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Sometimes a loss can be a future victory

In his quarterfinal match at the Australian Open on Wednesday, Roger Federer was resilience personified. Two sets to one down and facing three match points in the tiebreak, he was troubled by a strained leg and a lack of timing. But Federer is a conductor and at this point he picked up the baton to make everyone play to his tune. He saved seven match points in total and won the tiebreak in dramatic fashion.

 

Longevity and resilience should be key factors when analysing the greatest sportsmen and women of all time and, for me, Federer is right up there. He has been disciplined about his fitness and diet; he has adapted his game and been honest about his weaknesses; he has respected every opponent and never taken anything for granted. At 38, after all his success, it is incredible that he is still playing at this level. I know he lost his semi-final but he will be back.

 

Federer’s integrity and drive are examples to all. I am obviously delighted to see my nephew, Huw Jones, back in a Scotland jersey tomorrow as the Six Nations kicks off and I applaud him for his resilience after the disappointment of not being selected for the World Cup. Instead of being bitter, he was honest, listened to advice and worked on aspects of his game that were deemed weak. In an interview on Tuesday he said, ‘It’s never ideal to go through a slump in form, but sometimes I think it is probably necessary. It made me look at myself and what I can improve rather than riding that wave and not really working on what I should be working on. I think I’ve done that and I’ve definitely come out a more rounded player and a better player for it’.

 

So things do not always go our way. Others may get selected ahead of us or simply be better on the day. But we must not lose heart. Sometimes a loss can be a victory in the future.