Douglas MacArthur (26 January 1880 – 5 April 1964) was an American five-star general. Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s, he played a pivotal role in World War Two’s Pacific theater.. For his service in the Philippines Campaign, he received the Medal of Honor and was one of only five men ever to rise to the rank of General of the Army in the US Army. When President Truman relieved MacArthur of his duties, the General stated, “The world has turned over many times since I took the oath on the plain at West Point, and the hopes and dreams have long since vanished, but I still remember the refrain of one of the most popular barrack ballads of that day, which proclaimed most proudly that “old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”
The second week of the US OPEN begins tomorrow. On the men’s side, a lone survivor, Jack Sock, represents the home nation, wielding the stereotypical forehand and serve of most dominant Americans. Navigating the round of 16 and beyond is one of those quests American men have found difficult in recent years. Still, Sock is playing well and has enough game to go deep into the majors. Then again, there are a few contenders who’ve traveled this path successfully and intend to prevent him from making it to the final day. Rafa is striking the ball with an authority unseen in recent years. Murray appears to be headed toward the world’d number one ranking, and Djokovic wants to keep alive his shot at making history by winning the most major titles. There’s even a guy named Del Potro who’s held the championship trophy here and he appears to be weathering the scars on his wrist as he seeks the final Sunday one more time.
All of this brings me back to MacArthur though. See, this is one of the first tournaments where we don’t see what has become a household name even for non-tennis fans. The guy is so popular he brings celebrities into tennis’s largest houses just to watch him play. He can’t eat dinner in restaurants without crowds seeking his word, his autograph, or his glance. He’s held more championship trophies than any man in tennis history and his absence in these events has a presence. Even though he still appears in the top 5 rankings, and even though his game is often profound enough to make us believe there is one more title in him, much of the tennis world wonders if we’ve seen Roger Federer’s last days on the court.
We know he is healing. We desperately want him back in the draws. We want to witness the talent, the courage, the elegance with which he’s mastered this game. But there’s some doubt now. Certainly he is an old soldier. Certainly he is proud. He is, most definitely, not dead. But, like that famous general who served his people so faithfully, who conquered hopes and dreams beyond all imagination, is he fading away? Let’s hope not. Let’s hope his absence is a temporary lull in the constant assault on tennis history. Let’s hope he sees there are still more battles to be waged and won. The tennis world needs its stalwart leader.
Get well soon, Mr Federer.
Topics: 10sballs.com, 2016 U.S. Open, Andy Murray, Craig Cignarelli, jack sock, Juan Martin Del Potro, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis, US Open tennis
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