steadfast

Federer fans have really been indulging their impending sense of doom lately -- especially with Djokovic possibly days away from a #2 ranking. They should not worry. The next 7 months will produce the sort of exciting and competitive tennis we have not seen in years, and Roger will remain on top.

As he put it after Rome:

"The more I lose, the more they believe they can beat me. But believing is not enough, you still have to beat me."

And a few days later:

"I have the feeling that I still have so much ahead of me and so many possibilities in tennis. I just love the sport. It would break my heart if I had to stop."