The booming sound of his forehand reverberating through Arthur Ashe Stadium won’t be soon forgotten by the spectators, and will endure forever in Roger Federer’s nightmares. On Monday, a new king of the hard-court was crowned in New York. Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, possesses an Andy Roddick style game, but everything is bigger – powerful ground strokes and a lethal serve – and he’s only 20.
Most remarkable, perhaps, was his self belief throughout the match. Playing in his first Grand Slam final against one of the greatest ever, he was understandably nervous to start, losing the first set in a poor effort. But while most first timers would meekly walk off the court, accepting runners up status as an accomplishment, like Andy Murray lamely did one year ago, Del Potro pulled his act together in the second set showing why he was able to so easily beat Rafael Nadal the day before. Then, after double faulting twice in a row to lose the third set, he once again showed the wherewithal to play his best and win the fourth and fifth sets.
In an effort that was eerily reminiscent of, Pete Sampras, the tennis legend he grew up idolizing, Del Potro secured a service break early in the fifth set and proceeded to simply go through the motions on Federer’s remaining service games, saving energy for his own. He displayed a mature understanding of the scoreboard, knowing when to press and when to hold back, allowing him to last easily through a grueling five setter.
The comparisons to Sampras may continue throughout his career, as one of Pete’s most underrated skills was his service return. Because he often secured only as many breaks as necessary, then coasted to victory on his own serve, Sampras was not recognized as the incredible returner he was. Watching Del Potro put the ball back into play so many times throughout the match, it was clear that he may be right up there with some of the best of all time in return proficiency –Agassi, Connors, and Nadal. His wingspan plays a huge role, as it is almost impossible to serve outside his reach, and his ground game makes those returns more than just defensive blocks. Still, he seemed only to really go after those points at the big moments, as he did in breaking back to stay in the fourth set.
In the tennis world, finally, there is another man who can stand up to Federer, and such a stark contrast is he to the other. While Nadal whips his racket over and around the ball, spinning it like no one ever has, Del Potro hits it straight and flat, crushing the ball with the face of his weapon. The result is a ball that skids right through the speedy hard court, a complete contradiction to Nadal’s shots that bound up off the surface. This is why Rafa fares so well on the grippier surfaces of Melbourne, Wimbledon, and especially Paris where spin is exaggerated. On the hard-courts, something else is needed, and while Federer’s all-rounded game has done the job for years, Del Potro’s was designed for it.
Tennis fans should be excited for what’s to come: the best clay courter of all time, Nadal, has many titles left in him, and the man who may one day be considered his counterpart of the hard-court has just arrived. As they contend for majors in years to come, one thing is clear – a changing of the guard has just occurred.
His sweat pours for you, New York. In every match he plays, in every point he fa
ces, with every shot he hits – no concern of the moment in the match or the scoreboard, Rafa gives you everything he’s got. It’s all to win the one Grand Slam title that has eluded him thus far, the one that’s in your back yard, and he’s doing it for you, New York.
For two months he watched and waited for his knees to mend, witnessing Roger Federer win the Wimbledon title he should have defended. During his second tournament upon returning, he acquired an abdominal injury that still bothers him now. On the days when he doesn’t play, he has a machine working on those abs, ensuring that he will be able to compete in true Nadal fashion in the next match. It’s the only way he knows how – to run down every single ball, to stretch for every impossible shot, and to fight for every point.
Yet, you will chant the names of Nicolas Kiefer and Gael Monfils when he faces them. Justifiably, you cheer for an even match, but you forget that Nadal has clawed his way back after Monfils won the first set in a tie-breaker. You applaud Kiefer for taking the second set from the mighty Spaniard and playing his best against the Goliath. But you forget what Nadal has been through to perform for you. You don’t realize that his willpower is so overwhelming that he convinces his own body’s ailments into submission, let alone his opposition’s game.
Here he is in the quarter finals, two steps from a championship match against Federer, a prospect that thrills every tennis fan, excites us to the core. Will you support him now? Cheer for him when you see his fist pump! Celebrate when you hear him yell ‘Vamos!” He gives it all for you, New York. Give him something back.
Notes:
- weigh in on your championship favourite in the poll on the right
- this is being posted in lieu of a Friday post
The US Open of Tennis begins today in New York. After careful analysis of the draw, the following is a list of potential must see matches in the upcoming fortnight. Mark them in your calendar now!
Third Round (Beginning Saturday September 5)
Roger Federer (1) vs. Lleyton Hewitt (31)
Two Grand Slam champions will face off very early in the tournament due to Hewitt’s low ranking at 31st. If nothing else, the Aussy should provide a strong early test to Federer’s fitness.
Round of 16 (Beginning Monday September 7)
Andy Roddick (5) vs. Fernando Verdasco (10)
Verdasco has guts of steel, as he showed at the 2009 Australian Open, playing in the semi-final against the eventual champion, Rafael Nadal, in what would go down as the longest match in the tournament’s history.
Rafael Nadal (3) vs. Gael Monfils (13)
Frenchman Monfils is very fast, and Nadal’s fitness is an unknown. We will find out a lot about Rafa’s status during this match.
Quarter Finals (Beginning Wednesday September 9)
Novak Djokovic (4) vs. Andy Roddick (5)
This is must see TV. The pair faced off in the quarter-finals last year, and it ended with Djokovic being booed off the court by the New Yorkers.
Rafael Nadal (3) vs. Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (7)
Being the third seed makes the road to the final a lot tougher, and Nadal’s shaky knees may not be able to carry him that far. Tsonga is a powerful hitter who will pose all sorts of problems to Rafa.
Andy Murray (2) vs. Juan-Martin Del Potro (6)
So far in his career, Del Potro has been described as an inconsistent underachiever. But he’s only 20, and if he’s underachieving, he can only improve. This will be a great test for last year’s finalist, Murray.
Semi Finals (Saturday September 12)
Andy Murray (2) vs. Rafael Nadal (3)
If all goes according to plan, next Saturday will be brilliant. Andy Murray will square off against Rafael Nadal in a battle of 2 versus 3. If Nadal is healthy, this will be an epic.
Roger Federer (1) vs. Andy Roddick (5)
About 305 million Americans and I are hoping that Roddick defeats Djokovic to set up this rematch of the Wimbledon final. Federer and Roddick have played some unforgettable matches at Flushing Meadows over the years, and this will match will be a classic.
Finals (Sunday September 13)
The predictions stop here. Whoever plays in the final, we will all be watching.
Tennis’ fourth and final Grand Slam of the year begins in just one week’s time, on Monday August 31st. The men’s field is showing the most parity it has in years, with Roger Federer’s age catching up to him, and a group of young, talented individuals who can challenge. Here is a preview of the contenders:
Andy Roddick: #5 Seed
A-Rod is enjoying a wonderful comeback season, in which the highlight so far has been his epic championship match against Roger Federer at Wimbledon. He has been working with a new coach, Larry Stefanki, since December, whose first order of business was ordering Roddick to rid himself of that spare tire he carried around his waist. After those 15 lbs. were banished, he began retooling Roddick’s skillset.
In his favour:
Before Stefanki, Roddick was one dimensional: all power all the time. Unfortunately, against the variety of Nadal, Murray, and Federer, his game had no chance.
At Wimbledon, he showed that his new game can be both unpredictable and very consistent. He should be even better, having a few more months under his belt with the new coach.
Opposing forces:
At the end of the day, one man stands in his way. Roddick, playing the way he did at Wimbledon, can beat anyone right now, except for that one guy who has always had his number…
Novak Djokovic: #4 Seed
Djokovic has to grow up. After losing to hometown favorite, Andy Roddick, in the quarter finals last year, Djokovic turned on the audience for cheering against him. Dumb idea, riling up a group of upset New Yorkers. It will be interesting to see the way they greet him this year.
In his favour:
He did beat Rafa in the semi-final of the Cincinnati Masters last week to reach the final. And he has won a Grand Slam – the 2008 Australian Open.
Opposing forces:
Lots. He’s too quick to make excuses and too quick to blame injuries. Definitely has the skill to be the best in the world, but he needs to get his head straight.
Rafael Nadal: #3 Seed
In his first action of the summer two weeks ago at the Rogers Cup, Nadal was defeated by Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals. Last week, in Cincinnati, he made it to the semi-final before losing to Novak Djokovic.
In his favour:
He is in Federer’s head: Roger knows that Nadal is the one guy who can stare him down at a Grand Slam event and not be intimidated. In fact, Nadal’s energy and snarl probably scare the hell out of Fed, though he’d never admit it.
Opposing forces:
Knees of a 40 year old. Pundits always predicted that the way he pounds the pavement would catch up to him, and it may have already done so at the age of 23. He’s not yet moving the way he could before. His strokes also show some rust, but hopefully he will be able to shake it off in the long 2 week tournament, before facing the big guns.
Andy Murray: #2 Seed
After Cincinnati, Murray gained the title of world number two. It’s the first time in 3 years that anyone besides Nadal or Federer has been in the top 2.
Murray is definitely the best player to not yet have won a Grand Slam, but he’s still young at 22.
In his favour:
He won the Rogers Cup in Montreal 2 weeks ago. He has a winning record against Federer: 6-3 all-time. And the hard courts of New York are his favorite surface.
Opposing forces:
Himself. He succumbed to the pressure during last year’s US Open final and did not play well, losing in straight sets to Federer. He has a history of negatively imploding when the chips are down, though he has been working extensively to fix this in the last year.
Roger Federer: #1 Seed
The Fed Express is aiming to win a record 16th tennis Grand Slam at the 2009 US Open.
In his favour:
After winning the Cincinnati Masters tournament last week, beating the world’s (then) 3rd ranked player, Andy Murray, in the semi-final, and the 4th ranked player, Novak Djokovic, in the final, he looks to be in good form.
If he does it, we’ll likely see some waterworks and an annoying speech similar to the one he gave after the Cincinnati final:
“That's the special part, especially winning for the first time as a dad," Federer said. "It gets me going emotionally a little bit, because I know it's been a wonderful summer”
Opposing forces:
Nadal, Djokovic, Murray, Roddick. Someone! Anyone! Please spare us from this torture!
I am a born and bred Canadian from Vancouver, BC. I love my hockey, it is a part of me. I’ve been raised watching the B.C. Lions and Vancouver Canucks, and I’m a die hard fan, no matter who’s on the rosters and how little success they have. So why the hell should I care about the NFL – the south of the border football league?
I guess it’s the same reason I love watching golf, tennis or even basketball, the personalities and the storylines. Tiger Woods against Phil Mickleson, Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal – when they play, I watch, in the hopes that I may witness that rare unforgettable sports moment.
I am not in an NFL Fantasy Pool, so I’m not personally invested in any of the individual or team results, yet every year there are story lines that make me want to sit down and watch. Two years ago, after head coach, Bill Belichick, was caught and reprimanded for cheating – spying on other teams practices – his New England Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady, attempted to complete a perfect 19-0 season, with zero losses and a Superbowl championship. Every week, as they inched closer to the goal, the drama heightened and more and more tuned in. That same season, Brett Favre was playing in what everyone presumed would be his last season following an amazing career, and he was having a renaissance with the team, finally producing a winning season after a long down cycle. Favre’s apparent last games as a pro football player were watched by all, as he took the 13-3 Packers to the NFC Championship against the eventual Superbowl Winners – the New York Giants.
As another season is almost set to begin, the NFL has produced more storylines than ever. Favre comes out of retirement for the second time in two years to play for the Minnesota Vikings, allowing him to face his former Green Bay Packers for two revenge filled matches. Chad Ocho-Cinco (he officially changed his name from Chad Johnson last year) has demanded a trade for 2 years from the Cincinatti Bengals, and yet the loudest trash talker in sports is set to return to the team. Terrell Owens will be given yet another chance to be a good teammate for the Buffalo Bills, after three failed attempts with former squads. And of course Michael Vick, he who funded an illegal dog-fighting chain and allegedly participated in the torture and killing of many of the animals, is returning to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. Drama like this can’t be found anywhere else on television, not on Big Brother, Gossip Girl, or even The Hills!
But I am Canadian and I care not for the NFL. I will only watch about 8 hours of that crap every week.
After an injury plagued summer, the world’s real number one tennis player is on the comeback trail. Rafael Nadal plans to return for the Rogers Cup in Montreal, beginning on August 8th. With the tournament being the U.S. Open tune-up, it’s no secret that Rafa has his sights set on his first title at Flushing Meadows and achieving the career Grand Slam– winning at all four major tournaments in a lifetime – at age 23, the feat recently accomplished by 27 year old Roger Federer at the French Open.
Federer, who finally regained his ranking as the world’s number one player after winning at Wimbledon in Rafa’s absence, must once again prepare to face one of the few players who dominates him, and Nadal’s timing may be perfect. Last year, by the time Nadal reached the U.S. Open after winning the French Open, Wimbledon, gold at the Summer Olympics, and the Rogers Cup, he was completely burnt out. Perhaps the forced rest due to tendinitis in his knees will provide him with enough energy to play the U.S. Open at peak form. If so, the end of the summer has the potential to be very exciting for Tennis fans around the world.
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.
With only three days remaining until the 2009 Wimbledon final, two gargantuan story lines hang overhead. Most of the world is watching Roger Federer to see if he will set the all-time record for tennis Grand Slam Championships with his 15th, but the host, Great Britain, will not be on side. The Britons’ hopes and dreams have been saddled on homegrown Andy Murray’s shoulders, and with good reason.
The fourth seeded 22 year-old Murray sports a 6-2 record against the first seed, the most lopsided record any current player can claim on Federer. Murray has only once before met the Swiss superstar in a Grand Slam final, and this came at the U.S. Open final last year. Unfortunately, after beating the world’s best player, Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals, Murray succumbed to the pressure of playing in his first Major final, failing to play his best, and losing the match in straight sets.
The locals are perhaps hoping that the set-back was a touch of fate, as it prepared him to win his first Major tournament in a much more dramatic fashion – on his home court in front of his own people. Murray, in an interview with Ian Baker from the official Wimbledon website, certainly thinks so,
“I feel like I'm ready to win a Grand Slam now, whereas last year I might not have been. But I understand how difficult it is.” If he manages to do so, it would make Andy Murray the first British man to win at Wimbledon in 73 years, since Fred Perry accomplished the feat in 1936. In England, there is a sentiment that the win would be as important to their country as when they captured Football’s World Cup in 1966.
Murray’s story has become larger than life in Britain, and the pressure on him is enormous. One can’t help to wonder how he will respond as he looks into the crowd and hears thousands chanting his name. Neil Harmann of the Times Online asked him about reacting to the pressure, and Murray replied,
“It is on the court where I feel most comfortable. I really don’t feel the weight of expectation, it’s the last thing you are thinking about when you are hitting your first serve of the match. When it comes down to it, playing in front of 15,000 people on Centre Court at Wimbledon is what I want to do, that’s the part of your job you enjoy the most.”
Murray’s head appears to be in the right place as he heads into his Friday semi-final match against the sixth-seeded American, Andy Roddick. The resurgent Roddick will provide a formidable foe and he could be just the medicine to round Murray’s game into form, so that he is ready to face the formidable Federer in the final. The British certainly hope it is.
So often we hear that Roger Federer is a wonderful ambassador for the sport of tennis, a wonderful role model. But, I ask you, besides being the best tennis player in the world, would you be happy if your son grew up to be like him? Here are some exhibits of his character, you can make up your own mind:
A Humble Winner?
Every time Federer wins a Grand Slam tournament, he falls to the ground crying as if he's been shot, as his opponent awaits him patiently at the net, watching the show. 
Gracious in Defeat?
Upon losing the 2009 Australian Open to Rafael Nadal, Federer cries as he watches the trophy being handed over to the champion. For a man who’s had so much success, you’d think he could allow someone else to enjoy his moment.
Modesty?
When Federer finally won his first French Open in 2009, this was his answer upon being asked how Nadal has made him a better player:
"I don’t know how much... but I think I have actually helped the other players more than they have helped me because I have put tennis in a different league."
So much for admitting one's shortcomings and acknowledging greatness in others. All I know is that my household will be a Federer free zone. I don't want my children growing up with a sobbing wreck of an idol.
And he will come out flying. Why? Because in Rafa’s world, every point is played as if it were the most crucial point of the match. Cynthia Gormely, writer for the New York Times has written an article on Nadal’s ascent to number one, and through her research she speaks with a number of people close to Nadal, including the only man who has ever coached him, his uncle Toni. In explanation of his unyielding
ferocity, he says,“From the time Rafael was little, he’d win that first point of the match, which nobody ever pays much attention to, and he’d yell, ‘Vamos!’ All pumped up. Let’s go! And you play like you train. As he grew up, he got used to training as though each point were the last one.”
Throughout Nadal’s life, uncle Toni has been much more than just his tennis coach, he has been a mentor, not only a consultant for matters of sport, but of how to live life the right way, how to be a good person. Toni doesn’t have rules that must be obeyed, he has simply let Rafa learn the correct way to conduct himself. Asked if he has ever instructed Nadal not to smash and break a tennis racket during a match, Toni responds,
“He knows he can’t throw a racket. He just knows. As far as I’m concerned, it’s shameful when he orders a meal and doesn’t finish it. Understand? Same thing with rackets. These rackets cost money.” Such strong character and values, Toni believes, will foster the ability to be the best. “If that player is brought up courteous, brought up as a respectful person, he’s got a better chance to reach the championship… because it’s going to be easier for him to accomplish the hard work.”
Uncle Toni began this process with Nadal 20 years ago, when the young lad was only 3, but don’t be fooled into thinking that any three year old given a racket and life lessons can achieve such greatness. Toni had no preconceived designs on creating a champion out of Rafa.
“He was at the club one day, and I handed him a racket, we had some little ones, and then tossed a ball at him.” Upon seeing the ball impressively returned over the net, Toni thought to himself, “ ‘O.K., this is not normal.’ His feet, especially, the way he’d move himself into good hitting position when I tossed balls at him. This is a rare thing in a child.”
Tennis was not Nadal’s only sport growing up – in fact, it was soccer that was his primary passion, and it was perhaps in soccer where the first signs of his fighting instinct were first seen. Another of Nadal’s uncles, his father’s youngest brother, Miguel Angel, played soccer for the Spanish national team, and he recalls how Nadal used to play the game of “keep away” or “pig in the middle”: “He liked being the middle. We’d all do our tricky maneuvers to try to get the ball past him. Any one of a hundred little kids, you do those kinds of moves on him, he’ll start crying. But Rafa, no. He’d keep fighting to get the ball.”
Combining a killer instinct, strong character values, and perhaps an even more impressive skill-set is what makes up the magnificent game that Rafael Nadal displays on court today. And make no mistake, his game is just as overwhelming as his will. According to Gormely’s article, three years ago a San Francisco based tennis researcher, John Yandell, conducted a number of tests on different players to determine how much ball spin they generate off the face of their rackets. Speaking about Nadal’s forehand, he said,
“We’ve measured the spin rates on the forehands of quite a few of the top players, including Nadal, (Roger) Federer, (Pete) Sampras and Andre Agassi. The first guys we did were Sampras and Agassi. They were hitting forehands that in general were spinning about 1,800 to 1,900 revolutions per minute. Federer is hitting with an amazing amount of spin, too, right? 2,700 revolutions per minute. Well, we measured one forehand Nadal hit at 4,900. His average was 3,200.”
All of this spin translates directly into why Nadal has established himself as the greatest clay-court tennis player of all time. On the sport’s grippiest surface, where the bounce off a spinning ball is exaggerated immensely, a cross-court forehand drive from Nadal bounds off the ground with a higher trajectory than that with which it landed, ending up well above the strike zone of most right-hander’s backhands. Not only are opponents pinned far behind the baseline in the mere attempt to return this shot, it is almost futile to try to generate any sort of power or direction off it, which usually results in a short backhand return. It is this high spin forehand that can set up a point in one shot, as Nadal can switch instantly to the offensive even if he just hit five defensive shots in a row. Now imagine you’re Roger Federer, stationed well behind the baseline, expecting that forehand to come hurtling, and Rafa hits a slice or a drop shot. Because of where you were standing to combat that forehand, you have to sprint an extra five feet just to get to the ball near the net, which, due to the grippy clay, has not travelled towards you at all, and has bounced only two inches off the ground.
Although historically the slickest surface in tennis, the grass courts at Wimbledon have been changed in the last seven years or so. These days, the strength and density of the grass is so robust that players say it is second to only in clay in terms of grip. A fact that surely played into Federer’s 2008 demise at the hands of Nadal. Although he won all his five Wimbledon championships on the newly slowed court, he was not ready to battle Nadal, who had finally learnt how to play on the speedy hard courts, making the medium speed Wimbledon a natural transition to take the defending champion’s crown.
Upon receiving his winner’s trophy at the 2009 Australian Open, the last time Federer and Nadal faced off in a Grand Slam match, Nadal said to his opponent, “You are a great champion. You are one of the best of history.” Such soft spoken appreciation for Federer’s reign came mere moments after a performance that would later reduce Federer to tears.
Following a surprising early exit from the French Open, mere weeks ago, Nadal has some uncertainty heading into Wimbledon. Recently diagnosed with tendonitis in both knees, he announced that he would be resting them in order to make himself ready to defend his title.
And with that the fiery pitt-bull with the line-backer’s build prepares for the upcoming fortnight. According to French tennis commentator Phillippe Bouin,
“Every tennis lover would like, someday, to play like Federer, but every man wants to be Rafael Nadal. Which is different.”
While most men understand that they will never be able to command the court like Nadal, striving to be as good a person is just as tall an order.
Note: All quotes from Uncle Toni, Miguel Angel, John Yandell, and Phillippe Bouin were taken directly from Cynthia Gormely’s article. The assertions and viewpoints voiced here are inspired by her piece, but not necessarily shared by her. If you would like to read her article, click here.
One day after winning his 14th Grand Slam title at the French Open, Roger Federer was asked by Dick Enberg, “How has Rafa (Rafael Nadal) helped you to be better?”
Federer replied, “I don’t know how much. I think with our rivalry, he is a left hander and I am a right hander, whereas with Pete and Andre, they were both righties… But I think I have actually helped the other players more than they have helped me because I have put tennis in a different league, you know, in a different level… they had to play catch-up and that made them maybe work even harder to become better players and better athletes.”
Ever since losing his #1 ranking to Nadal after Wimbledon last year, Federer has shown a lot of bitterness towards his rival, and this complete disregard of the Spaniard’s talent is another example. Federer is claiming that his lack of success against Rafa is due to the hand in which Nadal holds his racquet. Surely credit should be given to the Nadal’s mental toughness – his ability to play his best when everything is on the line. It is a trait necessary to be a champion, as Federer well knows, and it would be nice if he could acknowledge it in others. And what about Nadal’s superior fitness and speed? Does it deserve no mention?
Federer is always very quick to compliment himself, attributing the successes of others to his own game in the above quote. Considering that his one win at the French Open came against a weak set of opponents, perhaps he should show some restraint with the self praise.
When it comes to handling success and praise, Federer should look no further than the consummate professional, Tiger Woods.
When asked about his competition, Tiger has said, “These guys are the best in the world. I’m very lucky to have that opportunity to try to compete against the best in the world. That’s a rush.”
And on his presence, “I don’t even know if I have an aura, man. I just try to win.”
That is how a champion should carry himself.
“Now the question is, am I the greatest of all time? We don’t know, but I definitely have many things going for me because I’ve now finally won in all four Grand Slams.”
If Federer is indeed to be considered the best player to ever play the game of tennis, it would be nice if he realized that such a title is not self appointed. He should simply worry about winning, and let the resume speak for itself.
The question should be asked though, does this French Open win mean as much as it could have had he gone through Rafael Nadal to reach it? Unlike the sport of golf, where one man plays against an entire field of professionals to win a tournament, tennis is a sport of head-to-head matchups. Federer played seven matches over a two week span, six of which were against players ranked out of the top 10 in the world. There are three men on the ATP who have shown that they can beat Federer consistently: third seeded Andy Murray, fourth seeded Novak Djokovic, and of course the world number one, Rafael Nadal, and he did not have to face any one of them en route to the 2009 French Open title. Instead his toughest opponents were unseeded 31 year old, Tommy Haas, and the 21 year old underachiever Juan Martin Del Potro, who each stretched him to the limit in grueling five setters. Both were gutsy victories by Federer, but both matches were ones in which Federer was considered an overwhelming favorite.
At the end of the day, Federer’s consistency over the years has brought him to this peak, and one can take nothing away from his victories. However, this win would have meant a lot more were it over the insurmountable Rafael Nadal – the man who caused Roger to weep openly in defeat at the Australian Open earlier in 2009; the one opponent who holds a winning record against Federer in Grand Slam matches, with 6 wins and 2 losses. If Federer cannot beat the best of his generation like the great ones before him have, is he truly the best ever?
Throughout history, the popularity of sports has been built on rivalries. From baseball’s Yankees vs. Red Sox to cricket’s India vs. Pakistan, the intensity of certain matchups have a certain aura about them that pulls fans in, allowing them to attach to one side’s successes and failures and to despise the other’s existence.
In today’s sporting world, there is no rivalry that consistently provides more thrills than that between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, the world’s two best tennis players. For several years it has been generally accepted as not a matter of if, but when Federer surpasses Pete Sampras’s record number of 14 Grand Slam titles to accept the mantle of tennis’s greatest ever athlete. But at the French Open semi-final in 2005, Federer met Nadal for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament, and Rafa, as Nadal’s fans call him, played a match that would serve notice of those to follow. His game stood in the face of Federer’s, as if to say, “Superman, I will be your kryptonite.”
On that sunny 2005 day, a confident Roger Federer, the world’s number one ranked player, walked onto centre court at Roland Garros, already a holder of four Grand Slam titles. He needed only the French Open title to achieve the career Grand Slam at the age of 24 – winning at all four Major tennis championships – a feat only achieved twice before during the open era (by Andre Agassi and Rod Laver). Unfortunately for Federer, it was at this tournament that Nadal began his climb towards being the greatest clay court player of all time by defeating Federer in four sets and going on to win his first Major championship.
Fast forward to 2009: Federer, at age 27, holds 13 Grand Slam titles, one shy of Pete Sampras’s all-time record of 14. In early February of this year, Nadal thwarted Federer’s latest charge at the record by winning his first Australian Open Championship.
During his runners-up acceptance speech, Federer attempted to put on a brave face , acting as if losing to Nadal for the fifth time in a Major final was but a minor hurdle, saying, “Maybe I’ll try later.” But upon finishing these words, he broke down crying, forcing out, “God, it’s killing me,” before having to step away from the podium where the man who has caused all the anguish, Rafa, put his arm around him in consolation.
Nadal, at the tender age of 22, already holds six Grand Slam titles. He is showing that he may be more than just a consistent adversary, as Agassi was to Sampras for so many years. For comparison, at the same point in his life, one month short of his 22nd birthday, Federer had won three. Doubt has been cast on Federer being the heir to the title of “Greatest of All Time” as Rafa is on a sharper upward trajectory than his counterpart was at the same age.
All of this brings us to the upcoming week – The 2009 French Open begins on May 24th – where Roger will once again be gunning for the trophy. And the plot thickens as we approach the tournament: four days ago, he won the lead-up clay court tournament, the Madrid Open, beating Nadal in straight sets for the title, and ending his dominant 53 match winning streak on clay. It was also his first victory against Nadal in 6 tries, a streak that includes losses at last year’s French Open, Wimbledon, and the recent Australian Open.
Perhaps this glimmer of hope is all Federer needs going into the second Grand Slam tournament of the year. Out of the four tournaments, this is certainly the one he wants most, having won multiple times at the other three. It would certainly add some substance to his claim at being better than Sampras, as the former legend never did manage a title on the clay courts of France. However, Madrid and France are two different places. Nadal comes to Rolland Garros with four years of success under his belt. It is a slower surface than that of Madrid, mostly because of the lower altitude. A slower game combined with a best of 5 format, rather than a best of 3, certainly favours the fitter Nadal, tennis’s best grinder.
There are, of course, other tennis players who can challenge these two, and Federer may have a tough time with the natural clay courters such as Juan Martin del Potro, Gilles Simon, and Ferndando Verdasco. But we, the fans are rooting for the rivalry. We want only one thing: to once again see Roger and Rafa staring each other down from opposite ends of the court on a Sunday.
