Nadal vs. Federer |
I'm posting this article not because its a Federer bashing, because it's a great one..one that I completely agree with. I totally recommend this one.. please read on..
The experts weight in..
ROGER FEDERER is no longer The Man, a title which will officially be bestowed upon Rafael Nadal when he takes out the Australian Open next year to extend the chasm between himself and the rest of tennis world and ensure the aura that once belonged to The Fed is dead.
Discuss.
''Life changes,'' says former great Mats Wilander, who won three of his seven grand slam titles in Melbourne. ''[Federer] is not the same person that he was four years ago. He is obviously not as confident in winning tennis matches.
Oh, how times have changed. Not so long ago, Federer would strut on to Rod Laver arena as the world No.1, a position he held for a record 237 consecutive weeks. Opponents would be beaten before a ball was struck in anger. Nadal's topspin forehand was a concern only on the clay of Roland Garros, a venue the Swiss finally conquered last year to eliminate all doubt as to who really is the greatest. Or so it seemed.
Despite being the reigning Australian Open champion, Federer will touch down in Melbourne ranked and rated behind Nadal. Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic also have claims. A Federer final is no longer a sure thing.
''Certainly not,'' says two-time US Open champion Pat Rafter. ''If you'd asked me three years ago, I would have said yes. Roger has definitely come back to the playing field and, if anything, Nadal has overtaken him.
''He'll need a bit of luck but he'll also produce his own luck. He's certainly getting beaten by more people than what he used to. That aura is being slowly whittled away. As a player, it's very important to have that aura as long as you can.''
All of a sudden, the Australian Open appears very open indeed. The order of tennis has been disrupted. There was a familiar pattern just a few short years ago - Federer couldn't win the French, Nadal couldn't win Wimbledon, and the pair would duke it out on the other surfaces, the Spaniard seemingly content to collect his annual cheque and trophy on court Philippe Chatrier.
But with Nadal having won three of the four slams on offer this year, Goran Ivanisevic believes the Spaniard can go one better next year. ''If Nadal continues to hold form, he is ready to win all four in one year,'' Ivanisevic says.
Most believe that Nadal's biggest challenge will come from within. His relentless style of tennis could grind him into the court just as it does opponents. Can he stay healthy enough to pocket more slams? Regardless, some of the biggest names in tennis - in Australia to play in the Champions Downunder tournament in Sydney - believe Federer still has a couple of grand slam titles in him.
''He's not dominating the way he did,'' says former Swedish professional Thomas Enqvist. ''But he's still playing well enough to win more slams. He's enjoying himself out on the court, and when he's doing that, he can probably win a couple more if he's healthy.
''He is moving better and looks like he's not having any problems with his back or whatever was bothering him. He has a chance to take [the No.1 ranking] back. I would say that one favourite [in Melbourne] would be Nadal.''
Rafter also reckons Federer can add to his record tally of 16 slams. But as Wilander notes, the man tagged as the greatest ever will again become the hunter rather than the hunted.
''It will be interesting to see him competing at the grand slams if he's not competing for the title,'' Wilander says. ''If he will still feel inside that he is - it only takes a few losses and you're not - but I don't think he's there yet. He can still win a major.
''The problem is not beating Nadal, it's that the early rounds are getting harder and harder for everyone. That's got nothing to do with Federer's level - that's the level of the game. By the time he gets to play Murray, Djokovic or Nadal, he might be more physically tired. It gets harder and harder.''
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