Federer and tennis immortality

Much has been written on the tennis genius that Roger Federer is. Armchair exponents of the game with some actual experience of playing tennis, like myself, are in awe of his achievements. But this bewilderment is not restricted to people like me and its extends to his peers who have confronted him many a time on the tennis court. The question the begs to be asked is not his sheer sublime skill on display but other aspects like physical and mental attributes that make him excel at the highest level year on year without much evidence of mental or physical fatigue.

Fatigue is common in all types of human activity - whether it is hitting a ball, working out of a desk or cooking food. Success and adulation also has a fatigue level - when huge success and appreciation becomes intense one seeks comfort in privacy and nonenity. This is how the human brain escapes the monotony of a single experience and seeks pleasure in diversion. However, top achievers like Federer defy this norm - either their brains are wired differently or their brain seeks pleasure in monotony of work. It is hard to fathom what makes them tick.

When sheer sublime skill is matched with intensity of mind and resolve of a body that can withstand sustained physical pressure, does emerge a champion. Federer must be viewed as an entire package of human attributes that has been structured for success. Even a great champion like Nadal has opted out of Wimbledon this year on account of knee stress, making him appear mortal. Other contenders for greatness have fell wayside on account of human failings - Safin the great underachiever, Djokovic a talent that is short of blooming and Hewitt the ultimate fighter till the end. Even Borg and Sampras though comparable did fall short of their ultimate achievements - Borg failed to win US open and Sampras failed Roland Garros.

Thus Federer can be viewed as great champion with minor dips in his career in the form of Nadal. Though a "comeback" person appears more attractive - ala Agassi, Ivanesevic or even Sampras but it would obviously more challenging to remain a sustained champion with few career dips. That makes Federer a cut above the Greats - his ability to finish the task on hand with much ado. This is very much like the tennis he plays - he takes the match and opponent by the scruff and keeps sustained pressure till the opponents wilt and give up. This means he has to manage his physical and mental fatigue in a sustained manner to ensure such a demolition. This is hard as opponents can also do the same and Federer needs to do it time and again against talented players.

So if Federer achieves this 14 Grand Slam in Wimbledon will he become "The Greatest Player of All Time" or GOAT. Yes, and there is no question about it. Six Wimbledons, four US Opens, three Australian Opens plus a French Open is both a career Grand Slam and highest number of Grand Slam victories rolled in one. It is unlikely to be surpassed ........... well we said the same when Sampras won 14 Grand Slams.

However, even if the GOAT title can be argued or questioned, tennis immortality has already been achieved. There is no denying this claim and he should remain the Shining Star in Tennis' "Hall of Fame"

What golf teaches you

I have been an active sportsman for the last 35 years, having played a wide variety of sports as football, hockey, cricket, athletics, swimming, tennis, squash and golf. Of all the sports I have played the one that actually mimics true life is golf. Team sports like hockey, cricket, football have strong linkages to other members of the team as well as opposition. Therefore to gauge one's performance it would have to be in the context of the team and opposition. For individual sports like tennis, squash and even athletics though individual performances take precedence it is highly impacted by the quality of opposition to determine the quality of one's performance. In golf however an individual plays solely against himself to determine his performance. Though in competitive golf opposition's play does impact one's performance but it can be very well limited if one only plays the 'best game that in himself' and distances oneself from opposition play. However, golf mimcs life no other sport in the following manner

1. Etiquette: First and foremost it teaches you how to deal with others. In a course you have to play along one or more partners as well as groups behind and ahead of your group. This definitely creates pressure as there is only a limited time to complete your stroke. However, the true measure of a man is keep one composure and dignity in the face of such pressure. There would be laggards within the playing group and the preceeding group that could frustrate play. However, golf etiquette requires laggards to play ahead of leaders. This is so much true in life - as a team captain in a corporate world, sports world or in public service, leadership requires that all are carried along with dignity. This requires strength of character. In golf it is also unbecoming to swear or curse in case of a bad stroke or stroke of bad luck, but to carry on without too much emotion. This etiquette helps people in real life situations.

2. Patience: As golf requires perfect body, eye and hand co-ordination, there is a huge mental element in every stroke. In other sports the action itself focuses the mind. Here one has to refocus at every stroke. The mind can play queer tricks when one addresses the ball - last time's duff may play up as well as poor finish in the preceding hole. A continued run of bad shots may disturb the mind or even problems at the home and office. However, to play at one's best each hole has to be considered a fresh challenge and only past successes need to be considered. This requires patience and self confidence. Such is life, where the future may not be dependant on past failures and one has to look at each day afresh like a new challenge without dwelling too much in the past or if one does so only at successes. Patience really means being able to tide through difficult situations with aplomb and to get back to a normal situation.

3. Decision Making: The element of decision making is very critical in golf. A bag full of 14 clubs with a hole around 300 to 500 yards away with all kinds hazards in between calls for smart decision making. Decision making has a lot to do with challenge ahead and one's ability. The challenge may call for using a certain set of clubs but one's ability may not equal the use of the most effective tool. Then one must decide what to do under the circumstances. A lot of people get carried away by the decisions of playing partners but the best decision makers delve into themselves to know what is best for them under the circumstances. Golf like life has a fine balance between risk and reward. The more risk one takes the opportunity for reward is higher but the downsides of such risk need to factored in too. Circumstances also play a role in the decision making process. Therefore such fine decision making requires a fine, matured mind which can also be used in real life circumstances.

4. Creativity: If creativity baffles you in the context of golf ask Tiger Woods. The world's best player by a margin is also very creative when it comes to shot making. Creativity definitely is a product of ability. However, creativity must be used selectively and appropriately. Without appropriate use of creativity it may backfire on you. In real life too creativity is most essential but must not be overused or used in the wrong circumstances

5. Use of power and touch: Golf requires a combination of power and touch - power off the tee and touch on the greens, both are essential. In life too being hard and decisive as well as soft and endearing are two opposing qualities one must possess. Bill Gates is a good example - a ruthless entreprenuer who left no stone unturned to demolish competition was a soft, kind man when it came to the underprivileged. He has spent vast sums of his fortune to do good - a Robin Hood of modern times.

6. Integrity: This game truly exposes one's integrity. In a game of four players playing competitively there is ample opportunity for deceit. Caddies are known to kick the ball (obviously on the players' instructions!) from an unplayable lie to a playable one. There is a saying that "one can always trust a gentleman who plays the ball from where it lies on all occasions even when the only person watching him is God". To judge the integrity of a person take him to play a round of golf and have him closely watched - you should get your answer very quickly. In life integrity is key to a person's character, and golf builds integrity through its very essence. Deceitful players generally lose out in the long run as they get exposed and then no one wants to do anything with them, let alone play with them.

There would be further examples of comparisons but the key ones are illustrated. Having said the above one virtue that golf also promotes is Team Spirit. Ask the Ryder Cup members who illustrate team spirit like other team sports. Ryder Cup is major tournament where USA and Europe compete against each other as teams every two years. However, qualities illustrated above can also be demonstrated in team sports and other sports to varying degrees but in golf it is very much evident.