Federer is Relentless

Roger Federer’s record breaking 15th Grand Slam Championship came down to what may have been the toughest match he’s ever won. Though his game was not as sharp as it was four years ago when he dismissed Andy Roddick in straight sets, this version of Roddick is not the same either. In 2005, Federer possessed a seemingly error free game. He used this to demoralize opponents, daring them to bring their best against him, and always having a reply that challenged them to do one better.

But they couldn’t, he was just too good back then. These days, at 27, Federer must work hard to beat the best: Murray, Nadal, and Djokovic. They’ve all shown that they have the skill set to take him on now. The one separating aspect that Federer possesses more than any other tennis player is the factor that allowed him to beat Roddick for his sixth Wimbledon title, his incredible mental strength.

Federer has always had the ability to stick around, to play his best when everything is on the line. In a sport where one man will so often defeat himself, as did Robin Soderling in the French Open final against him, Federer never will. He forces his opponents to either outdo him or suffer the fate of so many others who have faced him – to be dismissed.

For Andy Roddick, who has worked so hard over the last year to make over his game, the reward is that he has put himself back into the top tier of tennis stars. His semi-final match against Murray and the final against Federer showcased a fitter, all-rounded player that we’ve never seen before – one who could go toe-to-toe with the best on the baseline, and one who could hit passing shots and deep, penetrating backhands. And he walked around the court with an air of self belief, not dwelling on past points, or forcing arguments with the umpire. When calls went against him, he accepted it and quickly moved on to trying to win the next point.

Unfortunately for Roddick, he was playing Roger Federer, who, up 15-14 in the fifth and final set – having played the equivalent of seven sets – was incredibly able to maintain the same relentless pressure that he started with four hours earlier. And in the end, Roddick couldn’t find the solution, leaving Federer to claim the title once again.