But anyways...it is a blessing of sorts. If it seems that I adore the Swiss Maestro maybe I do. Early on I stated that my teaching paradigm was based on William Tilden being the book. Richard Gonzalez would be the model with the Don Budge backhand. Harry Hopman is the coach. And of course...Roger is the Living Proof. The truth is I am not unlike most people. I am selfish. I have an agenda. I want to be validated. This is what Roger does. He validates me. Me and my teaching paradigm.
The fact is he is vying for another place in the record book. He is trying to be the oldest number one tennis player in the world. If he does...it is another feather in my cap. My teaching paradigm. You see my love for Federer goes beyond the fact that he dominates. It isn't hero worship at all. It is more like respect...that six letter word that my dear old Father taught me as a boy. Roger is so old school in so many ways. I wonder if he realizes it. I'm sure he does. Look at his behaviour on the court. Going about his business. The occasional "Come on!" but little else in revealing what is on his mind. In his heart. After he wins or loses there is no loss of composure. Just a little as he was accepting the Australian Open trophy and that was adorable. There was something there that we all could respect. Even love.
This week he looks at the draw and he says to himself there are x number of losers here and me. Ok...maybe not. He's too old and too long in the tooth to think such outrageous thoughts as a young, brash Jimmy Connors reputedly would say to himself. But Roger takes it one step at a time. He knows where he wants to go and he knows how to map the way there. One step at a time. Sure he sees Stan Wawrinka there in the potential quarterfinals but he also knows that Stan lost to the hundred and something player in the world yesterday and looked rather shaky doing so. I know...I saw the match. Bits and pieces of it. It's too boring to watch from start to finish as one can watch a Federer match against anybody. Stan looked tentative. It's the kiss of death in tennis. In modern tennis and it has always been this way. He who hesitates is lost and this could not be more true than on the tennis court.
Federer sees a possible semifinal matchup with Alexander Zverev. He sees everything and takes mental notes along the way. He knows that Zverev is vulnerable now. He is also tentative for other reasons than Stan Wawrinka. Alexander is doubting what he was once sure of. He is doubting his own rising star. He thinks to himself..."I showed up. Why is there so much resistance? Don't these guys know who I am?" This is also the kiss of death in the tennis ring. Roger knows this. He knows it all. He's been there. He's been everywhere...a number of times over. Over and over. It's like the repeat of a Jerry Seinfeld sitcom going over and over in his head. They are all there...Kramer, Elaine, George and all of the rest. The supporting cast members. The Berdych's...the Tsonga's. The Kohlschreiber's. The Dimitrov's. All spinning around in his head like the old Seinfeld sitcom. It never seems to end. But end it must. The guy wants to go out on top. There is only one. The only one playing the game of tennis the way it was engineered by William Tilden is none other than Roger. The Swiss Maestro. God Bless him. Our boy. There is a Santa Claus...Roger Federer is the Living Proof.
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