Roger Federer's Tribute To Nadal Proves There's More To A Champion Than Just Winning Trophies

For someone who was deemed dead and buried after his knee surgery in 2016, Roger Federer has come a long way to sweep top honours and praise in the tennis world. Battling all odds, Federer marked a sensational return last year. His dream run - more of a second coming - began with an unlikely victory over his biggest nemesis, Rafael Nadal on the very same court in 2017. The Spaniard had a particular hold over his Swiss counterpart and his narrative. But, in five closely-fought sets, with his backhand working like a charm again, Federer rose from the ashes. At 35, he was not supposed to win a Grand Slam - having not won one since his 2012 Wimbledon victory. He had gone for broke, only to come out with one of the most amazing triumphs of his career. And, since then, there has been no turning back for Federer. Playing with a born-again radiance and lightness ever since, Federer met Nadal four times last season, beating him in every duel. And, even when many doubted his hunger and fitness to emulate his success in 2018, the tennis icon imagined perfection and delivered history by successfully defending his Australian Open title at a jam-packed Rod Laver Arena. © Reuters Today, Federer stands tall with 20 Grand Slam titles – the most by any man in singles. The fact that, at 36, he is the oldest player to clinch the world number one spot in men's singles rankings further shows how fit he is to carry out the job. And, as one whose brand value exceeds the likes of LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods and Neymar, it's safe to say that Federer has nothing left to achieve. But, a true champion is known for his winning mentality, not just professionally, but also personally. With literally nothing left for him to prove, Federer now seems to be on track to redefine the aura of a memorable champion. And, he's doing so sans his racket or tennis skills. A sports icon who already won over fans with his countless performances, Federer has now set his sights on winning hearts. From his emotional speeches to honest, down-to-earth interviews, the Swiss ace has managed to punch above his weight with humility. A similar incident came to the fore recently where Federer once again left everyone speechless. © BCCL On 27 February, dressed in a tuxedo, holding two awards - Comeback of the Year and Sportsman of the Year, Federer was undeniably the perfect embodiment of a true champion at the 18th Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony. But, the Swiss ace didn't just look like a winner, but also spoke like one. For someone who won big at the coveted event, no one expected Federer or, for that matter, any other winner to thank their rivals, let alone pay a touching tribute them. But, Federer, as we all know, is a cut above the rest. In a heartfelt gesture, Federer thanked Nadal for making him a better player. “Thank you to my rival Rafa. I wanted to give a shoutout to him. He had an unbelievable year himself. We had a great battle and it's because of a guy like him, I think I'm a better player. He (Nadal) could very well be here tonight standing here with this award because he's an incredible player, incredible friend and incredible athlete," Federer said. © Reuters "All the matches that you've played against one another, they sort of connect you to some extent. When you lose against a guy 9-7 in the fifth [set] or you win 9-7 in the fifth, it leaves something special there for everyone. Whenever you walk past a guy, you know there was a match that really shaped your character maybe as well," he added. There have been winners before Federer who once ruled the tennis world. But, there is one big factor that separates Federer from other champions and it's called humility. The Swiss champion is enjoying himself on and off the court, and all of a sudden, age looks like a wrong number for him. At 36, when top tennis players have quietly walked into the sunset and stepped into coaching, commentary jobs, Federer seems way too far from that stage, carving his own niche and redefining glory.