I know there are a few tennis fans on the forum. And for the fans of Roger Federer, today was something incredibly special, especially for the viewers that lasted through the whole Quarterfinals vs. Marin Cilic at Wimbledon, the Croation player, 27, and Grand Slam champion himself having won the US Open 2014 where he destroyed Fed in the semifinals.
We witnessed probably the best, foot in the grave comeback of his whole career. And given the stage of his career, probably the most poignant one.
![[Image: CmsJbjVXEAA4TV9.jpg:large]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmsJbjVXEAA4TV9.jpg:large)
He played alright in the first set. Lost a close tiebreak. Get broken once in the second set, down 5-4, Cilic to serve with setpoint. Even few years ago, Federer would've hit a clean dropshot return straight off the serve, or blocked it right back to his feet as he did to 140+ mph serves of Karlovic and Roddick, or simply gotten the ball into play and worked it from there.
Instead, his backhand slice return went straight into the net, probably half a foot below the tape. Third set, at 3-3 while Federer is serving, Cilic picks up an uncanny read on his serves, and the greatest Wimbledon champion of all time is down triple breakpoint, while already down two sets to love.
Federer proceeds to save all three, and win the whole match from 0-2 down. These were virtual matchpoints, but Fed was to face actual matchpoints in the fourth. He saves those with an ace, and two second serves at 108 mph. The fourth set goes to a tiebreak, in which he hits a miraculous acute forehand slice, dead even at 9-9, that skimmed the high part of the net and brought him set point. He converts.
To break Cilic and serve for the fifth set, Fed hit a backhand passing shot that had an identical motion to the one vs. Nadal at Wimbledon 2008, matchpoint down. Another match in a dark time of his career. All that brilliance for naught. But not this time.
Was this the final? No. Federer may yet fall to Milos Raonic, another huge server with the forehand. He handled players like him with ease in his prime, like he did Roddick and Cilic himself, never losing to the Croatian until Roger was 33 years old at the time of the US Open 2014 semifinal loss. But it doesn't matter. This is a moment that will live on forever regardless of what happens now.
As a matter of historical perspective, it was fifteen years ago when he first made his mark at the cathedral of tennis when he beat defending champ, the great American player Pete Sampras in 2001. The very birthplace of his legend and origins of the G.O.A.T. as believed by all but a heterodox few. An eternity ago. Now in 2016, he is the oldest man to have reached the semifinals of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in over 30 years, and has won more Grand Slam matches than any other player in the history of the sport.
The reason I bring this up is that I believe many members of this forum would appreciate it. Even without knowing the context of Federer's career, seeing true greatness and virtue trying to rouse itself for one more day of glory is something few can remain unaffected by. In Federer, we have at least some small facet of this byzantine world where beauty, elegance, and class can still triumph over ugliness, repetitiveness, and degeneracy.
This match was comparable to the last Kobe Bryant game in terms of the drama and excitement, but even that doesn't do it justice. In a time of apathy in my life - just going to work, trying to save up money, thinking of what I need to doing - this was a powerful moment that is forever engraved in my mind. Even if I get Alzheimer's or amnesia, I will not forget this, not until I die.
We witnessed probably the best, foot in the grave comeback of his whole career. And given the stage of his career, probably the most poignant one.
He played alright in the first set. Lost a close tiebreak. Get broken once in the second set, down 5-4, Cilic to serve with setpoint. Even few years ago, Federer would've hit a clean dropshot return straight off the serve, or blocked it right back to his feet as he did to 140+ mph serves of Karlovic and Roddick, or simply gotten the ball into play and worked it from there.
Instead, his backhand slice return went straight into the net, probably half a foot below the tape. Third set, at 3-3 while Federer is serving, Cilic picks up an uncanny read on his serves, and the greatest Wimbledon champion of all time is down triple breakpoint, while already down two sets to love.
Federer proceeds to save all three, and win the whole match from 0-2 down. These were virtual matchpoints, but Fed was to face actual matchpoints in the fourth. He saves those with an ace, and two second serves at 108 mph. The fourth set goes to a tiebreak, in which he hits a miraculous acute forehand slice, dead even at 9-9, that skimmed the high part of the net and brought him set point. He converts.
To break Cilic and serve for the fifth set, Fed hit a backhand passing shot that had an identical motion to the one vs. Nadal at Wimbledon 2008, matchpoint down. Another match in a dark time of his career. All that brilliance for naught. But not this time.
Was this the final? No. Federer may yet fall to Milos Raonic, another huge server with the forehand. He handled players like him with ease in his prime, like he did Roddick and Cilic himself, never losing to the Croatian until Roger was 33 years old at the time of the US Open 2014 semifinal loss. But it doesn't matter. This is a moment that will live on forever regardless of what happens now.
As a matter of historical perspective, it was fifteen years ago when he first made his mark at the cathedral of tennis when he beat defending champ, the great American player Pete Sampras in 2001. The very birthplace of his legend and origins of the G.O.A.T. as believed by all but a heterodox few. An eternity ago. Now in 2016, he is the oldest man to have reached the semifinals of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in over 30 years, and has won more Grand Slam matches than any other player in the history of the sport.
The reason I bring this up is that I believe many members of this forum would appreciate it. Even without knowing the context of Federer's career, seeing true greatness and virtue trying to rouse itself for one more day of glory is something few can remain unaffected by. In Federer, we have at least some small facet of this byzantine world where beauty, elegance, and class can still triumph over ugliness, repetitiveness, and degeneracy.
This match was comparable to the last Kobe Bryant game in terms of the drama and excitement, but even that doesn't do it justice. In a time of apathy in my life - just going to work, trying to save up money, thinking of what I need to doing - this was a powerful moment that is forever engraved in my mind. Even if I get Alzheimer's or amnesia, I will not forget this, not until I die.
![[Image: wink.gif]](https://rooshvforum.network/images/smilies/wink.gif)
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