federer moments

Peter Bodo of Tennis.com on the current gold-piped, perfectly coiffed branding of Roger Federer...

This matters because Federer is not only a great tennis player, he's the great tennis player, holding the game aloft on his shoulders like a modern-day Atlas. And the extent to which he's checked off on creating a specific image undermines the degree to which he transcends image, for the sharper the image, the more likely it is put off as well as attract. We're still different people with different tastes, values and aspirations, and the further you drift from pure performance and personal conduct (as well as the norm in your peer group), the less representative you become.

But it is about the tennis, of course. And because I'm still reading Infinite Jest (on the iPhone's Kindle reader, no less, screen by screen by screen), here's a recognizable sliver of DFW on RF:

Almost anyone who loves tennis and follows the men’s tour on television has, over the last few years, had what might be termed Federer Moments. These are times, as you watch the young Swiss play, when the jaw drops and eyes protrude and sounds are made that bring spouses in from other rooms to see if you’re O.K.

There were more than a few Federer Moments in the Sunday final; all of them contributed to those destroyed tears in Roddick's eyes at the end of the match...that look on his face that said as plain as day "I am never going to make it through him, am I."

Comments

[Rahul Ganjoo]

I know a lot of people who hate Federer just because of the stuff he does with Nike - his wimbledon jackets, trophies/numbers on shoes etc. My personal view is if you are that good, it doesn't matter if you arrive at the center court in your chopper! If you noticed, even the plastic racquet covers he uses are embossed RF :)

Talking about Fed moments,I've watched the 2nd set tie break umpteen times already and I can totally picture Roddick getting up in the middle of the night thinking about those 4 points. How Federer dug himself out of that hole escapes me. And I think people use the word "luck" liberally when it comes to Federer. He's more special than lucky. Fifteen love and counting...

[Wedding Girl]

I agree Federer is controversial but I think he brings a lot of that about to increase his personal brand.

[Michael Sippey]

There was that one point in particular that I'm sure is keeping Roddick up at night. The one where he could have closed out the second set, and mishit the backhand volley, sending it wide. (And yes, Federer's definitely more special than lucky.)