What makes Roger Federer so fascinating at 40?

WATCH: Federer's fantastic footwork

No tennis player in the sport’s history has generated more collective swooning. From fashion editors to scientists, pop stars to politicians, legends to rivals, and millions of fans in all corners of the globe, Roger Federer is lionized as tennis’ quintessential stylist, an ambassador for the game in both manner and method. Federer was once rated the second-most respected man in the world, trailing only Nelson Mandela. Classic and contemporary, timeless and innovative, creative and disciplined, Federer can take the court versus anyone and be certain to leave spectators breathless as they take in his silky-smooth movements and broad spectrum of strokes.

It’s been a fascinating journey for a man who first encountered pro tennis as a ball kid at the ATP event in his hometown of Basel, Switzerland. As a teenager, Federer arrived on the scene seemingly a complete player. And yet, over the course of more than 20 years, he has had at least three distinct stylistic phases, making transitions from a serve-and-volley hopeful to a razor- sharp baseliner to a crafty all-courter.

Federer is a master of that artistic guideline: Make it new. Leave it to him to deploy a 100-year-old tactic long known as “chip and charge” and rechristen it “the SABR,” short-hand for “sneak attack by Roger.” Other improvements include a mid-career embrace of the drop shot, as well as an altered approach to driving his back- hand that allowed the 35-year-old to resurrect himself in 2017 after missing the last half of 2016 with injury. Federer earned two Grand Slam titles that year, another one in 2018, and even briefly regained the No. 1 ranking. He also altered the direction of his rivalry with Nadal, besting the Spaniard six out of seven times from 2015 to ’19.

Now 40 years old, both Federer and the millions who have relished him for so long hope to savor every last possible drop of his brilliant career.