Roger Federer retires: For tennis lovers, the pedestal he sits on is greater than any podium
Roger Federer retires: For tennis lovers, the pedestal he sits on is greater than any podium: A SWISS 41-year-old, not a super-athlete but a true modern-day sporting great, announced his retirement just days after a 19-year-old Spaniard outlasted, outran, and outpowered yet another opponent to win his first Grand Slam and become the new World No.1.
With Carlos Alcaraz’s triumphant coronation and Roger Federer’s dignified retirement, readers will know that the book they’ve been savoring for far too long and praying wouldn’t finish is almost at the back jacket.
The eldest of the Big 3 was calling it quits after 24 years of magnificent tennis and 20 Grand Slam titles. Even though they’re a lot younger than Federer, his opponents, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, look old and frail.
The youth of today no longer felt shame for being born at the time of 3 GOATS. With the tennis tournament draws looking less daunting, they sensed an opening. Since Planet Tennis would no longer be split into three sections, with the largest region home to people having RF tattoos on their souls, disruption and relocation are to be expected. Even in his haste to retire, Federer managed to notch a “first” in tennis history.
Federer reply
Finally, to the game of tennis, “I love you and will never leave you,” Federer would write as the final line of his heartfelt social media thank you.
His corpus of work guarantees that his name will remain in the history books and that he will be a cultural icon for generations to come.
Federer’s flexible and nimble body has been giving him an unnatural appearance on the court as of late. He was the most like players from the last century, even among his supposed contemporaries. He played tennis like it was in the 1970s when strokes mattered more than strides.
Relief was felt at his momentous announcement as he severed the final thread by which he had clung to the professional circuit. He was free from the need to abuse his body, compete with players who could pass for athletes, bodybuilders, and gymnasts, and try to remain relevant in the sport.
Like many greats before him, Federer had a firm grasp of his game’s underlying science.
Many Federer’s supporters believe that only people with prior experience as serious athletes can truly appreciate his greatness.
To appreciate how he achieved the complicated geometry of the rectangle box, one must first have tried to cover the court. He always appeared calm and collected since he never had to take a second to reach the ball.
The quick-footed Federer maintained his efficient footwork routine for every shot, every match, and every year.
Game
His trademark move was the long strides he took to get to the ball, followed by a few short ones to modify his stance. It was a basic process but difficult to remember in the middle of a competitive game. It was this graceful equilibrium that instructors hoped their charges would emulate.
While tennis experts marvel at his movement, Federer’s balletic backhand has become synonymous with his game.
When people in the future want to pay tribute to him by erecting monuments of him outside stadiums, those statues will dependably be of him in his signature “raspberry smash” position, with his racket pointed toward the heavens and ready to unleash his signature shot.
His racket swing looked like a combination of a waterfall and a rising wave: his knees were bent, and his right hand, which was holding the racket, would first flow down with the fluidity and intensity of a waterfall before striking the ball. Even a still image of his backhand may inspire a work of art.
The sophisticated mind that created such a lovely game was often neglected in favor of his artistic flair.
Federer’s mentality always looked for a glimmer of optimism, even in the darkest moments, so he might claw his way back into the match. There was no way he was going to let failure cloud his judgment.
Failure
Since the distractions of failure never came close to Federer, he was able to play dangerously close to the edge when it mattered. For example, Federer once hit an ace to save a breakpoint and another at a championship point.
His bravery and dignity won him, permanent admirers. The people of twenty-five different countries previously ranked him second only to Nelson Mandela as the most trustworthy person alive. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Bono were standing at the back.
His near-flawless off-court behavior made him a favorite with event planners, advertising executives, and major brands worldwide.
If there were a fairytale about tennis, Federer would be the handsome prince. In 2000, while competing for Switzerland on the tennis team at the Olympic Games in Sydney, he met his future wife, Mirka, at the Games village. At times, his box at Grand Slam events resembled a family picnic.
Two daughters and two boys would join his family with his wife and parents.
If Grand Slam titles were the standard for brilliance, Roger Federer would not be considered a GOAT. He has won three Grand Slam titles, putting him in third place all time. But there are pedestals even higher than podiums for players like Federer.
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