By Giancarlo Navas/Columnist
As Roger Federer approaches 33 years old, his greatness is to never be forgotten. His 17 Grand Slam championships ranks as number one all time. He played in 23 straight Grand Slam semi-finals from 2004-2010 and during that time he played in 20 of 23 finals.
Inevitably there comes a point where an athlete’s body betrays them. Where no matter how badly they want to overcome something, they just cannot. Their bodies won’t let them. Father Time is undefeated, few can prolong the defeat and his opponents will always lose. The 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer is warding off Father Time with his racket and will.
“I don’t quite agree that the body inevitably has to give in,” Federer said. “Clearly if you’re playing tennis at 50 years old, sure it’s a different story but nobody wants to play till 50.”
He may not play until he is 50, but he is 32 and only three men ever have won a major at 32 or older. Federer has already won a slam at 30, which is a feat only 12 men have accomplished in the open era.
“It’s about what does your mind say? It could be so many things. Where is your life at? Because you want to do it as long as you really enjoy it,” Federer said. “The body, you’ve got to maintain it and make sure you do the right things, don’t over train it and don’t over play it.”
It’s not smart to doubt Federer, as he has come out playing great tennis this year. He has a 19-4 record in 2014 with a title in Dubai, beating Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych to get it.
“He’s playing at a high level this year. He’s back to his normal level, the one he had for seven, eight years where he was so dominant in men’s tennis,” Djokovic said. “He’s striking the ball very cleanly. He’s very confident on the court and he has improved his backhand.”
“I think in the end it comes down to confidence,” Federer said.
While Roger has had a renaissance of his play this year, confidence perhaps has the least thing to do with it, despite it being alluded by himself and Djokovic.
Last year Federer suffered a back injury at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California and was not himself until the end of the year. Federer suffered odd losses to the likes of Kei Nishikori in the Madrid Open, Sergiy Stakhovsky in Wimbledon to break his streak of 36 consecutive major quarterfinal appearances, and a loss handed to him by Tommy Robredo in the US Open in September of 2013. Federer had one title in all of 2013. He had six the year before, including his seventh Wimbledon title.
“I mean, clearly you’ve got to be healthy to be able to play good tennis and get to the balls. If you are not going to get to the balls, then you won’t be able to hit it. I need the quick feet, and I think I’ve found that again,” Federer said.
He has overcome the back injury of last year. He’s found his footing again, but who is to say he can come back next time. Or the time after. There will come a point in which his body won’t let him come back to level Djokovic says he’s on. It’s part of the sports circle of life.
Federer is fighting Father Time with all his might and like he has all his career, he is winning. For now. When asked about his mortality as great athlete, Federer was quick to disagree. He can’t see himself failing. Why would he? He’s arguably the greatest men’s tennis player ever. He’s won more than anyone ever and had a stretch of dominance that we will probably never see again in men’s tennis.
“Roger, what he’s done and the way that he competes still at his age and pushes the best guys in the world week in and week out, and the pressure that is on him. He’s a target every week. He’s remarkable,” former number one player Lleyton Hewitt said following his career win number 600.
Federer is remarkable. That is a fact. But his greatness and longevity is going to be tested in the next few years. As he is rolling now, having good win after good win that won’t be forever. There will be a point that he can’t. The day that comes, tennis will not be the same.
He might be one of four to win a Grand Slam after 32. If anyone could it be him, but Father Time is coming. And he, not Nadal, Djokovic, or Andy Murray will be Roger’s greatest opponent. The only one who can best Federer is something that doesn’t hold a racquet.
-sports@fiusm.com
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