Many of the most accomplished people in the world often say there's no honor higher or more satisfying than earning the praise of your peers. If that's true in essentially non-competitive disciplines like literature or particle physics, just think how much more meaningful it must be in an enterprise as directly and nakedly competitive as tennis.
Andy Roddick was asked the other day if the guys in the locker room ever get tired “talking about
Roger {Federer}.”
His reply:
What a wonderful example of largesse, dignity, and tact. Tennis players often are characterized, and deservedly so, as self-absorbed whiners. But there's also been a great renaissance of sportsmanship in these last few years. Pete Sampras launched this trend—transformation may be more like it—in his signature, understated way. Roddick is his heir. I don't care if he never wins another major; he's helped lift his sport with his authentic humility and class.