Al-right! Everybody feeling good yet? Roger Federer puts an end to Novak Djokovic's scintillating run and takes everyone on a stroll down memory lane in the process--this was the magical Swiss Maestro of old, in a Herculean performance that was just enough to derail the most dominating start to a tennis season ever.
What a match! Thanks to NBCsports.com I was able to catch it on replay after spending most of the afternoon scooping the court-cast on ESPN. So how, exactly, did Roger do it?
Well, it seems to have been a combination of what Roger did, and also what he didn't. What he did not do: Roger did not try and plant himself on the baseline and hit through Djokovic. It can't be done. Not by anyone playing today. Roger Federer from 2006 could do it. But in 2011, no one has the firepower to trade bombs with the Djoker.
Rather, what Roger did do was mix up his pace and spins, move Djoker around, and patiently wait for opportunities to strike. He also (and this is big) minimized his unforced errors just enough to come through. Lately, Roger's "demise" (and I would put that in double quotes if a) it didn't look so weird and b) I thought anyone would understand what I was going for) has been characterized by his ugly play. His movement seems there, but the errors were getting uglier and more frequent by the tournament. Not this time. It was vintage Fed. And Djokovic tried repeatedly to pick on his backhand, to no avail. Lastly, he finished the match in four sets--key since the longer the match went the more you had to favor the younger and better rested Serb (Djokovic didn't play a QF match because Fabio F0gnini's withdrew with an injury).
Some thoughts on the hysteria surrounding the match:
It was a lot of fun to come home and see Twitter blasted with live match tweeting. Tennis fandom can sometimes be a lonely road, and when it takes center stage like this (and rightfully so with the level these two were playing at) it's a rare communal experience.
As someone who very nearly worships Roger Federer, it was particularly satisfying to see him in his element again. Here he was, if only for four hours, back to the magician that ruled the tennis world for so long. The movement was crisp, the forehand was eviscerating, and the backhand was dependable. His serve (which can be added to the list of things Fed did right today) was absolutely clinical and punishing--18 aces and who knows how many easy set-ups on top of that.
What was even more fulfilling was the way Fed carried himself during the match. I often theorize that Roger is so good he lacks mental toughness in tight matches. The list of evidence is long, and not worth getting into here, but this theory hinges on his superior talent being in some ways detrimental. This is because for most of his career he could just outclass everyone--in real knock down, drag out fights he tended to shrink, almost incredulous that his super powers weren't allowing him to just cruise on by.
But today? Fed provided us a rare mixture of his customary athletic poetry and street fighter instinct. Yelling during big points, loud "come-ons!" with every successful set point. It was a new Fed. One who didn't back down from a fight, but rather found his inner alpha dog and came out swinging. Djokovic has been compared, correctly, by a very good friend of mine, to the liquid-morphing, police-uniform-wearing terminator from T2: Judgment Day. He had been obliterating everyone in his path all year, on his way to winning everything. And Fed looked him in the eye before taking him apart.
He is the greatest tennis player to ever play. And it's fitting that he's the one to bring Djokovic's streak to a halt. It seems like only Roger, playing in this way, could have done it. I'm not sure anyone else has the skill set to beat someone playing as ruthlessly as Djokovic has been playing this season.
But most of all, for me, it was one more Federer moment. It has been painful to watch my favorite player start to descend the mountain top he owned for so long. The truth of it is, Djokovic is still the best player in the world. Probably the favorite for Wimbledon, and may only lose a couple more times this year. And sadly, I don't think Roger can win on Sunday either. Nadal has the blueprint for beating Roger, and their earlier meetings this year (they were bad) still demonstrate that. And I won't be shocked when he goes back to exiting from lesser tournaments in early rounds.
But, for one glorious moment, with the world watching, he ruled the court again with swagger. I saw him vaporize an ace down the T to win the match after dropping two match points. And I got to see him walk authoritatively to the net after that mammoth serve, smiling and wagging a knowing finger with the utmost perfect blend of confidence, satisfaction, and enjoyment.
So thanks Roger. And best of luck on Sunday.
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