A flash back at Federer’s last two US open performances
The man with gentle hands and tough stature has been a burning topic of discussion these days in terms of his future as well as professional life. Roger Federer, the Swiss tennis ace has won just a single Grand Slam tournament this season in the month of January at the Australian Open. Most of the experts are now wondering as to whether the greatest tennis player ever will strike back in the upcoming United States Open championship starting from the month of August or is it the end of the living legend?
In this perspective, let us analyze his last two performances at the French Open championship as one of the four Grand Slam tournaments of the year.
The Swiss tennis star faced the Brit player Andy Murray in the final of the US Open back in 2008. Murray was playing in his very first Grand Slam final after successfully knocking down Rafael Nadal to make his way into the finals. As predicted, the big man registered his fifth US Open victory in a row at the expense of the Brit player with a final match score as 6-2, 7-5, and 6-2.
However, 2008 had not been a usual splendiferous season for the former world number one Federer as he was knocked down in the finals at the French Open championship in straight sets by Rafael Nadal in a rather awkward manner.
He then experienced his darling Wimbledon title slip away, also by the surging Majorcan who substituted him as the top ranked ATP player.
However, a victory at the Us Open in 2008 gave Federer his thirteenth grand slam singles trophy, surpassing Roy Emerson and leaving him just one behind the American tennis ace Pete Sampras.
Murray in the first set of their final encounter was right away knocked down by Federer. In the next set, Federer continued his dominance with a set score of 7-5.
In the third set, the Scot seemed to be ready for the defeat and provided the big man pretty much have his way.
Murray did not shine on the big occasion and appeared hesitant at best on court, contesting into Federer’s hands and becoming his fifth straight prey in the tournament match.
The next year, proved that nothing stays for ever as Federer’s winning streak also ended with a defeat at the hands of Del Potro in the final match of the United States Open championship. Juan Marin del Potro had to battle extremely hard but he never doubted his faith that he could knock down the big man around the net, the top ranked Roger Federer.
However, Federer was at last knocked down by the twenty years old Del Potro, and he outlasted the big man who had not lost a single match previously in the city of New York for five years. On various occasions during the final battle, Federer took set as well as match points however, Del Potro managed to come back, finally featuring Federer in the role of subjugate.
The final and the biggest dominance came in the set number five of the final clash when Del Potro shut down the door swiftly disallowing Federer another chance to find a way to rise.
In this way, Federer’s winning streak of five consecutive victories at the US open also came to an end with a final match score as 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.
However, the most important question at the moment is that will he find a way this year to shine at a place where he dominated for so long?
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