Grace point

You know what makes Federer great? Or should i ask, what makes him one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time?
Let me answer that for you: his prolonged athleticism coupled with matchless perseverance and enduring health. Federer, unlike most contemporaries on the court, has mastered the art of causing least amount of damage to his body. He somehow has managed to remain fit throughout his career. There have been very few instances where his health ditched him. He might be 34 now but that shouldn’t a concern. He is bound to stick around. One of the main reasons why he’s adored by the likes of Laver, Borg and Sampras is they all know he’s the last of his tribe. He’s the perfect balance of gust and grace. As the intensity of power play kept going up with more and more baseliners making their presence felt, Federer continued doing what he does best: stay effortless and highly artistic. Maybe that’s why giant servers like Karlovic and Isner are just that in front of him — giant servers. Of course, there’s no denying that Djokovic is the toast of the season and he’s going to last for a really long time. But then that’s pure speculation, right? After all, we never thought Nadal would slow down thanks to his overworked pair of knees.
Federer, at any given rate of comparison, is the only player in Open era to continue playing the way he does. Yes, Connor and Lendl were around for what seemed like eternity but were they dominant the way Federer is? Well, no one comes close. Not at the age of 34. Maybe Djoko might surge ahead someday if he continues with his gluten-free diet and whatnot regime. We’ll have to wait and see. But then, Federer hasn’t missed a Grand Slam since 2000. And if that’s not awe-inspiring enough, he hasn’t ever retired from a match. Not even once. And i think that is his greatest legacy. A lesson to all his fellow players — and upcoming ones too — who have forsaken aesthetics for muscles. Who have come to believe that power lasts longer than grace. Who haven’t served-volleyed or played a drop shot in ages now. Evolution of tennis? Bullshit. Whether they get it or not, beauty lasts the longest. And grace, much longer.