It has been three years since last a Grand Slam final was contested without at least one of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal numbering among its participants. The 2008 Australian Open saw both crash out in straight sets against inspired foes, paving the way for Novak Djokovic, who was fresh off a runner-up finish at the preceding US Open, and who upset Federer in the semifinals, to claim his first- and, to date, only- career Grand Slam title. As I write, fate seems poised, perhaps, to offer us an eery echo of that peculiar turn of events gone by. Nadal, injured and despondent, has fallen to compatriot David Ferrer, while Djokovic, once again riding the crest of a run to the US Open final, is locked in another Melbourne semifinal with Federer, wherein he has won the first set, and has looked every bit the dynamic and versatile player who claimed the title here three years ago. All the crucial pieces are in place for history to repeat itself.
It has often been the case, however, that the course of events, in unfolding, will tantalize its observers, dangling the prospect of a particular narrative before us, only to unceremoniously withdraw back into the ether that which it once seemed to promise. Should Federer manage to rally in this match, said course may divert itself towards the path it followed last year, when Federer faced down Andy Murray- who stands as a firm favorite in his own semifinal with Ferrer- on this same grand stage.
January 27, 2011
January 19, 2011
Australian Open Opens
The first major tennis event of the 2011 season is underway this week in Melbourne Australia, with the bottom half of the draw in action today competing for passage into the third round. All of the top men cruised through the first round, with the likes of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Soderling, Murray, and Roddick- incidentally, the same group I will deem to comprise the top six favorites to win the title, and in roughly that order, for reasons I hope to discuss at greater length in the near future- all winning their opening matches without dropping more than five games. The second round has been somewhat more tumultuous, seeing world's #9 Fernando Verdasco snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after saving three match points in a five-setter against an uncharacteristically nervy Janko Tipsarevic, while Roddick had to face down a couple of set points in a tiebreak against Igor Kunitsyn before he could take over his own second-round contest, and Djokovic has, as I write this, just battled his way to a 7-5 first set over Croatian Ivan Dodig.
Roger Federer will take to the court shortly against Frenchman Gilles Simon in what has the potential to be a very interesting encounter. This is, perhaps, a tricky draw for the world's #2; a former top-10 player who was sideline by injury for much of last season, Simon holds a 2-0 head-to-head record against Federer, and has been in very fine form of late, winning the title at the Sydney warm-up event. That said, it may be fairly pointed out that both of Simon's wins over Federer took place in 2008, in the midst of a relative slump in Federer's level of play, and that each of them came in the form of a highly-improbable comeback on Simon's part from a set-and-a-break down. Moreover, Federer has been positively on fire in recent months, having lost only one match since the 2010 US Open. Nevertheless, I will say that Simon is perhaps the most dangerous "floater" Federer could have drawn for a second-round match; I give him at least a 50% chance at taking a set off Federer today, and perhaps a 10-20% likelihood to pull off the upset.
The preceding could represent an instance of irrational optimism on my part, as I do sorely wish to see Mr. Federer knocked out of the draw. This is not out of any personal ire, mind you, but out of concern for certain other players for whom the Swiss legend has long proven an insurmountable obstacle- most notably my countryman, Mr. Roddick, who is theoretically on course to meet Federer in the quarterfinals. Of note tomorrow, Nadal, Soderling and Murray will all be in action against fairly standard-issue second-round opponents, while another past Federer victim and rooting interest of mine, former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, is set to contest a very intriguing match-up against comebacking former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro.
I am now off to breathlessly fidget and squirm my way through what will hopefully be a gripping three hours or so of elite skill and athleticism, but hope to speak once more to whomever may be listening, or else to my own personal sounding board, very soon.
Roger Federer will take to the court shortly against Frenchman Gilles Simon in what has the potential to be a very interesting encounter. This is, perhaps, a tricky draw for the world's #2; a former top-10 player who was sideline by injury for much of last season, Simon holds a 2-0 head-to-head record against Federer, and has been in very fine form of late, winning the title at the Sydney warm-up event. That said, it may be fairly pointed out that both of Simon's wins over Federer took place in 2008, in the midst of a relative slump in Federer's level of play, and that each of them came in the form of a highly-improbable comeback on Simon's part from a set-and-a-break down. Moreover, Federer has been positively on fire in recent months, having lost only one match since the 2010 US Open. Nevertheless, I will say that Simon is perhaps the most dangerous "floater" Federer could have drawn for a second-round match; I give him at least a 50% chance at taking a set off Federer today, and perhaps a 10-20% likelihood to pull off the upset.
The preceding could represent an instance of irrational optimism on my part, as I do sorely wish to see Mr. Federer knocked out of the draw. This is not out of any personal ire, mind you, but out of concern for certain other players for whom the Swiss legend has long proven an insurmountable obstacle- most notably my countryman, Mr. Roddick, who is theoretically on course to meet Federer in the quarterfinals. Of note tomorrow, Nadal, Soderling and Murray will all be in action against fairly standard-issue second-round opponents, while another past Federer victim and rooting interest of mine, former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, is set to contest a very intriguing match-up against comebacking former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro.
I am now off to breathlessly fidget and squirm my way through what will hopefully be a gripping three hours or so of elite skill and athleticism, but hope to speak once more to whomever may be listening, or else to my own personal sounding board, very soon.
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