Idea and Format: Courtesy U.S.
"Roger Federer is currently "resting and rehabilitating" so as to recover from what has been a physically challenging year" - So says his website.
Even by his standards, 2009 has indeed been a hectic year for the man from Oberwil. Physically, and more so emotionally.
His next tournament is now scheduled to be the Swiss Indoors in his home town of Basel at the start of November.
Yes, I can't hear more than a few sighs. Mine too.
Almost two whole Federer-less months.
Sigh again.
The ATP event in Basel holds some of Federer's fondest memories.
And some of his best moments.
To the common sports enthusiast, Roger Federer is the best tennis player alive. Perhaps ever.
But in reality, as the ardent tennis fan will agree, he is much more than that. To the art of tennis.
He is a shot-making artist, a player who controls the court with seeming effortlessness.
The mind who improvises angles and speeds in milliseconds of decision-making time.
The sculptor who carves out the most beautiful piece of handiwork you may have ever seen.
The late David Foster Wallace in his much-acclaimed piece 'Roger Federer as Religious Experience' said "Roger Federer is one of those rare, preternatural athletes who appear to be exempt, at least in part, from certain physical laws...Federer is of this type—a type that one could call genius, or mutant, or avatar.
He is never hurried or off-balance. The approaching ball hangs, for him, a split-second longer than it ought to. His movements are lithe rather than athletic."
And there is perhaps no better a proof for the Swiss' enviable (and unshared in its full flight) "kinesthetic sense" than the flying overhead passing shot against Andy Roddick way back in 2001 in his native town of Basel...the one famous amongst his legion of fans as "that shot."
Genius is one of the most over-used words in world sport. Yet, there are times when even that term in found wanting.
Feeling sorry for Roddick?
Don't.
He had the best view, after all.
Federer Moments series:
| Federer Moment | Description | Submitter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V. 001 |
The No Look Flick Lob | Backhand lob over Agassi's head |
Gil | Watch |
| V.002 | The Greatest Shot of his life |
Between the legs cross court passing winner against Djokovic |
U.S |
Watch |
| V.003 | "That shot" against Roddick in Basel |
Flying overhead passing shot off an overhead from the back court |
Rajat Jain |
Watch |
| V.004 | ||||
| V.005 | ||||
| V.006 | ||||
| V.007 | ||||
| V.008 | ||||
| V.009 | ||||
| V.0010 |
If interested, please submit your "Federer Moments" here.
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