Ever since Roger Federer stepped on a tennis court, the other half has suffered from low self-esteem -- the other half of the draw, the other half of the tour, but most importantly, the other half of the court, the one Federer doesn’t grace with his ever-so-smooth craftsmanship and unflappable on-court demeanor.
Sure, a lot of players have threatened Federer, quite a few of them have come close to beating him and some have even got the better of him, but unfortunately for them, Roger is not just unbeatable on the scoreboard, but also in how he gets there. No player (inclusive of bygone wonders like Sampras) could possibly match his beautiful playing style – that feeling of effortlessness Federer renders to shots we never dreamed possible.
But yesterday, 20-year-old Richard Gasquet proved that the French are not just a beautiful people, but play a beautiful sport as well (he had some help from Mauresmo before him).
Taking a set off Roger Federer in a Masters series championship is tough enough, but matching him shot for shot, combating him point for point, in an uncannily complementary style, with an eerily similar quality and an equally placid demeanor is a whole different ballgame.
And that’s what it was yesterday – a ballgame different from any we have seen in the past couple years of Federer domination. The Swissman did win the Roger’s Cup, quite fittingly, but the 20-year old who’s often called “baby Fed” for good reason came closer than anyone ever has to reflecting Federer’s artistry on the usually unfortunate half of the court.
If Fed’s shot-making choices often seem as effortless as picking a flavor of candy (let me try the drop shot today; now, how about the swing volley?), the 20-year-old decided that two could play this game. It was all there – backhand drop volleys, passing shots around the net-post, perfectly timed overhead lobs, you name it. Just like Roger seems to read the ball seconds before it even touches the opponent’s racket, the Frenchman showed his finesse at anticipating shots upstairs before they played out on court. And if the Swiss phenomenon rarely has a hair out of place while performing his on-court magic, the youngster maintained an admirable icy calm demeanor – obviously a lesson well learnt from his racket-throwing racket a couple years ago. But we all do remember that even Federer was more than a tad temperamental as a teenage sensation, don’t we? If he’s following in Rog’s footsteps, he’s sure as hell not taking any detours. His on-court style might be all-out aggression, off-court, he’s not taking any chances. And who could be a safer bet than the man everyone’s calling possibly the greatest ever?
Yesterday, the world number one surpassed the young gun by concocting winners most people would deem impossible. But then Federer has had a five-year head start. Gasquet seems to have brought all the right goods to the other side of the court and that’s as good a start as any...
Egotism ....a lifelong romance
Monday, August 14, 2006
The other half we’ve been missing
Posted by Karthika at Monday, August 14, 2006
Labels: Keeping the Eye on the ball
6 comments:
Where do they show these matches?!
ESPN2
I'll let you in on a secret ;) -- Roger's pretty much invincible at grand slams -- so the only exciting matches are going to be the non-majors. his final three matches at Toronto were thrillers.
look out for the cincinnati open that's going on right now -- semis and finals (possibly fed-nadal) this weekend, all on ESPN2
That Gasquet backhand - is sheer poetry in motion. And how about THAT Federer overhead - you know which one I'm talking about. As ugly as it can get. There were some Federer shots which left me cringing, and some which left me breathless.I'll watch Federer only if the opponent is capable of stretching him, which Gasquet did admirably. As always we were rooting for the Federer-opponent, but experience prevailed in the end.
I only wonder how much longer it can prevail. Federer looked downright scratchy in several of his strokes and had truly horrendous judgement calls on a few drop shots and THAT overhead as well. UGH! Pistol Pete would have cut into it like a hot knife through butter...
I can't help but compare every aspect of Federer's with Sampras, and he still comes up short in my book.
Just wait till Nadal, Gasquet and the likes get some experience under their belt....(Or an in-form, healthy Safin for that matter).
If P-dorn can send Federer scrambling like that, his days at the top have got to be numbered.
FS, I’m sure you’re celebrating Roger’s loss today, since you get about two such occasions per calendar year ;)
Recall that Federer played consecutive three-set matches for three straight days in Toronto, then flew to cincinnati after the final on Sunday & played Srichapan on tuesday. give the guy a little credit!!!
Yeah, talk about Gasquet’s b.h. (Fed sure could use that against that fist-pumping lunatic from Spain). though I do think Roger’s b.h has more variety, just like every other shot in his game. Btw, I find it amusing that you choose to notice Gasquet’s ‘poetry in motion’ and ignore Beethoven’s symphony on the other side :)
Trust you to bring up that one mishit overhead; aside from that, Federer’s net-play was so phenomenal, you wonder why he doesn’t do it more often (I’m sorry but if Pete couldn’t have put away that overhead, there isn’t much else he could have done, is there? ;))
I’d like to see more of the likes of Gasquet, Baghdatis & even Murray to challenge Federer (safin hasn’t gone beyond the first few rounds anywhere the past year); As for Nadal, he’d be better off as a running back in the NFL.
C’mon, for a person that complains about Federer’s very rare lapses in judgment, you couldn’t possibly think Rafa is a good player?
Yup - Hurray for Murray. When a guy who just handed Federer's ass back to him in straight sets (which hasn't happened for what..about 150 matches now?) and afterwards says he wasn't really thinking about winning, you have to wonder, just a little.
Federer is what - 24? Surely its a little to early to be pointing fingers at fatigue.There were a couple of easy putaway volleys that he hit into the BOTTOM of the net that kept playing on Sportcenter all of yesterday.
I only like Rafa coz he's just about the only guy who looks capable of overpowering and overwhelming Federer.
Vamos Rafa!!
194!! dare ya sell him short X|
Yeah, Rafa might as well take a leaf out of Roddick’s book and punch Roger in the locker room; that’ll spare us all the turmoil of watching his artless game...
Roger played 8 matches in 9 days, with three consecutive three-setters and he had all his matches at night. This is not just about fatigue – Fed almost had a listless indifference; he often reserves his best for the majors. Roger’s very capable of playing tournaments back to back – he showed us that in june by reaching the finals at Rolland Garros and taking the halle title on grass, which started the day after the French final. And he went on to win the big W w/o losing a set till the championship match. But you cant expect him to perform miracles all the time. it’s not always obvious, but he still breathes oxygen you know :)
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