I know when I receive a text message in the middle of a weekday about a quarterfinal tennis match even one from Wimbledon that something important happened. That was confirmed today when Rodger Federer fell on his favorite surface in his favorite tournament. Federer fell to Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals of the previous Grand Slam to end his untouchable record (like the Undertakers undefeated streak in Wrestlemania) of 23 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals and it easy to dismiss that defeat as an aberration and the product of playing a good player on an unfavorable surface. It was characterized as an off day, against a player that will win future slams, and all streaks have to come to an end. After that match, Federer as he always does (take note Venus and Serena) went out of his way to praise Soderling's play to ensure the media attention and spotlight was focused on the winner of the match. Federer talked about his intentions to re-focus, rest up, and go to Wimbledon with a clear head, confidence, and his same steady game. Even a loss to Hewitt in a grass court tune up and a first round scare didn't send up the red flags that maybe it should have, since we are talking about Roger Federer, the man with a record 16 Grand Slam titles on his resume.
Today after his quarterfinal loss to a more talented than accomplished journeyman in Tomas Berdych it is hard to continue to ignore these results. Berdych did play a great match, he served big, hit the ball well of both sides on the ground which led to more winners than a Hammering Hank Goldberg parlay sheet and most suprisingly, he played the big points well and did not let the gravity of the moment and the Centre Court surroundings affect him negatively.
What we saw today was more than a tennis match; it was the beginning of the end for the great champion Rodger Federer. Federer is not retiring and he could possibly win the US Open later this summer and conceivably has 3-4 more slams left in his career, if he continues to want to play and stay injury free up to his stated goal of the 2012 Olympics in London. Federer has earned the right to play until he wants to retire on his terms, but he will not get back to the level of play he sustained for the better part of the last decade. He burst onto the stage when he beat reigning 4 time champion Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2001 and showed a world class game that could not be matched at the time on the ATP. His French Open win last year completed his career Grand Slam and in turn his last professional goal was achieved, and his off court life changed dramtically in July after re-capturing Wimbledon when he became a father to twin girls. He will turn 29 on August 8th and in a sport where 25 is considered past your prime he has managed to stay injury free in a physical sport with no off-season and weekly worldwide travel. His accomplishments are awe inspiring and today is a great day to celebrate his excellence.
Along with the records mentioned above Federer made 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals and has done it in a sport where you can't rely on a teammate for a play or a game. There is no Max Talbot or Steve Kerr to score goals or hit the game winner and a 6-24 perfomance in a tennis game 7 would not leave you holding the winning trophy. Tennis at the highest level is about more than physical skill, you have to be willing to be invested mentally evey time you take the court and no player has accepted this responsibility more whole heartedly than Federer. His willingness to improve his game while ranked #1 and to continue to push his training having reached the top of the mountain has inspired fellow players like Nadal, Roddick, and Murray who have all cited Federer's example as motivation. His training sessions in the Dubai heat are as legendary as anything you have read about Jerry Rice or Michael Jordan, and his ability to stay injury free is more than luck, which is the factor he credits most when asked in public.
Tennis' Open era was different before Federer won his first slam at Wimbledon in 2001 by defeating future reality TV star Mark Philippoussis. The players who were able to physically and mentally contend at all four Grand Slams burnt out early or sufferred with injuries and this trend is likely to continue after Federer is gone. He was a singular talent and will be included in the always enjoyable best player ever debate which has to include Tilden, Laver, and Borg as well. His battles with Nadal are legendary and thier primes intersected long enough for them to push each other and play the best match of all time in the 2008 Wimbledon final.
Off the court he was named World Sportsman of the Year four times and has used his status as a means to support various world charities that have helped victims of Hurrican Katrina, the 2004 Tsunami, 2010 Haitian earthquake along with a personal foundation. He is also a UNICEF ambassador who has made numerous goodwill trips to places most affected by AIDS and was named winner of the 2010 Young Global Leadership Award by the World Economic Forum for his contributions to society as a whole.
He has raised the sport of tennis during his career and has been a pleasure to watch. Hopefully he will still find time to be around the game when he retires and in the future when he is presenting a Grand Slam trophy to commemorate an anniversary of one of his records. I hope the memories of his greatness and almost decade long dominance will still be as fresh in my mind as they are to me today even after a surpising quarterfinal defeat.
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