TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – Roger Federer was simply brilliant. He looked like the player who won seven Wimbledon titles. So how did Federer lose this match? He just happened to be playing a better player on this day. By James Beck
Roger Federer was simply brilliant. He looked like the Roger Federer who won seven Wimbledon titles.
The Swiss great couldn’t have played much better. He had plenty of firepower in his strokes and serves, maybe even more than when he was winning this title what seemed like every July.
He moved flawlessly, totally focused on the task. He appeared to be as free as his twin daughters.
Federer Turned Back The Pages Of Time
It was as if Federer had turned back the pages of time and was in his heyday on his favorite court. He was that good.
If you didn’t know the score, you would be telling everyone that Federer had won his eighth Wimbledon title. He was that spectacular. His backhand had the consistency of a machine gun. Simply amazing.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Federer play better, and I believe I have watched all of his finals at Wimbledon.
He abounded with energy. He covered the court as thoroughly as the grass had when this tournament started two weeks earlier.
Djokovic Was Simply A Better Player This Day
How did Federer lose this match?
He just happened to be playing a better player on this day.
Yes, Novak Djokovic also was a player for the ages. He looked almost clumsy at times as he stumbled and fell often.
But that was only because the great mover was moving too quickly when he attempted many of his 180-degree turns.
If Djokovic had been content to move at a slower pace, then Federer indeed probably would have won this Wimbledon title.
Not only was Djokovic’s 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 win over Federer the second Wimbledon title for the Serbian, it was his seventh Grand Slam title.
Tale Of The Grass — Live Dangerously
In the first week, the grass was too green.
In the second week, the grass was too dead.
There was no neutral ground at this Wimbledon.
It was almost like driving an automobile. If you moved/drove too quickly, it was possibly hazardous to your well being.
Djokovic lost his footing and fell so often that it was truly amazing that the Serbian wonder prevailed against Federer.
Even Federer tasted the grass a time or two.
Knight In Shining Armor Shone Brightly
Federer wanted this title so badly. That was obvious.
He realized that the clock is ticking, and he may never get another chance like he had on Centre Court on Sunday. With their hero heading into a fifth set with momentum, Federer lovers the world over had to be feeling pretty good. Their knight in shining armor was definitely shining.
He could sense that this Wimbledon could belong to him very shortly. Oh, how sweet the thoughts of an 18th Grand Slam title.
Eighteen Slams Might Have Put Nadal Away
A title at Wimbledon might have put Federer’s Grand Slam total out of Rafa Nadal’s reach. Federer obviously was well aware of that possibility as he appeared to be heading home at Wimbledon.
As it is, Nadal didn’t play that badly himself at Wimbledon. He just happened to run across a teenager who was on fire to defeat the Spaniard. Nick Kyrgios played awkwardly, looked even more awkward in his movement and strokes, but everything the 6-4 Australian hit seemed to find the court for a winner against Nadal.
And yet, the next day Kyrgios looked like a high school player in the quarterfinals against big Milos Raonic. Kyrgios appeared to give little effort in dropping the last three sets in the four-set match.
Raonic A Sleeping Giant Who Didn’t Wake Up
As meekly as Kyrgios went out in that quarterfinal, Raonic performed maybe at a lower level in a straight-set loss to Federer in the semifinals. Raonic had only his serve. The big Canadian was a sleeping giant who never woke up against Federer.
Raonic slumbered around the court against Federer, looking like he was stuck in the grass.
The odds are pretty good that no one will hear much about Kyrgios until next year’s Australian Open. If he goes to New York, Kyrgios likely will get lost in the crowd.
The broadcasters suggested Kyrgios might be the next great player. That kind of hype might have been his biggest ally at Wimbledon, and apparently Nadal believed it. In retrospect, Kyrgios might have been a flash in the pan.
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James Beck is the long-time tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspaper. He can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com
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