To my mind, Swiss tennis player Roger Federer is simply sublime. He didn’t exactly play his best tennis at the O2 Arena in London last night, and it certainly was a tough three-setter. But his mindful manner and pure mastery of the game ensured that he retained his title as ATP World Tour champion and beat the pretender, the boisterous Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Federer was poised to reclaim his world number-one rating next year or soon thereafter. What a win that would be, in the face of all the pundits writing him off this year.

Roger Federer celebrates winning the ATP World Tour men's singles tennis final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in London. Picture: Reuters

Thankfully, Federer’s win last night (his sixth ATP title) means he immediately goes up a notch in the rankings and displaces the dour Scot Andy Murrary from number three. It always seemed ridiculous to me  that Murray could ever be above Federer in the world rankings — the tennis equivalent of an oxymoron.

No matter how hard he tries, Murray simply doesn’t come close to a match for Federer in style, substance and subtlety of play.  I doubt he ever will.

Despite being written off at 30 as over the tennis hill, Federer’s appetite for success is undimmed. That must be due in part to his South African spirit: his Afrikaans mother was born Lynette du Rand in South Africa.

What a perfect tennis boytjie she has helped produce!

Tags: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Roger Federer, tennis