With the thriving enterprises that superstars such as Roger Federer have become, it is sometimes easy to forget they are people with families just like everyone.
Yesterday, after his son had defeated Gael Monfils 7-6 (8), 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the French Open, there was Robert Federer with his camera and piddling zoom lens taking a picture of Roger as he walked off court.
When he disappeared into the area behind the court where postmatch interviews take place, Robert panned up to take a shot of the giant screen high in the stadium that was still showing images of Roger.
Yesterday was just not any day for the magnificent Swiss, it was the day he reached his 20th Grand Slam event semi-final in a row.
So maybe his dad just wanted to have a few shots as family souvenirs - although goodness knows there are enough other photographers with cameras clicking away to preserve the moment for posterity.
After a perilous struggle with Tommy Haas two days earlier, Federer fils survived a set point in the first-set tiebreak and then revved up, bringing to mind the 13-time Grand Slam champion at his flowing finest.
It was fascinating to listen to Monfils after the match. While the prevalent image of Federer is of a blur of flashing winners and forcing shots, the Frenchman, now 0-5 against the Swiss maestro, said, "He has this way of disguising his shots. Especially, if it's a big point, with his little short-angle [backhand]chip. It's sort of a ball-buster, and I'm really up the creek. I think I've got him, then he pulls that kind of garbage on me. It's frustrating. But there's nothing I can do about it."
Getting past the unpredictable but physically-gifted Monfils was viewed by many as Federer's greatest hurdle to finally getting to hold the Coupe des Mousquêtaires this Sunday.
He is 5-0 (12-0 in sets) against his semi-final opponent Juan Martin del Potro, and 12-1 against Fernando Gonzalez and 9-0 against Robin Soderling, one of whom could await him in the final.
He dusted the fast-rising del Potro, already ranked No. 5, in the 2009 Australian Open quarter-finals 6-3, 6-0, 6-0. "I couldn't do anything," admitted del Potro, 20. "He told me afterward he had never played so well."
But Federer cautioned, "It doesn't mean that because I have a great record against everybody left in the draw that I'm going to win this. But I'll definitely try everything I possibly can to do it."
He would be a popular winner. Even yesterday against Monfils, a Frenchman, he got the bigger cheer as the players were introduced and received at least equal support during the match.
"I've felt it for a few years, but this year it's even more extreme," the French-speaking Federer said about Paris and its tennis fans. "When I walk on the streets or go to dinner, everyone is like, 'This is your year. You've got to do it.'
"They're screaming from their scooters and out of the car. They even get out at red lights and want me to sign an autograph or take a picture. It's quite incredible the last couple of weeks. It just shows me that everyone is watching the French Open here - it's great to get the support."
It is easy to support greatness - witness Federer's 20th Grand Slam semi-final in a row. That means he is undefeated in the first five rounds of 20 Grand Slams over five years. It should be a total of 100 matches, but it is 98 because he received two walkovers - against Haas at Wimbledon in 2007 and Andrei Pavel at the 2004 U.S. Open. If he wins his first two matches at Wimbledon in three weeks, that will make it an even 100 consecutive matches - likely one of those unbeatable records.
"Anyone making 20 semi-finals is incredible," Federer said. "But in a row, that's humongous. With all the matches and tournaments I play in a year, you forget your own records. But it's one I'm the most proud of and, better yet, it's still going."
It obviously impressed that guy wearing the RF logo cap yesterday, the one who was taking pictures of him after the match.
