Sublime 'Fedex', ebullient Paes

Should the peerless Roger Federer hang up his racquet, having failed to win any tennis major in the last three years? Doubters point out that ‘Fedex’ is 34 years old and clearly past his prime. But it may be a cruel exaggeration to now call him a pale shadow of his former invincible self. In fact, the Swiss maestro is playing sublime tennis, evident in all its glory in the manner he dismantled third-ranked, British crowd favourite Andy Murray in the Wimbledon semis. In the fils, he was up against defending champion and World No.1 Novak Djokovic in full cry. Though Federer lost his Wimbledon fil for the second year running and missed his chance to set a record of eight crowns, this match actually could have gone his way. ‘Fedex’ is playing the way he is, because he has been there, and done that. In coming years, Federer may yet add a grand slam win to his tally of 17, as Goran Ivanisevic did at Wimbledon and Marat Safin at the Australian Open against all expectations. Along the way, Roger Federer is also showing that it is possible, and very much enjoyable, to play a game at the highest level, despite the hard grind and razor-sharp competition. India’s 42-year old Leander Paes also shows similar resolve in refusing to fade away, in the ebullient manner he won yet another doubles crown this year at Wimbledon, a tourment he first won as a single junior champion way back in 1990