It's been almost two weeks since Roger Federer delivered yet another stunning performance that led to his sixth Australian Open in Melbourne. By doing so, he successfully defended last year title while also managing to close the gap on the world No. 1 seat. What's truly amazing is that by winning the third Grand Slam event in a 12 months time span, Federer might inoculate us with the idea that what he's been doing lately is normal. It's not, and 13 months ago this thought alone would have questioned a person sanity.
Basically, we're all witnessing an almost 37-year-old ruling the men's tennis like he used to do a decade ago.
And, especially last year, with Nadal as a weighting factor, it looks like the tennis timeline went backward.
Federer and his total commitment to tennis
It's hard to picture the day when Roger Federer will decide to put an end to his illustrious career. Until then, he can sit back and enjoy this true titan of sports. It's been almost two decades since he made his debut as a tennis player and he still looks like he has some novelty left to be displayed in the field of tennis.
The current environment in the circuit may look a bit thin with all that injury plague storming around to hamper Djokovic, Murray, Raonic, Wawrinka or Nishikori but Roger Federer had his own hell too. Those six months of 2016's second part were thought to be the beginning of the end.
As it turned out, it was a fresh start as Federer returned stronger, sharper willing to implement some new techniques.
In his case (and in Nadal's too), the concept of belief played a huge role. The game of tennis is a mental sport, and without a solid mindset, any physical endeavor is doomed right from the start. Fully recovered after a six months break, Federer stormed to clinch the 2017 Australian open at the end of an epic journey.
A year later he is inches away from reclaiming the world No. 1 spot from Rafael Nadal.
Playing in Rotterdam may act as a double-edged blade
Last summer, Roger Federer decided to go after the world No. 1 seat too. Although it seemed like a good call, especially after winning Wimbledon, it all turned out to be a bad decision. A back injury in Canada hampered Federer's efforts at the US Open.
He was also forced to skip Cincinnati.
Now, he accepted a wild-card in Rotterdam, an ATP 500 event. If he reaches the semis it'll be enough to propel with on top of Rafael Nadal in the rankings. But, is it the right decision to make? Next month, he will start the defending campaign of the Sunshine Double and he can afford any wrong steps at this point.
