Matchless

Matchless

Years ago, in school, the English teacher had asked us to give an example of perseverance. The idea was to determine if we understood the term correctly. After some confusion, taking cue from the history class of the previous week, I had said Ghazni; it was a while before I realized why she had declared the answer incorrect. Today, to the same question, I would in a flash say Federer and, I understand, there is little chance that a teacher would disagree.

How has he been able to come back after being written off? After not playing for few months at 35 when winning a few matches is tough task, forget winning a major?

A lot about Federer cannot be easily explained. This includes support and love of fans. The support he got during 2014 and 2015 losses to Djokovic in the Wimbledon finals, for example, would have few parallels, especially for someone who is not a local. To Australia and Nadal’s credit the support was not as tilted in Federer’s favour during the Australian Open Final. Stan Wawrinka, his friend and country mate, had this to say before his semi-final clash at this tournament, “It’s going to be tough to have some fans but hopefully few will cheer for me”. After his loss he would refer to Federer as the “greatest player ever”.  The love goes beyond spectators.

(Thanks: Australian Open TV page on youtube)

The question to me was how he prepared himself mentally for this, especially after being so near at Wimbledon, thrice in a row. Putting in so much efforts, wanting it badly, not being able to make it and being told each year that he is past his prime and this possibly was his last year. Layers of steel, grit, resolve and more that lie beneath that the gentle and smiling face make it possible. After this match the commentator put it succinctly “he was the only player, when he came for the tournament, who believed that he (Federer) could win”.

The commentary, for a change, was fun. From the frequent “Are you kidding me” to lines like “Decision making under pressure is what sports teach us best” and those on Federer’s sublime touch “We see the finesse and finishing and in that often miss the hard work that has gone into it”. I was watching television after long and it had me hooked. Last match I had watched was the 2016 Wimbledon semi final that Federer lost. Glad that for this final I was at home; allowed me to change positions within the room and bite my hands over the course of 3 hours and 38 minutes.

The match itself was an event well worth the hype. It meant a lot for both the players. Federer had mentioned after the semi-finals that neither of them had expected to make it to the finals here. Other than the first set, which took the least time, the others saw brilliant rallies over attempts to break and retain serves. Federer coming up with 20 aces in the match. One silently watched two contrasting styles at play. Nadal received the serve further away from the line while Federer was aggressive while receiving the second serve or that while Nadal was keen to play Federer in the corners Federer fared far better from the centre. Federer, however, was the more aggressive of the 2.

The score-line, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, like most statistics, conveys little. It does little justice to the craft we saw at its prime today, the intensity, and how invested either of them was in the match. Both the players brought out the hall-marks of great sports-persons. The ability to raise the level of their game when they needed it the most and the tenacity to fight their way up when they were down.  For a long time to come, this Australian Open Final, will signify all these.

(Thanks: Hamza Salim page on youtube)

John McEnroe believes that Nadal and Federer are already the two greatest male tennis players ever to draw breath. In course of this match they reminded us that sports teach you like no workshop, book or academic paper can. This includes fighting against odds and respecting our opponent. Federer came into the match with previous records against Nadal, Australian Open or all majors, stacked against him. After the match, his comment, “if there was a drawn in tennis I would have been happy to draw with Nadal” won hearts all over".

Thank you Federer and Nadal for raising the bar for tennis, reminding us that ‘fight’ has a positive connotation, and for reaffirming our belief in not only sports but also in life, in dreams and in miracles, amidst a lot of gloom around.