Federer’s miracle- No1 again, and at 36
Of all what Federer has achieved, which is a lot, this achievement of his of becoming World No.1 again, at age 36 at that, will be the one that is going to be difficult to match. He was World No.1 for the first time in 2004, and held it for over 300 weeks. His statistics show him as the modern era’s ‘Tennis Man’. Last week he became the oldest No.1 ever.
Considering the numbers started and played in the last 20 years, which must be in the millions, any player becoming No.1 is an astonishing feat. Holding out to the span in time to what Federer has done, in the present context of crowded global Tennis calendar, it is a miracle.
Between 1990 and now, there has been only one other player who has come close to Federer’s achievement. That is USA’s Pete Sampras in the ’90s. Strangely, but not surprisingly, both of them have similar base-game patterns, variations, winners and tactics.
Federer plays and Sampras played very close to what can be described as ‘Classical Tennis’. Eastern grips, single handed ground-strokes, strong net game, service and return weaponry, all-court play, fast and anticipatory court movements, along with a tactical game with multiple facets. Could this be the secret of their survival for a long period of time? While the majority took the path of modernised ground-strokes, and using the baseline game only, these two seem to have walked back into time tested strokes and tactics. Relatively, they suffered fewer physical breakdowns due to this.
Personality to play
The last man to win the coveted Grand Slam is Rod Laver. According to him, he achieved it because he had the ability to win even when playing badly. According to him, no one plays well all the time. This is a self-punishing and warrior attitude, to be the last man standing, even with nothing to fight. This personality trait is most visible in Federer. In the number of matches a player has won from ‘situation impossible’, Federer’s rating comes very high.
Federer is an emotional man. No one can say ‘I have not seen Federer cry’. Prize-giving ceremony is a popular time for Federer to cry and never in the middle of a match. It also happened at the last Australian Open which he won, and it made his opponent Marin Cilic giggle at the ceremony. [They are good friends] It is a trend people like. [Sampras was not liked because he did not show any emotion]
On court, Fererer stayed very true to the spirit of the sport, of being an immaculate warrior. It may have happened, but I cannot remember him in an argument with the umpire. His record of 1,144 wins and 250 losses in his professional career, speaks volumes for his sporting personality.
Preserving the physique
One injury or, better said, strain, Tennis causes is in the lower back. Quiet a few big names in the recent past now walk with a metal hip. From what is known, it has happened to Federer too, but only after his 30th year. Now he is rationing his appearances since last year. It is another smart calculation to last.
Most of the injuries and strains to the back come from a few inevitable factors in Tennis. Body conditioning and precautions play a big part in injury prevention. The inevitable long hours of repetitive training and tough matches strains the lower back immensely. Here, there seems to be quota and it is very easy to exceed it in the name of hardwork and discipline. It is a danger, after all, life does not come to an end when one’s professional career is over.
I am sure, when Federer finishes his career, Sports Medicine will have lot of material as reference. He found the formula to last, with less of the physical issues, compared with others.
Still on the road
What is there more for Federer from now on, is a question that will linger in most minds. Achieving the Grand-Slam- winning the 4 Majors within a calendar year- I believe, could be still on his list of dreams. The last who one did it was Rod Laver of Australia, in 1969. One of the reasons for the successful extension of Federer’s career could be the dearth of good players in his calibre at present. Considering this, 2018 could be his best chance to get his Grand-Slam. He has already won the Australian Open, vainly said, only 3 more to go.
Being a professional player, Federer will have to consider ‘money’ seriously. Not all the players who glorified themselves with achievements are comfortable with money, to live happily ever after. Many are bankrupt, because, after their professional careers, players are left with only the goodwill of popularity to sell, which wanes within a decade. Today, sports money is big enough to save, but the expenses are also big.
In defining a perfect man for Tennis, personality wise, this Swiss gentleman with Swiss, South African parentage, Roger Federer will be among the best the world has seen. He is almost a miracle!
-George Paldano, Former int. player; Accredited Coach of German Federation; National coach Sri Lanka & Brunei,
Davis-Cup, Federation Cup captain/coach– contact
94 77 544 8880 geodano2015@gmail.com