Thank you Roger Federer - A letter to the Champion

Success is not measured by whether you win, but by the opposition you have encountered, and the courage with which you have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds.

You might have lost the semifinal against Andy Murray but won the hearts of millions of viewers around the world. Yes, Andy Murray played well but to me, what was heartening was to see your desire and the will power to take this match to 5 sets.

Clearly, Andy was playing better in the match but not once did I see your head dropping down or in other words, giving up at any point in the match. You are just six months away from turning 32. Rewind it to 2 years back, and many people had predicted your doom. I can only imagine the intensity you were playing with. I told myself, “Step back a moment and think about it. He’s close to 32 and still playing his heart out to win one more point.”

I was inspired by the way you played when everything looked gloomy. Your opponent had come out in firing form but still, you never lost hope. So many times in our own lives, we lose hope and as soon as we face a setback, we give up on our goals, thinking we will not be able to reach our destination. But not you. You might have not reached your goal but the drive and the intensity is still there. You can see it in the eyes, movement and the spirit with which you played the match.

5-6 down in the fourth set and you could have easily given up, considering the way Murray was playing. But then champions don’t do that and in my mind, there is no better champion than you at present.

Lessons that I learnt from you are:

1) Age is just a number.

2) The drive and the intensity is what matters in life.

3) You might not win at first but you learn from your failure and come back stronger.

4) Never lose hope even though the situation might look hopeless.

5) A true champion does not give up in face of adversity.

6) An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this, lies the great distinction between great men and average individuals.

You might have lost but I feel privileged to be able to watch your match. What you taught us will always be one of the most precious gifts for a Federer fan. Keep your head up, as I know that the champion that you are, you will come back stronger and better in the next Grand Slam. Failure can never overtake you because your determination to succeed is stronger and it will be foolish to underestimate the heart of a champion.

Thank you Roger Federer for the wonderful Australian Open.

If you have any questions, you can mail me at apekshaha@gmail.com