Roger Federer- More Than A Legend

As Jimmy Connors summarizes the versatility of the Swiss genius: "In an era of specialists, you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist, or a hard court specialist...or you're Roger Federer."

Roger Federer-the man needs no introduction, does he? The most successful tennis player with a record 16 Grand Slams in his cabinet, a champion who dominated the sport for more than 4 years reigning the top spot for a record 237 consecutive weeks, just one week short of Pete Sampras's record of total 286 weeks, one of the seven players to hold a career slam. And yes, not to forget, a record five ATP World Tour Finals and an astounding 17 Masters 1000 Series. The Olympic gold medal in doubles(with his Swiss counterpart Stanislas Wawrinka) in Beijing 2008 just adds a feather to the cap of such a illustrious career.

"The stranglehold of Roger Federer is yesterday's news", "Is 2011 going to be a Rafa-Nole showdown?","The End of the Roger Federer Era" and so on.

He is no longer the numero uno in the tennis arena. His number two spot got usurped by some Serbian named Novak Djokovic who is on a fairy tale run this season and still to lose a match. Five losses already this season and the last one to Jurgen Melzer- an unheralded Austrian who had never got the better of the Swiss on any of their 4 previous encounters. For the first time in 8 years, the Maestro is without a Grand Slam trophy in his pocket. What does such turn of events signal? Lost aura of invincibility? Changing of the guard or the perfect time to call it quits for the former World No.1?

Undoubtedly, the sport is no longer monopolized as it used to be. The younger generation is faster, stronger and taller!(yeah, I do mean it-taller) ready to challenge the older one and prove its own supremacy over the rest. But Federer is afterall, a mere mortal. Going with this conception that the losses inflicted on Federer in recent times do take a large chunk away from his imperial accomplishments would be utter foolishness. Doubts still linger about his GOAT status because of his losing head to head record against his arch rival Spaniard. Critics argue that the period of his dominance in the sport got accelerated against a weak backdrop with no "real" contenders to challenge him. And the talented next generation has exposed the chinks in the armor of the Emperor.

A BORN GENIUS

Roger Federer is one of the most complete players born ever to grace the tennis court. With an all round baseline game, his power lies in his forehand-tagged as the "GREATEST SHOT IN OUR SPORT" by John McEnroe. One of the best volleyers of the game today, he is armed with a serve marked by pin-point accuracy and precision. With a one-handed backhand, he is left with a variety of options to use the slice to draw the opponent to the net or a "flick" backhand to generate pace for a passing shot. His second serve is one of the best in business. An adroit in serve and volleying, his jump smash, backhand smash, drop shots and half volley are equally effective. Gifted with exceptional athleticism(often under-rated in this category) and fluidity, he makes the most intricate shots look effortless. There is hardly any shot that is absent from his armory.

A STAGGERING CAREER

A record 16 Slams(4 Australian Open, 6 Wimbledon, 1 French Open, 5 US Open) at his disposal- a feat scaled by none.

67 career titles -4th in overall rankings in Open Era

237 consecutive weeks as World No.1-Feb2, 2004- Aug17, 2008(Total-285)

5 ATP World Tour Finals( record shared by Ival lendl and Pete Sampras)

17 ATP Masters 1000 titles

23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals reached( previous record was 10)

5 Wimbledon and 5 US Open in a row

Career Slam achieved in 2009 with Roland Garros triumph over Robin Soderling

Olympics gold medalist in doubles( with partner Stanislas Wawrinka) in Beijing 2008 Olympics

Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for record four consecutive years (2005-2008)

Every ascent is followed by a descent. Wins may not be coming as easily to him now as they once used to be. The frequency of the losses may have dwindled manifold. He may even strive hard to capture a single Grand Slam in future who had his name carved in 3 out of 4 Grand Slam trophies for three years some time back. The rust on the winning machine may leave permanent scars on it. His records may even get broken sometime soon. But still, he has set the benchmark for others to follow. For the great champion he is, even the dictionary lacks adjectives. An epitome of grace, elegance and panache- let us cherish the fairytale story of this virtuoso as the one which drastically transfigured the dimensions of the men's tennis, the one which entertained the spectators with the most beautiful tennis, which redefined "consistency" and "dominance." As Bjorn Borg puts it-

"He simply does not have any more weaknesses left in him. It is such a pleasure to see him play. To me, Roger Federer is the right model for anyone aspiring to be a tennis player. It is such a pleasure to just watch him play. His shot-making has got better and I doubt there is any shot he cannot make in any part of the court…All records will tumble when it comes to Roger. He is such a complete player that I do not see anyone getting better than him for a long time from now."

Monte Carlo- The Turning Point for Murray?

Every draw on clay seems to be ridiculous for arguably the greatest clay courter of all time, Rafael Nadal. The world No.1 was yet to lose a set on the red dirt since his defeat at the hands of the Swede Robin Soderling in the 2009 Roland Garros fourth round till his encounter with the World No4 Andy Murray in the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. In the wake of the recent losses inflicted on Murray by qualifiers since the Australian open final, Rafa entered the match as heavy favorite to cruise into the final. Though the consequence was all the same as expected but it was Andy whose clinical performance pushed Rafa to the limits, leaving the Spaniard gasping to breathe in his own courtyard.

Three hours of scintillating tennis and for the crowd, it was a stunning spectacle. The Brit's intention to attack was clearly visible right from the moment the match commenced. The pace of the crushing cross court backhands slammed by the racket of Murray was enough to make the KING OF CLAY shrug his shoulders in disbelief. Murray's performance just revealed that the Scot does possess the ability to adapt his game to any surface regardless of the variations that the surfaces pose. Instead of going for "hit-hard-to-his-forehand" shot, it was heartening to watch Murray going for loopy forehands into Nadal's backhand corner which elicited some nice openings for him. The different rallying patterns were executed against the Spaniard to near perfection.

The accuracy and precision of the groundstrokes that was on display did hurt Rafa and the forehand down the line proved increasingly effective. The forehand was the most impressive shot along with some big serves that made him outclass Rafa on various occasions. But at the end, the reality dawned and Nadal finally showed why there are only a few who can outlast him in long matches.

The 6-1 scoreline in the last set may invite criticism about Andy's rash and impulsive shot selection. It may indicate the collapse of his strategy or for that matter, his lack of mental strength to endure pressure in crunch situations. His performance, nonetheless, if not superior to, was at par with the best player of the world at the moment. The display of tennis artistry from Murray, amidst reports of nagging ankle problems which at one point threatened his participation in the match ,certainly deserves accolades. For a major chunk of the match, it was watching Murray at his best.

Tennis pundits and Rafa fans may be singing paean and showering praises on the Spaniard after his 7th straight Monte Carlo title, but it was the exhilarating encounter with the Scot that took everyone by surprise. No doubt, it is Murray who would be brimming with confidence to have found his form right at the beginning of the clay court season. Though his elbow injury has kept him out of Barcelona, the manner in which he came close to beating Rafa on clay would definitely give him some relief from the ghosts of Melbourne that still seemed to have haunting him.

It's Time To Look beyond Cricket

It's cricket here and there- the cricket-mania never ceases to amaze me. The frenzied Indians have not yet come out of their celebration mode. And the biggest extravaganza of cricket- the IPL has now entered its 4th season. Strange the nation never gets tired of one thing- a passion that binds the entire nation, the only sport which arouses the patriotism and nationalistic ardour of the Indians, a religion which devours a billion with joy, pride and a feeling of being at the top of the world- CRICKET.

THE MOMENT OF LIFE!

2nd April, 2011- A 28 year drought finally ended. The Men In Blue were crowned as the champions thus becoming the first host nation to win the coveted Cup in the history of the sport. It was indeed, the ultimate moment of every Indian's life which washed away all the nightmares of previous failures and instilled a hope, a belief that Indians do know what it takes to be world beaters. Tears flowed down every cheek - nationalism was palpable. The nation could not impede itself from wearing its heart on its sleeves.

THE STARK REALITY

I have been tagged as anti-national many a times but I would reiterate my stand against the doling out of money by various corporates and governments to the magnificent eleven. We won the World Cup, but what's next? Does our capability halt there? All the sporting superpowers measure their potential in terms of their position in the Olympics medal tally, or for that matter, a World Cup soccer victory or a complete nurturing of sporting talent starting from athletics to badminton to tennis. No doubt, these cricketers deserve honor but what's there for those whose passion lies in hockey or football? What's the future of a budding tennis player in India who does not belong to an affluent family? Cricket has become the identity of the nation and it is highly unlikely that any aberration is on the cards. The successful commercialization of cricket has propelled the corporate giants to pump more and more wealth into the sport regardless of the sorry state of other games in the nation.

Showering money on the already rich mass and treating them as GODS indeed pose a serious roadblock to the development of a strong sporting culture in the nation. We are still in a fix as what's our national game is. Just like the China and the United States, let us endeavor for being not only an economic superpower but also a sporting superpower too.

A Hype Beyond Proportion

A span of 28 years-history was destined to repeat itself, this year at the Wankhede stadium against a frenzied, vociferous crowd raring to witness the "ultimate" moment in their lives. The men in blue did save their best for the last and amidst surmounting expectations of a billion people, showed their mettle when it mattered the most. No doubt, it was a moment of pride, joy, glory and of course, nationalistic ardour for every Indian. The nation basked in glory thanks to the magnificent eleven who brought the CUP home.

The World Cup is history but the aftermath of the World Cup win still features the eleven as the deities of a country for which cricket has been an official religion. Any aberration is certainly not on the cards. Or it does not seem so at least for the moment. Leave aside the hefty sum paid to the cricketers as match fees, it has been raining crores for the World Champions. The corporate India is dishing out a strong competition to the government in a "Heap-as-much-money-as-you-can" contest. Residential plots as well as first AC complimentary lifetime passes by the Railways are not too far behind the almighty dollars.

Where does all this money come from in a nation plagued by acute poverty? From where do such huge pieces of land come from when half of the population is battling with itself for a shelter?The hard-earned money of the taxpayers is being doled out to that chunk of a "poor" nation which is already earning crores from its regular remuneration and usual business. It's a shame that the bureaucrats do not feel the heat of "budget-deficit" and "lack -of- funds- for- development" concept while lavishing these already affluent masses with greater wealth. The public, on its part, is equally responsible for blowing the victory out of proportion. The huge resources need to be distributed equally among other sports so that we don't get starved of glory in respective fields. Any constructive usage of the wealth is welcome. It's time we the people become sensible enough to realise that though the victory seems sweet at the moment, we don't get carried away by the hype generated. Let us feel the pride in being an Indian not just for cricket or World Cup for the matter, for everything that the nation's hands can reach for. For all the genius hidden inside the nation that is still unexplored. For all the potential that still needs to be unlocked which can fetch us a status of a superpower not just in cricket, in every other field in which we do have the ability to reach the zenith.

Patriotism Redefined

What is the first thought that enters our conscious mind when we are made to ponder on the word "patriotism" ? I am still endeavoring to grapple with the dilemma- what is it? Is it making yourself useful for your nation? Or devoting your own self to your country through your thought process? Or is it going to a cricket stadium with your face dipped in the colors of the national flag and cheering for your country through banners depicting your fascination for the players? The word, though, apparently simple, necessitates a herculean effort to get its meaning unlocked.

This is something that struck me hard when the World Cup fever was on. I am an Indian by nationality and as a consequence, it's "mandatory" for me to support the Indian cricket team, to prove my "patriotism" for the nation. Absolutely ludicrous. Sport is something which a nation's boundary cannot separate. But we, the "Indians" don't waste a single second in adulterating with the dirty politics, as was rampant before the India-Pakistan semi final clash. Pakistan cricket team does not make it to even my "favorite" list, yet it was disheartening to see the media terming the clash of the titans as some sort of official "war" , "cricket diplomacy" and generating all sorts of worthless hype. No doubt, the "Indians" were enjoying that.

I am an ardent fan of Australian cricket team. And why cannot I be? Of course, they have perched on the top as champions, dominated the sport for almost a decade. My admiration for such a team is not illogical. Reasons and evidences are ample to support my cause. But for my acquaintances, friends and relatives, supporting any other nation except India is a sin in itself. There was no shortage of derogatory remarks on Ponting as well as me after India registered a comprehensive victory against Australia in the quarters. They were showing their "patriotic" colors before a person who according to them can be aptly tagged as "The Ultimate traitor", "An Anti-National."

People do not mind selling their brains to foreign nations, foreign companies but they do gain a sense of patriotism when Indian cricket team plays a match. We are least concerned what is going on in our own backyard; in our own surroundings, (leave alone at a bigger level)- because that's not included in the "PATRIOTISM" chapter.( As a personal experience, I was shocked to find a graveyard in my college during the technical festival. For students, it was "officially" a mini- vacation of 4 days). It is irrelevant whether we contribute to our nation in any productive manner or not, as long as we have "Indian flags" painted on our faces with banners praising the greatness of GOD Sachin and Captain Cool Dhoni, we are patriotic.

End of the storied rivalry?

Is this the concluding phase of a rivalry that had taken wings long ago in 2005 at the same Key Biscayne court in the final? Does this one, although not the final, signal the twilight years of the era of Roger-Rafa rivalry, the rivalry that revolutionized the dimensions of the sport? The rivalry that marked the highest point of tennis? The rivalry that redefined the pinnacle of a sport?

Though it all began seven years ago in 2004 at Miami, but Nadal's "clout" as a potential danger to the then dominant Federer's reign captured the attention of the tennis world during 2005 final at the same event. Federer, no doubt, emerged triumphant but it was Nadal's performance that pushed Federer to produce "Federer-like" imperial tennis to come back from down two sets to love. 22 encounters, 14 of them going in favor of the Spaniard to "only" eight for the Swiss, this rivalry is indeed a storied one.

It will be the 23rd meeting- a dream semifinal(no more a final)- between the two champions. Federer after getting a relatively easy passage into the semifinals after his opponent, Gilles Simon retired hurt after just 10 minutes of match play, would be looking to improve his record against his arch-nemesis who struggled to score a win over his Czech opponent Berdych in three close sets. This semifinal may have very less "at stake", still a Roger-Rafa duel would be enough to raise the mercury levels at the Crandon Park. Both of them are still trying to be at par with the Serb's fairy tale winning streak of 25 matches in the season. Nadal is still trophy-less in 2011 and Roger after losing all his three matches of 2011 to Novak Djokovic would be eager to turn the tables around.

It would be all the same- long rallies, blistering forehands, backhand slices, drop shots, passing shots and net play. Yet every time these two players meet, the match becomes an absolute joy to one's eyes and heart. Irrespective of the outcome, redundancy of the shots just adds more meaning to the sport. No doubt, other players are fast challenging the duopoly of Roger and Rafa, yet the end of this concluding phase would let a void remain forever not only in the heart of the tennis freaks but also in the sport itself.