I can't put my finger on the exact reason why but I just can't warm to Roger Federer. I accept that he is a wonderful tennis player and perhaps the fact that many commentators like to label him as the greatest player of all time is a factor as I always balk at such suggestions in any athlete when still playing. He appears a nice enough individual and despite the number of titles he has he still has the hunger to strive for more and continues to develop his game to further improve as the challenges he faces increase. And yet, I find him too professional and even though he shows enough emotion on the court I yearn for the flaw that makes him more human and less bland in interviews. I felt the same way about Pete Sampras in the 90s who was far to mechanical a player and not a player I could really cheer for. Now he's retired he comes across as more human and age also brings flaws as his receding hairline testifies (not that there is anything wrong with baldness).



   He first appeared more human to me when he was mentioned in a surreal exchange in Father Ted after Dougal named his pet rabbit Sampras. Now Federer has taken over his antipathy crown in my eyes and any time he shows a fault it no longer makes him look more human but only compounds my feelings as demonstrated by his choice of attire when wearing gold piped clothing with monograms. Completely irrational but when individual sportspeople start winning all the time at starts to get boring. In team events there isn't a reliance so much on one person and while people will rail against the popular team that is more tribal. The athlete who dominates the sport like Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods and Stephen Hendry have done to varying degrees makes that sport less interesting to watch from a competitive point of view if they win all the time. When they retire or lose form the next generation continues to suffer as they compete in their shadow and it is when more than one great player at a time can challenge each other that makes the sport interesting. Perhaps I shall warm to Federer as he continues to be pushed by Rafael Nadal but I fear the damage may be done and whilst I may appreciate the matches I will probably root for Nadal in any match ups.