My favorite chocolate ambassador featured in a superb story that has nothing to do with chocolate

Engaging. Well-researched. Candid. Written in the first person sans the all-about-me tendency. 

That's what I think of GQ Magazine's cover story on Swiss tennis player Roger Federer for its annual Style Bible issue for 2017, written by Rosecrans Baldwin. Reading it truly awakened in me the desire to write again. That, and reinforced my admiration for the often-referred-to-as-The-Greatest-Tennis-Player-of-All-Time and chocolate ambassador of sorts. 

Will Roger Federer ever be done?
By Rosecrans Baldwin

Photo by Craig McDean

Federer and those extraordinary shots

I just have to share these two clips because Roger Federer is simply amazing. The world's number 2 in tennis recently won the championship title of the Gerry Weber Open, a tournament I had never heard of till a week or two ago. I wasn't even aware there was such a place as Halle -- it's in Germany and it's where the said tournament is held each year.

So today my mother and I watched part of the replay of the championship game, and after the awarding came some highlights of the previous week's matches. One showed Federer returning a shot in a curious position (seated on the ground), and I just had to look that one up. The Swiss player is known for excellence and giving his all when he's out on the court, and it seems he never gives up even when it looks like an impossible shot is the only thing that will save the point.

I found the clip showing that seated-on-the-ground shot, as well as another impressive return from the same tournament. Roger Federer has not been called Superman for nothing!







And here's another one, from a US Open match:






* Photo from Roger Federer Fans Facebook page

Twins, tennis & truly amazing shots!

A lot of women the world over give birth, and while the transmission of life is a marvelous phenomenon to contemplate from time to time, it happens quite often that it has somewhat been taken for granted.

A couple of weeks ago, however, had me -- and countless others -- overjoyed over a piece of news about the birth of twins, primarily because their dad was tennis great Roger Federer, and also since these were the younger siblings of twin sisters. How amazing is that? I was amused by a comment below one of the articles I read -- imagine if all four kids grew up to be legendary tennis players as well, and all you'd see in the Grand Slams are "Federer vs. Federer" or "Federer/Federer vs. so and so" (a doubles team is not unlikely), said the commenter. Then of course on the sidelines would be, who else? Dad and Mom Federer!

Well, I'm just heartened by the Swiss Mister's sense of priorities, as shown in the story.

Meanwhile, below are some videos that reveal more about the World's current number 4. Enjoy!












* Photo of the Madrid Open Final 2012 from RogerFedererFans.com

Even the tennis world's superman surprises himself

World No. 1 Roger Federer plays an elegant game, but he sure can throw spectacular shots when the need arises :-)

On September 15 at 4am (Manila time) is his match with Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro for the US Open Championship title.

Victory at last

Photo courtesy of Tennis Planet. Go there for more photos


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Federer wins 1st French Open for 14th major title

06/08/2009 | 07:22 AM

PARIS – Oh, how Roger Federer savored every moment with his first French Open trophy.

He raised it overhead. He cradled it in the crook of his elbow. He closed his eyes and kissed it. He examined the names of other champions etched on its base. Even in a downpour on Court Philippe Chatrier, as heavy, gray clouds blocked any shred of sunlight Sunday, that silver trophy sure seemed to glisten.

Finally, the lone major championship that had eluded Federer was his. With his latest masterful performance, Federer tied Pete Sampras' record of 14 major singles titles and became the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam.

History was at stake, and Federer was at his best, completely outplaying No. 23-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden en route to a 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory in a French Open final that lacked suspense but not significance.

"Maybe my greatest victory — or certainly the one that takes the most pressure off my shoulders," Federer said in French, moments after dropping to his knees, caking them with clay, as his 127 mph service winner ended the match. "I think that now, and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace and no longer hear that I've never won at Roland Garros."

Full article at GMA News

Today is the day

There it is again -- a sports writeup wherein the athlete's style is being described with words like "elegant," "sophistication," "grace." The last time I read something like this, it was about boxer Manny Pacquiao and his "elegant footwork." I really get a kick out of such associations :-)

Today I read again an article from the Telegraph, this time about World No. 2 Roger Federer and his upcoming French Open championship game, and there it was again --

In this age of baseline bombardment, when most players seem to look at a racket as a piece of military hardware, Federer plays with great elegance and sophistication. Federer goes about his business with a certain style.

Today's game is extremely significant as the Swiss player again has a shot at winning the French Open championship -- this time with defending champ Rafael Nadal "out of the way," having lost early in the preliminary rounds. The game is at 9 pm, Manila time.

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French Open 2009: Roger Federer is one step away from greatness
True greatness could flow from Roger Federer's racket on the red clay of Court Philippe Chatrier at Roland Garros on Sunday.

By Mark Hodgkinson in Paris
Published: 3:44PM BST 06 Jun 2009

If Federer defeats Robin Soderling this afternoon, that would give the Swiss a first French Open title, put him level with Pete Sampras on a record 14 majors, and make him only the sixth man in history to win all four grand slams.

But, more significantly than that, it would bring confirmation, if confirmation were even needed, that Federer is the greatest tennis player of all time, the alpha male for all the generations.

Full article at the Telegraph

Five gruelling sets

It's not fun to watch Roger Federer almost scrambling against his opponent. But that's just how it looked during the first three sets of today's game with Czech player Tomas Berdych; fortunately, the Swiss reigned in the end, making it through the 4th round of the Australian Open.

Here's how an interesting writeup about the match begins:

It was all going so well. Roger Federer looked as well groomed and carefully turned-out and as ever, and the Rod Laver Arena had greeted him like a favoured eldest son. He was playing, in Tomas Berdych, a man he had beaten seven straight times, and the sun was shining in the Melbourne afternoon sky. All was right with the world as far as the Australian Open’s second seed was concerned.

And then the match started.

Full article at the Australian Open website