Roger Federer is having another spectacular run this year. He overcame a slow start to finally put together some of his finest Tennis. He was able to capture what seemed to be an elusive 100th ATP title in Dubai, and his winning streak continues at the first Masters 1000 event of the year at Indian Wells. He meets Hubert Hurkacz in the quarter-finals. According to ESPN, he has now won eight matches in a row. He also hasn't dropped a single set during his last six meetings.
The last few years have been a blessing for tennis fans worldwide. The reason is that Federer recovered from a career-threatening knee injury to completely shatter any type of opponent, especially during those first few months of 2017.
The story of his weaponized backhand made rivers of ink to flow down the paper.
Why Roger Federer is tennis' best asset
Tennis has transformed itself over the past few decades or so, thus becoming one of the few sports with a global reach. The audience has been growing constantly as well, and all these couldn't have been possible without the contribution of some unique players. And, Roger Federer is one of those few players who helped tennis evolve. What Federer has been doing for men's tennis is similar to what Serena Williams has been representing for the women's circuit.
Being around over the last two decades, Roger Federer is indeed worthy of all the praise he constantly gets. He was a tennis hopeful since he was a teenager but he truly became a tennis star once he captured his maiden Grand Slam tennis title.
That happened at the 2003 Wimbledon, and that match was the entering point into a new era of men's tennis.
The Swiss tennis superstar has already surpassed even the most optimistic expectations. Nearing his 38th birthday he hasn't lost the hunger for success yet and seems to be in top form. At times, it may seem like he's spreading around dust of never-ending youth, but biological rules will have the final say.
A career twilight that seems to never end
About seven years ago, Roger Federer clinched his 17th Grand Slam title. Accomplishing that at the 2012 Wimbledon Championship enhanced the meaning of the achievement. At that point, he was nearing his 31st birthday. Many voices rushed in to proclaim Roger Federer's swan song anticipating the inevitable ending of his career.
A similar stream of opinion was present during the second part of 2016 when Federer took a six-month hiatus from tennis as part of his post-knee surgery recovery strategy.
Now, another similar debate is about to ignite around whether or not the 2020 season is set to be Federer's last say in tennis. The upcoming year may bring us the inevitable announcement but it also gives Federer perhaps the final shot to try and win an Olympic gold medal in singles, one of the last barriers he's yet to conquer.
Regardless of the outcome of that debate, one thing is clear, and that is that Roger Federer's having a glorious twilight in his career. He's able to compete with tennis' current biggest players. According to atpworldtour.com, he's still a top 5 player, and with the prospect of having him playing on clay this spring, the level of excitement around the men's circuit can't be greater.
