2008-09-09 23:14:30
I hear the voice of Pete Sampras echo in my head as he says:
"If I can win (at least) one Major a year, I know it's been a good year for me."
World #2 Roger Federer acquired his lone Grand Slam this year, after defeating Andy Murray in the US Open final on Monday evening.
Federer has set his own gold standard for excellence over the course of the past four years, however, winning at least two slams per year, and taking home three titles in 2004, 2006, and 2007. Has it really been a "good" year?
Failing to defend his Australian Open title earlier this year in Melbourne, suffering a crushing five-set defeat at Wimbledon on the heels of an embarrassing finals loss at Roland Garros, plus the loss of his number one ranking this summer, gave Federer's fans cause to question his once unbreakable invincibility.
Despite the trials of his 2008 season, Federer's willingness to transcend the setbacks, coupled with his nasty case of mononucleosis, gives us an idea of just how "good" he really is.
The Swiss star said:
"I always knew that if I were to get one Slam under my belt, especially the last one, things weren't looking that bad, like everybody was talking about. I didn't feel I was under pressure to prove myself in trying to win here, but this definitely feels very sweet."
Prior to the title defense, Federer had weathered a continuous storm of unprecedented criticism as well as the inevitable "career in decline" comments. The back-to-back losses in Major finals to Spain's Rafael Nadal, uncharacteristic early losses during the summer hardcourt season, and a shocking defeat at the hands of James Blake in Beijing, offered scant resistance to the notion that Federer's dominance was a thing of the past.
Regardless, Federer's victory in Flushing Meadows brought him a fifth US Open crown, making him the first player to take home five consecutive titles in two different grand slam tournaments. Federer now holds 13 Grand Slam singles titles, bringing him one step closer to breaking Pete Sampras' all time record.
At the conclusion of the match, an elated Federer told the crowd:
"One thing's for sure, I'm not going to stop at 13. That would be terrible."
Federer showed us that he is human, vulnerable, real. He demonstrated his inexhaustible will to win. Will we ever see the Federer of old dominate the game as he once did? Perhaps not. Is his trophy case complete? Not a chance.
The song played for him in Flushing tells the story:
Expect some upcoming candid shots of Roger and his entourage, as he and gal-pal, Anna Wintour, attend one of the remaining New York fashion shows this week.
Team DdV is proud of you Roger, congratulations champ!
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Team Mirka must be thrilled. Yay for Fed!
BernieEliza , 9/10/08 3:10 AM
I am thrilled for Roger too, he really looked happy.
RocketQueen , 9/10/08 3:25 AM
Thrilled for Roger.
(Interesting that Ms. Anna was so visibly in evidence in Roger's box when post-Olympics it was a little less so. I seem to remember her being much more interested in Phelps at the time. Wish someone else who supported Roger no matter what the skies around his career looked like could have the chance to be his escort during Fashion Week. Ah, well, if wishes were horses ...)
mara2 , 9/10/08 4:55 AM
Nice. I was cheering for Andy, but it was not to be. So great for TMF to silence all the doubters.
gauloises , 9/10/08 2:40 PM
Ms. Anna is fickle. LOL. She will follow the fame trail I gather. I would like to see TMF take her to a few restaurants while he is still here. She looks more gaunt and skeletal each time she is photographed. Please eat dear, it is not a good look at your age.
RocketQueen , 9/10/08 4:38 PM
was there ever any doubt?!? Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeam Mirkaaaaaaaa!!!
servolova , 9/10/08 5:52 PM
It will keep her in Fendi and Prada for another season, that's a given. The event as it were, was published in Sports Illustrated.
"Like a campaign rally organized to champion the candidate of their backing, the Friends of Federer made their way out to Flushing en masse. In the stands, starlets (Natalie Portman, Anne Hathaway), Penguins (Mario Lemieux, Sidney Crosby) and fashonistas (Oscar De LaRenta, Anna Wintour) stood and applauded."
RocketQueen , 9/10/08 6:06 PM
anna seems to be all up sharapova's ass these days.
servolova , 9/10/08 6:09 PM
Kevin Armstrong doesn't like Novak either. LOL.
"Federer began the year with a bout of mono before falling in Melbourne to the upstart Serbian mimic, Novak Djokovic."
He is a great deal more than a mimic. A bit of a slanted comment if you ask me.
RocketQueen , 9/10/08 6:11 PM
Those two have been making the rounds during Fashion Week. Peter Som's collection was debuted two days ago, and they were in attendance. Maria has to make up for the publicity she missed by skipping the tournament. She is a media hunter, that must have damn near killer her.
RocketQueen , 9/10/08 6:16 PM
it bothers me the fact that people were calling rafa "the unofficial number one" after wimbledon and writing roger off but suddenly when rafa becomes no.1 "officially",then people turned their back on him and started to promote roger. hmm,interesting...
sisterofnight12 , 9/11/08 1:53 AM
i knew rogi would win. i'm so happy for him, he's so much more relaxed than the last time i saw him.
elle , 9/11/08 3:37 AM
Great win by Roger, but im gutted for Murray!
ps i like the new look :)
Britney , 9/11/08 12:55 PM
people are always ready to turn their back on him. rafa is cranky now as the "official number one" and his attitude has changed a lot since wimbledon.
elle , 9/11/08 7:24 PM
Ms. Anna has been left in the lurch. LOL. http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/
"Roger Federer fails to show for Anna Wintour. Sadly, the Vogue editor appeared without Roger Federer, who has accompanied her to the show for the past two years running. The newly-crowned US Open champ was nowhere to be seen, despite Wintour taking time out from Fashion Week to support him in Monday?s final against Andy Murray."
RocketQueen , 9/11/08 11:44 PM
"rafa is cranky now as the "official number one" and his attitude has changed a lot since wimbledon."
how has he changed? i cannot see any difference.
sisterofnight12 , 9/13/08 1:41 PM
he isn't as friendly anymore, he is more moody when i see him. in london he complained a lot about being followed by the press.
elle , 9/13/08 3:52 PM
I missed the final unfortunately. :/ All the video footage showed a happy Roger. I hope he celebrated a lot after his thirteenth. '08 was not a good year, I disagree with that idea. Good job though, happy for him!
Allez , 9/13/08 4:18 PM
there are lots of pictures of him scowling now, where b4 he only did it when he was playing.
elle , 9/13/08 4:36 PM
Dani DeVine brings you the lighter side of the ATP. Comment or concerns? Contact Dani at dani.devine [AT] tennistalk.com...
Mon 03/11 11:13
Federer's finest 5
Mon 27/10 10:43
ATP Mo-jo
Wed 22/10 22:50
Survey says: Simon is a star!
Mon 20/10 11:42
The importance of being Ernests
Thu 16/10 14:13
Reality, rumours, and the ridiculous
Mon 13/10 14:26
Backstage with the billionaire bad boy
Fri 10/10 13:28
No love for Nole
Tue 07/10 20:01
Farewell to the Fabulous
Fri 03/10 11:14
Cast your vote for the G.O.A.T.
Wed 01/10 11:20
The hotshot hall of fame: Marat Safin
Mon 29/09 10:47
Mommy and Daddy dearest
Fri 26/09 10:01
A very lucky Willy
Wed 24/09 12:11
Rafa-lution
Mon 22/09 15:33
Inside the ATP: After hours part II
Fri 19/09 12:51
David does DC
View all posts
Did you know that... Michael Chang is the youngest Grand Slam champion in tennis history. He was 17 years and 3 months old when he won the French Open in 1989.
tenstar, Jan 7, 2009 1:57 AM
sstay, Jan 7, 2009 12:03 AM
RafaNadalGirl20, Jan 6, 2009 9:01 PM
RafaNadalGirl20, Jan 6, 2009 8:36 PM
samprallica, Jan 6, 2009 3:17 PM
RocketQueen, Jan 7, 2009 3:06 AM
samprallica, Jan 6, 2009 3:11 PM
kaitepai, Jan 6, 2009 10:20 AM

Hello there!
I hope you all had a good time watching the Open on this finals weekend! Team DdV extends its sincere congratulations to Roger Federer (our first choice), who just clinched Lucky Number 13. :)
Thank you for your emails and words of encouragement- keep sending correspondence to me- the next MALEbox is nearly complete.
We've made some changes to the site, so hopefully the earlier troubles have passed. Thank you again for your support!
Kisses,
DdV
DdV , 9/10/08 1:22 AM