A Slam Less year

So now that's official. A slam less year for the once mighty Federer. Now there will be questions raised again about Roger's future. Whatever is the answer lets face it. He is no longer the emperor he was. He turned 30. Yes he is old enough to compete with players in their early twenties. 5- setter were once Roger's strength. After watching yesterdays match I felt like 5-setters are too much to handle for him. Suddenly the 178-0 record seems less convincing. The back to back two set lead defeats paint a grimmer picture.

But the silver lining is Federer is to be blamed for today's loss. He was always up in the game. With 2-0 lead he should have easily wrapped up the game. At 5-3 and 40-15 an ace could have changed the whole equation and there would not have been all these hang-up-the-boots talk. Though Federer might not do a 3 slam year he can at least add one slam and make the tally to 17. The forehand is still powerful and service is unquestionable. Only the fitness level can determine his success in the future grand slam events.

So the question again: is it time to write him off? May be yes or may be no. I hope this is probably the rough patch in his career. Next year will be the deciding factor whether Roger still has any gas left out in him. Till then all I can say is win or loss RF rocks. At 30 you may not see the Djo's and the Rafa's hitting powerful forehands and lurking around in the semi finals.

US Open 2010

Another Grand slam finished with Federer not finishing it on a high note. This time it’s truly disappointing, not that Federer lost but the way he lost. Five setters are his big strength and loosing with 40-15 score lead is an awful way of loosing. I feel no one can handle five setters as good as Roger (lets leave out Rafa ). Nole for sure doesn't have patience, concentration and stamina to pull off a five setter. The finals against Rafa proved this yet again. The cut a long story short Roger was not in his true self whatever may be the reason. At least this is not what is expected from the six time finalists at the flushing meadows.

I was dejected, disappointed and embarrassed looking at Roger match statistics; a bread stick and 66 UF errors. Every grand slam brings a new hope. New hope of Federer resurrection. This time was no different but only to be disappointed again .Hopefully a New Year with new determination can make Roger increase his grand slam tally and I truly wish it to happen. .

On the other note congratulations to Rafa for joining the elite group. It’s no more going to be Pete-Agassi comparison. It gonna be Roger-Rafa. While it quite debatable, right now roger with his 16 majors is clearly a winner. Rafa has come a long way and showed he is here to stay. He has improved his game and showed how tough it is to get pass through him. Hopefully he will be injury free and hope to see great Roger-Rafa matches in future.

Fred Perry, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafal Nadal. That pretty much summarizes. Career Grand Slammers.

Wimbledon 2010

I am still disappointed at the way Wimbledon has ended. After three consecutive years of nail biting finals this year one was a total let down. It was like a mere formality. With all due respect to the champion, I felt cheated and deprived. Deprived of all the action at the highest stage of tennis entertainment. All because of the absence of a great player, no wait, greatest player :Roger. I wouldn't have shouted this louder if he was there in the finals. What a shame to wind up in straight sets.

Let’s face it. There is no final like the Fed-Rafa one. When I mentioned in this post that Federer would be successfully defending his title I did keep Rafa in mind and didn't write him off. The 7 times final presence may have eclipsed my other thoughts. 7 times he had made it and 8^th time would be a walk on the grass, I thought. Obviously that wasn't the case. All his weapons proved futile.

And I must confess he played shabbily. He did say about his injury in the press conf (which he should never have mentioned in the first place. It just denigrates your class.) but that should not keep him from playing in his grass. His grass. Whenever is steps in the court he is not expected to lose.His returns were skewed, backhand was awful and he looked so tired. Very tired. Like all other fans I did expect him to rebound. After all, he did this every other time, didn't he? 5 setters are always an added advantage to Fed. But not this time. He faced a rare 4 set loss which includes a breadstick. .

Expect Rafa all the recent Fed losses were against big hitters. Del Potro, Soderlng, Berdych. For some reasons Roddick and Djokovic couldn't capitalize on their added advantage. Whenever someone beats Federer the media showers praises on that someone with titles like most promising player, devastating force etc etc. Most of them however do go into oblivion. Sooner or later these big hitters do go through the injury phase and may never be the same again like Del Potro.

As always critics are up against him. Some said age is catching up with him. Some said he is no more a dominant force. Some has this strange prophecy skills predicting his retirement. Some were busy counting Rafa’s slam tally @ the current rate and coming out with questions like will he pass Fed’s mammoth total? As someone rightly said you loss but not win is remembered. It amazing how people write off some one like Fed who did it again and again and a loss always makes him face the wrong end of the stick. As always I stand in the thick and thin of the Mighty Emperor and hope to see his arsenal increase and fight till the last calorie in his muscle to increase his slam tally to 17 @ the US open. And yes I still expect a Sampras-tying seventh next summer.Hail Federer.

P.S: In the finals Rafa was brutal to say the least which I wouldn't have agreed in any other given circumstances. Fed fan after all. .