FINDING THE NET
MNINAWA NTLOKO: Federer a Swiss not to miss as the world roots for his success
My dad was a useful tennis player in his time and he introduced me to the sport at an early age in the then Transkei. The tennis courts they used were not much, but my old man and his friends took the sport very seriously, insisting on emulating the strict Wimbledon dress code by donning all-white outfits. My father’s favourite players changed with time but he eventually settled on a 21-year-old Swiss who demolished Mark Philippoussis at the All England Club 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to win Wimbledon in 2003. He developed a soft spot for Roger Federer after that maiden Grand Slam triumph and enjoyed watching the Swiss in his later years. Federer had won 17 Grand Slams when my dad passed away in January 2013 and I couldn’t help wondering what he would have said when the 36-year-old beat Croatia’s Marin Cilic 6-2 6-7 6-3 3-6 6-1 in Melbourne in January to win his 20th Grand Slam title. Better yet, it would have given him a kick to see Federer become the oldest world No1 in history this ...
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