1. Roger Federer IS Alive And Well
Wikipedia Since his loss to Rafael Nadal in the final of Wimbledon 2008, Roger Federer has faced an onslaught of increasingly amplified calls for him to retire. Time and again Federer has forced their silence by bouncing back from his setbacks to continue his winning ways. Since that epic loss to Nadal in 2008, Federer has gone on to win a further 5 Grand Slam Championships to become a record setting 17 time Grand Slam Champion. However his last Grand Slam was won at Wimbledon in 2012, and since then he has suffered injuries and the onset of a gradual and barely noticeable decline. At 33 years of age he is a seasoned veteran undoubtedly in the twilight of his illustrious career. He himself acknowledges that he will not be playing for another ten years, despite wishing he was 25 again so he could indeed play for another decade! It is with this acknowledgement and his declining results that obituaries have once again been published en masse as many speculate as to the timing of his retirement. Yet throughout 2014 Federer has defied the call of retirement after regaining a decent level of form. Armed with a more forgiving racket he entered Wimbledon 2014 with a renewed confidence that materialised into a seamless run to the Wimbledon final. While he may have lost the final to an awesome in form Djokovic, the manner of his defeat serves to silence the questions of retirement for the time being at least. After all if it were not for a few loose games, Federer could have realistically won his 18th Grand Slam title which highlights how an aging Federer is still a contender in what ever tournament he elects to play, including the big four Grand Slams. Of course the days of Federer's yearly dominance are long over but if we are to take one thing from Wimbledon 2014, it would be that despite all the doubters, naysayers and critics, Roger Federer is alive and well. Such has been the improvement in Federer's all court game, it would not be beyond the realms of possibility to take the great man at his word and see him using his Wimbledon final defeat as a, 'stepping stone to great things.' Perhaps his 6th US Open Championship and Grand Slam number 18 awaits on the near horizon... Did you enjoy Wimbledon 2014? Share your appreciation in the comments section below.