Can Roger Federer win his sixth US Open title? (Part One) - Tennis Special
Reigning world number one Roger Federer will bid to win his sixth US Open title from August 27 to September 9, 2012. The 17-time Grand Slam champion has always been one of the favourites when he takes court at the US Open and there
is no exception this time.
However, one can say that this is Federer’s best chance in the last three to four years as he has re-emerged as the top favourite after his brilliant performances in the last 12 months.
The fast hard courts have always favoured Federer’s aggressive style of play. His flat and fiery forehand rips through opponents’ side and the mix of his backhand slice and aggression supports the former.
Federer undisputedly ruled the hard courts of Flushing Meadows from 2004 to 2008, capturing five straight titles. The Swiss Maestro won all the 35 matches he played during this stretch, achieving something which none of the top
players in recent times have.
When Federer won his first US Open crown, he defeated the former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, in straight sets including two bagels 6-0, 7-6(3), 6-0 in the final. Tennis fans could not believe their eyes, as it
seemed impossible that a title match could be dominated so much by one of the players.
That win was Federer’s fourth Grand Slam overall and third of the season. After winning his maiden US Open title, the Swiss star said, "I got the start I wanted, I was dreaming of. It's a very demanding sport. The season's long.
There's not much time off. This is why I'm grateful every tournament, every Grand Slam I win. You never know which is your last."
Mats Wilander, who was the last player before Federer to win three Majors in one season in 1988, said about the Swiss, "He's a little better than everyone else at everything right now. Physically and mentally he has the advantage
over the other players. At the moment, I don't see anyone who can beat him."
The amazing journey had begun for one of the best players in the history of tennis. He defeated two more former top ranked players, Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, in the 2005 and 2006 final respectively, needing four sets to beat
both Americans.
The Swiss star has locked horns with three generations of tennis players in his career. After toppling Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Tim Henman, Albert Costa and some others from the previous crop of players, Federer put away the
challenge of his age mates including Hewitt, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick, David Nalbandian, Nikolay Davydenko, James Blake and more.
Then Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan Martin Del Potro came to challenge the reign of Federer at US Open. Nadal had started to beat Federer at the French Open finals but he had not been able to reach the title match
at Flushing Meadows.
In 2007, Federer overpowered the then world number three, Novak Djokovic, in straight sets 7-6(4), 7-6(2), 6-4 to win his fourth successive US Open title.
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