MONTREAL, QC – AUGUST 13: Roger Federer of Switzerland looks on after his 6-3, 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev of Germany in the final during day ten of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank at Uniprix Stadium on August 13, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
Federer plays one “cricket shot”, shoots up the ICC rankings [video]
Maybe Swiss cricket can boast about that one.
MONTREAL, QC – AUGUST 13: Roger Federer of Switzerland looks on after his 6-3, 6-4 loss to Alexander Zverev of Germany in the final during day ten of the Rogers Cup presented by National Bank at Uniprix Stadium on August 13, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
For a brief moment on Monday night, the cricket world turned upside down as the top-ranked Test batsman came not from one of the game’s traditional powerhouses, but from the mostly non-cricketing nation of Switzerland.
Many an actual Test cricketer might have spent their entire careers attempting to be the best in the sport, but all it took for tennis legend, Roger Federer was a firm front-foot, watchful eyes and a decent enough forward defence, and he transcended barriers, reaching “icon” status in another sport.
This was all in the spirit of banter, of course, but cricket’s governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC) sat up and took notice – albeit with a bit of a push from Wimbledon – as a mere block for no run had him momentarily surpass the likes of Indian skipper and run machine Virat Kohli for the number one spot.
Watch: Wimbledon 2018: Nick Kyrgios gets owned by a sarcastic umpire
Watch Roger Federer’s forward defence in video below:
Ratings for @rogerfederer‘s forward defence, @ICC?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/VVAt2wHPa4
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2018
The ICC obliged, as they played along handing the 20-time Grand Slam champion another feather in his cap.
*sigh* ok… ???? pic.twitter.com/KXnhaznxL8
— ICC (@ICC) July 9, 2018
Read: Wimbledon 2018: Has a South African ever won a title at SW17?
Game recognise game as the great Sachin chips in
One man who would know all about the perfect forward defence is Indian legend, Sachin Tendulkar, who gave the Swiss a thumbs up.
As always, great hand-eye co-ordination. @rogerfederer, let’s exchange notes on cricket and tennis after you win your 9th @Wimbledon title ???????? https://t.co/2TNUHGn1zK
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 10, 2018
When greatness recognises greatness ???? pic.twitter.com/UB2hJli5gw
— ICC (@ICC) July 9, 2018
Back to tennis…
Federer cruised the round of 16 encounter against France’s Adrian Mannarino in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals where he will meet South Africa’s Kevin Anderson on Wednesday.
The eighth seed had a tougher time of it against Frenchman Gael Monfils, with all four sets played in the match going the distance as he triumphed 7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 7-6.
Watch: Will Ferrell channels Ron Burgundy during Roger Federer post-match interview
