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2008-05-13 15:45:00
Roger Federer has won a tournament in 2008. One. In Estoril – that's in Portugal for those of you have never heard of it. The list of players who have beat Federer this year include Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, which isn't so surprising. What is surprising is that the list also includes Mardy Fish and Radek Stepanek. But for those of you who are asking yourselves "What in the world is happening to Roger Federer???", be comforted. Roger has offered an explanation. He said that the reason his results have been a little strange this year is because he is now focusing on Masters events and Grand Slams and not playing many other events. He feels his tennis is "normal" again.
Great! I can understand that – he wants to win the big ones, to get closer to Sampras and those 14 Slam titles. There is just the veriest little glitch in that explanation. Don't worry if you missed it – thousands would. Only a person with a keen eye for the smallest of details would notice that Federer has won precisely ZERO Masters events and Grand Slams so far in 2008. If it's true that he has now lost to Fish and Stepanek (in the very events he claims to be focusing on) because he is saving all of his "best" tennis for the big tournaments, one might suggest that perhaps a change in strategy is in order.
The truth, of course, is that Federer is struggling. Chances are that he is not going to win Roland Garros this year, but that is not really different than it has been. Despite Nadal's second round loss in Rome, he is still the heavy favorite going into Paris - especially since his early departure last week was due mostly to the blister he was sporting on the ball of his foot (no disrespect to Ferrero intended). The clay court season has never really been Federer's. But grass? Grass is Federer's home. Wimbledon is where he broke through in 2003, and it is the place he could always count on. For this reason, I think the grass court season (all three weeks of it) will tell quite a bit about where Federer truly is in terms of form. My prediction is that we are going to see a different Wimbledon champion for the first time since 2003.
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Federer hasn't been no.1 longer than anyone else. Consecutive weeks maybe; but not the year end or total amount of weeks. You can attribute his aura of invincibility during his dominant era to many reasons.
Bottomline is the guy is human. Mono or no mono; its getting tougher.
samprallica , 12/6/08 12:27 PM
Wed 09/05 14:58
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Nadal voices displeasure at Federer's inaction
Wed 11/01 14:41
Mardy Fish has gone off the rails
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Yannick Noah out for some Spanish blood
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Nadal bails on Paris Masters again
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Where US Open rain stops, scheduling paranoia begins
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US Open scandal brewing
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A less Maestro-like Federer gets ignored
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I just find it strange that the year Federer is ill, everyone gets their win. (with the exception of Nadal on clay). Is it a hollow win, only time will tell.....roll on 2009
Casper , 12/2/08 8:23 PM