Roger Federer: Man who inspired a generation

Many years down the road, when some pundits band their heads together so as to come up with a list of the greatest sportsmen ever, I will doubt the credentials of the guy who did not include the name of Roger Federer on that list. A man of magnanimity and immense talent, Roger Federer is the very definition of the term “Sportsman”. And this is not due to the fact that he has won 17 Grand Slam titles which includes seven wins at SW19, making him the most successful tennis player in the Open Era; it is because he has played the game with unparalleled humility.

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: A general view of the men

Federer is always known to have carried a calm demeanour whenever he walks out to play on the tennis court. Unlike his counterparts like Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic, one seldom sees Federer pumping his fist or screaming out loud when ending up on the winning side after an intense rally. There might be times when the uninitiated presume that he has no passion left in him. But such thoughts get exterminated when he sets himself loose after a championship match. Federer has been one of those few sportsmen, who are unable to hide their emotions, be it the jubilation in victory or grief after a gut-wrenching loss. Perhaps this is what helps fans like us realise that he is just a mortal after all.

Not many sportspersons are as easily relatable as he is. A high work ethic and constant hard-work has made fans believe in him, even though many experts have put him off and have said that he is past his prime. But he was never the favourite when he turned pro in 1998; neither was he the favourite when he first won a Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2003.

At the age of 32, Federer is easily past his prime. Experts have written him off and also implying that he has lost that cutting edge which made him what he is. His feet have slowed down, his backhand has lost its elegance and power and his body is not able to cope with the bruising of the ATP calendar. All of this was pretty obvious from the fact that he participated in only a handful of tournaments in 2013.

But he has always proved himself time and time again and hopefully he will continue to do that in the future. Even though he had a poor season in 2013, Federer is confident of returning back to winning ways in 2014. And with me being a die-hard Federer fan, I will cheer him on Down Under, I will continue to feel ecstatic after every single win and I will certainly feel the pain after a loss, and I will also continue to get awed by that single handed backhand every single time.