An inspired Rafael Nadal’s spunk notwithstanding, there was a touch of the inevitable to Roger Federer’s tryst with destiny. As if to reiterate that he is the best player of his generation, as well as the undisputed king of grass, the Swiss world number one cruised to a fifth consecutive Wimbledon crown at the hallowed lawns of the All England Club, a monumental accomplishment achieved just once before, by the all-surface genius of Bjorn Borg. Federer’s place in history was already secure long before he notched up a 50th straight win on grass; he didn’t need a fifth successive title to underline his acknowledged greatness or his wondrous skills. Still only 25, Federer has, by his own admission, at least a few years’ competitive tennis left in him. Borg out of the way now, Federer’s next target is the owner of the most Grand Slam titles in the men’s game, Pete Sampras.
With 11 majors under his belt, Federer will back himself to rein in the American’s all-time record of 14 in the not-too-distant future. In many ways, that will be a natural progression, for it was the explosive arrival of the Swiss that perhaps hastened Sampras’ exit from international tennis. Sampras has an unprecedented seven Wimbledon titles, and his tilt at an eight triumph was rudely halted in its tracks by Federer in 2001. Since then, the current world number one has established himself as a natural successor to the non-controversial American, not merely in style but also in substance.
Like Sampras, Federer has seldom overpowered his opponents. He is no power-packed behemoth that leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. His is an outstanding talent, subliminal grace and magical presence combining to throw up a thing of beauty and, therefore, a joy forever. Unlike a majority of the current stars, including Nadal whose rivalry with the Swiss could parallel Borg-McEnroe and Sampras-Agassi in both intensity and longevity, Federer relies less on strength than touch, more on precision than power. Whether he is the greatest male player ever to have played international tennis will always remain open to debate, and particularly till such time that he captures the one major that has repeatedly eluded him, the French Open on the red clay at Roland Garros. Rod Laver, the only man to have won the four Grand Slam titles in the same calendar year on two occasions, might lay claim to that status; Federer’s presence in the pantheon, however, is an already imposing one.