Roger Federer is the master of rewriting history and deserves his place among sport's greatest

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  • Roger Federer was presented with a special No1 memento on court.

    It seems like a lifetime ago now when Roger Federer was crestfallen, face buried into the grass of Centre Court at Wimbledon.

    Then 34, the Swiss was sprawled out after tripping and falling trying to recover a Milos Raonic ball. It was a horrible moment, not just for the man himself, but for spectators present at the scene and those watching far and wide.

    Hands to mouths, in shock, everyone worrying for Roger.

    He eventually got up and the blow of a crushing five-set semi-final defeat would have hurt a lot more, for whatever pain he was experiencing on his knees, the left of which he underwent surgery on to repair a torn meniscus soon after his loss to Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open that year (2016).

    But at SW19, the place which almost belongs to Federer, this moment wasn’t part of the script – it couldn’t end like this. He looked every bit of his veteran age (in tennis terms) and the ovation he received when he walked off court felt like one of goodbye, not necessarily from him, but that was the undercurrent vibe. So, was that it? It seemed so.

    He’s done. He’ll never win Wimbledon again or any other slam. He’s lost half a step or two. He just can’t match the younger guys anymore. He’s never going to beat Djokovic or Andy Murray now. The new generation are coming through and fast.

    Those doubters, it has to be said, made their points well. On July 26 2016, Federer called time on his season and the road back looked long. In fact, you couldn’t see the end of it. What a way to go. The greatest player of all time – for all his achievements – at an end.

    Switzerland's Roger Federer falls to the ground while trying to return to Canada's Milos Raonic during their men's semi-final match on the twelfth day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8, 2016. / AFP / POOL AND AFP / Clive BRUNSKILL / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read CLIVE BRUNSKILL/AFP/Getty Images)

    A harrowing sight as Federer lies prostrate on the ground.

    For Federer fans, it was hard to come to terms with all that. It went in a blink of an eye. For some, it felt like grieving.

    It was also a good time to fully appreciate and acknowledge what he had been able to do in the previous couple of years under the tutelage of boyhood idol Stefan Edberg. Remembering the recent good days before taking in an incredible career as a whole.

    There were three major final appearances (Wimbledon 2014 and 2015) and the US Open (2015). He lost to Djokovic in all three but played an attacking brand of tennis so mesmerising that it led many to believe it was his best.

    Still, he hadn’t added to his major haul and Djokovic, on 12, was quickly catching up to his 17 while Rafael Nadal was just three back on 14. His standing in the game as the most decorated was at huge risk.

    Fast-forward to now and his fans are rejoicing following back-to-back Australian Open titles, a record-breaking eighth Wimbledon and a fairytale return to World No1. The turnaround has been monstrous. With 20 Grand Slams to his name, those dark days before have made this success more striking and mean so much. The best-ever, there can be no doubt now in tennis terms, but what about the greatest sports star of all time?

    Quite simply, yes, in the sense his case is stronger than most.

    Federer has everything. The talent, trophy wins and records are a given but when you add in his longevity, becoming the oldest World No1 14 years after he had first got there, his dedicated fan following, the way he conducts himself and serves as an ambassador for his sport… You really couldn’t ask for more.

    Yes, followers from other sports or indeed those of Nadal may feel the fanfare for Roger is too extreme, and at points in his career luck has been on his side, but that would be disrespecting a modern-day icon who makes up the most ideal athlete if you had to build one from scratch.

    The argument is rich, how do you go about choosing between Muhammad Ali, Usain Bolt, Michael Jordan or a Lionel Messi? Almost impossible but Federer has redefined the laws of greatness.

    So, how long can he keep on playing? The man is a master of his own schedule, will make the right call and while those around him are cracking up, withdrawing from tournaments and looking unlikely to get back to their best, there’s reason for him to stick around. If, as suspected, he decides to skip the clay-court season again, a stab at defending his Wimbledon title is on the cards.

    Add in the fact it must be pretty good being Roger Federer. With the support he gets the world-over, his love of travelling and close-knit team, playing tennis is still the easy bit.

    Ultimately, Federer’s legacy is defined more by his majors and playing style, but this feat, a milestone which deep down he would have doubted he’d reach again, almost tops the lot and is a life lesson to everyone, cliche as it is, that age is no barrier and to never, ever give up.

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