"Sorry Pete. I tried to hold him off, but couldn't do it!". Andy Roddick's sense of humour is well known in the tennis circuit, but this was one a gem! Coming so soon after an incredible match that would have swung either way, Andy exhibited utmost grace even in defeat. If one were to set out to describe the 2009 Wimbeldon Final, one is sure to run out of superlatives! Andy Roddick conjured up a magical game (maybe his best so far) to give Roger Federer a true run for his title! In the end, just one service break is what costed Andy the match, but that one break is what made sure Federer is now alone at the Mount Everest of Tennis.
All time tennis greats, please step aside. For we now have someone who has surpassed you all. It was only befitting that most of you were there to wtiness this historic moment. It was only befitting to him that he won the record equalling 14th slam at French open and the record breaking 15th at Wimbledon! It's not just about the numbers. Numbers are just the end result of the magical art displayed by Roger on the court for the past 5 years. All of us who have been witness to this delightful display couldn't agree more!
His career so far is like a fairy tale story that every player can only dream of. To dominate the sport for 5 long years is no mean achievement. The journey that began with the 2003 Wimbledon victory, and picked tempo from the 2004 Australian Open victory onwards, seems to be just mid-way! It did seem that Roger was virtually unbeatable until Marat Safin beat him in the epic semifinal in the 2005 Australian Open. However, this defeat only propelled his urge to perform better and he repeated his 2004 feat of winning three grandslams in an year, in both 2006 and 2007. And just in case, you are wondering about the French Open, he reached the finals in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008! And when he finally won the French Open in 2009, he removed any doubt as to who the greatest player of all time in tennis is.
I am just elated beyond expressions to even continue writing about this great man. I am just glad that his game is not finished yet. I am also glad that they are some real competitors to him in the circuit (clearly evident after today's match), and that such matches bring the best out of him, thereby entertaining us more! I am glad to have been witness to some awesome tennis thrillers involving Roger, and I am pretty sure there are more to come. But for now, I want to revel in his glory too, as he stands alone at the peak.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Alone at the peak..
3 comments:
Great tribute to the great. I can't agree anymore when you said he is alone on the peak for now. But I don't agree the greats should move aside. I think he took a place beside the greats but not take them off from their position. Every great played in different eras and I don't think a proper comparison can be made. Like Sampras, he played against another great called Aggasi. For Federer, no one has been as consistent as Agassi until Nadal came along.
Though being a great fan of Fed's greatest rival, I agree he is an amazing player and none can match his ability. But I think Nadal is a serious competitor to him and it might not be far off when we debate who the great of this era is.
Point taken about comparisons! I think it is not fair to compare him with players from another era, like Rod Laver, but I think Federer still stands above Pete Sampras only for the fact that Pete never won the French Open. Pete couldn't dominate the game as much as Federer did.
One point is that Nadal was also very much present when Fed was playing... only that Nadal was winning French till last year. For Nadal to reach the heights Fed reached, he has to be consistent in his game.
All said and done, Nadal is a tough competitor, and with the others too showing much promise, I think we are in for a nice battle ahead.
-Sudhir
Nadal is not just a tough competitor, but a great player himself. Dethroning King when in his peak form is no normal feat.
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