What goes on in the mind of a champion? How is it that they are able to surprise us when we have counted them out and we begin to feel that their magic is starting to fade? How is it that they are able to do the impossible again and again, and have almost made a habit out of proving their naysayers wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n
By the time 2016 drew to a close, Roger Federer was almost down and out. It was his fourth consecutive year without adding to his Grand Slam tally, he was dumped out of the surface that he had lorded- Wimbledon, by the unheralded Milos Raonic, and to compound matters, had also suffered an injury to his knee. Novak Djokovic was starting to obtain a strangle hold over the game, and it seemed as if the sun was setting on Federer\u2019s career.<\/p>\n\n\n
In fact, Federer even reflects back on that dark period of his career and says that he feared that it might all be over.<\/p>\n\n\n
\u201cI had the injury in 2016. And, it was a very difficult year. I had thoughts, of course, \u2018Is this going to be the end?\u201d<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n By the time the 2017 Australian Open dawned on the Tennis world in January, fans had started to look away from Federer. After all, the master was 35 years old, right? Djokovic was the overwhelming favourite to lift the title, and the burden of expectations was off from his shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n After a long time, Federer arrived into a Grand Slam as just another competitor, and not an odds on favourite to lift the crown. And, that worked in his favour, For, when Genius is set free, the possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n\n\n