Roger Federer: A Painted Masterpiece - Issue #4
Saying goodbye to the most naturally gifted tennis player of all-time.
Written by Dove Sallow
As you’ve probably heard, tennis lost another legend this past week… this time in the form of Roger Federer. The Swiss is loved for a flurry of reasons (great sportsmanship, beautiful game style, classy outfits, effortlessness on the court, etc.), but what does his exit mean for tennis? Where does he stand when the Big 3 race is all said and done? Is the greatest player of all time solely defined by the number of grand slams won? What legacy has this brilliant man left behind?
Roger Federer started off as a ball boy in Basel. He was known as an incredible talent, but had a bit of a temper when he first started on the tour. It was evident that he could be absolutely brilliant if he could just piece everything together. There have been several other young, naturally gifted players on the tour with tremendous talent such as Grigor Dimitrov, Nick Kyrgios, Benoit Paire, etc. But none of these great talents were able to fully maximize their potential. What is it about this ball boy from Basel that made him a 20-time grand slam champion?
Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. In the case of Roger Federer, he had both on his side. Many people note that Federer’s strokes look effortless. He hardly looks like he’s breathing or sweating when he hits the ball. He glides around the court with effortless footwork and his serve is about as picturesque as you can get. He has the most technically perfect strokes that tennis has ever seen. It takes a tremendous amount of talent to make tennis look so easy, but don’t be fooled - Roger Federer put in the hard work.
He learned to control his emotions and maximize every inch of his 6'1" frame. His serve is the greatest we’ve seen at his height. He learned how to attack from every angle of the court, but he also learned to defend. He was never as comfortable playing defense as Nadal or Djokovic, but he adapted and became one of the best movers of our time. That’s part of what makes Roger’s legacy so special. He is 5 years older than Nadal and 6 years older than Djokovic. These two players are the best movers of all time due to their sheer physicality, yet Federer was able to adapt and push himself. This is what set him apart from all the other impeccable talents we’ve seen over the years - he was willing to do all that it took to become great. Regardless of his other worldly talent, he worked just as hard as Nadal, Djokovic, or anyone who’s ever picked up a tennis racquet.
As a fan of tennis and sport, the GOAT race for the most slams has been an absolute honor to watch. To be lucky enough to watch all these years as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have been competing in the most spectacular era of tennis has been a privilege. They’ve pushed each other, created friendships, had quarrels, but most importantly; they played inspiring tennis. As it stands, Nadal has won 22 grand slams (the record for the most ever won by a man). Djokovic is close behind at 21, and Federer has 20 to his name. With Federer retiring, he exits the slam race.
Federer won’t retire with the most grand slams in history, but his legacy and reach transcended the sport. With tennis entering a new era, Roger Federer may be the last classic gentleman tennis will ever see. The way he treated people on and off the court will never be forgotten. His strokes were precise and pristine. His attire was always polished and his attitude always gracious. Roger did not scamper or run to balls, he glided. He did not hit forehands and backhands, he painted them. He is not retiring from tennis, he is taking a final bow… as gracefully and elegantly as ever.