End of an era

The man from Basel has made tennis look classy and modern at the same time

- Tushar Bhaduri

FATHER TIME HAS finally caught up with tennis divinity. Roger Federer has finally realised that the sort of magic he used to create on a tennis court will not be possible on a consistent basis with a body creaking after multiple knee surgeries.

As the Swiss star walks into the hallowed sunset, debate rages about his place in the pantheon of tennis greats.

Federer, along with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, took the game to unprecedented heights of excellence over the last two decades. The other two have, over time, surpassed Federer in the race for Grand Slam success, but it was the man from Basel who made tennis look classy and modern at the same time.

Suffice to say that there has not been a tennis player easier on the eye as far as one can remember. If greatness is measured in the number of new fans introduced to the sport and getting casual fans more interested, Federer would easily be the most impactful player the game has seen. Someone who can't tell a topspin from a slice will also stop to watch the Swiss in action, such was his regal grace.

There have been many elegant players in decades past, who merged athletic prowess with balletic grace. But they graced the courts in eras before social media and YouTube. These tools  have been force-multipliers for Federer, as far as fan following is concerned.