As I mentioned earlier, despite the amazing drama and length of the Isner-Mahut classic, the number one story to me was Rafa’s re-capturing the trophy and undisputed number one ranking again. I also mentioned that part of that story, of course, is Fed’s not reaching the SEMIS for the second straight major after making it 23 in a row.
It’s hard to speak of one without the other, isn’t it? Rafa and Roger. They always go together.
As I have fallen in love with tennis these past six years, it has been such a pleasure to watch the Roger-Rafa rivalry. I love nothing more in sports than true greatness, professional consistency, and sweet rivalries. These two men have been so awesome for tennis. I have also been in awe of how classy they are to one another, how much mutual respect they have for each other, and how they both seem to make one another better. That is a sports rivalry at its best. It is simply inspiring.
What makes their rivalry even more special and compelling to me is the contrast in their styles of play and overall energy. I tend to prefer Rafa’s gritty, tenacious, play-every-point-hard style, but I can’t help but admire Roger’s coolness and ease. He never seems distressed or tired, or like he is even sweating or working hard. God it must be frustrating to play him! Perhaps he is simply a genetic freak, and that is why he almost never gets hurt. He is some kind of freak, anyway.
The two most amazing things to me about both men are as follows: 1)Rafa’s ability to constantly be changing and adapting his game so that he can be effective on different surfaces against diverse opponents, and 2) Roger’s ability to go deep major after major, despite how small the physical margin is between men on the tour and how strong and deep the men’s game is these days. Many of these players (think Mahut or Isner) can have a big serving day and beat almost anyone on a given day. Fed (like MJ every time he walked out onto the basketball court) has also had a target on his back this whole time, and continues to perform.
Perhaps now the guys finally believe they can beat him? Perhaps now he finally believes he himself is vulnerable? All it takes is that split second of doubt on his part, and that split second of difference in his opponent’s mind to believe he can win for everything to change.
VERY big changes come in VERY small packages.
To illustrate this point, I think back to this year’s Australian open Quarter Final match with Fed against DavyDenko. DavyD had beaten him the last two times they played (both on hard court), and had recently dissected him to death and broken him down to take the Master’s trophy. In the Aussi Davy D was up a set and a break, and had break point to go up a double break. On that point, he was in control and had what for him was a sitter backhand to go up that double break. He netted it, did not get the break, and went on to go away rather quietly in 4 sets. I can’t help but think had he gone up a double break in set two, there is no way he loses that set, and had he gone up two sets to none, he wins that match. He was playing better than anyone in the world on hard courts at the time, and who knows, he may go on to win that major.
How different would DavyD’s career be had a made that backhand?
But that is the difference between him and Fed. It is a small difference (one backhand), yet a humongous one as well.
Two more quick examples in Fed matches to illustrate how small the margin is: 1) If Roddick makes that backhand volley to go up two sets in the 2009 Wimby, I firmly believe he wins that thing. It was a backhand volley he makes more than he misses. 2) I remember in the 2008 U.S. Open Berdych had a forehand volley to go up another break and, in my mind, win the match. He missed the volley and never recovered, as Roger came back from 2 sets to none to win three straight sets.
Federer luck? A little, I suppose…but he’s always close enough in a match so that his luck matters, and he’s always then able to take advantage of it. THAT’S how you go to 23 consecutive major SEMIS.
And that’s what we learn form tennis this time: stay close, hang tough, and be ready to pounce.
Maybe DavyD will miss that backhand against you too.
AD OUT…
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