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"
