Please give us a moment to cherish forever - An open letter to Roger Federer

Dear Roger,

You were already a four-time grand slam champion at the start of French Open 2005 when Rafael Nadal was just an up and coming star. Unlucky to have been eliminated very early during the previous year’s event at Roland Garros, I was quite confident that you would be back with a vengeance sealing a career grand slam for yourself this time. It was then I first came to know of the Spanish Armada who was making quite a progress in the tournament, prevailing over everyone with ease in the earlier rounds.

Roger Federer holds the winner’s trophy after winning his Gentlemen’s Singles final against Andy Murray on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships (Getty Images)

When it was all set that you would be taking on the Spaniard in one of the semi-finals match, I started to become a bit apprehensive. The Southpaw I thought, had the ability to beat you following his emphatic showing in both the Monte -Carlo and Rome Masters that year. As I was beginning to worry more, I happened to come across a remark made by Juan Carlo Ferrero in one of the newspapers here in India, which read, “If Rafael Nadal is a superman, then what do you call Roger Federer?” That statement made by the former French Open champion, restored my faith. I was totally convinced that you would make it to your first ever French open final, stream-rolling past your semi-final opponent.

My hopes were soon shattered with Nadal’s clay court prowess eventually proving too much for you to handle, as you were denied entry into the final. Since then, you contested in three straight French open finals against your nemesis Nadal, the last of which was in 2008. In fact he made 2008 an unforgettable year for you, literally demolishing you in straight sets – even inflicting a bagel on you in one of them. More so, in the month to follow, he trounced you on the grass courts of Wimbledon, where you had been the defending champion for five years in a row. Not only you were humiliated on the red clay of Roland Garros but also you were made to lose on grass, which is supposed to be your favourite surface. You even went on to lose the following year’s Australian Open, which was played on slower hard courts. So, you lost to him on almost on all the surfaces of the grand slam majors, barring US open.

As a fan, how much more abasement should I need to face? Nadal dominated you almost everywhere with the lone exception of Wimbledon where you still hold a 2-1 winning record against him. Of course I was mightily pleased when you finally won your elusive maiden grand slam title in France, defeating Robin Soderling in straight sets. You also completed the much needed career grand slam. But frankly, I wasn’t as happy as I thought I would be when you won in Paris in 2009. You did emerge victorious no doubt but that triumph hardly mattered to me since the win did not come against a man who had been taming you for very long in the clay courts of Roland Garros. In fact, till date you are yet to taste a success against him in the only grand slam, which is played on clay.

Roger Federer feels the pressure during the Men’s Singles Final against Rafael Nadal on day fifteen of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 8, 2008 in Paris, France. (Getty Images)

Out of the five meetings you had with him, four of which were in the finals, you were totally outclassed by the 27-year-old, current world No.5. There could be only two reasons for your repeated failures against him. It may just be a mental block which has been preventing you to score a victory against him in Roland Garros or perhaps he is much better than you as a player when the surface is red. Your grand slam record against him looks awfully bad primarily because of the defeats suffered in Paris. As much as I love hailing you as the Greatest of All Time, I prefer to keep such adulations low key simply because you are yet to show the whole world that you can beat him in the French open.

I am a very proud fan. You have almost won every big title in the industry, with Monte Carlo and Rome being the lone exceptions. You may even win another Wimbledon this year, setting an unprecedented record of capturing eight titles there. But then, whatever records you are going to set from hereon will serve no purpose, if you depart from tennis eventually without vanquishing the lion in its own den. I still remember what your good friend Tiger Woods had to say when you surpassed Sampras’ record tally of 14 majors. He said when Nadal was not there you were the best clay courter in the world. Though his words sounded more like an eulogy, the fact remains that you are considered second to someone in a certain situation. As your fan, I can hardly digest it. Just a fortnight ago, I told a like-minded friend that I would love to see you squaring off against Rafa in the quarterfinal stages of the French Open. You know what his immediate reply was? He warned me to be careful before making any such wishes. As a man, who was a bit more practical than me, he was absolutely certain you were not going to make it to the next stage if you are up against the Spaniard on clay. I can’t blame him for that. Can I? The record speaks for itself, doesn’t it?

Roger Federer (L) and Rafael Nadalwith their trophies after the Men’s Singles Final on day fifteen of the French Open at Roland Garros on June 8, 2008 in Paris, France. (Getty Images)

So Roger, here is my wish. And this, I’m sure is what millions of fans are also waiting to see. Just one last time, believe in yourself and beat Rafa if you get to meet him in the French open. Both of you may even be drawn in the same half, which means you would be facing him well before the finals. It is not that you have to defeat him in the finals only. You have to do it, wherever the confrontation occurs. If you could do it, we fans wouldn’t mind if you eventually end up losing the French open to someone else in the final. We have been carrying scars of failure for close to a decade and only you can try healing them. It is all in your hands. Please give us a moment to cherish which would linger in our minds forever. We are all there for you Roger.

From a loyal fan.