Roger Federer, unlike other sporting personalities of tennis, remains aloof from the “other” side of sports- the side that’s showy and full of dollars. Federer sets an example to people that a sportsperson can reach his peak not through his brand endorsements but simply through their game. Without doubt, Pete Sampras and the Williams Sisters have been great players in the history of tennis but what makes them more popular is their life outside the court- their celebrity realm. For example, Sampras is more recognized as the promoter of Canon ‘Image is Everything’ campaign and Venus Williams as the Cover Girl for Sports Illustrated Magazine’s Swimsuit edition. This may support the notion that style wins over substance but Federer proves the opposite. Federer, a sixteen time grand slam champion, is well liked for the quality of tennis he displays on court; not how he markets himself as a personality. Thus, if Sampras is the corporate man and Venus Williams- a glamour girl, then Federer is simply the epitome of a great tennis player.
I respect Federer for his playing skills and achievements he has made during the course of his sporting career. His unique playing skills do wonders in the court- it makes his opponents toil from one corner to the other, making it difficult for them to win points. Many of his opponents fear his forehand; in fact, he is one of the best players to play this shot in his favor. Moreover, his volleying, transition shots, and the slice backhand always forces the opponent into a mistake. Not to forget his serve: he is considered the second best after Roddick to serve with such power and grace that the opponent ends up shooting wide. In addition, Federer, at the age of 34, has made numerous achievements in the field of tennis. Firstly, he has 16 Grand Slam titles under his belt-surpassing previous record of 14 by Pete Sampras. With 26 ATP singles titles under his grasp and five consecutive US Open titles, he is one of the greatest players of all time-no denying that.
Consistent with his achievements are the contributions he has made to the society- something that sets him apart from the rest. He has made generous contributions in promoting tennis in various parts of the world. Roger Federer Foundation – of which he is the owner, distributes tennis equipments to disadvantaged people residing in poor African nations. In 2003, the foundation distributed 12,000 racquets to children in Senegal. Furthermore, apart from promoting tennis, he has made exemplary contributions in other sectors. Two years ago, he visited South Africa and Tamil Nadu, one of the areas in India affected by the tsunami in 2004. Since then, he has also appeared in UNICEF public messages to raise public awareness of AIDS. In response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Federer responded by arranging numerous funds by collaborating with fellow tennis players. The fact that he channelized his hard earned money for worthy purposes not only makes him admirable, but his munificent deeds encourage other players to follow suit.
Federer, a man who has reached the zenith of his career, serves as an inspirational sporting hero as well as outstanding role model for youths. Many people say that winning with adversity is what defines greatness-and Federer fits this description. Despite his lung infection, several complications with his right leg and a chronic back problem, he fought his way towards the quarterfinals of this year’s Wimbledon. Furthermore, raised in a middle income family, Federer participated in his early tournaments without a team of trainers, coaches, agents and advisors- but he never put forth a disappointing performance. In addition, he has a clean legal record unlike some other players in this form of the game. He has never caught up with some form of scandal or misdemeanor that would have landed him into trouble. From Nikolay Davydenko’s alleged match fixing scandal to Juan Monaco’s sex scandal, tennis is fraught with these incidences. But you would never hear Federer’s name in these situations. After all, he is one committed man- you wouldn’t expect him to date hundreds of girls like John McEnroe did during his tennis career.
Even though basketball entices me more than tennis, i never imagined of emulating or looking up to Michael Jordan or Lebron James; sure they were the champions in basketball, but they could not appeal to my senses-maybe because of their criminal record or maybe because of their lack of contribution to society. After all, it seems Federer is a player worth admiring. He has the skill, he has the achievements, and he has played his role in society and has shown a disinclination for the need to appear in media