Nadal-Federer: Of Tears and Triumphs

We cheered him onto his first Grand Slam victory...we stood proud when he took over at the top of the ATP rankings...we screamed in joy when he won his fifth straight title at Wimbledon...we urged him on at each French Open final...we stood in numb shock and cried with him when he lost his beloved title at SW19...and we celebrated in glee when he overcame a "tough" year by winning the US Open.

Being a Roger Federer fan has been a rewarding experience...a master to watch...a role model to follow...an unquestionable legend to cheer!!!

It has had its moments of sheer exuberance for the most of it...but it also has it moments of total heartbreak...moments when we see the great man fallen, sad and crestfallen...and to feel his pain...

Unfortunately, yesterday was one of those days...

It was another gut-wrenching final for Federer...and if the defeat itself was not crushing enough, the sight of the great champion sobbing uncontrollably was enough to move most people to tears!!!

I myself was heart broken and dejected, I so dearly wanted Roger to carve his name on yet another piece of history. I was sitting out with my family and watching the match and during the presentation ceremony I just wanted to go into my room, scream and howl.

I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for Roger to stand there and listen to what everyone had to say, to hear the crowds scream and cheer to show their support and love and then to have to go up and talk to that crowd and congratulate the one person who has stood in the way of his earlier seemingly unstoppable march towards greatness and the records (mind you, to me Roger Federer is already beyond great!)

Yeah, he summed it all up nicely when he said, "God...this is killing me."

Rafa is not my favourite person at the moment obviously, but as a tennis fan and someone who plays the game, you have to admire what Rafa has achieved thus far, how long he can keep it up is another question, but for the moment as Roger said he thoroughly deserves it!!!

It was especially touching to see Rafa go up to Roger after he got his trophy and part console, part encourage him for the future. These two great ambassadors of the sport have really taken the wonderful game of tennis to a whole other level...Roger with his precision, timing and sheer magnificence and elegance in shotmaking; and Rafa with his unwavering determination, power and tenacity.

For Rafa, this victory proves he is well and truly more than just a Spanish claycourter, for Roger it was a crushing blow to his hopes of equalling Sampras' record of 14 Grand Slams.

Still I do think the day will come (this year itself) when we see Roger lift that all important 14th Grand Slam victory, a victory that will seem oh-so-sweet having endured and overcome all the disappointments and heartbreak that Roger has of late.

For now we have to gape in awe at the wonder that is Rafa Nadal! In retrospect, Roger needs to rest and regroup, to work out the kinks that sometimes creep into his game and to wipe out from his mind the Nadal demons that sometimes seem to overtake him still.

He needs to do that so he's back to the courts sharp and hungry as ever to resume his march towards tennis immortality!!!