Why Roger Federer is not going to win this year's Wimbledon
Roger Federer’s third round win against Julien Benneteau at Wimbledon should have elated most of the Swiss maestros’ fans. At two sets down, and Benneteau playing like a man possessed, Federer had his task cut out. With the roof closed for the entire day on the Centre Court, and the increased humidity making the grass greasier and shot-making difficult, Federer did well to remain calm and take the match to the fifth set.
Truth be told, the way the match was going it was never Federer’s match to win but always Benneteau’s to lose. Federer will be the first person to admit that he got lucky with the timely injury to Benneteau in the fifth set saving him from the ignominy of a third round exit. The injury to his left thigh at the beginning of the fifth set was the death knell for Benneteau ,and though he was cheeky enough to get a massage from a trainer in between games rather than take a time out, and get a diagnosis done as per the rules, it was always going to be an uphill task for him after that.
However, to most of the ardent fans of Federer, this match would have been very disheartening. There was nothing during the game that suggested that Federer had another level to his play which he would bring out when he most needed it. His serve did not have the usual kick, the off forehand with the swivel of the hip was restrained, volleys were sloppy, and he had a horrible time executing the backhand slice.
Comparisons are bound to be drawn with the match that Nadal had against Lucas Rosol, a day earlier in similar circumstances. The argument made would be that both of them are champions who play round the year on the circuit, winning almost all of their matches, and hence the law of the averages was bound to catch up with them. While Rosol was just brilliant with those big booming serves, and return of serves clocking more than 90 miles per hour, and Nadal helpless mainly due to his listless serves, and partly due to his inherent game not suited for grass, the Federer – Benneteau game was more on an even keel. The fact that Federer really had to thank his stars to get out of this one unscathed should set the alarm bells ringing in the Federer camp.
When Federer burst on to the scene during the summer of 2001 at Wimbledon, sporting a day old stubble and a pony tail, what captivated legions of fans all over the world was his effortless play and sheer elegance on the court. Here was a player who predominantly played from the baseline but had the same panache about his game that a serve-and-volley player would usually have. The refinement in Federer’s play was unparalleled; the smooth serve, the powerful forehand, and the delectable one handed back hand made it a treat just to watch him play. The next few years established his legacy with Federer achieving every possible milestone in the world of tennis. Along the way, he ensured that the careers of his contemporaries at that point in time like Roddick, Hewitt and Philippoussis were rendered pointless making them all just ‘also rans’.
The world however was watching, calculating and scheming. Along came players who were better built physically for the game, had steely determination and better temperament in match situations, and most importantly had studied every facet of Federer’s game from close quarters. Nadal, Djokovic, Murray and Tsonga were on to him like a pack of wolves trying to dethrone the master in every way possible. While Nadal and Djokovic displayed supreme athleticism fetching every potential winner that Federer hit, making him hit one more shot, and in the process frustrating him, Tsonga and Murray used their physical build and sheer strength to blow Federer off the court.
To Federer’s credit, he did initially ward off the challengers quite admirably winning quite a few Grand Slams in the 2007-2008 period. Sadly, it looks like that was his last hurrah. The most disappointing aspect of Federer’s play in recent times has been his complete lack of adaptability. The greatest hallmark of a true sportsman is the ability to judge the limitations of his/her own body. As one’s body ages, the reflexes slow down, and muscles no longer have the same power. Hence it is only logical that certain adjustments will have to be made in the game play to counteract that. Federer, however, displaying the stubbornness that one would attribute to a 7 year old, just refuses to do so. He still wants to look as imperious and effortless as he did 10 years back, and still have the same results. He refuses to chase down balls, play shots that involve flailing of both hands just to get the ball back in court, and in the process look ugly. Federer wants to walk onto Centre Court sashaying in his custom made white Nike blazer, and the golden Rolex and see opponents just throw in the towel even before the match begins.
It really is a sad state of affairs when a champion player is not ready to slug it out when the going gets tough. Federer would do well to take a leaf out of Sachin Tendulkar’s book, someone whom he has personally met at the All England Club over a quick snack of the famous strawberries and cream. Sachin is a fine example of how to adapt one’s game as the body grows older. He has cut down on strokes which get him out like the pull and the hook, puts in more hours at the training ground, has no qualms about letting a bowler dominate him, and in the process play an ugly brand of cricket, all of it in the pursuit of the his main goal; helping his team win. While people might keep lamenting about how much they prefer the Sachin of the late 90′s and the early 2000′s to the present one, the statisticians will tell you that 2008 and 2010 were some of Sachin’s most productive years in terms of runs scored. That is a remarkable example of a player who has adapted his game and body in order to meet the rigours of the modern game.
The match against Benneteau did nothing to show that Federer was ready to change his style of play. None of the balls were chased down with any intent, he continued to play improbable drop shots on grass just to dazzle Beneteau and the crowd when he could have easily finished those games with a boring but effective forceful forehand. He continued to have the silence and the complete lack of emotion attributable to a trappist monk. There is still a week to go before the finals of the All England Championship but I will stick my neck out, and say that it will not be a Swiss lifting the trophy this year. And if he still does, it will be as the lovely Chelsea pensioners, who get to watch these matches clad in their traditional reds, say, “That would be a bollocking of giant proportions”.