I've been a tennis fan ever since I saw Boris Becker throw himself around on Wimbledon's Center Court. The last twenty years have been golden for men's tennis with great champions like Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi dominating the late 80's and 90's and then Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dominating the late 90's and the first decade of this century. A host of other great players have also been on stage, challenging and pushing the leading men. The likes of Jim Courier, Goran Ivanisevic, Pat Rafter, Andy Roddick and Leyton Hewitt would have definitely won more Grand Slams if the four gentlemen mentioned above had let them. The last three years have been the most dramatic that I can remember in men's tennis.
Three years ago at the end of 2006, Roger Federer was on top of the tennis world having put his foot on the competition and stamping them into the dust / concrete / grass. His elegance and graciousness won the Swiss many fans and admirers across the world, including yours truly. The only blot was an upcoming Spaniard named Rafael Nadal who beat him at the French Open and stole a set at Wimbledon. Many predicted that this man would become Federer's successor, but the speed of his progress took the tennis world by storm.
Three years ago at the end of 2006, Roger Federer was on top of the tennis world having put his foot on the competition and stamping them into the dust / concrete / grass. His elegance and graciousness won the Swiss many fans and admirers across the world, including yours truly. The only blot was an upcoming Spaniard named Rafael Nadal who beat him at the French Open and stole a set at Wimbledon. Many predicted that this man would become Federer's successor, but the speed of his progress took the tennis world by storm.
Just before the 2007 French Open, Mats Wilander questioned Roger Federer's toughness. He said (if I remember right) that Federer was winning too easily, had not been tested in Grand Slam Finals. In that year's French Open Rafael Nadal beat Federer in four sets, and then pushed him to five sets in an amazing Wimbledon final which lasted four hours.
2008 saw Federer being hounded at all Grand Slams by the young guns of Tennis, losing his Australian Open title to Djokovic, and Nadal became his bete noir after landing two knockout punches at Rolland Garros and at Wimbledon. Federer lost his No. 1 ranking for the first time in six years, and for the first time his pedigree was questioned. Probably the mental pressure found an outlet at this year's Aussie Open where Federer wept openly after another soul crushing defeat at Nadal's hands in five sets.
2008 saw Federer being hounded at all Grand Slams by the young guns of Tennis, losing his Australian Open title to Djokovic, and Nadal became his bete noir after landing two knockout punches at Rolland Garros and at Wimbledon. Federer lost his No. 1 ranking for the first time in six years, and for the first time his pedigree was questioned. Probably the mental pressure found an outlet at this year's Aussie Open where Federer wept openly after another soul crushing defeat at Nadal's hands in five sets.
Federer - Nadal has become the creme de la creme storyline for fans. I consider it special because I'm on the Fed man's side, but I cannot help admiring Rafael Nadal's all out aggression, athleticism and passion on the court. He plays with a frightening intensity, against which an opponent can counter only with....who knows ?! Nadal managed to mentally disintegrate a man who literally blew away all opposition for a span of five years. And he has done it all with a sporting spirit matching Federer's. I'm sure the two do not like to lose, but they are gracious about it when they do. Their matches are fought to the teeth, but Nadal does not question line calls, bulldoze umpires (Can you hear me, Ricky Ponting ?). Mentally he is able to put things behind, focus on the next point. For Federer, he is the ultimate wall, the yardstick against which he will be judged.
After this year's Australian Open, Federer lost to virtual unknowns and did not win a single tournament until Rome. By this time, the media had pronounced that Federer's winning days had passed and a new era led by Nadal, Djokovic and Murray had arrived.
The last two grand slams will still be fresh in everyone's memory so I will not elaborate on them. My thoughts on watching the final :
- Kudos to Andy Roddick for raising his fitness and game to such a high level
- Federer's losses at Wimbledon '08 and Australian Open '09 have made him tougher mentally
- Federer's game has lost the edge that made him dominant at his peak, but he is still good and now canny enough to battle his younger opponents.
- Andy Roddick is exceptionally gracious (Shame on you Le Bron James !)
- Nike is exceptionally crass
I really resented Wilander's critique of Federer in 2007, especially considering that his tennis career came unbalanced the year after he became No. 1, and couldnt handle the pressures associated with it (cmon you cant lose to Ramesh Krishnan !). Now I think he was right. Federer was softer in those years, and the last two years have made him stronger mentally. Soon Nadal will be back, and Federer will again fight him in the Grand Slams.
Its a great time to be a tennis fan. Rafael Nadal is training to come back to the tour and Federer will come back as a new father. Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic will hungrily chase the top two men of tennis, and old guns like Andy Roddick and Leyton Hewitt still proudly battle on. The standard of tennis, and the quality of sportsmanship make these years an exceptional era for men's tennis.
Here's hoping for a great US open 2009 !
Its a great time to be a tennis fan. Rafael Nadal is training to come back to the tour and Federer will come back as a new father. Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic will hungrily chase the top two men of tennis, and old guns like Andy Roddick and Leyton Hewitt still proudly battle on. The standard of tennis, and the quality of sportsmanship make these years an exceptional era for men's tennis.
Here's hoping for a great US open 2009 !
