What does it really mean that Roger Federer won The 2009 French Open? A lot more than just stats.

Check out the following scenario:

Former world number one tennis player begins to slip a little. The victories and titles don’t come nearly as easily as they once did at his prime. Suddenly you get downgraded from being the shoo-in favorite at the majors to just being a second week threat. Beyond your control you entertain the notion of your own tennis mortality. “Has the peak been reached?”, “Can I only see the best years through my rear view mirror?”, “Has the aura of invincibility completely washed off?” After all, you are human and much has already been accomplished. Great feats that most mere mortals couldn’t possibly fathom.

Simultaneously other aspects of your life take a greater stance in your life. Marriage, babies, family, business and philanthropic endeavors outside of tennis. Then there is life in general.

Yes, perhaps it is indeed time to consider this notion.

The above could describe any number of tennis’ elite including but not limited to:

- John McEnroe
- Ivan Lendl
- Lleyton Hewitt
- Andy Roddick
- Even the great Pete Sampras

and countless others.

But one player who will not join that one elite tennis category is Roger Federer. It’s the one great tennis list that I don’t think he minds being left out of. Yet it’s just another aspect that places Federer into an entirely different class all by himself.

Historically speaking once a tennis player gets married, it’s pretty much game over. Then add a child (or child on the way) into the mix and you’ve all but divorced yourself from the sport. The old, “tennis” you is dead.

I don’t have any scientific evidence as to why this is but I have my gut feelings which I’ll save for a future post.

The last 12 months could not have been easy for Roger Federer. Constant losses to lesser ranked players who earlier couldn’t touch his game. Heart-wrenching losses to his greatest rival which culminated at another Grand Slam final loss earlier in the year. His only solace heading into the 2009 French Open was the fact that he won another clay court title by defeating the greatest clay court tennis player of all time. It was Roger’s first title of the year. Though a well timed confidence boost it was, even this couldn’t have possibly quelled the doubts and fears Federer felt heading into Roland Garros. After all he’s beaten Nadal on clay just prior to The French Open back in Hamburg on 2007. A couple of weeks later Nadal convincingly beat Federer for the third straight year (second straight final) in the French finals.

Then the pregnancy of his then girlfriend (now wife) Mirka to begin the 2009 season followed by a pretty quick trip to the altar. Oh yes, all the historical stars were lining up to drag Federer into tennis purgatory. Everyone was pretty much lining up to write Federer off as “One of the greatest ever“.

Everyone but Roger Federer himself.

Beginning on the last week of May 2009, another set of tennis stars began to line up. It was what culminated on the first Sunday of June and transformed Federer from being a “one of” to “The Best”.

No one has won more Grand Slam titles than Roger Federer. The great Pete Sampras certainly has the same amount of Grand Slam hardware but he does not have the Coupe des Mousquetaires. And that’s major (no pun intended).

The last man to have won all four tennis Grand Slams was Andre Agassi, the same man who presented The French title to Federer just a few days ago.

Now for the rest of the 2009 tennis season, there are serious doubts about the immediate longevity of Rafael Nadal’s career due to recurring knee problems. This not only opens the doors for Federer’s return to the top of the tennis rankings, they damn near explode out.

With or without defending champion Nadal, the 2009 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s draw may just produce Federer’s 15th Grand Slam title. Certainly no one is calling Federer just a “possible” any more. More “probable”.

And what about the 2009 US Open? Federer has hoisted that silver cup over his head the last five years in a row. It is notoriously Nadal’s least favorite tournament. Prior to the 2009 Australian Open, it was Nadal’s least favorite surface. Certainly it is his least successful. Could Federer win three majors again in a single calendar year as he did three times previously (2004, 2006, 2007). Of course the difference in the 2009 version would be the Coupe des Mousquetaires.

Shortly after the monumental 2008 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s final I wrote a post here discussing, among other things:

Roger Federer has “exactly 12 months” from this (2008 Wimbledon) loss to mount a comeback.

“Rafael Nadal may crash and burn purely based on his hard core style of play”

Though I’m ecstatic to find one of the two quotes come to fruition, it’s a great concern that the latter might also be a major prognostication.

The sport needs Nadal. Federer needs Nadal. The fans need Nadal.

It’s a common cliche in sports (as in life) that the man / hero / dynasty is only as strong and as great as his greatest challenge. That statement couldn’t be more true for the sport of tennis. Nadal not only challenges Federer but he allows us Federer fans to invest and care that much more. Moreover it allows tennis fans to invest and care that much more for the sport itself. “Just remember, the sweet is never as sweet without the sour…”

Finally, I wrote in a previous post that: “This is something that I feel is beyond just merely another tennis match.”

No matter how great and insurmountable your obstacles seem, don’t give up. History is merely a footnote of comparison when it sits next to will and determination.

One great tennis player personifies exactly that very statement.

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