The Look That Tells Roger Federer's Future
The search for a way back into the game, evolved into a comeback and ultimately an irresistible force. The look had been seen before and told the same tale.
It was that look of helplessness and forlorn hope on Roger Federer‘s face…
As Jo Wilfred Tsonga steam rolled over him after being 2 sets to nil down. The same look accompanied by tears was seen in the aftermath of the 2009 Australian Open. Where a occasional nemesis on clay in Rafael Nadal was now being acknowledged as a full on nightmare in the Swiss masters subliminal and with it the realisation that his Grand Slam dominance had ended
Back then it was just the one in Nadal, who transformed Federer’s inevitable conquests into regrets and thoughts of what ifs. Hard to stomach for one like Federer, but World sport was never designed to be dominated like Federer did. Thus even he was at some point in time expecting a challenger for that mastery.
Reluctantly accepted and Federer moves on in the knowledge of a share in Grand Slam spoils, rather than sole ownership. Though last night’s implosion to Tsonga, no matter how Team Federer dissect it is in no way acceptable. For more than anything it’s shows signs of his demise. From being a dominant Grand Slam winner to sharing the spoils and now more and more being cast as an outside threat to win one.
His fans will scoff at this pointing to his recent form at the French Open and then putting down last night to just being the victim of a freak occurrence. In terms of the tennis that Jo Wilfred Tsonga can play when he is on, no one has an answer too.
A closer look at the Swiss masters form would have you conclude that the French Open was indeed impressive for Federer. In particular his surgical dissection of Novak Djokovic in the Semis. Though the Final played an all familiar tune with him being rendered impotent against Rafael Nadal, and it must be said against a Nadal that was far from his best. So a tournament to be proud of …..but no Grand Slam Title to show for it.
To last night the real story was 178 and now 1.. the number relating to the 178 Grand Slam victories that Federer had after being 2 sets to nil up.
So the game was over on that form guide, but that’s where Federer’s present and future was to be seen by all. The first two sets he had his foot quite literally on Tsonga’s throat and the third was about the kill, but then an uncharacteristic mental lapse allowed Tsonga back in the game by taking the third set.
That was quite literally a red rag to a French bull and with it came real fire and brimstone in the Tsonga power.
We waited for Federer in the 4th set to return fire with fire or conversely to extinguish the Tsonga flame.
And we waited….
And waited………..
It never came and instead Federer was seen to succumb meekly in the set as if he had no answers
The 5th was the continuation of this with Tsonga breaking early and Federer not firing a parting shot. Just going down on his knees and being so accepting of his fate
As the last point saw the ball go long and Tsonga fall to his knees in exultation, you could see in the background the look on Federer’s face.
This was a look of realisation, that more and more the game is passing by him and with it his chance of winning another Slam.
