not winning? As a fan I am torn. It is delightful to see him play in all his glory even if it’s for a brief period of time, like he did against Victor Hanescu in the first round of Wimbledon. It is equally painful to see him lose like he did yesterday.

I was in high school when Federer won his first Grand Slam. Over the years as he has added more feathers to his cap, I finished college, got my first job, started my post graduation and even got married. I have literally grown up seeing his greatness and believe me you, it was a spectacle like no other. His elegance, quality of strokes and aggressive game play made me a fan for life and nothing, not even defeats in gloomy days like these, will ever change that. And for that reason alone, I think he should let the world see his game for as long as he desires.

There can be another Nadal – a determined fighter with great physical prowess, there can also be another Djokovic – a smart player with great agility and cracker of a forehand, but there can never be another Roger Federer.