Roger Federer versus Novak Djokovic; what’s next for them?
World number two Roger Federer is widely regarded as one of the greatest and top class players on the ATP tour. No one, even the current top ranked Rafael Nadal can match his class without any doubt.
In a sublime display of shot making, the 29-year-old Fed Express overpowered a fluid Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win his 65th career singles trophy on Sunday, thus placing him in fourth position in the all-time singles crowns.
The year has gotten better and better for the Swiss tennis maestro.
It was not long ago when we experienced the tennis great squander match points to lose a clash. It was not long ago either when we experienced Roger vanquished by strong hitters at major events. It was not long ago as well when
we experienced the Swiss fall to number three in the South African Airways ATP list. Not all of this was long ago; however, it was also not close enough.
The Swiss native, who made his debut on the ATP World tour back in 2002, left behind all his fears while heading into this battle and this final was nothing but expected.
What was actually uncertain was the outcome. Will it be Roger or Novak?
It was the world number three Serbian, Djokovic who dispatched Roger in three sets last season. The final match score was 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. This year, however, with a similar score line, featured a different winner.
The 2009 finalist and champion started the clash with some contentious games; however, the sixteen-time Grand Slam winner broke free from last season's champion by taking the opening set at 6-4.
However, with a winner’s way, Novak bounced back with the help of a brutal backhand to claim the ever-shifting momentum. Even, the Swiss was not able to stop the Serbian onslaught, yielding the following set to him 6-3.
The former world number one, however, held his ground in the decisive set and broke his opponent on two occasions on serve. With the ever-increasing confidence, Roger served for the battle. He clinched win after smashing a backhand
down the line to take the final set at 6-1.
The Roger-Novak saga is an interesting rivalry as they have faced each other on four occasions in the last three months and eighteen times overall on the tour. Eighteen clashes in about four and a half years are almost remarkable.
Here is an example to put this in perspective as the Roger-Roddick rivalry has lasted for nine seasons, however, they have faced each other just on twenty-one occasions on the ATP tour.
At this pace, the Roger-Novak rivalry can even exceed the Roger-Nadal rivalry as well. Roger and Novak are both great contenders who play more or less the same on all sorts of surfaces. Both play superbly on clay, admirably on
grass, and top class on hard surface.
Both of them are now taking part at the BNP Paribas Men’s singles competition in Paris. Federer, over the last few months on the tour, has reached the finals in Toronto and Shanghai and the semi final in New York, besides winning
titles in Cincinnati, Stockholm and Basel.
Djokovic, on the other hand, advanced into the finals in New York and Basel, semi finals in Toronto and Shanghai, and quarterfinal in Cincinnati besides capturing a crown in Beijing over the last couple of months on the tour.
After a busy schedule and taking part in a number of tournaments one after the other on the tour, both of them may be a little worn out in Paris.
However, like all champions, both the Basel finalists are expected to make a deep showing if not a run all the way this week in Paris.
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