True dominance by an individual of his or her sport is a rare treasure. When this display of sheer greatness does occur and we are fortunate enough to witness it, we shouldn’t take it for granted. That’s why it would be wise to soak in the personal exhibition put on by Roger Federer (whether you’re a tennis fan or not).
He may not have the marketing appeal of the sporting world’s other current pantheon, Tiger Woods. Nor does he have the charisma of past individual superstars such as Muhammad Ali or Andre Agassi. Instead, Federer goes about his business in a quiet, businesslike manner, pummelling opponents, breaking records, collecting Grand Slam trophies like they’re mere decoration pieces, while seeming to do it all so effortlessly he barely breaks a sweat.
It has come to the point that the 25-year-old is already garnering attention as one of the greats of the sport, compelling John McEnroe, a former great himself, to proclaim Federer the greatest tennis player to have ever played. He has amassed nine Grand Slam championships, all in the last three years. He has been number one in the world since February of 2004, meaning he’s held the honour for the third-longest duration ever. He is the only player in the open era to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in three consecutive years. Truly, his dominance is Tiger-esque.
So why does Federer receive so little fanfare? Like the country he hails from, Switzerland, he’s as neutral, low-key and staid as he is astonishingly talented. Also, as nice a guy he is, he has about as much charisma as the racquet he holds. Which is why the similarities to Tennis legend Pete Sampras are staggering, right down to their dominance (especially on grass courts), to their inability to win the clay-courted French Open, and to their public personalities (or lack thereof). In fact, Sampras is the man Roger is chasing for the all-time lead in Grand Slams won (14) over a 15-year touring career.
But beyond these facts and figures, you can sense Federer’s true greatness by watching him glide along the court. His smooth, effortless groundstroke belies an aggressive game plan that torments opponents. He’s so calm and poised it seems his blood pressure rarely rises during matches. That we’re fortunate enough to be witness to his dominance and be a part of history is something special. Just as prior generations experienced Babe Ruth, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bobby Orr, we can experience Federer, who will surely join the ranks of the aforementioned once his career has concluded. And now that he finally has a worthy rival in Spaniard Raphael Nadal, we can only hope it gets even sweeter from here on in.
