By Tim Robertson
Everybody knows to watch out on Sunday’s when Tiger wears red-basically all the time. Everybody knows, as he showed last weekend, he will win. He’s the most dominant player of our generation so far.
Or is he?
A look at pure statistics shows that Tiger has won 13 majors since he turned pro in 1996, winning his first in 1997. Tiger makes the most money of any athlete in the world, has a gorgeous Swedish wife and a newborn baby, but this past weekend displayed that someone surpasses Tiger in dominance: Roger Federer.
Decked out in all black on Sunday afternoon under the glowing sun in Flushing, Queens, Federer collected his 12th career major title. Less than Tiger you say, but remember he’s won 12 since 2003, including the last four Wimbledon and U.S. Open championships.
After disposing of No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic in straight sets, 7-6; 7-6; 6-4 on Sunday in front of 24,000 fans, Federer collapsed to his knees, then his back before walking to the net to hug his 20-year-old opponent. Djokovic valiantly fought the world’s best player, but beat himself at times, losing nine set points, breaking his racket and slamming his Evian water bottle on the ground.
For his successes in the two-week event, Federer received the keys to a new Lexus and $2.4 million, the largest payout for a tennis event in history.
With the win at Arthur Ashe on Sunday, Roger certainly will hold onto his top ranking for a 189th straight week-that’s over three years for those of you keeping track at home.
The numbers, which include appearances in the final round of the last 10 majors-winning eight of them-isn’t what makes Federer dominant. That would be too simple. What makes Federer possibly the greatest tennis player in history, and one of the greatest athletes in sports, is how he plays the game.
Like Tiger, Federer’s face appears in Webster’s dictionary under the definition of class. Roger always praises his opponent and pumps his fist with emotion every time like it’s his first win.
The Switzerland native’s return game is the best in tennis. Just ask American Andy Roddick and his 141 m.p.h. serve. You can’t often ace the world’s number one. John McEnroe said it best just as the Roddick-Federer match got under way when he said Roddick could win if he kept rallies short. Federer out hits every opponent, winning nearly every exchange longer than six volleys.
When he played Roddick in the U.S. Open quarterfinals, Federer showed how much his game contrasts from America’s top player. Roddick’s mechanical and stiff backhand is nothing in comparison to Federer’s suave one-handed backhand that he puts anywhere he wants.
The odds on Tiger in the final pair come Sunday in a major are good, but far from guaranteed. For two-and-a-half years it’s not even questioned if tennis’ top player would make the final. The only accomplishment Tiger has on Roger is the Tiger Slam-holding all four major titles at one time.
Federer’s Achilles heel is Roland Garros. Although Roger has made the French Open finals the past two years, Rafael Nadal-Federer’s version of Phil Mickelson-has beaten him each year. Similar to the current record holder for most majors, Pete Sampras, Federer has never won on the French clay. In due time, in due time.
The excitement around tennis during the heyday of Sampras and Andre Agassi in the States won’t ever be duplicated, but even casual American sports fans should tune in to watch the fluidly smooth Roger Federer. His next big test is in January when he defends his two straight Australian Open titles.
Tim Robertson
Roger Federer