Roger Federer came to the semis of the Australian Open (while suffering from mono), the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the quarterfinals of the Olympics and took home the gold with countryman Wawrinka in doubles. And it's been a bad year. Unfortunate for Federer, he has been unable to live up to the surreal standard he, himself, has set.
The Swiss master impressed upon the world a greatness that left his admirers and opponents in sheer awe for the last 4.5 years. He has the ability, like the great Pete Sampras, to ignore the fear of double faults while tossing up a second serve, to hit a backhand passing shot with his eyes closed and to paint any baseline with ease and intent. Federer, single-handedly, challenged the rest of the pack to raise its game -- an undertaking many players have attempted, but one only a sole lad has been able to achieve. Rafael Nadal has had an unbelievable year that has culminated to sitting on top of the game as of August 18h.
While Federer came to the finals in Paris, Nadal lifted the trophy for the fourth straight year. While Federer dropped his head on his favourite court, Nadal took over the Wimbledon crown. While Federer was on a flight back home, Nadal was adorned with gold. The young Spaniard's accomplishments are in themselves remarkable, but we are raising them to a new level because of who he is facing on the other side of the net: Roger.
Beating Federer on a chance meeting is something that any player, on his best day (with a bit of luck), can achieve. Instilling in the Swiss a fear that he usually cloaks his opponents with is downright chilling. Nadal has proved himself by beating, disputably, the greatest man to pick up a racquet along with everybody else and so is deserving of the current #1 ranking. However, don't discount Federer's ability, class or will to regain the titles he lost in 2008.
Certainly this is the end of an unprecedented streak, but let's hope it is not the end of an era.
The Swiss master impressed upon the world a greatness that left his admirers and opponents in sheer awe for the last 4.5 years. He has the ability, like the great Pete Sampras, to ignore the fear of double faults while tossing up a second serve, to hit a backhand passing shot with his eyes closed and to paint any baseline with ease and intent. Federer, single-handedly, challenged the rest of the pack to raise its game -- an undertaking many players have attempted, but one only a sole lad has been able to achieve. Rafael Nadal has had an unbelievable year that has culminated to sitting on top of the game as of August 18h.
While Federer came to the finals in Paris, Nadal lifted the trophy for the fourth straight year. While Federer dropped his head on his favourite court, Nadal took over the Wimbledon crown. While Federer was on a flight back home, Nadal was adorned with gold. The young Spaniard's accomplishments are in themselves remarkable, but we are raising them to a new level because of who he is facing on the other side of the net: Roger.
Beating Federer on a chance meeting is something that any player, on his best day (with a bit of luck), can achieve. Instilling in the Swiss a fear that he usually cloaks his opponents with is downright chilling. Nadal has proved himself by beating, disputably, the greatest man to pick up a racquet along with everybody else and so is deserving of the current #1 ranking. However, don't discount Federer's ability, class or will to regain the titles he lost in 2008.
Certainly this is the end of an unprecedented streak, but let's hope it is not the end of an era.
2 comments:
you know, I LOVE roger federer..... but he has been so untouchable for so long that it has honestly begun to take his edge away.
When Federer loses, it is usually under the guise of some illness (mono), some day where the opponent was "just too good today," or more than often, Federer's favorite excuse, "you know, these things happen...."
For the first time, I feel that Federer is losing matches because there are other players (by my count, only Nadal... and Djokovic on select occasions) who are legitimately better--if not at least on his level.
Federer's best performances have been when he pushes himself to beat opponents in ways no one could have ever imagined -- the brutal slaying of Hewitt at the '04 US Open confirmed to me that Federer was a tennis god. But few and far between has Federer had a tensely competitive match where he has come out the victor (Wimbledon last year is a joke on the Richter scale of close matches).
The legend of Federer is one where he calmly and cool defeats his opponents with the flash and ease that only a well manicured swiss man could. The question is, will Federer end his career like another tennis dandy, Bjorn Borg, and bail once the competition renders his flashy shot making null and void? OR, will he channel the spirit of his great idol, Pete Sampras, and allow himself to humbly rise to the occasion?
My gut tells me that he does not have Sampras' competitive edge... but it sure would be great for tennis if he did
I Love Archie! And Federer is hotter than Nadal. (that is the full extent of my tennis knowledge)
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