Federer the Champ

Andy Murray and Roger Federer are presented with their trophies after their final match on Day 15.
Photo by: Rob Loud/usopen.org

Roger Federer poses with the US Open trophy after his fifth straight win.
Photo by: Rob Loud/usopen.org

Roger Federer drops to the ground as he celebrates his win over Andy Murray to be the US Open Men's Champion.
Photo by: Rob Loud/usopen.org
Roger Federer (SUI)[2] serves to Andy Murray (GBR)[6] during the Men's Singles Finals match on day 15 of the 2008 US Open.
Photo by: Rob Loud/usopen.org

Photos (and their captions)were downloaded from http://www.usopen.org/

I grew up cheering for the hunk Andre Agassi as i learned playing lawn tennis during his prime. I was not a big fan of Roger Federer the first time i saw him play and the only thing i knew about him at that time was- he is Swiss, so i asked my friends if he is related to the popular female tennis player Martina Hingis. I saw how he defeated Andre in the Australian Open in 2004(that was the first time i saw both in person, along with the gorgeous Andy Roddick whose pretty boy looks practically took my breath away as i came few feet close in the rehearsal courts ) but through the years, i have realised that i became a Federer fan, nevertheless. Well everybody loves a winner maybe-and i am no exception This probably started when he defeated Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in 2006 men's Singles Australian Open. I started to cheer for him as i saw his mighty forehands , great backhands and his amazing aces. Yes, he is a calm and composed (i never saw him having tantrums even in stressful times all throughout a game), determined(he looks and moves every inch a winner) and driven( he always tries his mighty best) while in court. Roger cried when he received his Oz 2006 men's singles trophy and said " i badly needed this!" while thanking his supporters. From then on i watch or read his matches in Wimbledon, Australian, the Olympics in Beijing, China and now the US Open. Most of his previous games were not really good- he had unhappy losses and from the top seed, he became number 2, his previous position now held by Spain's Rafael Nadal. As i was watching the videoclip of Roger's final round and final match i cant help but gasp at his prowess yet smiled and pretty entertained when he dropped to the ground realising that he won over Britain's Andy Murray. http://www.usopen.org/ . It was a marvelous sight indeed, and yes i am a certified Roger Federer fan for the past three years and coming.

And i terribly admire him for being true to his girlfriend of many years despite his " star" status. I am thrilled everytime i watch him looking at the place where her pretty girlfriend is seated, briefly smiles and continues his serve to his opponent in the game. In one of barbecue parties with my friends along the Yarra River, which is always scheduled within the week of the Australian Open i exclaimed that i wish i can be as lucky as Roger's girlfriend because despite his extreme popularity as a tennis star, they remained an item all these years. Roger is not as gorgeous as Andy and charming as Andre yet there is something in his persona that draws people and girls in. Is there another Federer out there? Well, that's a good question, isn't it?

Most importantly, watching Federer in all his games is like watching life in reality as it unfolds. He does not necessarily win in all his games, sometimes he loses. He is capable to take his own losses gracefully yet he never loses his determination to "make it" in the next game. He lost to Rafa in the Wimbledon. He did not fare very well in the Olympics as well. Yet when he wins, one can see how triumphant a person could be by the way he drops, smiles and it elated me so much to see him kiss his trophy-he always had that kid in him and he is unafraid to show it. He never fails to acknowledge the cheering of his fans and he gamely answers every question from the sports media. He looks as if he is winning his match the first time.

As he joined the recently concluded US Open he was not the top seed anymore but his grit and determination did not wane. He is very much a human too when he never hesitates to show his emotions in the eyes of millions of viewers in court and in television. Yes, Roger Federer made it as his fifth win in the US Open and it made his fans, including me- immensely happy. In tennis and as a person Roger is every inch a winner. And i'll keep on cheering for him in his future matches. And i wish him and her girlfriend well.