When you've got it, you've got it. That's a line taken from the pages of one American Idol judge by the name of Randy Jackson. Despite all his 'yo yo"s and "what's up dawg?", Randy makes a point that few can argue with. When you've got talent, you are set up to be great.
But of course, that is just one half of the story, the other half is all blood, sweat and tears in becoming the best there is in your arena.
When you talk about Roger Federer and Justine Henin, the line "class is forever" applies beautifully. To be really candid about it, the mere mortals in tennis can only watch in awe when Roger and Justine steps onto the court and do their thing. Sublime backhand winners, powerful forehands and instinctive volleying displays, Roger and Justine are whom I believe make tennis such a grand sport to watch. Sure, they have worked their way to near perfection but it is that ability to overshadow the rest in the field, that mental aspect of strength and assuredness in their capabilities, that raw talent that shows up on big points which make them a class above the rest.
In the Australian Open 2010, we saw the classic examples of this class we talk about. Despite Lleyton Hewitt and Niko Davydenko's workman like attitude and solid defensive play, they were sliced apart in spectacular fashion by Roger. Its almost like you feel sorry for Davy and Hewitt when you see the Swiss master torturing their game, but above all that you still yearn to see Roger whip those balls effortlessly from side to side and watch Hewitt and Davy chase them down to no avail. Its like a classic fantasy film in progress, the mere mortal against a god of sorts except the audience is on the side of the god, the god of tennis that is.
On the woman's side, the fans who cheer on a very recognisable display of poise with controlled agression in Justin Henin's courtplay show just how much she has been missed in the last two years by the tennis world. That free flowing backhand is so unique in the game, especially in the women's game and she displays such grace wielding that single-handed backhand, its ridiculous sometimes to suggest that the double backhand is a more solid stroke for female players. Today, she had no problems disposing of a hardworking Chinese player in Zheng Jie. Zheng Jie is your typical Davydenko and Hewitt in the women's game, solid baseliner and quick footwork but lacks the powerful service and front court game. You watch almost in sympathy as she was quickly wiped off the court by Justine 6-1, 6-0. She was literally outclassed. No amount of hard work she put in was going to be enough today against an inspired Henin. Justine was just too strong in every department, she is the complete player in the women's game.
Roger and Justine are what I believe stands for the beauty of this game. Their displays of grace and poise stands in sharp contrast to the guile and aggressive baseliners that define the majority of the pro tour today. And above all, they have proven that tennis is not a game about "forcing it". Its a game of "letting it flow". And when you have got talent and the strokes to back it up, it doesn't matter how long you are out of the game, or how long you have failed to live up to expectations, with work... when you've got it, you've got it.
Class is Forever, indeed.
