|
Monday November 17, 2003
Federer, Roddick are future of game
By Karen Crouse, Palm Beach Post
HOUSTON -- He sat off to the side, absently smoothing his
jet black hair, which he wears in a ponytail that's as neat and sleek
as his game.
Roger Federer had just finished scripting a perfect ending to his
2003 season, going undefeated in five matches to win the Masters Series
Cup crown. The moment belonged to the Swiss Mister but, unfortunately,
Jim McIngvale, the tournament promoter and deep-pocketed supporter of
U.S. tennis, had the microphone.
McIngvale spoke long and lovingly of Andre Agassi, the American
icon whom Federer had dispatched 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 in a match delayed 2 1/2
hours by rain. McIngvale spent nearly as much time on the court
commending Agassi as Federer had taken on the court winning the second
set.
When McIngvale finally got around to invoking Federer's name, he
stumbled on it. In doing so, the blustery Houstonian capsulized the
challenge facing tennis in the U.S.: If we can't wax poetically about
Americans, we'd rather not talk about tennis at all.
Agassi, as eloquent an elder statesman as you'll find in all of
sports, used his turn at the microphone to swing the spotlight to where
it should have been all along. Looking in the direction of Federer, who
was busily studying his cuticles, Agassi said, "You're an inspiration
to watch move and play. You're going to make me better next year, so
thanks for that."
Federer's victory over Agassi in the final was a fitting conclusion
to a year that saw the blossoming of the next generation of superstars.
After Agassi won the Australian Open at the age of 32 for his eighth
Grand Slam title, the next three Grand Slams went to Juan Carlos
Ferrero, Federer and Andy Roddick, whose average age is 22.
The rivalry between Federer and Roddick, who finished the year
ranked No. 1, has the potential to be as scintillating as the one that
blossomed in the 1980s between Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe and helped
tennis grow like a weed.
Agassi, whose rivalry with Pete Sampras kept tennis on the U.S.
sports radar in the 1990s, likes what Roddick and Federer have shown
him this year. Without question, they both have game. What remains to
be seen is if their rivalry can capture and hold the attention of an
easily distracted American public.
"I think you're really dealing with sort of intangibles and X
factors," Agassi said. "I mean, Roger is... his demeanor is sort of
phenomenally consistent out there, it's also one that's easily
respected. He plays the game very gracefully. He could bring a style
that would capture people's imagination, no question.
"He's doing everything great. He's a great mover, great striker of
the ball off both sides. He knows the game real well, knows court
position. (He's) as good as it gets out there."
The problem is, so is Tiger Woods and Barry Bonds and Kobe Bryant
and Peter Forsberg; Brett Favre and Peyton Manning and Randy Moss and
Oklahoma football -- the list goes on and on.
"America is definitely a tough market," Agassi said. "We have a lot
of great sports and a lot of heroes and sports heroes. You know...
(Tennis) always had a real strong base here and I think it's sort of
lost a little bit of its depth in the American market. But Andy's
definitely going to help a lot. I really would be interested to see the
impact he has."
Roddick's attempt to turn his U.S. Open victory into a windfall for
tennis left the Boca Raton resident so tired he succumbed meekly to
Federer in the semifinals here. It's not easy being at once an athlete
and ambassador. The good news is that Federer, like Roddick, is willing
to give it a go.
"I think we are willing to do things away from the court and make
this game work again," Federer said. "Sometimes it's difficult to do.
But we know it's for the good of the game. I think that's what we
should all aim for. That's, I think, good for the future."
Federer, 22, would appear to be doing something right. He had his
supporters in the partisan crowd at the Westside Tennis Club. Where
there are "We Love Federer" posters being held aloft by U.S. lasses,
there's hope.
"I have a lot of respect for Roger's game," Agassi said. "I would
say that if you asked most of the players who's had a great year (and)
can still have a better year, they would point to Roger as being the
guy."
Yes, but can he be The Guy? The health of men's tennis hinges on the answer.
|
