I have to confess that Americans have never held much appeal. It started with the abrasive duo of Connors and McEnroe. When I imagined interacting with either, I kept seeing myself being shoved out the door of an auto speeding along the Champs Elysees…No thanks—too rude, too volatile and too full of themselves. It remains a harsh assessment.
Early on I placed Agassi on par with McEnroe and Connors. Eventually Andre evolved into an exemplary tennis ambassador—but he was too wild and arrogant in the beginning. Those clothes! That hair!
Sampras was too remote and too sullen, and Courier’s game was too boring.
I was beginning to lose hope.
Then at Wimbledon in 2001 during a fourth-round match, 19-year-old Roger Federer conquered his mental demons long enough to take down Pete Sampras who, at that time, ruled Centre Court. It was Roger’s first big win at a major.
The world watched, waiting for another Sampras win. They bore witness instead to Federer’s immense potential and his astonishing shot-making.
Even though he lost in the next round and did not win his first Grand Slam final until two years later in 2003, Roger arrived on the big stage that afternoon. Accolades reverberated as Roger finally realized the scope of his destiny.
He played serve-and-volley tennis with the master and beat Pete at his own game by serving superbly and subjugating his emotions, which always skirted dangerously close to the surface. His body language remained positive, and he did not wither under the pressure or allow his focus to fade. It was a remarkable 5-set win.
Being a tennis fan is often an emotional journey. For me, Federer finally filled the void left by the departed Swedes Borg and Wilander.
He became the logical successor after more than a decade of waiting…in my estimation, he is the best tennis player on the planet and if I have a vote, the best of all times.
And you want to know what got me about Federer besides his phenomenal talent—the fact that he cried when he won…and the way he bit his lower lip when serving. What’s not to love???
Tennis outsiders don’t really get it. Fans don’t follow tennis just because of the sport. Most fans follow the player
48 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete