A champion like Roger Federer comes along once in a lifetime. It’s not just his extraordinary tennis ability but also his gracious nature that makes him tennis’s greatest ever champion. With the tennis pro being 36 years old, one would have predicted that the articles and headlines on Federer would have been about his retirement. Just like the most exquisite Swiss watches, Federer was built to last, though. At 36, he now sees the world collectively rising to its feet to applaud this magician as he returns to the summit of the world rankings six months before his 37th birthday.
The Road Back to Number One
It was during 2004 that Federer first reached the heights of world number one and his stay at the top wasn’t a short one. It would take 237 weeks for Federer to give up his world number one status to Rafa Nadal in 2008, a staggering four years after he topped the rankings. The longest stay of any of the five players at world number one before Federer reached it in 2004 was Andy Roddick at 13 weeks.
After 2008, Federer went to number one again in 2010 and 2012 for 48 and 17 weeks respectively, taking his total to 302 weeks at the top. When Novak Djokovic took the title from him in November 2012, the thought must have crossed Federer’s mind that he could have possibly surrendered top spot in the world for the last time.
The desire in Federer to play late into his 30s was strong and there was an acceptance within the Swiss maestro that he was going to have to box smart should he ever rise to the very top of the rankings again. Federer reviewed his schedule and consulted his team as they formulated a plan to get back to the dizzy heights he had once stayed 237 weeks at.
1931 days after losing his position at the top, the Fed Express regained it in stunning style with a 4-6 6-1 6-1 victory against Robin Hasse in the quarter-final at Rotterdam’s ABN Amro World Tennis Final. Reaching the semi-final was all Federer needed to do to regain top spot but in true Federer style, the evergreen Swiss champion went on and won the event.
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The Impact of Federer’s Achievement on World Tennis
Federer’s climb to number one after so many years was a watershed moment for not only him and his family but for world tennis. The impact of Federer’s historical achievement will have far-reaching consequences in the strongholds of the sport and also the more remote places around the globe that aren’t yet tennis mad. When a figure of Federer’s significance makes the impossible possible one can be sure that the game will change forever, and in this instance, tennis will be reshaped for the better.
When Sir Roger Bannister crossed the line in a time of 3:59.4 to complete a mile in under four minutes, it opened the door to that feat being achieved by countless other athletes. Since that achievement in 1954, the best recording of the running of a mile has been 3:43.13, which is almost 17 seconds faster than Bannister’s record. Bannister’s story is well documented but does serve as a powerful reminder of the power of belief.
Not for one second does anybody believe that the tennis world will all of a sudden see a host of world number ones in their late 30s. Federer was able to do what he has done simply because he is the most accomplished and magnificent tennis player to have walked the earth, but now that it has been done, the seed of belief would have been planted in the minds of all of those players fearing obscurity and a steady decline in form after 33.
Rafael Nadal may be on the list of the best left-handed tennis players of all-time but the jury seems to have come back with a verdict that suggests Federer is the better player; the stats and grand slams count would back that up. However, after Federer’s accomplishments, there will be no doubt that the Spaniard would see the future ahead of him as a promising one. Many of the older and even younger players will now have extra motivation during the playing of the grand slams this year, and it may well provide Nadal with further motivation to win Wimbledon this year, despite remaining a relative outsider with the bookmakers in the outright tennis betting markets. At odds of 6/1, however, the Spaniard may well gain some support amongst punters.
Any player coming through the ranks will now see the prolonged benefits of looking after their bodies the way Federer has. Even if they don’t reach the lofty heights the Fed Express has, there will still be a greater emphasis on fitness. Playing longer at a competitive level in the professional arena won’t always guarantee a number one world ranking but it will give players on tour a chance to earn more at a time when possibly before when it was expected they would retire.
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Federer Already Giving Back
Forbes released a list of the 25 highest paid athletes of all time in December 2017, where Federer came in at number 15 with career earnings of $675m, which obviously includes endorsements as well as prize money earned. The game of tennis has given Federer a huge amount that he had no doubt worked hard for. With such a handsome reward, it is conceivable to think that Federer could have walked away at an earlier age after securing his fortune. That type of attitude towards money is a common one amongst sports stars in the modern sporting world.
However, it certainly wasn’t on Federer’s mind as this timeless champion has inspired not just everyone connected to the tennis world but everyone aware of his story. Roger Federer has already started to give back by giving the game of tennis the ultimate respect as he plays on and breaks down barriers late into his 30s. It is a refreshing example of a love for the game that has been the root cause of everything else that has followed in his life.
On the secret to his longevity and success, Federer, as always, wasn’t flashy or pretentious but spoke simply and honestly about where he gets his inspiration from: “At the end, it’s seeing my parents are incredibly proud and happy that I’m still doing it. They enjoy coming to tournaments. That makes me happy and play better.” Watch this space; Federer isn’t finished revolutionizing the game of tennis just yet.
