I like to play and to watch tennis.  Roger Federer has been and remains my tennis hero because of his outstanding record of achievement on the court and because of the classy way in which he wins – he is the most complete and the most elegant player of all time.  No one before him has combined both power and grace in such a potent competitive package.  

I greatly admire Rafa Nadal’s huge power, speed and ferocity (at least when he is not playing injured); I warmed to Andre Agassi over the years as immaturity gave way to pure heart; Pete Sampras and Rod Laver occupy their rightful places in my pantheon of tennis gods; Bjorn Borg and Pancho Gonzalez deserve special mention; and Arthur Ashe, while not among the greatest players was surely among the greatest human beings to win a major.

In addition to the pure fun and physical exertion of playing tennis, I enjoy the personal challenge of self-mastery and quest for self-improvement.  Two mathematical functions describe my game.  The first is the downward sloping curve of physical ability, speed and power as I approach 50; the second is, thankfully, the upward sloping curve of experience, court time and muscle memory. For the time being, the slope of the latter exceeds the former, and thus their point of intersect has been rising.  

I also enjoy the mental and competitive aspects of the game, marking my progress by epic matches with close friends, with the satisfaction of a rare win over a better player far outweighing any disappointment at a loss.  The parallels between sport and business are overused to the point of being hackneyed; however, the focus, drive and control required to perform at world class levels are similar.

It was thus with a tinge of sadness that I watched Roger Federer self-destruct Monday evening at Flushing Meadow.  He coasted, seemingly effortlessly, through the first set and a half and then seemed to grow complacent.  He let an imposing Juan Martin Del Potro back into the match and then could not take back up his game as so often in the past. I have seen businesses do the same, including one I have spent much of a career getting back into the game.

I see this year’s US Open final as less of a passing of an era, although Del Potro will all but certainly mature into a potent force over the coming years, and more of a cautionary tale for all of us on the court or in business.  We are at our most vulnerable when we achieve our greatest success and acclaim.  A bit of healthy paranoia and humility, so long as it does not bring on self-doubt and paralysis,  is no bad thing. 

Federer has had a very good year in tennis, and more importantly a very good year in life with the birth of his twins.  His place in tennis history is assured, and the next time they meet, I have a hunch Del Potro will need more than his huge forehand to win.