Roger Federer: Renaissance man

Roger Federer's greatness lies not in smothering(suffocate-गला घोंटना ) the competition, but in upping the game

Roger Federer joined the rest of the world in feeling surprised(shock-आश्चर्य) at how, at 36, he continues to win the Slams against younger, faster and stronger men. That Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic fell by the wayside, and Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray are nursing battered(thrash/beat up-चकनाचूर) bodies, makes this feat all the more incredible(magnificent/remarkable-अविश्वसनीय). But really, Federer is elevating(raise/haul up-ऊपर उठाने) tennis into the realm(zone/dominion-क्षेत्र) of the improbable(uncertain/unpredictable-असंभव). And he’s doing it with all the gloriously human self-doubt and excitement(eagerness/enthusiasm-उत्साह) of a first-timer, even though this was his 20th major.

Tennis will remain eternally(forever/always-सदा) grateful to this man, not only for summoning greatness from a wearying(tired/exhausted-थका) body but also a commensurately(equivalent-अनुरूप) doubting mind. Just as well that he’s kept it real and engagingly vulnerable(weak/powerless-असहाय). He looks imminently(about to happen-आसन्‍नता से) beatable at any point in a match — the second and fourth sets were the beginnings of the groaning(creak/squeak-कराहना) sigh(breathe-आह) — but the fun is in how he pulls himself out of those corners, braving the big serve, deep hit Cilic rampage(violent conduct -हिसात्मक आचरण), and then turns it around like a fighter on the edge. Sure, the roof got closed at 37 degrees benefiting(profiting) Federer. But the tennis pro circuit is no place where young, driven men make concessions(rebate/compromise-छूट) for the vulnerabilities(weakness/permeability-कमजोरियों) of the relative seniors. That he can make you forget his vintage(superior), the surface, what year it is — 2003 or 2018 — and play that fifth set the way he did, pouncing(assault/attack-झपट्टा) on the two breaks, inciting(encourage/stir up-उत्तेजित करना) a second serve meltdown from Cilic, makes him a brilliant tennis player — nothing less, nothing more. Berdych, Cilic and Nadal of course have been forced to bow down(झुकना) to his tennis prowess(courage/bravery-कौशल), his ingenuity(simplicity/perception-सरलता), his stroke selection, even his guts(bravery/courage-हिम्मत) in taking long breaks and fetching(recover-वसूल करना) up for the majors.

There is little doubt(sceptic/suspicious-शक) that you cannot be Federer and play like him. But it is that sneaking(secret-गुप्त) feeling that you can beat Federer — though he calls his challengers’ bluff(show off -दिखावा) year after year — that makes him tennis’ greatest ambassador. Roger Federer hasn’t smothered(suffocate-गला घोटना) competition, he just silkenly sways(effect/influence-प्रभाव) past it each time.