Another old article I wrote guys...was a great day when Federer finally conquered the French...
Federer Finally Wins Elusive French Open Capturing Career Grand Slam
Federer Finally Wins Elusive French Open Capturing Career Grand Slam
by Surya Krishnan
Sunday, June 7, 2009, a blazing
red letter day when the history of the present composes that "other"
history of monuments and records. The
Baryshnikov of tennis sinks to his knees, for the fourteenth time to be
precise, but this time, the champion’s knees make contact with red clay, the
legendary terre bateau of Roland
Garros. Roger Federer joins the elite
team of Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, and Andre Agassi, who by
the way is there in person to witness that spectacular moment that is both in
and out of time. Federer is now only the
sixth player ever to complete tennis' career Grand Slam. He has just defeated Robin Soderling 6-1, 7-6
(1), 6-4 in Sunday's 2009 French Open Final.
Today's victory in Paris
marks tennis history on several levels: it represents Federer's first victory
at Roland Garros, after three heart-rending losses to Rafael Nadal in three consecutive
finals since 2006. It also heralds his
tying of Pete Sampras' 14 Grand Slam titles record. Federer, like Ivan Lendl, has now reached 19
Grand Slam finals during his career, not to mention his record of reaching 20
consecutive semifinals as well as 15 of the past 16 Grand Slam Finals. Perhaps, the time has come to declare that
Roger has undoubtedly earned the title, "Greatest Player Ever?"
The great Andre Agassi was there
to present the trophy to Federer, and one didn’t have to be an expert lip
reader to decode Andre’s happy whisper to Roger, "I'm so happy for you man." Exactly ten years ago in 1999, Agassi
achieved the career Grand Slam as well by defeating Andrei Medvedev in a noteworthy
five set come back final. In addition,
Pete Sampras had also been sending Federer text messages this week, supporting
and urging him on the win the title. When
was the last time that other great and contemporary champions of a game reached
beyond the provincialism of their individual egos to salute, admire, and exhort
a fellow champion? Pete, Andre, and John
McEnroe, who made it a point of calling him the greatest during the post match
interview, have recognized the profound reality that Roger Federer is the most
complete avatar of tennis so far.
Being a huge Feder fan and
loyalist, I can't even begin to capture how ecstatic I am for the guy. Not only is he an amazing player, but he is
also a rigorous student of the game with a deep and abiding respect for the
history of the game. I'd like to point
out that over the past year Federer was sadly being dismissed and criticized
after his more than usual losses and this was extremely disappointing. Commentators, writers, and fans, who were
once hero-worshipping and deifying Federer sensed this and started to become Federer
doubters. Every new loss would turn into
an issue of calamitous proportions.
There was even a lot of pop psychology going around with nudge-nudge
wink-wink references to his growing diffidence and lessening confidence. Federer is stubborn and needs to change,
Federer needs a coach, Federer is no longer number 1, Federer has lost his
game, Federer is in a funk, Federer will never win the French Open were all
un-nerving statements I have heard.
Of course no one is God and
immortal and invulnerable. We saw him
breaking into tears at this year's Australian Open and his loss to Nadal at the
2008 Wimbledon was gut wrenching. His
losses to Murray , and his uncharacteristic
smashing of the raquet and remark in Miami
earlier this year after losing to Djokovic, "thank God the hard court
season is over": well, what were we to make of all these untoward and
anomalous occurrences in Roger’s narrative of dominance? The truth of the matter is that we all live
during times of myth making: we need infallible heroes who will defy
immaculately the laws of reality in the name of the miraculous and the supernatural. We need to cling on to automatic winners who
make winning seem so effortless: it is as though we become vicarious winners
and surely we resent it when our heroes lose.
But that is OUR problem. Today's
win by Roger has exposed the poor judgment of these critics, their seeming
omniscience in the face of Roger’s so-called fall from grace. I surely wish that the entire bandwagon of
writers who changed blithely from Federer gnostics to Federer atheists
understand now that Roger’s fame is guaranteed duration in real time and not in
the virtual time that they keep constructing and deconstructing
capriciously. Roger Federer is real and
not a mystique or a random aura that comes and goes. I hope his win will now put this last year into
perspective and make everyone realize that despite their harsh comments,
Federer is really the "Greatest Player Ever." I am no poet or novelist, but I recall the
poem, If by Rudyard Kipling where he
comments that:
"If you can trust yourself
when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their
doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired
by waiting,"
and this is precisely what
Federer has accomplished. He has bounced
back ferociously from this so called slump in the face of adversity and has
ensured his place in tennis history. And
may I add, it is the emergence from adversity that makes history even more
historic?
Surya Krishnan
sakrishnan1381@gmail.com
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