But the king knows better. His horses are no longer the fastest, weary of long years of war. His rein threatened by worthy successors, who have won quite a few battles. But the king has nothing to prove, it has been a long journey and he has conquered them all.
2001, Wimbledon centre court, round of sixteen: The prince has come of age, defeating the then invincible Pete Sampras. That was just the beginning. 9 years later, 16 grand slams, 285 weeks of dominance, all 4 grandslams and all 3 surfaces............
But stats don't say it all! The genius of shot making - the crafty forehand, the flawless execution that never fails to magically creates winners, time after time.........the precision of the volleys (in the long lost game of serve and volley).......the mighty serves........the impossible overheads.....
With the shadows of retirement looming large, the world of tennis will cherish every moment of the genius in play. Go Fedex.
