In the often unsteady and sometimes nerve-shredding universe of Brexit, Donald Trump and, yes, even England winning penalty shoot-outs, Roger Federer at Wimbledon remains the world's one reassuring constant.
As the public strives to recover its collective heart-rate from events in the World Cup, there was little better to steady the pulse than the calming serenity of yet another Federer masterclass.
This latest exhibition of balletic poise and emphatic backhands teased, tormented and dismantled the Slovakian Lukas Lacko, sealing a three-set victory with minimal fuss.
Roger Federer clenches his fist after winning his second-round match at Wimbledon
The outcome was entirely expected but, as ever, the routine nature of Federer's triumphs remain disarming in their simplicity.
Federer, we should remind ourselves, is 36 years old. He is the father of two sets of twins and all logic suggests he should be burned out on the court and worn out at home. Yet here stands a timeless master, gliding gallantly through his thirties and onwards towards yet more success, now into the third round here.
Federer is the man for all Wimbledon seasons and continues to achieve unprecedented feats. By winning five Grand Slam titles after the age of 30, he is out on his own and that number will probably only rise.
Federer unveiled his full array of shots against Lukas Lacko, including this forehand
The eight-time Wimbledon champion hits a sliced backhand on Centre Court on Wednesday
This straight sets victory for the defending champion equalled his second-longest run of sets won at Wimbledon. His current streak is now 26 in a row. His record, which has stood since 2006, is 34 consecutive sets. In short, he is approaching the same level of greatness as a 36-year-old as he did as a sprightly 24-year-old.
In this form, who would bet against a ninth Wimbledon title? Such a triumph would equal Martina Navratilova's record of nine Championships but it would also allow Federer to defend his title for the first time in 11 years.
In the absence of Andy Murray, it would certainly appease the Wimbledon natives.
There may be new talents emerging but Federer remains the biggest show in town. As Federer raised his arms aloft and signed shirts upon exiting the court, smartphones and cameras flashed. A lady clad in Swiss accessories held up a T-shirt scrawled with the word 'perfect'. Another supporter held up a sign emblazoned with 'King of the Court' and 'GOAT' (Greatest of all time). And, really, who can argue?
Federer walked out onto Centre Court to the usual pomp and acclaim, charming the public with a gentle wave as he always does before settling down to business.
Yet beneath that polite visage lies the most clinical and ruthless sportsman of modern times. This was not a humiliation and Lacko did, at times, play some excellent tennis, but he was never within striking distance of Federer, never close to dislodging the Swiss master's authority. Federer could even afford to misplace and shank a few strikes early on, over-hitting a couple of forehands to gasps from the crowd.
Yet it was only a matter of time before he slalomed through the gears. For poor old Lacko, it was a grievous ordeal, an exercise in quite exquisite agony as Federer forced him short and long, right and left.
Federer wasted little time in dispatching Lacko in straight sets on the grass at SW19
The Swiss maestro's adoring fans show their support with banners and placards
As Federer served for the first set, he tortured Lacko, taking him right with a resounding forehand, then stretching him to his left with a clean backhand. Lacko responded each time but Federer dinked the daintiest of feather-light dropshots to bamboozle his opponent.
Federer's wife, Mirka, watches the action
The silk blends with ruthless steel. After breaking his opponent in the second set, Federer hammered home his advantage without Lacko being afforded a point and he then repeated the trick when serving to seal the same set.
Federer glided through the second and third sets in the same way he floats through his thirties, with quality and distinction during a beautiful 52 minutes of zinging groundstrokes and authoritative serves.
After his first-round victory over Dusan Lajovic, Federer declared he wishes to play until his four-year-old twin boys can remember his talents clearly. For those of us watching on, that can only be good news.