Roger Federer creates history

July 5, 2009 and history was created at Wimbledon when Roger Federer went past Pete Sampras' record of 14 Grand slam titles. For a fleeting moment after the 2008 Wimbledon loss to Nadal and during the earlier part of this year, Federer had this strange churn in his stomach that he might have met his nemesis. He took a break from the game to get over his back problem and came back all the more stronger to win his first French open title which he was craving for. He had to prove it more to himself that he could win in all types of surface.

15 Grand slams titles, 20 Grand slam finals, 80% all time win record. What else can one do better? Looks virtually impossible for anyone to match this performance, let alone surpass it and mind you, he is still not through yet. The statistics by themselves are mind boggling but even for a purist, Roger stands out as the best the game has ever produced. The grace, elegance and poise he brings to the game- both on and off the court- can hardly be matched. He demolishes his opponents with such grace that they hardly seem to notice it and more so don't seem offended by the ease with which it is mostly done.

The moment he won the French open, the arguments on who is the best ever tennis player ceased to exist. It is almost as if God created him to embody all that tennis is. The greatness in his play is how he positions himself to play the stroke. In that remains the secret of his success.

Andy Rodick was the most unfortunate person on July 5, 2009. He played a game of his lifetime. Actually, he was better than Federer that day but it was not his day. Federer had a date with history and the Lord of grass made it his own.