Wimbledon - Federer ready to rule SW19
Eurosport - Sun, 21 Jun 19:18:00 2009
Lady Luck appears to be siding with Roger Federer and he will never have a better chance of a record 15th grand slam title than at this year's Wimbledon after Rafael Nadal was removed from the equation.
Earlier this month Swede Robin Soderling snapped Nadal's 31-match winning streak at the French Open, paving the way for Federer to claim the only major title missing from his collection.
Now, a year after his hopes of a sixth consecutive Wimbledon title were shredded by Nadal in a breathtaking five-set final, the Swiss has again been spared the task of toppling his nemesis by virtue of the Spaniard's battered knees.
Once the shockwaves have receded and the draw re-jigged, world number two Federer will surely believe the cards are falling in his favour.
Federer was ashen-faced 12 months ago when Nadal beat him in near-darkness and hysterical after another defeat by the Spaniard at the Australian Open.
Sport, like the British summer, is notoriously unpredictable though, and the Swiss maestro will breeze through the All England Club gates on Monday as the man to beat once again.
After finally claiming the French crown and completing his career grand slam, Federer said he could now play without pressure.
"Now, going into the grasscourt season, and Wimbledon, and being on top of the world, it's a fantastic feeling," said the Swiss, newly-married and with a baby on the way.
It was all different last year when Nadal, having humiliated Federer in the final at Roland Garros, swept to the Queen's Club grasscourt title and then pole-axed the Swiss in the place he calls his own backyard.
A month later, Nadal took Federer's world number one ranking and, although the Swiss hit back to win the US Open, it seemed that a seismic shift had occurred in the sport.
Nadal looked set to dominate men's tennis when he won this year's Australian Open but the Mallorcan powerhouse cannot function without his explosive movement around the court.
His aching knees forced him out of the Queen's Club warm-up event and after two defeats at the Hurlingham exhibition tournament this week, he made the painful decision to withdraw.
"Not to play Wimbledon is one of the toughest decisions in my career but the decision was made easier because I don't feel ready to compete at 100 percent for two weeks," said Nadal.
While weather and sporting fortunes are fickle, one thing is nailed on this year - Murray-Mania.
It has taken British fans a while to warm to Andy Murray but his US Open final appearance last year, his rise to number three in the world and last week's title at Queen's have raised expectations that he can become the first home men's champion at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.
Apart from a blip at the Australian Open, the Scot's progress has been spectacular. He reached consecutive Masters Series finals, losing to Nadal in Indian Wells and beating Djokovic in Miami, then reached the last eight for the first time in Paris.
Gone are the days when he would suffer mental and physical lapses. The 22 year old has always had an uncanny ability to control a tennis ball but those skills are now backed up with a steely resolve, stamina and power when required.
"I think I could win against either of them (Federer and Nadal) on grass," Murray said before Nadal's pull-out left him as the second highest seed in the draw.
"Normally Queen's is a good benchmark to see where all the other players are at. For me it was perfect preparation," added Murray, who cannot meet Federer until the final.
Of the other contenders, Novak Djokovic appears to be suffering a dip in form just at the wrong time, losing early in Paris and then to Tommy Haas in the Halle final.
Slimmed-down American Andy Roddick, twice defeated in Wimbledon finals by Federer, will bring his rocket-powered serve to the party once again and will be dangerous if he has fully recovered from the ankle injury he sustained at Queen's Club.
There will also be a few bets placed on Argentina's world number five Juan Martin del Potro, who now sits at the top of the draw in the place where Nadal should have been.
The gangly 20 year old might not yet be quite ready to emulate Nadal's performances on grass but with a huge serve and a sledgehammer forehand he poses a threat to all in his path.
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Comment 6 - 25 of 25
Hurstgrange...
He really doesn't. In order for Nadal to win and be on top, he has to work so much harder than Federer. His style of play is like a car on Redline, it can only last for a short time. Thats why he isn't at Wimbledon and thats why he won't be number 1 for long.
Don't get me wrong, I love Nadal and being a fellow lefty like him, I enjoy watching his efforts on the court.
Feel for Nadal, but it is his legs that will bring him up, and bring him down. Fedex has every chance to reclaim his 'backyard' - I don't see anyone else having a serious chance, not even Murray and the surrounding mania !
Please,where does Novak stand? I expect a good run from him but not to the final
Djokovic will win
Dion....
"he doesn't have a lot of natural talent"!?!?!?!
Even as a Federer fan I find that ignorant and borderline offensive!
lol... Nice one mate.
Why does Reuters think that Lady Luck is in Federer's corner?? I getting a little sick and tired of people saying Federer is lucky because Nadal isn't there to take Wimbledon again, or wasn't there to take RG from Federer.
I love Nadal, but maybe its time for him to adjust his schedule a little so he is fit for the slams. A part of being a great player and the world number 1 is to be able to put yourself in a position to compete for the big 4.
Nadal will never dominate as the world number 1 because its physically too demanding on him. He doesn't have a lot of natural ability, so in order for him to win, he has to phyically elevate his game. Can keep that up long, evidence being with the bad knees already.
Federer is in a lose lose situation here. If Nadal were to compete at Wimbledon injured and Fed beats him, then that doesn't count. The critics would be barking the line 'Oh, if Nadal was healthy, Fed wouldn't win' On the other hand, if Nadal doesn't compete, Fed is lucky because Nadal isn't there to beat him. That sounds a little stupid to me.
i root for federer.. but, gosh.. it will be boring.. i hope that Nadal will recover soon. damn it with my exams too.. no wimbledon at all.. huhh....
@ coolworld comment 16...yes tommy haas came close to winnin roger but he didnt. what does dta tell u......He didnt or rather doesnt have all it takes to beat roger federer, tennis is not just abt how you play, its also making good use of opportunities you opponents creat for u and you creat for yourself, also your mental fitness, your tctics, hitting a winner at d right time and many more i could keep going on, so with tennis you have to end it wellll not just start of welll.
but no doubt tommy haas did i great job.
n guys don't forget the swede Soderling...watch out for him ....oh well of cos i want my all time favourite ROGER FEDERER, THE KING OF TENNIS HIMSELF to get the title.
n also i want an all william sisters final....goodluck to my favourites
Mens tennis is boring with Federa always the seed to win. It means that the likes of Murray, Djokovic, Blake? Andy Roddick are passengers in this tennis circuit. Not to mention Soderling the worst player in Mens tennis History..
COMPETITION STARTS ~~~ NEXT ~~ WEEK
as FED jumps for joy NADAL NOT waiting there for him ...!!
people who hate on Roger probably never picked a tennis racquet in their lives and definitly don't know jack about tennis. or if they did (pick up a racquet) I'm sad for them for not being able to appreciate pure genius. Roger is once a in a lifetime talent.
it's a privilege to be able to witness someone play such an eye-pleasing tennis in our lifetime. And when champions of the past such as Laver, Mc Enroe, Agassi, Becker consider him the greatest I think it means wayyyyyy more than all you ignorants (most probably) useless tennis players!
hey guys,Fed almost lost to Hass,oh look,Hass just reached a final and beat Djokovic there,means one thing,he's a badHass and Federer had after all a tougher draw at RG than it looked.AS for Murray,his tennis is excellent and could win him a place in the final because he won the Queens.Then again,nobody of relative importance was in his draw.But don't forget to shake that Hass,i believe he's the man to beat as much as anyone else
but your number 10 is excellent.so i'll nly thumb down your previous one
not
to number 9,lol,great comment.
FEDERER THE BEST EVER AND EVER AND EVER!!!
Can't believe some people are so jealous of him.
All i can say is GET A LIFE!!!
Hope he does, i would hate to see Murray win.
very well said no 1
Roger Federer does not need luck or chances to win GS Titles.
You dont get to play 19/20 consecutuive finals of GS by Luck or Chances
janekralj: that's an excellent comment, and stine147: I hope that Fed will win in straight sets, but I think Soderling might take a set off him, and Karlovic and Djokovic (if he does get there) might prove to be a threat for the soon-to-be-world-no-1.
Good luck Roger!!! =]
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