It was too good to be true. You would need to pinch yourself to realize that it wasn’t a dream, that it was all real, that you just saw Roger Federer playing Novak Djokovic. live. Here in New Delhi.
Did we hear anyone using the exhibition wordIJ Because it wasn’t. They were serious as hell; putting their best efforts in every serve, in every return. The impossible angels that both Federer and Djokovic were creating out of nowhere can’t be done unless you are 100 per cent into the game.
Neither Federer, nor Djokovic was ready to give an inch as they dragged each other into long rallies. Some went Federer’s way, some Djokovic’s but it was a win-win situation for their fans, who travelled from all corners of the country.
The pumping of the fist and urging fans to raise the decibel level after grabbing a good point were the highlights of their contest. It was like they were settling their unsettled ATP World Tour Finals account that couldn’t go ahead due to Federer’s injury-forced last-minute withdrawal.
As most of the people in India are not accustomed to experience such an exciting, perfect-to-the-hilt tennis, the contest between world No 1 and 2 forced ‘oohs and aahs’ from their lips as they sat on the edges of their seats.
That the match went to the wire was only an icing on the cake. Both broke each other’s serve on a couple of occasions to take lead or break even in the set but ultimately it was decided through the five-mintue tie-breaker where Federer edged Djokovic 6-5. The last game of the Delhi leg of the International Premier Tennis league (IPTl) turned out to an happy ending for all. People got what they were rooting for – a Federer win. Sponsors got the attention. And the organisers got the thumbs up from everyone.