Roger Federer’s Amazing Return Serves Him Well Once More
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Sports, News & Info
July 9, 2007
Aren’t we all glad that we live in a tennis era where Roger Federer is playing in his topmost form? I for one feels that way. Just like being able to witness the rise of Tiger Woods and his phenomenal run through majors after majors. Surely, I’ve asked myself how it would have felt to ever see a young Jack Nicklaus mopping every competition from the field, year after year more than half a decade ago and since we could not bring back time and since there still no cable television at that time; I just contented myself with merely wondering. But I am sure glad that Tiger Woods had made golf such an exciting sport to watch with a phenomenal gameplay that is both astonishing and magical.
So is with the extremely skillful Roger Federer who just won his fifth straight Wimbledon title hours ago, surpassing another legendary Swiss player Sweden’s legendary tennis player in Bjorn Borg who was watching at the stands in the All England Club. Federer had stated how it made him so emotional to have his idol and compatriot watching him play and if you ask me, that is just how feel-good movies feel like, only that this is for real. And we could not blame Roger (Can I call him Roger?) if he feels like he is living a fairy tale story, having a fairy godfather watching by the stands, witnessing every moment that success comes to him—like this time, winning in the All England Club after a match that proved to be the toughest for him in years with Rafael Nadal showing how he could be a real threat to his phenomenal run.
Yet, it should not be Bjorn Borg’s record that Roger was priming at. I feel so much that it is Pete Sampras amazing 7 Wimbledon title that he is aiming at. He is aiming for the best and he looks like he is never gonna stop until he reaches the apex of tennis glory. To be the best among the best.
The way he that he had played at this latest Wimbledon finals, there’s more reason to anticipate how he could break Sampras’ record in the soonest time possible. If you ask me, there is just nothing like him out there and I do not see any other player that could match his prowess on the court—except perhaps on clay where he becomes a lesser tennis player (like every grass specialists had been such as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi). His returns are so prolific that I have never seen such kind of accuracy in a player before, as if he had robotic eyesight that could designate a point at the other end of the court and then exactly bring the ball towards that point, like a Tomahawk missile guided by a programmed computer; hitting the target with enormous accuracy. To me, that is his greatest weapon. And this is the reason why Andy Roddick could not be fast enough to catch a return placed so far from where he stands guard and that’s why Nadal’s serve had many times been broken by this amazing return that Roger has. The only player that could perhaps effectively counter these spot-accurate returns is Boris Becker, the one player who could dive and run on the court like an agile Puma—but sadly, he had already retired and had grown older.
That way—with no notable rival on sight—Roger Federer would certainly continue his phenomenal run on grand slam titles and would break every record that there is to break. He is just terrific. American legendary tennis player John McEnroe had once described him as a player that is so above the rest, a player playing in another level entirely, one that shoos in a different tennis altogether—one that we’ve never seen before.
This seems somehow to be a scary thought—especially if one is an ATP-ranked player who have grand slam ambitions—but I am enjoying it nonetheless. To Roger Federer—I take my hat off for you and a thousand applause goes with that.
Sure I think you can call him Roger hehe
That was a great Wimbledon championship match. I think he did have some difficulty but he triumphed without getting frazzled by the challenge imposed by Nadal.
Comment by Daphne — July 10, 2007 @ 10:48 am
To Daphne: The closest I’ve seen in the All England Club in years. The last time I’ve seen was perhaps the one where Ivanesevic won Wimbledon some years ago.
I bet Roger would be expecting tougher matches now since Nadal is also a rising phenomenon. Let us see if he finally breaks Pete Sampras’ record.
Comment by Major Tom — July 10, 2007 @ 5:09 pm
Hi, thanks for dropping by! The only time I was keen on tennis was when Pete Sampras was playing. So I hope nobody breaks Pete’s record!!
Comment by Gypsy — July 10, 2007 @ 5:52 pm
What I like the most about him is his “gentleman” demeanor. He reminds me of those true tennis champions of eras past.
He is young enough to break and set career records.
Comment by eric — July 10, 2007 @ 6:37 pm
To Gypsy: That was the time also that I was really following every tennis match on television but and I did enjoy Pete Sampras so much.
Comment by Major Tom — July 11, 2007 @ 7:56 am
To eric: He is that young that’s one amazing thing to him and this make him for fearsome to his opponent and the thought of him breaking every record there is never far out.
Comment by Major Tom — July 11, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
I love tennis. I think Federer is quite calm.
Comment by ipanema — July 11, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
Roger Federer’s fifth win in Wimbledon is indeed great news here in Switzerland.
BTW, Major Tom Bjorn Borg is not Swiss; he is Swedish.
Comment by Jayred — July 11, 2007 @ 4:21 pm
To ipanema: Calm and gentle. That’s why he could be great as easily.
Comment by Major Tom — July 11, 2007 @ 5:54 pm
To jayred: Great time for Switzerland and surely Roger is making the the country so proud…
Thanks for the correction, I should have known that’s why I felt a little funny writing Bjorn Borg as Swiss—it just didn’t sound right. The old guy was playing while I was a toddler yet so perhaps the error could be understandable. Please bear.
Comment by Major Tom — July 11, 2007 @ 5:57 pm
I adore how Federer plays. And like any other tennis-loving blogger (I love it, though it doesn’t really equate to playing it that much)I tried boxing Federer wit hsuch lyrical prose we mrer mortals can limitedly think of, in my blog.
The outburst to the umpire in this Wimbledon final was a surprise for me really, since I’ve known how nice Mr. FedEx is.
I guess when record is on the line, even the most cool of them all do get their flames once in a while.
next year will see him as Wimbledon’s greatest ever. And if he wins Rolland Garros, it would be a coronation to the much delayed “greatest player of them all” tag.
And yeah, he will surpass Sampras’ 14. I’m willing to bet my weener on that.
Comment by Rey — July 12, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
To Rey: Indeed, I have noticed that momentary outburst from Federer but I think it was just reasonable. It’s good that they have instant replays now henever question sof calls arises nowadays. McEnroe used to go crazy over linemen years ago.
With the way he is playing right now–there’s no doubt he can beat every record.:)
Comment by Major Tom — July 12, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
all i know is cute siya he he
Comment by bingskee — July 12, 2007 @ 9:18 pm
Clearly understandable, Major Tom. Many people confuse Swiss with Swedish or Switzerland with Sweden. Really. There was even an article about it.
I know Bjorn Borg and his contemporaries since I’ve been watching inernational tennis tournaments on TV ever since I was six.
My Dad and brothers are all tennis players, you see.
Roger Federer, who is half South African by the way, landed on the front page of the Swiss newspapers again when he won for the fifth time in Wimbledon. It would be nice if I could see him in person and take his pic (or interview him, hehe).
Comment by Jayred — July 12, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
To bingskee: And that too Bing—in a big way. So prolific and so good-looking, that’s probably how so lucky any guy can ever get. And then the money that goes with it.:)
Comment by Major Tom — July 13, 2007 @ 5:50 am
To Jayred: Thanks for the reassurance—both Sweden and Switzerland is both powerful tennis countries—Edberg, Hingis, Borg, and now Federer that in that sense they could be similarly interchangeable.
I hope you could have a pic with him and post it in X-Pat Files. That would be a cinch.
Comment by Major Tom — July 13, 2007 @ 5:54 am
Martina Hingis, the Swiss tennis player who used to be the world’s number one, tried to make a comeback after her major injury, pero parang it’s not the same anymore. There are so many good players out there (Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin-Hardenne, Amelie Mauresmo, etc.). She (Hingis) was tapped to be the model of a top household appliance brand here in Switzerland (endorsing washing machines, dishwashers) which was touted by many Swiss as a wrong move…demeaning.
A pic with Roger Federer? Why not? Hehe. (By the way, he’s not considered good-looking by the Swiss. But to me, he’s okay. It’s good that he had decided to sport a new hairstyle after years of playing tennis with long hair.
)
Comment by Jayred — July 13, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
To Jayred: When she was young as a teenager, I use to fancy her beauty so much that I thought what a perfect blend she had, very good looks and terrific tennis career. Just like Roger does now.
I can’t beleive he ain’t goodlooking in Switzerland–Maybe men there are just way too handsome in that case.:)
Comment by Major Tom — July 13, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
I’m not a tennis fanatic but I admire him. He was featured in TIME magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People In The World. What’s good about him is that they say he’s humble. Winning five times in a row is phenomenal. Magaling!
Comment by Abaniko — July 13, 2007 @ 10:07 pm