The Roger Federer resurgence: What fans want, what Tennis needs
Roger Federer started the year 2017 at rank 17 – his lowest since 2001, without a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon 2012, with only 8 appearances in Grand Slam semi-finals or final out of possible 17, and coming off a six-month injury layoff.
By end of March 2017, Federer has won three out of the four singles competitions (excluding the Hopman Cup) he has participated in. He has won the Australian Open, the Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open.
At 35, he became the oldest Australian Open winner since Ken Rosewall in 1972, and the oldest Masters 1000 finalist and winner ever. He has jumped from no.17 to no.4 in the ATP rankings within three months.
The Star on the Wane
Having won the Wimbledon in 2012, fans expected another Grand Slam title from the Swiss. However, it never came. What came was a phase of unexpected early exits from tournaments. For someone who has won at least one Grand Slam each year from 2003 to 2010, not winning any Slam for four years after Wimbledon 2012 was disconcerting for fans.
Federer reached three finals during this time, only to get agonisingly beaten by Novak Djokovic all three times. There were some befuddling losses as well:
- Defending champion lost to Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round of Wimbledon 2013
- Straight sets loss to Tommy Robredo at the US Open 2013
- Fourth round loss to Ernests Gulbis at the French Open 2014
- Straight sets loss to Marin Cilic at the US Open 2014
- Third round loss to Andreas Seppi at the Australian Open 2015
- Semi-final loss to Milos Raonic against all odds at Wimbledon 2016.
For the first time, it had become quite frustrating to watch Roger Federer. The big serves and the aces had dried up a bit, some easy shots were missed, and a lot of mistimed backhands that went for crowd-catches.
“The Federer of old” had started to vanish. There were so many times when the fans must have exclaimed “The Federer of old would have made that shot!” The dreaded R-word had started to appear.
Rivalry Rekindled
It was Federer against Nadal at this year’s Australian Open final. Both athletes played with such ferocity that you might have thought you were watching an epic encounter of the decorated rivalry 8-9 years back.
Melbourne air temperature that day was around 26°C, but the Rod Laver Arena was absolutely scorching by the array of strokes played by both players. In this final, the fans finally got to see what they had been yearning for all these years – Roger Federer of old!
The trademark one handed whip backhands and stunningly silky forehands started to land precisely where they were intended to and exactly when it mattered the most. Federer’s entire play in the final can be summed up with the insane 26-shot-rally, clinched by a jaw-dropping Federer forehand winner.
Federer has met Nadal three times this year and has defeated him in all three matches, while their overall head to head record stands at 23-14 in Rafa’s favour. The best of the three, unquestionably, was the Australian Open final.
The Resurgence
He continued his necromantic shot making in the next tournaments as well.
Take a look at his “I don’t know what you call it” shot against Berdych at the Miami 2017 Quarter Final. “A looping backhand” just doesn’t sound an apt name for this shot. There are thousands of “loopy backhands” played but not quite like this one. Berdych seems flabbergasted by it.
Or take a look at his eye-popping backhand against Kyrgios (1:15 in the video) in Miami Open semi-final. There were some exquisite returns on scorching Kyrgios serves that set up points for Federer (0:28 and 0:42).
Against Nadal again in the final, Federer pulled off a ridiculous forehand winner (0:40 in the video).
Also Read: When destiny calls, Roger Federer answers
Roger Federer – The Phenomenon
Roger Federer has been playing at the Centre Courts of all Grand Slam tournaments for close to 15 consecutive years now. He has earned the overwhelming respect and total biasness of the crowd.
It was just like Sachin Tendulkar being cheered irrespective of where he played. Even Rafael Nadal, who is also extremely respected and loved by fans, does not get the same adulation compared to Roger Federer.
Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka or Juan Martin del Potro are all loved and adored by the crowd, but the emotions Federer brings out from fans puts him in a different league altogether.
The Swiss has always had this ability to send fans into a tizzy with some unbelievable shots. While Nadal brings his rustic power; Djokovic his precision and doggedness; Federer brings in sheer artistry that, when in full flow, keeps all tennis fans mesmerized. Federer is like van Gogh of Tennis.
Maybe the 6 month break has helped him think over his game; maybe he just wants to enjoy the twilight of his career without caring much for the results; or maybe teaming up with Ivan Ljubicic has resulted in a change of mindset.
Whatever the reason, the fans are ready to lap up the visual treat for as long as it is going to last. It doesn’t matter if it comes in instalments, as Federer will definitely take more breaks from the tour, we just want to be a part of that pure magic.
Even with Djokovic, Murray, Wawrinka or the emerging talents like Zverev and Dimitrov, Tennis needs a cult hero like Federer turning back the clock.