What Is Greatness
Workforce production across the world has ground to a standstill for the past almost 30 days thanks to an event that has even some Americans starting to associate Football with the sport where feet do work instead of providing simple locomotion for the rest of the body. In what could be described as a rather amazing turn of events, World Cup Fever has become serious entertainment replete with story lines, drama, and unbearable background noises, all wrapped in a container of impressive physical abilities and talent. During this same time period, two other sporting events took place, both significant championships for their respective sports. Instead of once every four years, these particular tournaments place once per year and even then, they do not make up the only major championships of the year.
The two events are the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, representing golf and tennis respectively. While not as significant in contrast to the sheer scope and worldwide attention deservedly given to the World Cup, in each we find something that comes along so rarely, especially in these non-team centric sports. History. In both golf and tennis we see active individuals whose accomplishments have shattered (and we hope will continue to shatter) the vast majority of records thought unreachable, and setting ones that look even more so. These two players, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer have done more than set history. They have given us something else. A taste at greatness. In Tiger’s case, his greatness has come with some off the course tarnish. With Federer, though still under 30 years of age, this year, we have seen his greatness not challenged in the sum of the accomplishments but in the duration that it may continue. With Wimbledon having just completed and the best that has ever played dropping to number three in the world, we focus on him as opposed to Mr. Woods, who at 34, presumably has a good ten years of championship caliber competitive golf remaining.
It pains me almost that I did not start watching tennis earlier, for I missed the vast majority of Roger Federer’s achievements. They are so noteworthy, they bear mentioning. First, consider if you will that winning one major championship is a dream come true for many players. There are many in the current top 10 who have yet to do that, and here they are considered among the absolute best of any among the tens of millions who play. It isn’t just that Roger has now won the most of any male player with 16. It is the dominance with which he has done so. His 16 major championships have come in a span of 27 majors (2003 Wimbledon – 2010 Australian Open). Pete Sampras, whom Federer has bested in this respect won his once untouchable 14 in 49 majors since winning the first (1990 US Open – 2002 US Open). For Federer, this includes five straight U.S. Open victories and five straight Wimbledon titles. Five years in a row for two of them. He’s the only one to do that. And, he is the only one to win two majors in the same year for four years in a row. In fact, during this streak, in only one year did he lose two majors in a row.
Perhaps more impressive than the number of major victories is the overall consistency of his performance at the majors. We just saw the semifinals take place in the World Cup – the winners of each go to the final. Getting to the semi’s is effectively a tie for third place of the tournament. Getting there a few times in a major can get you into the top 10 of the sport. Federer reached 23 Grand Slam semifinals… in a row.. From the middle of 2004 through the beginning of 2010, Federer made it all the way to the semifinals in every Grand Slam; the next nearest has 10. Also a record, that during this streak he reached five consecutive semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments. Unreal. This year, he “only” reached the quarterfinals at the French Open and Wimbledon, titles in which he entered as the defending champion. That he didn’t make the semifinal, let alone the finals, is something akin to loss. This is a champion who, out of his total 25 semifinals, has appeared in 22 finals.
Other players can beat Roger in a few categories. Jimmy Connors for instance has appeared in more semifinals than Federer. Ivan Lendl also reached seven consecutive Australian Open semifinals. But, it takes the best of the best’s best put together to even come close to the totality of Roger’s achievements. Missing from this list, though, are some of the traits that will make it tough for anyone to match his performance. It isn’t just the lack of tantrums that have made infamous John McEnroe’s time on court or the lack of fortitude seen in some of the younger champions. There is a thoughtfulness that Roger seems to possess that extends beyond the placement of shots during points. Challenged will you be to find someone who shows such thoughtfulness after the points, namely with awareness of the ball boys / girls. It is so unseen in other professionals, and unexpected, let alone in arguably the greatest player to have played. Almost inevitably, regardless of the outcome of the point, if it ends with a shot on his side of the court, you will see him, in varying displays of finesse route the ball to the most appropriate person. It comes across as almost an after thought, a did I do that? but it is a conscious act and yet another angle to the absolute completeness of his game.
Longevity, consistency, a will to win, respect from peers, completeness, and an unmatched composure all while dominating the competition in nothing short of a monopolistic fashion, yet in a way that manages to raise the game of all. These are the rare traits of greatness. It is what we should all strive for, but as we see, only a handful each generation will achieve them. If we try, though, and get as close as we can in each, we will be surprised by the results. The top 10 is not a bad place to be.
