Each year as the Grand Slams progress from
Down Under to New York City, the element of expectancy increases palpably just
like a musical orchestra reaching its crescendo. And this year has been no
different; first with Nole breezing with a seemingly easy defence in Melbourne,
then with Rafa battling it out for a septet on clay followed by a spirited encore of the same number by Roger on grass. But where the highs
have been really high, the lows have been equally low. It’s in the wake of
these lows – inconsistencies and injuries, drawn-out battles and emotional
let-downs – that the US Open seems to have been ushered in to complement the
heightened anticipatory factor.
One look at the draw though, and all
thoughts of anticipation splinters away. There’s so much going on – so many
players – that the choices of heart and mind seem to be diametrically opposite.
There are certain players who the mind wants
to win, while the heart paints a needing-to-win
scenario for its chosen choicest. But the coalescing of statistical tangibility
and emotions happens such that want and
need seem to mean differently at
different times – though not essentially for different players.
And with these conflicting feelings of want and need, I pick my favourite. For those who know me, this would come
across as simple and obvious. There’s no player – in any sport – that I regard
more than the Swiss. He exemplifies attributes of commitment and dedication to
his chosen field, a quality that I want to and have been trying to adopt
professionally. But even as I list out his qualities and perfections, it’s with
an imperfect blend of mind and heart that I pick out Federer as my favourite
for the US Open 2012. And there again, I am not prioritising Federer because I have to but because, even in spite of
mind and heart conflicts, the wanting always
swings with Federer.
Ignoring subjective bias and looking
objectively though, 2012 seems to be all about Federer – a consistent season
factored with a grand slam. Not many players possess the ability to regain lost
ground as successfully as Federer has managed to do in the past few months. And
perhaps this is why the momentum seems to be going his way as he enters the US
Open fray with a few Masters, a couple of assorted ATP titles, a few semi-finals
and finals and unforgettably – a second Olympics medal.
Micro-economics states, desire summed with
purchasing power parity determines demand. While in sports, there’s no
financial purchasing power parity, players’ game and their mental endurance
definitely substitutes for the attribute. In Federer’s case – not to wax poetic
– the combination of these factors works really well to make him the player
that he is. And irrespective of passage of time and the daunting challenge of
new-gen nemeses, this fervour of his makes him a worthy challenger in each and
every tournament that he plays.
Of course passion and fervency doesn’t
translate to mean invincibility and perfection. The flaws and chinks in his game have become more evident and obvious in the past couple of years, than ever before. Miscued forehands and shanked
backhands have started to plague his game, as has developed his occasional inability to capitalise on vital
points at crucial times. But it’s these imperfections that emphasise the
tangibility of his tennis playing acumen, a thought-provoking on-court shrewdness
that helps him to fight it out till the very end – no matter, which way the
final result might sway.
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