Is Federer his own biggest challenge? Conspiracy theory

10 Grand Slam finals in a row. 5 Wimbledons in a row, 4 US Opens in a row and 3 Australian Opens. Even 2 French Open finals. 189 consecutive weeks as World No.1. Mark Philippoussis, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Marcos Baghdatis, Rafael Nadal, Fernando González, and Novak Đoković. 12 finals, one five setter. Only 26 and already 35 million dollars in earnings. A couple of records left. Pete Sampras is in his sights. Paris and Beijing await.

He's human, he's even lost a few matches. In 2003 he won 78 matches and lost 17, since then he's won 299 and lost 21. This year he's lost more matches than the previous 3 years but he still won his 3 grand slams. So are others catching up or is he letting them catch up? Is he losing his grip or is he letting them win a few, in turn challenging himself?

Take the final of the US Open against the young Serb Novak Đoković. First set races to 5-5, neither player offering a single break point to the other. Federer surprisingly tightens up and loses his service game to go down 5-6. Novak continues his impressive serve and goes up 40 love. 3 set points on his serve. Federer had won only 5 points of Novak's serve in the entire set. As everyone prepares for a four setter or maybe even a five, Federer wins three points in a row. He fight off two more set points and takes the advantage away from Novak and clinches the game. He wins the tie-breaker. Yes, the commentators said it was nerves. yes, they said Federer kept his cool and came back. But what are the odds of all these independent things happening and falling just in place for Federer? Could he have orchestrated this drama himself?

Now turn the clock back a tournament to Montreal. Federer in the finals again with Novak. This time first set Federer is up 6-5, 40-love. Novak wins three points and then wins the game and then the tie-breaker and then goes on to win the match.

See anything similar? Could it really be a case of "If you can do it, so can I!"? Could he have purposely gone down 6-5, 40-0, so that he can challenge himself to come back and beat Novak the way he had beaten him? It would take a man of supreme confidence, a man of unnatural genius to take that chance. Isn't that Roger Federer? It's living on the edge but who is more balanced than the world's number one?

While everyone in the world, players old and new, commentators, journalists, statisticians, conspire to find that Achilles heel, he Roger Federer conspires against them all, using them in his grand plan, leading him from tennis player, to world number one, to icon, to legend.