RF - 20 Grand Slams

Roger Federer’s last grand slam win before the start of the 2017 season was in 2012 at  Wimbledon – He did get to the finals  of the Grand Slam events in 2013/14/15 but there was no Winner Trophythat he could lay his hand on.

So the expectation of many fans including me for the 2017 season was very modest . I thought he will announce his retirement with the 17 Grand Slam wins that he won till 2012.  Not to be –

2017 was an outstanding year for Federer – he won two out of the three Grand Slam tournaments that he competed in – he tactically skipped the French Open to save his knees from the clay court endurance – Went on to Wimbledon easily  and was favorite to win the US but lost in the Quarters to Del Potro and ended the year at No 2 ranking skipping a tournament that if he had participated and won would have taken him back to the No 1 world ranking – For a 35 year old, this deed on the  tennis court was remarkable – The turnaround was the start of the year Aus Open where he defeated Nadal in five sets—the fifth set was astonishing , Federer came back from a break down to break Nadal serve twice and win and everyone knows that Nadal is no easy customer to deal with and he does not give in so easily –  This match probably was the start of  the revival of his career and more great deeds were  to follow.

That being said of 2017, for the Australian open of 2018, he was a favorite to win the title – With Andy Murray off injured, Novak coming back to competitive tennis after injury lay off , everything was in his favour . True champions deliver and that is what Federer did in the first Grand Slam of this year – He waltzed past his opponents and reached the finals with no fuss and did not lose a set. The normal predators , Novak and Nadal fell through and Federer did not have any tough match till the finals . In the finals , Federer played like a man in hurry—within minutes Cilic was broken on his serve and soon Federer won the first set. But Cilic fought back( unlike the Wimbledon final of 2017 ) and got back with the second set in tie break. The third set Federer was in drive mode and he was up in the fourth set before being broken twice by Cilic to have the match go to the decider . The first service game of the fifth set probably decided the match – Federer somehow held on and then broke Cilic twice to win the final-

For the first time , Federer broke down in his acceptance speech – He was human after all ! But each of his interviews post his wins in the earlier rounds with Jim Courier were a treat to watch and hear. Always humble , giving his opponents due credit , no sign of over confidence are hall marks of this genius – he always let his racquet do the talking – Some things that I thought that Federer has done well that he helped him win a Grand Slam at 36and the fact you have guys half his age playing this game at the highest level.

1.      Great understanding of the game , the demanding  tour schedules and managing his body for the big events

2.      Let go and not play all tournaments—be selective

3.      Ranking do no matter anymore – Just win the Grand Slam that are  the Big Tickets

4.      Plan an injury free playing – physically less demanding

5.      Preparedness for the Big games and then the five setters as needed

6.      Focus on the game – this  has been an Trademark of what  Federer does all the time  – it is a rare sight to see him get distracted

7.      Manage overall life and balance – Federer seems to have done this so well –

I believe that he will win one or more Grand slams this year ( When I wrote on his Wimbledon loss in 2014, he was 32 and I wrote saying time to call quits – what a turnaround )

I was wondering how many he would have won if Rafa or Novak or Andy Murray had not been around.

It is our privilege to watch him play during our life time !