Roger Federers performance is outstanding in Wimbledon 2009

I mean really? Imagine reaching 21 consecutive Grand Slam semifinal rounds. Imagine that! Roger Federer will someday win his 15th Grand Slam and then some. He may even accomplish it this week and become the player to have won the most Grand Slam Titles ever.

Once he sets a new standard for Grand Slam titles that will most likely never be topped, his legacy will be established. However, since tennis went to open play, it is almost inconceivable that one player could reach 21 straight Grand Slam semifinal rounds. To reach the semis, a player must now defeat five opponents.

Defeating five opponents does not do the accomplishment justice. That is 5 of the best tennis players in the world. That means that not only has Roger Federer won 105 consecutive matches against stellar competition, he has never had a bad day, never felt ill, never felt down. Roger Federer has been on his game 105 times since Wimbledon 2004 when he claimed his second of five Wimbledon titles.

What may be more astounding is what the 27 year old Swiss star does when he reaches the semifinal round. Players who reach the semis of a major have won five matches. They are on their game. They are grass court experts, clay specialists, hard court masters. They are the best at what they do.

At Wimbledon, he has reached the semifinals seven times since 2003. When Roger has reached those seven consecutive semis, his record is even more phenomenal. He has never lost a set once reaching the esteemed round against the best grass court players on the planet. You really need to digest that.

After Roger’s semifinal appearance against courageous Tommy Haas of Germany, the record stayed in tact. Haas played brilliantly. He did not shrink from the moment. He embraced it. Tommy brought his game to the highest level. Tommy Haas is a tour player who will win many more matches. On this day, he would have beaten most of the players in the field. He would have triumphed in many matches anywhere, anyplace. But, not against the game’s most accomplished player; not on this day.

Federer’s 7-6 (3), 7-5, 6-3 triumph was more precise than surgical, so athletic it appeared effortless and so strategic it seemed simple. It was a perfect demonstration by a man so superior in his career that it seems doubtful any player, including the enigmatic Murray or the forceful Roddick, will meet success in the finals.

Haas and Federer are unique in that they both continue with one-handed backhands. There was speculation that Haas may have the superior backhand. Roger must have taken that critique personally because on this day every backhand was flawless.

In fact, every extended rally went to the winner. That is the way Roger plays. His skill pressures players to attempt shots they do not have. They must hit deeper, harder and with more spin than possible. Roger Federer’s mistakes can be counted on your fingers and toes. Against Haas, he had 15.

But, bring a calculator to total his outright winners (49 today). In a close match, Roger won 112 points to Haas’ 81. The three sets took just over two hours.

Prior to the match, Haas suggested his success would depend on his ability to “stay the court.” He did. He held his position, gave no quarter. He challenged, pressed the play, charged the net. Tommy Haas did the things that helped him earn the semis.

His second serve won points. Often clocked at 115 mph, it was an effective weapon. Sure enough, when the first set tiebreaker came down to crunch time and knowing that he could not persevere in long points, he pressed two forehands. Suddenly the hole was too deep. The set ended.

In the second set, Haas played even better. He held serve five times to reach 5-4. Roger held for 5-5. You knew what was coming. Roger breaks and serves for the 7-5 set.

Now, the pressure was really on. Tommy Haas had to be wondering “what do I have to do?” Many players have wondered the same thing for many a year.

It was too late. At 3-4, Haas gamely staved off 4 break points before netting a half court backhand. The gentlemen changed ends and Haas dug in his heels.

Roger Federer rarely shows emotion. He rarely seeks advice, questions calls or has temper outbursts. He is precise. So, with the score 5-3 and serving for the match Roger does what he does best. He closed the deal. At 5-3 in the third, Roger closed this deal at love.

At the post match net-side handshake, you saw two time-tested gifted athletes exchange courtesies. What you may have noticed was Tommy’s private acknowledgement that he had just lost to the best player to ever hold a tennis racket. Long live the King of Tennis, Roger Federer!

As circumstances would have it, the 2009 tournament may be the Brits best chance to raise the trophy in many a year. The Empire’s hopes rest solely and squarely on their best player, the enigmatic third ranked Scotsman, Andy Murray. Fresh from his clean win at Queens, Murray appears at the top of his game. Once again, there is a wave of optimism in the English air. That may not be good news for the three seed, who has won more than $2 million this year and sports a spectacular 40-6 won-lost record.

Murray has developed the reputation of a player who cannot cut the mustard when in the limelight. And, for the next two weeks, or as long as he is in play, that is squarely where the 22-year old will be.

Alan Jones, Jo Durie’s former coach, summed up Murray’s dilemma; “Winning a Grand Slam is a challenge that most players never overcome. It also does not help that he is playing at home where, as Tim Henman can testify, the pressure and scrutiny is incredibly intense. But, what is for sure is that Andy has the talent to succeed, particularly on grass. It is obvious that he is a far better physical specimen now than he was three years ago and as a result, is able to complete the five sets that are often required to win matches at the highest level. He has top be one of the fastest 6 ft 3 inch players to have ever played the game. But, to be successful at Wimbledon, Andy must overcome the safety-first approach that he adopted in matches that he lost at the Australian and French Opens. He needs to be braver.”

Jones seems to have pegged Murray to a tee. The lanky Scotsman now features a blistering serve, devastating ground strokes and blazing foot speed. What is most improved in his game is that the Scot has learned to hit winners from unlikely, off-balanced positions that seem to occur regularly on Wimbledon’s grass.

However, based on his performance at Queen’s, Murray seems most comfortable on grass. With Nadal’s withdrawal, Murray’s top half of the draw appears a bit diminished. He opens against American Robert Kendrick, who failed to win a game in their last encounter.

If form holds, Murray would meet Marat Saffin, a semifinalist last year in the 4th round and e8 seed Gilles Simon in the quarters. A likely semifinal match would be against either Juan Martin del Porto or American Andy Roddick. Never has a Brit had a smoother path to the finals.

And, if he gets there, Murray has reason to play with confidence. He has won his last four encounters with Federer and holds a 6-2 record against the 14-time Grand Slam winner, who was the bookmakers’ choice prior to Nadal’s departure.

As the media will remind anyone who will listen, Federer knows how to compete and how to win Grand Slams. These two-week pilgrimages are his cause. As a five-time Wimbledon champion and a man determined to collect his record setting 15th Grand Slam, there can be no doubt that the Swiss star will not go away easily.

Murray has had a year most players would consider a career. British tennis fans do not see it that way. They crave the Wimbledon championship. Murray began the year with big plans. Following his appearance ion the finals at the U.S. Open, there was cause for optimism.

His 2009 Grand Slam events have not gone as planned. Seed third in Melbourne and Paris, Murray got the boot in the fourth round in Australia and in the quarters at Roland Garros. As Jones observed, Murray seems to believes that his talent alone can win matches. In Grand Slams, Murray has played too close to the vest. To win at Wimbledon not only must he be braver, he must be the countless media attention aside.

Day One begins on Monday, June 22nd. Many of the games big stars will be on court. Federer (Yen-Hsun Lu), Djokovic (Julien Benneteau), Soderling (Muller), Verdasco (Ward) will all be off early. On the Ladies’s side, Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva will also be on the grass. This one is looking special, don’t miss a thing!

Roger Federer’s tears were tears of accomplishment. The release of emotion followed the culmination of a dream. Roger Federer may no longer be the best tennis player on the planet, but he is always the man to beat. The 27-year old phenom has reached the semifinal in the last 22 consecutive Grand Slam events. Think about that!

That is 22 events against the greatest tennis players alive. He has played through whispers, injuries, good luck and bad. He has been the model of consistency. No active player can equal that feat.

Even the skillful Nadal failed to make the semis in Paris.

Roger Federer may not be the player he once was. On occasion, he loses a set to a lesser player. He is sometimes tested in early rounds. It is no longer a walk to the quarter-finals for the lean right-hander. The young players get better each year. A win over the world’s number two is a win you can hang your hat upon. In the world of young, aspiring tennis talents, Roger Fededer is perceived to be beatable. It’s laughable really!

Now that he has equalled Pete Sampras’ record of 14 Grand Slams, he seeks number 15. He would love to win Wimbledon where Rafa Nadal ended his run of five straight in 2008. Many experts feel that match, the longest finals ever played, was the greatest tennis match ever played.

What is true is that in today’s Grand Slam events, every draw is filled with players who can compete, who can win any given match. That is just one more thing that makes Federer’s resume and 22 straight semi-final appearances more remarkable.

Federer’s 2009 numbers are solid. He is 33-6 and has earned $3.4 million. His career mark is 650-155 and his career earnings exceed $48 million. Pretty lofty numbers for a guy the young studs think they can beat.

In the past four years, Federer and Nadal have shared all but two of the Grand Slam titles. At every event, Djokovic, Murray, Roddick, Verdasco and others like Soderling are lingering in the wings.

There is no more fitting place than Wimbledon for Roger to set the new record for most Grand Slam Championships. Grass is suited for the sleek Federer. He moves quickly to the ball, has a vast array of shots and the perhaps the most effective forehand in the game.

While there have been many champions with ability, there is only one Roger Federer. In every match, the champion brings the same demeanor, the same attributes. This is what you can expect when you watch the greatest player of all time.

• Composure – Good line calls, bad line calls, friendly crowds, not-so-friendly crowds, Roger never plays outside himself. That is a luxury of being the greatest. Play within yourself and you are the best.
• Unrelenting – Federer does not beat himself. He may not get as many aces as in his earlier days, but he rarely faults. The Champion understands the court, understands the angles and is patient to set himself up.
• Precise – He prepares precisely, he trains meticulously and he understands his opponents strengths and weaknesses. He arrives at the court with a plan and executes it efficiently.
• Consistent – Players who reach the semis 22 times consecutively is probably the most consistent player to ever pick up a racket.
• Presence – Somehow Federer takes control of the match, the crowd, the umpire, the linespeople and even the ballboys. To watch him play is to watch tennis royalty. The Champion never demeans the game.
• Intensity – The bigger the match, the more intense Federer is. He rises to the occasion as well as anyone who has ever played. His performance is never flat.

The great thing about Roger Federer is that he plays the game. He does not rely on gamesmanship or distraction. He is a new-age player with a traditional feel for the game. When the great one is done, we may never see another player do so much for their sport.