Artist On The Court

At the risk of being repetitive - here is another post on Roger Federer . The other one was almost three months back. At that time he had just won the Wimbledon . If it sounds like a statement, so be it - for Federer, Tennis is not a game - it's a canvas, where he magnificently performs his art.

Leytton Hewitt had come to the finals without loosing a set, and the man lost the first set 0-6 . The third and final set also went away with similar score. Those who have missed the finals have missed something. How much Hewitt would have wished to admire and applaud each and every shot played by the artist; but he hardly had the time for he was at the receiving end. But he didn't let the opportunity go when the game ended.

They all have played Tennis, but to have played this way - I haven't ever seen. Not since 1987, when I had started following the game. Not even since 1974, since when the recordings are available. I am not sure whether he is the all time greatest, but if he continues this way - the day is not far when he achieves that feat.

The only competition he faces is with himself. This is a trifle disappointing that presently, there is no one to rival him. It creates a bit of complacency in him and his game becomes a bit shaky. But even half a good Roger Federer is more than full against the best of the rest. Andy Roddic will vouch that as, this is precisely what happened to him at Wimbledon finals. Roddic was at his best while Federer was at his worst, still the latter won in straight sets.

This way he still wins his game, but audience is at loss. We need a good rival to keep the spark, motivation alive and who knows - we might be in for another Monalisa.