Federer, like fine wine, continues to get better with age

As darkness began to bear down at Roland Garros on Friday, Roger Federer yet again saved his best for last.

In a moment of sheer brilliance, Federer smashed an ace through the left corner of the service box. In doing so, he smashed Novak Djokovic's dreams of entering the record books, winning the match 7-6, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6.

Djokovic, who could have gained the world's No. 1 rank with a victory, entered the semifinals on a 41-match winning streak in 2011, the second best mark to start a calendar year behind only John McEnroe in 1984.

But, it was Federer, in spite of all the criticism he has unfairly received the past two years, who looked like he was the best player on the planet.

Yet, Federer's victory seemed to shock NBC's broadcast team, McEnroe included, as they raised questions about his age and diminishing skill set.

Really?

Federer is 29 years young and currently No. 3 in the ATP rankings posted on May 31. But if you listen to most tennis "experts", they would have you believe that the greatest singles champion in men's tennis history should be rolling around in a wheelchair.

Roger was born in 1981 in Basel, Switzerland. Care to find out who else shares his birth year?

Among others, NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu, Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning, Red Sox All-Star Carl Crawford and Memphis Grizzlies' power forward Zach Randolph.

Interestingly enough, Crawford, Randolph and Chicago Bulls' forward Carlos Boozer, also 29, just signed long-term contract extensions; no need to worry about their professional careers.

I understand that Federer has struggled in recent matches against Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, but he's one of the few athletes in the world whose B-game surpasses other athletes' A-game.

Ask Andy Roddick (and his career 2-20 head-to-head record against Federer) if Roger's washed up.

If you ask me, Federer has gotten better with age in a number of respects.

First and foremost, he might be the most mentally tough player to come along in three decades. When he started his career, Federer was viewed as a bit of a punk who smashed his records and screamed whenever things got away from him.

Now, he is regarded as tennis' all-time mental warrior, owning a career record of 175-0 when leading after two sets in grand slam matches.

Simply put, if Fed is ahead, put the match to bed.

Federer has also developed a serve which rivals some of the biggest hitters'. His final ace on Friday scorched the earth at 127 mph.

In the fourth set. In a tiebreak. After more than three and a half hours of playing.

He might also be the most well-conditioned athlete in the sport, not just some "grandpa" as NBC jokingly called him. While Nadal has battled a number of nagging injuries along the road to greatness, Federer has not missed any significant time with an injury.

Well, unless you consider his bout of mononucleosis an injury, that is.

But at the end of the day, what makes Federer the toughest out in tennis is his ability to hit near-impossible shots. Whether it's a one-handed backhand down the line or a passing shot through his legs, Federer is never truly out of a point.

So regardless of his defeat against Nadal in Sunday's title, a man he's now lost to in 17 of 25 career matches, it's clear that we have not seen the last of the mighty Federer.

While walking toward the net to shake the fallen Djokovic's hand, Federer shook his pointer finger as if to say ‘I'm not done yet; I've got one more left in me.'

It also served as a reminder of who the true No. 1 is in the tennis world.