Poetry in motion, sublime, unstoppable, simply the best and gazillions more! Adjectives and phrases have been exhausted to describe style of play of Roger Federer. However, as even his detractors would tell you, words often don’t do justice.

It’s what Federer’s play does to your senses that truly bears testimony to his genius. The sheer audacity and unalloyed brilliance of his groundstrokes literally causes your eyes to jump out of their sockets and leaves you agape. 

Federer’s groundstrokes are like vintage wine

Those sumptuously masterful forehand winners, the rapier-like backhand cross-courts that leave opponents, even the best of them, clueless and viewers breathless, those stunning drop shots and volleys that make you send up a silent ‘thank you’ to the Heavens that you were born in his generation. 

Simply put, his game is like fine wine, carefully picked from a rare vintage, that courses down your throat like silk and soothes your senses like nothing else can. Or, like Swiss cheese, that cuts like velvet and melts in your mouth.

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While one can wax eloquent on his shots till kingdom come, his serves are no less spectacular. As with his groundstrokes, they are an extension of his signature grace and poise, often leaving rivals with that familiar sense of not knowing what hit them.

In the 22 years that he has lorded the courts like a conqueror, though less of a marauding invader, Federer’s serve has gone through several levels, each better than the last.

Roger Federer had a side-on service action during his initial years in tennis

In the initial phase of his career, which was back in 1998 when he turned pro, the 20-time Grand Slam champion had a decidedly side-on service action, with a head of steam and a jump going into it at the point of impact.

He then followed it up with a slightly-adjusted action with an aim to direct his serves wide of his opponents’ reach. 

In another variety that he added to his wide repertoire, the six-time Australian Open champion perfected a serve directed at the body, leaving his rivals with two choices – to either fend it out of play or send back a loopy ball for an easy put-away.

Federer’s front-on serve ala Sampras

In another, more front-on action, Federer aimed his serves down the ‘T’, with most ending up as aces or, as was the case with a few where the opponents managed to reach them, limp returns that were suitably dealt with.

It was more a leaf out ‘Pistol’ Pete, the way his one-time rival fired his scuds straight down the line. As with Sampras, this serve proved to be particularly effective for the Swiss on grass, especially at Wimbledon where he won eight of his Grand Slam titles.

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While the sheer joy that he continues to bring to fans and followers through his incredible performances will live long after he had played his last point, his wide array of shots and serves would remain a test case of where a player can elevate his level to.