By Peter Nez
Roger Federer is in Halle, Germany this week playing his typical warm up tournament before Wimbledon (Germany’s only grass court event) where the latest news reports that Roger has signed a lifetime contract with tournament organizers, meaning he is committed to the event as long as he is playing professional tennis. “It’s a sort of marriage,” Roger quipped about the lofty contract with the Gerry Weber Open. And while the entire media world is buzzing over Rafael Nadal’s fifth Roland Garros title he attained last Sunday by smearing the red clay with Robin Soderling’s face, nicknamed Rockin’ Robin, after his blistering ground strokes that sound like cannon fire when struck, who appeared more like a subdued Canary tweeting rather than Rockin’- and big headlines announcing the ‘Return of the King of Clay’ and ‘Rafa is back!’, referring to his reacquisition of the top slot in men’s tennis, there is another king, of another surface, some would say the true king going quietly into the night, preparing for a Wimbledon defense, and maybe something else…
One thing that is amazing about Roger, among many other things, is his ability to put things in perspective, and shrug off losses that most players would never be able to bounce back from. Andy Murray comes to mind, whom after losing to Roger in the Australian Open final this past January, hasn’t been the same player since. Novak Djokovic, another top player, who won his first slam in 2008, has been hampered by uncharacteristic losses and henceforth hasn’t been able to muster a similar run at any of the subsequent slams. Andy Roddick, after losing to Federer in the epic 2009 Wimbledon final, lost to John Isner in the following slam (US Open) in a startling fashion. After attending the Annual ITF awards dinner in Paris, following his defeat to Soderling in the quarterfinals of the French Open a week ago, which garnered stunned faces by reporters, participants, attendees, and Gustavo Kurten himself (guest of honor), as to his appearance after a loss like that, “Nobody expected him to show,” Mary Joe Fernandez commented; a salivating press contingent swooned to get some time with the great one, and Roger was blasted with the usual doubts, speculations on his demise, questions as to his game, ect. He answered, in his usual candid demeanor, full of cool, that he was grateful for the past year where he won the French Open and Wimbledon back to back, about the birth of his daughters, and the magnificent summer, and the Australian Open victory this year, without a shade of despondency, or any signs that he was worried in the least. He exemplified gratitude, and emitted a perspective that was just thankful to still be playing, and healthy, and with a huge smile on his face, was looking forward to grass, where, let’s face it, the records speak for themselves, he is the King. I only wish that the media and fans alike had this propensity to put things in perspective.
Roger Federer
All I read about now, and hear about in the rumblings and byways of the tennis realm, is Rafa this, and Rafa that, and Rafa is the one to beat, and Rafa is the usurper and all of that. I have no qualms with Rafael Nadal. I think he is a fantastic player, a true ambassador, and a great role model. But, when I read things like Roger can’t beat Rafa, and that Roger has never beaten a fully healthy Nadal, and things of this sort, there is an obvious upset in the balance of things; people are not looking at the big picture, and least of all adopting any sort of sensible perspective on matters.
I have no desire to list off all of the accolades of Mr. Federer, for they should be automatic by now, and need no mention. Let us take the notion of Roger never beating a healthy Nadal, especially on clay. First of all, the health of your opponent is out of your control, can we at least agree on that? Second, if the running statement that Roger can’t beat a healthy Nadal stands on any significant grounds, how about the vice versa? Let’s take a look at the 2008 Wimbledon final, touted as the ‘Greatest Match of All Time’. If we have a short term memory, many may not remember that Mr. Federer was battling a year long bout with Mononucleosis that started just prior to the Australian Open and, maybe didn’t subside until the end of that same year. That would mean that not only was Federer “unhealthy” but it took a super healthy, super confident, super momentum filled man in Rafael Nadal to beat Roger, and it took everything he had, all the way to an epic fifth set finale. Nobody speaks of that of course. On top of that, does anyone fail to see that Rafa has an outstanding record against Roger maybe because most of their head to head matches have taken place on clay? And there is little argument as to who is the greatest of all time on clay. Also, has anyone commented on why there are so many masters’ series tournaments on clay, and why the clay season is the longest on tour, and why there are only two tournaments on grass each season, and no masters series tournaments on grass? I’ve never heard mention of this either. Let us take a look at Federer’s legacy as far as slams go: Roger has reached a staggering 23 of the last 24 slam semi-finals, a staggering 19 out of the last 21 finals over the past six years, and 16 grand slam titles and counting. Who beat Roger in the last six years? Well, let’s see: Rafael Nadal, the king of clay; Novak Djokovic, a top four player, playing a not so healthy Roger (2008 AUS Open); Marat Safin, in the 2005 AUS Open, playing his absolute best tennis; Del Potro (2009 US Open) and Soderling (2010 French Open) who defied physics with their pace for over two hours of play. Do you ever hear Roger justifying himself, as is his right, about any of all the talk and doubt and scrutiny? No. He talks about one thing: moving forward. And what is ahead? Grass. The king returns to the holy grounds where he has set up his palace shrine for the past seven years. Maybe after he wins another Wimbledon will things finally be put in perspective… I doubt it.
14-7 is no if
5-2 in slams is no if
one beat down after another is no if
so sorry i dont see your point.
why is it so hard to see when these two men play – one always weeps for joy the other for misery
i will grant the mighty fed this: it is a match-up problem for Fed.
like Ken Norton was for Ali.
sledge hammer forehand to weak back hand.
however there is still the most important quality when these two play – mental toughness.
particularly evidenced in Nadal's specialty, #1 on the apt circuit week after week. Break points saved.
sorry u are wrong again … as you are in interpreting 14-7 and 5-2, which would have been much worse if not for injuries in the few matches Fed was able to win (i.e. Wimbly 07)
sorry wrong again
other wise it is 4-5, and Nadal tremendously hurt in 3 of those Fed wins.
so sorry you are wrong.
nobody is asking for special consideration.
just asking that 14-7, and 5-2 be honored for what it is – a categorical whipping
come on, isnt it obviously what is going to happen each time these two take the court
with any resemblance of health for the two of them
isnt it obvious.
every Fed fan i know feels queasy when these two meet.
Let me tell you what my friend heard from Fed himself in the lobby of hotel day before the 08 French open final. my friend happen to be in same hotel.
Friend: "Congrats Roger on final. Good luck tomorrow. So you and Nadal again?"
Fed: "again ….." unethusiastic.
we know what happened next. THOROUGH BEATDOWN.
yes have to agree with the "weird argument"
Clay season damn long: starts second week of April, over 7-8 weeks later.
vs Hard courts.
9 months minus 3 weeks for grass season.
you argument is very sound.
i would have to look at those numbers and say clay too damn long and hard court too damn short
these are wonderful non-sequiturs
what does what happened to a 16 year old boy
a 16 yr old boy who beat the crap out of Fed in 06 Miami, to boot,
have to do with Nadal-Federerer.
answer: nothing.
just like Fed's chances from this point forward
take a look at last 3 years, late 2007 til now, minus Nadal's obvious knee injury period after FO 09, it was delineated above, and then try to tell us again about who has really dominated the last 3 years, every where. the next few years will bear this out … if you one cannot be sensible and see the numbers as they exist.
Wow, excellent points Victor! Very well thought out.
say, there is a new #1. it is so nice to see a picture of Nadal on the tennis page just above the atp ranking.
dont let the slim 400 pt lead fool you. Nadal has no pts to defend of the 2000pts available for Wimbly. Fed can only lose 2000 pts. there could be a 4000pt swing in a fortnight. wouldn't that be glorious.
I think i more likely outcome would be Fed loses to Gulbis in 4th roung, or Soderling in Quarters; and of course Nadal wins (who could possibly slow down this winning train); and therefore a 3400pt swing, which ultimately means Nadal will have the rightful strangle hold on ATP ranking, never to be relinquished for years to come.
this is almost axiomatic
what is complete is the meaning of 14-7, and 5-2 in grand slams.
Hamlet: "needs no ghost to come from the grave to tell us this."
stacey, you have little knowledge it seems as to why roger goes to Halle instead you choose to believe he does so in order not to play or as in your words "Get confidence against nobodies" So Novak, Hass, Hewitt are nobodies? all have played there…..Roger has always gone to Halle for as long i can remember he enjoys the peace he gets before Wimbledon starts nothing more then that. And since when does he need confidence? He moves on grass as nadal does on clay it comes naturally to him. So before you start talking again get some facts straight first….Oh it has nothing to do with money either he'd play wimbledon or halle for nothing because they mean the world to him but i doubt you would believe that.
u really want to compare Dchoker to Nadal
7 GS to 1 GS
18 Masters to 5
please how Dchoker even got brought up is a mystery
He's got no nickel in this dime.
enough of this BS
winning is winning and the rest is hot air.
14-7, 5-2
and please dont bring up Dchoker again. please
Fed fans can play with the numbers and rack their brains over and over
and every time they will arrive at 14-7; 5-2; and we know those #s are only going to get worse
bc Fed is the worse for wear at 29 years of age. But please dont forget when the little boy Nadal beat the man Fed the very first time they played at the height of his dominance, on hard court of Miami. please enough of this BS.
im sure he will play Halle for nothing and for no guarantee entry fee.
How about Mary Joe Fernandez saying something on Feds behalf. A joke. That's a real sports journalist – married to Fed's agent. Whenever she opens her mouth about Fed, my ears close.
beautiful
i can say putting words from the mouth of Fed's agent's wife, as though objective, is ridiculous (Mary Joe Fernandez). that is what i can say about this article. were we trying to slip that one by?
what matters today is who is #1
who will be #1 for a long time
it will likely be 3000pt lead after Wimbly
and that lead will only grow throughout summer and US0
deal with it
his majestys time has come to an end. he got a reprieve in mid-09 simply bc Nadal was hurt
otherwise there would be 3 years of this now.
deal with it.
what is important about Fed whiff – it happened against Nadal. Lets try to stay on point here. we are talking about Fed-Nadal.
I can think of a time when Fed dribbled water on his shirt absent-mindedly, while playing Murray. does that have anything to do with missing very important point against your nemesis? i dont think so.
bard…FED= 16 GS, NADAL- SEVEN…9 MORE GRAND SLAMS FOR NADAL..HE’LL PROBABLY NEVER HAVE 16…WHERE IS YOUR COMMON SENSE BARD? WHERE????
my common sense resides in – 14-7, 5-2 GS. period. man on man.
lets see where the next five years take us on this joyous ride.
thank you for your thoughts Bend
haha! stacey, judy and grace getting their panties in a bunch. 14-7, 5-2?
look at this : 16-7, 5-1, 4-1, 6-1, 5-0, 4-0, 285 weeks to 48 (even hewitt has more. wow!)
and no broken knees. nadal might well do a borg and retire any moment. His knees are jelly. That is the price you pay trying to catch up to the Greatest player ever to pick a racquet. Nadal's injury in 2009 did not happen out of the blue. for 5years he chased the Great one and once he overtook, the efforts of those 5years took their toll.
and if you call Djokovic Dchoker, i have to call nadal itchy-butto or pick-@$$, so be respectful of other players.
Djokovic banged nadal in 6 thrashing sets last fall. That is what would happen to nadal if he was good enough on all surfaces and met djokovic and federer 75% out of clay as they would have if nadal was as good outside clay as Roger and Novak are on clay.
You can keep saying 14-7, 5-2 like you have been brain-washed to do on the mother ship, but you need to have a brain to analyze the H2Hs. By your 3rd grade logic, marat safin and lleyton hewitt are better players than Sampras because they have winning records on him. Even richard krajicek and wayne ferreira had winning records over sampras. And hey fabrice santoro beat sampras 6-1 6-0 on clay, but that still does not tarnish Sampras' legacy as a champion.
Federer is the GOAT in tennis. No one other than rafa poster girls will contest that.
sorry again victor
im not just talking about the 14-7, 5-2
im talking about the feeling one gets watching these two play
the determination, the never give up attitude
and the sagging shoulders and the bitching at Cyclops
where is the confusion
mutlfiple times i said Fed is the Goat
and that Nadal puts beat downs on the Goat
we are in agreement
This article was written by a by a person who claims to be unbiased, but is definitely biased in favor of Federer. Pointless…
Amen
so much BS
marat (are you kidding me), Hewitt (hip replacement wonder), Krajicek (massive underachiever), Ferrera (my god). argument is so flawed where do we begin. When we are talkinga bout Fed and Nadal we are talking about the two best players by far … no the Krajiceks of the world. and with these two one punishes the other.
obviously you cannot wrap you mind around 14-7
and the beat downs we've had to witness
and the beat downs to come
The fact of the case is head to head , Nadal has domimated Federer and no amount of self comfort can change that
Mr. Nez, you are absolutely spot on with your commentary. I've never enjoyed reading an article more. You should write books, poetry, etc.
A fan,
TD
MI DUORP FO AY ORB ! (ONISAC)
again same story, sans lucky moment in AO, Fed loses. this time to a gimp with a hip replacement
this will continue. there is no real fight in the man when the going gets tough