Comeback of a true champion

“Any man can win when things go his way, it's the man who overcomes adversity that is the true champion.”

Time after time there have been champions from a motley group who have proved this true. But this time, it was special. Federer is an ethereal “human” as hailed by the media and the fans. His reign was the longest in tennis history, which smashed probably half the open era records. He has been an achiever with so much in his repertoire, so much so that what qualifies to be an year of achievement for others is considered as a hapless year for him.

Only a few men who have been noted during their early years for talent have made it to the big stage in their career to become as successful as Federer in Tennis. After being the junior champion in 1998, he came into the spotlight of men’s tennis by defeating Sampras in 2001 Wimbledon. From then on he slowly and consistently moved up to the top position which he deserved. His was not a coronation, unlike the one that Nadal had. It was more of winning a race competing against all others, for at that time there were no kings- all being jacks with ephemeral sinecure. Federer was the one who brought in value and respect to the top position. From a talented short-tempered new kid-on-the-block to the world number one, he has transcended himself beyond the imagination of many. And he has proved his caliber by dominating 4 consecutive years and maintaining himself as an untouchable for most of this time. Such was his level of the game that it took more than 4 years for others to come up to challenge it. Such was the beauty of his game that tennis has many more fans and much more coverage than it used to have a few years back. Such was his poise that people used to admire his candidness rather than abhorring his comments for being arrogance. Probably, no other world number one in any field would have enjoyed so much respect from fellow players and admiration from media.

Very few players in history, if any, would have had such a huge fan following for a game which is not considered as a national game in any country. But this is a man who is what he is and deserves everything he has got and a lot more. But when the year started badly, there were murmurs, and when it continued, it became huge outcries. Hollers enouncing that his time is over and crown prince Nadal is ready for his coronation replacing him. The same media which used to adulate him for his elegance of play and dominance started decrying him for his “human”ness. There have been questions about his confidence level, and “suggestions” from desperate fans which were literally derogatory as far as he is concerned. Imagine the plight of a person hailed as an all-time great receiving instructions from viewers. But he remained calm and aplomb continuing his work. True, his game was not in the celestial heights it used to be couple of years back. But champions are not the ones who win every game when they are playing in peak. They are the ones who find ways to win even when they are playing badly, and self-belief is the last thing they lose. After all, champions are those who don’t quit, and who believe that they can always come back, and who prove it by doing it. And by winning the 2008 US Open, Federer has established himself as a true champion, a role model for the coming generations to emulate, and an inspiration for all.