Rob McLean - Federer has a point to prove in Paris
Roger Federer is not like other men; his superhuman feats on the court mean that any blip comes under increased scrutiny.
Suggesting he might be in a very slow decline after losing consecutive finals at the US Open and Basle could mean I need a quick change of my white tennis kit for a straight jacket and a visit from men in white coats.
Bursting into tears after losing in five sets to Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open in January - Nadal has beaten him in their last three Grand Slam finals - the media prematurely began writing the obituaries and if he falls short at the Paris Masters this week the murmurs may start again.
Federer will have none of it and has cited illness the previous year and some back problems as reasons for the odd dip in form. He has also made his intentions very clear about the future and appointed a full-time physiotherapist to travel on the tour with him.
- Federer profile
- ATP Tour rankings
Following the Melbourne final set meltdown, Federer, 29 next birthday, didn't win another event until May, when he defeated a soon-to-be revealed ailing Nadal in Madrid. Federer then brilliantly captured his first French Open title before winning Wimbledon for his record 15th Slam.
As amazing as these successes are, events conspired in his favour. At Roland Garros, Nadal, his nemesis on clay in three previous finals and a semi, was knocked out early. The Spaniard was then unable to defend his Wimbledon title through injury.
Murray, who many people tipped to beat Federer at the All England Club, blew his chance of getting to the final when he missed a set point to go 2-1 up against Andy Roddick, who in turn had four set points to take a two-set lead against Federer in the final.
And so to Paris where the top of the men's game just gets more absorbing. Federer is seeded to meet his two worst nightmares: Murray (6-3 head-to-head advantage) and Nadal (13-7) in the semi-finals and final respectively but every round brings danger.
Apart from Roddick, all the top players are there in the last Masters event before the season-ending eight-player showdown at the O2 Arena.
Paris is a happy hunting ground for Brits. Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski (always Canadian when he lost) won there and Murray is primed for victory, although fatigue might play a part after his brilliant win in Valencia following an injury absence. There is no doubt that this is Murray's time.
He has won almost everything in the game and needs one more push to make history, as in winning a first Grand Slam. He was bookies favourite in Australia at the start of the year; he must win it in two months time.
Brit watch: The Fed Cup, the annual women's international team competition won yesterday by Italy, was another reminder that we are still nowhere in the event, but with three Brits in the top 100 rankings and Laura Robson and Heather Watson tipped as stars of the future. there is a nucleus of a very good team. When was the last time we were contenders? Think 1981 and Virginia Wade and Jo Durie losing to the US in the final.
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Date published :
10 Nov 2009 - 10:03:03
