the king of the court

Dec 12, 2007 16:14


Roger

Pete Sampras is just about synonymous with words like “Hall of Fame,” “Number One” and “record-breaker” in the tennis world.  In his prime, Sampras was without question the best -with a chart-topping 14 Grand Slam titles -the most won by a male professional tennis player ever.  Unless he was facing, say, Andre Agassi, Sampras’ losses were few and far between.  More than once he was accused of scaring competitors away from the game with his infamous, game-defining epic serve.  He was so good and his style so grandiose that he referred to Arthur Ashe Stadium (where he won numerous championships) as his house. But that was before a certain Swiss came around and stole his keys.  Today, it’s an almost universal consensus that Roger Federer, Sampras’ would-be successor, is the greatest player of the age and a central figure in any Greatest of All Time discussion.

It’s true that at 26, Federer is the first player to reach six straight major finals since 1961.  Sure, his game is hard to pin down, what with his dazzling style and mind-boggling array of shots.  But then again, so do all the world-ranked pros out there.  So what exactly makes Roger Federer so much better than the competition?  For the most part, it’s transition.  All the great No. 1 players in tennis history were either great offensively or defensively.  Federer’s genius lies in his ability to do both incredibly well.

The brilliance of this talent can be seen in a single shot.  For example, World No. 3 Andy Roddick might burn a backhand right into the corner of the court, a shot that would be a winner against almost any other man.  But against Federer, there’s not much a player can do to expose his vulnerability.  Federer will not only save that ball, he’ll slice it back with a vengeance and put enough English on it to bring him back into the point.  Seeing his winning shot neutralized, a deflated and disconcerted Roddick might hit his own slice backhand, an inconsequential floater that bounces a little too high, and BAM - Federer rips an inside-out winner.  In an instant, the hunted has become the hunter, and the point is over.

While his uncanny ability to turn the tables is the focus of his gift as a player, there are other factors that complete Federer’s game.  In tennis, speed kills.  Before one hits the ball, one must get to it first, and in that case, Federer’s quick feet (and excellent balance) give him considerable advantage.  Balance allows him to move exceptionally well on any surface, whether it’s grass, clay, or hard court.  When compared to the majority of pros out there that are only good at one kind of surface, Federer proves to be a rare breed that feels at ease on any court.  Not only does this World No. 1 have excellent footwork, he’s got great hands, too.  Experts say it’s all in the wrist.  While most players hit with their wrist only slightly bent back, the bend in Federer’s is extreme, almost Gumby-like, which allows him to put plenty of zip on his shots.  Angles, pace, touch, and a preternatural ability to make the neon fuzz ball jump or die at will is what makes this Basel-born native the most gifted player to ever hold a tennis racquet.

In a game considered to be the hardest in the world, being on top isn’t easy -unless you’re Roger Federer.  Not only is he miles ahead of the competition, he barely breaks a sweat while he’s at it.  Even though his natural talent is unmatched and indomitable, Federer’s head and heart are what truly emanate his drive and passion for tennis.  His cornerstone to success is his consistency.  Those crazy shots that we see on ESPN are not crazy at all, but rather quite punctilious.  Lesser players go for aces and money-shots on almost every point because they fear being pushed around, leading to more unforced errors and sloppy mistakes.  Federer, on the other hand, has the patience to grind out fifteen or more exchanges before setting up the perfect opportunity to hit a winner.  Not many people can ace him on a serve, and that made his U.S. Open final victory over Andy Roddick (with his 156 mph smashes) in 2006 possible.

You know what the problem with Federer is, though?  He’s too nice.  Back in the day, the game’s top players were arrogant, confrontational, chest-thumpers.  In reality, Roger Federer is slow to brag about his accomplishments.  While he doesn’t talk smack or thump his chest, his quiet aggressiveness has given him stalwart confidence and monumental self-belief.  It’s the kind of matter-of-fact self-belief where he knows that even when he doesn’t play well, he knows he’s still going to find a way to win.  In a recent interview, he’s admitted that he’d never imagined being this good and dominating the sport. But after winning a staggering 44 trophies in less than a decade and breaking records people believed would stand forever, who could reprove him?  Don’t let his smile mislead you, either, because underneath the austere Mr. Nice Guy is a redoubtable Jack the Ripper.  As you can see, Roger Federer isn’t World No. 1 for nothing.  And for those of us that are concocting a plan to poison his Gatorade as a means of mitigating the sport of his supremacy, good luck. Because he’s here to stay.

school, tennis, prose

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