If you’ve ever looked at the ‘Meet Sarah’ section then you know that I am a diehard Roger Federer fan. Also if you’ve ever looked at most of my sports posts then you know that too. It’s no secret. I will forever be a Roger fan. But for many you don’t know why.
Maybe you don’t watch tennis.
You probably think it’s boring. Slow. Hard to understand – I’ve heard it all. “Why do they count like that?” “It’s just two people hitting a ball back and forth.” You name the complaint and I have gone red in the face trying to convince the naysayer otherwise.
But mostly, if they have these complaints it’s because of one thing – they’ve never seen Roger play. The Swiss Maestro. The Magician of Precision. Darth Federer. King Fed. The Fed Express. Also equally known as The Greatest Tennis Player of All Time.
Ten years ago, Roger Federer stepped onto the pristine grass courts of the SW19 and changed the game of tennis as we know it. Seventeen Grand Slams, six year-end Champion titles, 36 consecutive quarter-finals or better, over 900 wins, 302 weeks at No. 1, 237 of those consecutive weeks, all starting on the greatest surface of all – Wimbledon. Where Champions are made and defeated.
Two years after shockingly defeating the seven-time champion, Pete Sampras, Roger began his quest to match, beat, and exceed all records all with his graceful backhands, Mikhail Baryshnikov feet, and his unfailing tenacity to never give up until the last point.
The first time I witnessed his perfection was in 2005 at what was then known as the Nasdaq 500 Series in Miami. Playing in the final, he faced the upcoming teen Spaniard, Rafael Nadal who had beaten him the previous year in Miami, there only other encounter. Going down two sets, a break, and facing break points that would allow Nadal to serve out the match, Roger miraculously went on to win. Like something out of David and Goliath, even though the roles were reversed, Roger flipped an imaginary switch, and with that, I became a fan for life.
I have watched him dance on courts, sail through the air, and hold back tears of emotion for eight years now, and I have loved every minute of it. Through his good times, and his “bad” times, I have never questioned, never faltered, and never feared.
Even when they said it couldn’t be done. Roger had gone over a year without a Grand Slam – he wasn’t number one anymore – maybe it was time for him to hang up the racket – I trusted. I rooted. And I cried when he hoisted the Wimbledon trophy for the seventh time last year.
Through thirteen Grand Slams, (and another seven as runner-up), I have proudly supported the man that will be in the record books for eternity.
There was his 16-14 win in the fifth set over Andy Roddick in 2009 to give him is record-breaking 15th Grand Slam. Or the one before that, where he finally captured the elusive Roland Garros crown just over a month before for his 14th. The five-setter against Nadal in 2007 at Wimbledon, the crushing defeat in five the next year in 2008, and his Gold Medal in doubles at the Olympics the next month.
Then there was the time we met. I said in ‘Meet Sarah’ that it was a story for another time, and here it is in short form. In 2011 destiny came in the form of a media room in Cincinnati where I talked to him not once, not twice, but three times. Then serendipity took over and I happened to sit in front of his coaching box and make a fool of myself in front of Gavin Rossdale (who incidentally is very nice and very attractive – that picture below is about 30 seconds before he looked down at me and smiled.) That week is still at my top spot for best week of my life.
This year, he enters as defending champion. Ranked third. Seeded in the same half as Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Talking figures pick Novak Djokovic as the winner. They’ve already laid their doubt about Roger’s chances on the line. But they don’t know the Roger that we fans know. They don’t know the spirit and drive and will that he possesses.
After last year’s win for his 17th title, all the sports personalities were at a loss. Well, sure, they imagined he could win another major, but regain the No. 1 position too? No. They never thought he’d do that again.
As for me, I had no doubt. And just like then, I say with ease, that this isn’t the end for him. Rank him wherever, seed him against the rest of the best, and I still know that he can do amazing things. Because he can fly through the air. He can perform ballet on court. And he can make even the most stunning victories seem so effortless.
