The Federer Saga

By no means it is an obituary. Roger is playing just fine and last Sunday, at the famed Centre Court of Wimbledon, he put on again one of the most fascinating grand slam finals in Open era history. In a grueling five set finals, it all went to the wire. Federer bowed down eventually but wearing an all-conquering smile. Everyone except the staunchest of Djoker’s supports present at the court prayed for a Federer’s win. Heaven didn’t respond. Federer Lost.

First set, Federer won, Second set, Djoker, Third set, again Djoker. After the third, Federer was down 2 sets to one and for a 32-year old tennis player, howsoever great he might be, it was a depressing sight. It adds more to the gloom when the every stat is stacked against you. Pundits are claiming your end and your body too isn’t responding to the call. Fourth set is in the motion now. Federer, 5-2 down. Djoker has his sight set on championship points, his eyes almost glittering and then the game’s lost. Then another one and then another. Djoker just ended up losing 15 out of last 16 game points and Federer, smiling on his luck, came out on top with 7-5 win.

Djokovic, that diligent, hard-worker who grinds his teeth for winning every game in a tennis court was stunned now. He was visibly praying to the Gods to be merciful to him. God’s situation too was jeopardized. Anyone could sense that they were possibly watching two of the most honest operators of a Tennis game in the middle and though all the mere mortals were completely (some reluctantly too) were in favor of Federer, God was in no mood in displaying His cards.

Down to the fifth set now. It’s a decider. The cliffhanger. Nothing exceptional happened except Djokovic bending his back some more and Federer making some unheard-of unforced errors. Djoker finally found another championship point. God is smiling now. Djoker capitalizes, and Federer loses. That’s the end to be, perhaps. Djoker was finally seen similing.

I have come across several articles as of late, more alarmingly, in last two weeks that were ruing the fact the top class Tennis’ door is very much ajar with the presence of  fabulous four i.e. Djokovic, Murray, Federer and Nadal. That they are so dominant that no one could overwhelm them. Same thing were being said about Williams sisters at the turn of the century when they were rampaging through every tournament cards. In the last decade, the BIG FOUR have won 36 out of 38 grand slams. Certainly this stat is a testimony of their skills, perseverance and talent and it is overwhelming but didn’t the stands belong to everyone? It’s just that these fours proved too much for everyone else. Only Juan Martin Del Potro (US OPEN Winner, 2009) and Stanislas Wawrinka (AUS OPEN 2014) managed to sneak through. Rests were left aghast but the task of defeating them was never off the radar. They were vulnerable.

However, pundits are happy now. A whole new group of young and dynamic players are breaking into the scene. The likes of Earnest Gulbis, Dominic Thiem, Kei Nishikori, Milas Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov are already doing enough to keep the newsrooms warm amidst this cold war led by Big Four. They have led our experts to believe that ‘yes, we are up to the task and we can beat’em’. Oh, but it wasn’t to be, at least in this year’s Wimbledon. Again Federer and Djokovic laughed on their way to the finals almost chiding these young guns. The story simply didn’t overturn.

And as far as the Federer’s case was concerned, this wasn’t the storybook ending to be. Again that last thread of glory eluded him. Everyone and I am saying again, everyone was hoping against the hope that Federer might win. Even the Federer thought so after the unexpected fourth set roller-coaster ride but that was the end to be. The dream shattered just there.

But can’t he make another return? Being one of his loyal fans, I cannot think of any other outcome. Every expert wrote him off this year but he managed to generate an unprecedented awe. His age as almost everyone believes is his major detractor but what about his undying love for sport that according to him has carried him for so long. Nadal, a giant of the game himself, denied very honestly every possibility of winning another French Open in 2015, knowing the fact that he could be 29 and that will be too much for the taking. But maybe we could be in for another shocker and don’t we love to be shocked, pleasantly? God could be kind enough to enthrall us one more time with a feathery Federer forehand and a copyrighted, triumphant Nadal rally on Roland Garros, Couldn’t He?

A hash-tag #Federerneverlosehope mantra might work just fine next time too.