What does Roger Federer want?

Rafael Nadal revealed in a recent interview after notification he would finally bump Federer off his #1 perch: "I feel pretty much the same as I did yesterday. Each day that I get up, I just want to improve my tennis game."

Rafa's got it all sewn up. You can see it in the way he plays each and every tennis game - he is hungry to grow and improve. Not just to become #1, but to better his best, all the time. He is addicted to the process, not just the outcomes.

And what of the Fed? The man has been an incredible performer for years now. A true artist with his tennis skills, outperforming and outranking everyone for over five years.

But what does he want? To be number one for five more years? To take out Pete Sampras's record Grand Slam wins? It all seems to have lost meaning for Federer. He lacks the crazed passion that Rafa is gifting us with. He didn't even cry at this Wimbledon defeat. Where has his passion gone?

Federer has discovered that winning doesn't make you happy. (And losing doesn't help much either!)

All his trophies, all his accolades gathering dust in his trophy room won't bring him nirvana.

But shouldn't it? Shouldn't we feel blessed and elated if we too reach the top of our game?

Nope. Nada. Nyet.

There will always be another mountain to climb. And when you've climbed all the mountains, what next? You've got nothing left to prove.

If you've got 'needing to climb mountains' and 'needing to prove yourself 'as your raison d'etre, then you are on a fast track to disappointment.

And that's what's happened to Roger Federer. He's got nothing left to prove - to himself, to his fans, and certainly not to his sponsors. He already has a lifetime sponsorship from Nike. Lifetime.

What we're seeing in Roger's recent fumbling is a man who has discovered that his happiness recipe doesn't make sense. Trophies, titles, millions of dollars - they do not make a happy life.

If, like Rafa, Roger can bring his focus back to the joy of the game, to the pure delight in the process of improving and fine-tuning his skills, he may just rekindle his spark. And we may see him winning again. At least his twinkling smile would be nice to see once more.

It is only in appreciation of the process of obtaining goals that we lead a magical life. Yup - it's that ole cliche - the journey makes the destination all the more sweet.

If not, then it is my sincere wish that Roger finds his groove elsewhere - as a chef, or teacher, or writer, or whatever!

Life is too short to swallow the bitter pills of disappointment in a happiness game with rules where you can never win.

Fed - you still rock my world - champion title or not.