History rewritten in the epic Wimbledon Finale
By MTF Contributor Nistha Tripathi
At the end of day 14 of Wimbledon Championships, it is all about the number 15.
(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
In 2007, Federer had won Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open championships to end the year with 12 Slams. Except for the elusive French Open, his title acquisitions were increasing by the tournament. Just 2 short of Pete Sampras’s record 14 Grand Slams, Federer looked all set to create a record of more than 20 Slams at least. Then, his Slam clock stopped ticking as he passed the first three Slams in 2008 without a title. Eventually in August, his World No. 1 position was usurped by Rafael Nadal. Written off by critics, the weight of history kept getting heavier for Federer. The task of reaching the magic number 14 had seemed all uphill from there as his dominance in the game emaciated. Bagging US Open for the fifth time in 2008 and closely missing the chance in Australian Open 2009 against Nadal, Roger awaited the bewitching 14th victory that, thereafter, came in the most unexpected arena – Paris. Setting his own record of most number of Grand Slam victories was now only a matter of ‘when’ and ‘where’. We have the answer now.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
So, we all know that history can be demanding. Ask Federer- what emotional toll it has taken on him since last couple of Grand Slams where his toughest opponent has been the burden of expectations. But it can also be cruel at times. Ask Roddick- what it is like to play against history; knowing that it is not about him at all today and yet, giving it all before coming a bit short. The only tribute he will get in the history books is ‘the guy whom Federer overcame in a record long match to win his 15th Grand Slam’. But no numbers or adulation can justify his genius of performances against Hewitt and Murray that took him to finals- his mere consolation being a runners-up trophy and roary applause from Centre court crowd.
The American gave the most polished performance of his career hitting brutal serves and winners to stretch the Wimbledon final into an epic marathon. No write up can describe the level of the game played, tension created and the drama that unfolded at SW19. With Roddick’s impregnable serve in the first 4 sets, it only seemed fair that Wimbledon doesn’t allow tie-breaks in the decider set. Had it been US Open, we would have missed the tension wrought 5th set where Federer had to break A-Rod to win. Roddick played aggressive while Federer hung on but eventually the lethargy showed off the American and Swiss got his only break of the match in the 30th game, winning it 16-14. To be fair, Federer displayed utmost grits and nerves to play magnificently on crucial points, saving 4 set points in 2nd set and 2 break points in the 5th. In the end, like last year, it was going to be cruel for the one who lost. In 2008, it was Roger in tears and this was Roddick’s turn but what a phenomenal tournament it has been for him.
(AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
If not the trophy, Roddick achieved something very special – adulation from British crowd after defeating their biggest hope Andy Murray and then Federer, who remains a favorite champion at the All England’s Club; an adoration that momentarily overshadowed Federer’s record breaking achievement for when the match ended, the crowd congratulated Fedex with a generous applause but was soon chanting Roddick’s name as he gracefully stood up and thanked them. Call it a moment of divine stature of the quality of today’s match.
The final turned out to be unexpectedly scintillating and seesawed given how heftily Federer had dominated Roddick in the past. And that made the record breaking feat for the Swiss all the more meaningful and memorable. Fedex is also back to World No. 1 spot now but he was humble in accepting that it has come in Nadal’s absence. However, he did flaunt his triumph by donning a jacket with number ’15′ inscribed for the trophy presentation. Attending his coronation were the great of the greats in tennis – Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg and the guy who has slipped to no. 2 in record books – Pete Sampras.
Talking of history, it was not in the destiny of Venus Williams to achieve a similar feat to Federer when Serena Williams outplayed her to claim the Venus Rosewater dish. After playing the longest semi final and perhaps, the best ladies match up in recent times, against Elena Dementieva, Serena Williams was absolutely indefatigable.
(AP photos)
And, lets hear it from the Champions of Wimbledon 2009 -
Roger Federer: “It was so different to what I experienced the last few years with Rafa, you know, where it was a baseline game. Today it was a serve and return game, which is more classical for grass. I mean, it’s frustrating at times because I couldn’t break Andy till the very, very end. So satisfaction is maybe bigger this time around to come through, because I couldn’t control the match at all.”
Serena Williams: “I think if you hold three Grand Slam titles maybe you should be No. 1, but not on the WTA Tour obviously… That’s just shocking. But whatever. It is what it is. I’d rather definitely be No. 2 and hold three Grand Slams in the past year than be No. 1 and not have any.”
I think Sampras summed it the best -
Roger has that ability to make the tough things look easy. He was also a little lucky today, but that’s not surprising. The great ones are always a little lucky.
Tags: Andy Roddick, Nistha Tripathi, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Wimbledon 2009
[...] there goes my final piece for Wimbledon at MTF -Federer holds. No write up can describe the level of the game played, tension created and the drama that unfolded [...]