Celebrating the greatness of two modern-day legends

There are good sportspersons, there are excellent sportspersons and a notch above, there are the great sportspersons. So what defines a great sportsperson? It is not sheer performance. It is a good mix of performance, longevity and the hunger to succeed time and again.

In this article, we shall celebrate two wonderful sportsmen – one from cricket and another from tennis. The reason for looking at these two players is aplenty. Firstly, they have redefined the way their respective sports are played and followed. Secondly, they are undoubtedly the greatest players of their sport in their era and arguably the greatest of all time. Thirdly, no other sportsman who has played either cricket or tennis has enjoyed the same amount of cult fan following that these two men have. They are none other than Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer.

What makes Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer stand out beyond even the great players? If you have to look at it from a pure sporting angle, it is the way they play and perform in their respective sports; their longevity and more than anything else, their hunger to keep going and wanting to stay at the top. The quality levels of their games are so high that you feel like you are watching poetry in motion. How they do it and what goes on inside their minds is probably beyond scientific measure.

For these two geniuses, it is beyond the cricket field and the tennis court. Their personalities exude an aura that is so enchanting that the ordinary sports fan is able to connect with them with ease. They arouse emotions in people. For somebody who follows sports with passion, these men would have become a part of their lives for many years now. The fan prays for them on the day of a match, jumps with joy to celebrate their victories and also cries with them in a heart-breaking defeat. Such is the impact these men have had on people. They are adored so much that people switch off their lives when these sportsmen are performing.

What makes these two extra special is the fact that even after achieving almost everything possible in their respective sports, they are hungry for more success and are motivated for every new match. They make millions no doubt, but all of it is attributed to their sheer hard work and dedication. They keep their feet firmly planted on the ground and make perfect role models if you ever were looking for one. They are great ambassadors of their sport.

Another quality Tendulkar and Federer possess in common is that they are the epitome of calmness while on the field, and at the same time, have the ability to wreck havoc on the opposition. They play their games with such precision and finesse and their techniques are the closest to perfection that has ever been. You will never see a Tendulkar overdoing a century celebration or a Federer jumping like crazy on a tennis court after a tournament win. For the former, it would be a look up to the heavens and an acknowledgment of the applause from the crowd and the dressing room. And for the latter, it would be a few tears of joy and an appreciation of the crowd. It seems normal for them and they prefer to keep their focus on the next job in hand. Also, you will never see Tendulkar or Federer react to criticism or misbehaving on the field. They let their bats and racquets do the talking and the critics automatically shut up.

Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer are among the most admired, respected and worshipped sportsmen in the world and it shows when they travel to different countries. Even the fans supporting the opposition in a match want to watch a Tendulkar or a Federer in full flow. It is so easy for the opposition players to get carried away by their aura and at times, even they start enjoying these two greats play. It is an experience which no one wants to miss.

For these two sportsmen, to still continue to live their lives in a bubble and to be unflustered by what happens around them is sometimes which makes you think – are they human?

If you are wondering what is still keeping these two awesome sportsmen going, the answer lies in their love and passion for the game.

There are some people out there wanting to know when they will hang up their boots. All I can say is enjoy them while you can, for Cricket and Tennis will never be the same again without Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer. All of us are fortunate to have lived and watched these two great men in action.