I recall 2013 Wimbledon when Sergei Stakhovsky,a Ukrainian tennis player at best termed as a “lucky loser “knocked out Roger Federer in four tough sets at centre court at Wimbledon in round 2. Many had quoted the famous line ” end of the road “for the Swiss king of grass courts.He was the defending champion and ranked no.3 then. However in the slams following his 2012 Wimbledon success, his best was a semi final appearance at Melbourne earlier that year.He was to lose plenty of points and might fade away. He had back injuries plaguing his 2013 season. It was the first time in 14 years he hadn’t made a final in the first 4 months of the year. He needed a change in racquets as well as his coaching staff.Stefan Edberg came to help.
He journeyed next to a relative second wind thanks to Edberg ‘s company. He reached the semis of 2014 Aussie Open,a pair of Wimbledon ones twice in 2014 and 2015,the 2015 US Open final and Aussie open semis again in 2016. The latter four losses came to the in form Novak Djokovic.He was missing that final touch that could get him past the Serb and reach newer glories.What really was being exhibited that a player in his thirties was playing tennis at a different class.However that Aussie open loss left him with a torn meniscus in his knee that was to take over his entire season.He withdrew from the French ending his sequence of 65 straight slam appearances and his 2016 season. We didn’t know if we would see him again.
2017,however couldn’t have been fresher for him.He looked as robust as ever.The Aussie open as I have told about earlier in the year captured the s essence of Roger’s youthful form. A classic five setter with Rafa and his 18th slam.The fairytale was complete. That wasn’t over by a stretch though.In the spring he completed the sunshine double of Indian Wells & Miami.Then came a planned clay break.It has been quite clear that he’d be picky in his appearances and clay was never his sort of domain.A useful break from the French Open again would have helped ease off any strains for the grass court season.
It paid off.At Halle,he was exceptional.Nailing down his ninth title there,few would bet against a huge performance at SW19.He was looking again refreshed by the break.He breezed past all his opponents on the All England Club.Whilst in the second week, Murray and Djokovic had injury niggles and Nadal succumbed to a 15/13 final set stunner by Giles Muller,the veteran Swiss had no problems with Alexander “Sascha” Zverev and Gregor Dmitrov brushed aside in rounds 3 and 4.Next was Raonic and a rematch of last year’s semifinal which he had lost to the young Canadian.
Roger was maintaining his early season form.He avenged last year’s loss in straight sets.His serve was ominous and the strokes paralleled it with venom and dexterity on the low grass surface which he has dominated most of his life. IHe marched on towards his semi final opponent, Thomas Berdych.In 2010, he had lost the defence of his title to the tall Czech in fairly unfamiliar fashion to the surprise of many in the semi finals but exacting revenge was not an issue this time either. Berdych took him to the two tie breaks but Roger prevailed again.
So on to another Wimbledon Sunday where all pageantry was once again donning the centre court.It is always a huge occasion.Roger at 35 now didn’t have Stefan as his coach but had all his family with his pair of twins watching and urging him on.He wouldn’t have disappointed them.That element probably came from another injury ridden opponent in Marin Cilic.Funny enough Cilic on course to his maiden and only grand slam success of 2014 US Open beat Roger in a one sided semi in which he had lost just ten games.I don’t think Roger had revenge in his mind.
The first few games had Cilic give his best shot.However by game 6, when Roger broke for a 4-2 lead, it seemed the writing could have been making its way to the wall. Cilic seemed in pain and Roger had the first set 6/3.It has to be said though that the next two sets weren’t much to elaborate about as it looked like the Croat was nowhere close to his earlier tournament form.Roger ransacked the second set 6/1 and the writing was truly on.He broke early in the third as well and there was no turning back then. He took the championship with a 6/4 finish.
In his 70th grand slam which is a record for men’s tennis,he went onto win his eighth Wimbledon, his 19th grand slam and without losing a set.Beat that for longevity and form.He last won two slams in a single year in 2009. Due to his injury ending season in 2016, he had dropped to no.17 in the rankings.He now has become no. 3 again and has a chance to even finish no.1 as Andy will continue to lose his huge points he made up at the latter half of last year.
Roger is back on the main stage. Tennis rejuvenated. I would say to Christopher Nolan now that he should write about the White Knight who has risen than all those Batmans he has enriched us with in the last decade.
Sportsfan Says 