Roger Federer faces fight to defend Wimbledon title
Victories don’t come much sweeter than Roger Federer’s win at last year’s classic Wimbledon final, when a tournament-record 77 games after it began, the Swiss secured victory over Andy Roddick.
The epic nature of the final added extra drama to what was also the day when Federer wrote his name into the history books as the most successful Grand-Slam player in history with a record 15th major title, while Pete Sampras, the man who owned the record outright prior to the 2009 French Open, looked on from the stands.
This year, the world No. 2 will again be chasing a record held by Sampras (and late 19th-Century British player William Renshaw) when he seeks to equal the seven gentlemen’s singles title each of that pair claimed over the course of their respective careers.
Wimbledon organisers have named Federer the top seed in this year’s tournament, and by extension the man most likely to win the title, but the Fed-Express will face staunch opposition from the likes of Roddick, while the return of 2008 champion Rafael Nadal to Wimbledon this year presents what could be the toughest challenge of all, should the pair meet in the final at the All England club for the fourth time in their careers.
And while it’s a dangerous game to say Federer is not up to the task, it’s also turning a blind eye to the 16-time Grand Slam champion’s recent results to believe he’s a sure thing to win a seventh Wimbledon title this year.
That the 28-year-old was, for the first time since 2002, defeated at his preferred Wimbledon warm-up tournament in Halle, Germany, came as a surprise. Even more so when the player who inflicted that defeat, and claimed the title at the Gerry Weber Open in the process, was Lleyton Hewitt, an opponent Federer had not lost to in 15 consecutive matches.
The flipside is that Hewitt, a former Wimbledon champion himself, has quite an impressive grass court record, and played some quality tennis to win the match, though one might argue that at his best Federer can deliver better.
The defending champion, however, stated afterwards that he was happy with the way he’s been playing. Privately though, Federer must know he missed an ideal chance to stamp his grass-court authority ahead of Wimbledon, and remind the challengers, especially Nadal, that he’s still the man to beat.
That’s probably still the case, but even Roddick, thrice defeated in the Wimbledon final by Federer, and some of the other top seeds, must sense the door is ajar, if only they can take their opportunities in SW19.
History has shown, however, that’s easier said than done. Nadal, the only player to defeat Federer in a Wimbledon final, had to remain on court for a record (in a Wimbledon final) four hours and 48 minutes to do so. Roddick won more games (39) in a Wimbledon final than any other player before him, and still lost last year.
With his defeat by Hewitt, Federer has now lost just two matches of the 78 he’s played on grass since 2003. It’s a record that speaks for itself, and one that is unrivalled among the current crop of players, as is his record at Wimbledon.
That said, Nadal certainly has the form to challenge Federer for the title once more; Roddick and British No. 1 Andy Murray have plenty of motivation to do so as well.
There’s no doubt Federer will face a tough fight for the Wimbledon title again this year, and it’s a fight he may lose. But it would take a brave or foolhardy soul to say it’s one he can’t win.
Tags: