The Best?

Folks know I’m a tennis fan, as shown by my pieces on the magnificent Williams sisters. But in men’s tennis, there’s one name that equates to the best in the game, Swiss player Roger Federer. He played an outstanding game with 20-year-old Serbian phenom, Novak Djokovic, in the U.S. Open. He beat the young Serb in straight sets, and by so doing, set a standard not seen since Big Bill Tilden won four consecutive wins in the U.S. championships back in the 1920s. In the first two sets, Federer actually came from behind to win. In the second set, Djokovic led by four games to one, only to see Federer utilize his serve to inch his way back by tying him, and then dominating in the second tie break. Truly, Roger Federer is a master of this game. With moves described as ballet-like, 11 aces, and a brutal return game, Federer outclassed a game young opponent—the same young man who beat him several weeks ago by scores of 7-6, 7-6, 6-4. In the world of sport, he’s in a class of one. From death row, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal. 

These commentaries are produced by Noelle Hanrahan for Prison Radio.