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July 10, 2006
Tennis champion and a sportsman
By Art Spander, Oakland Tribune
WIMBLEDON, England -- The ambition is shadowed by elegance,
the determination masked by grace. Roger Federer surely is a great
athlete, because nobody could continue to win Wimbledon who lacked the
skills. But Federer is more.
In this day and age of too much posturing and too frequent bullying, Roger Federer also is a sportsman.
There is toughness, because there has to be. Nobody could take four
of the last five Grand Slam tournaments, nobody could open a match with
six straight winning games, without having both the physical and the
mental resiliency of Roger Federer.
Even if his manhood was questioned after Federer was beaten by Rafael Nadal six weeks ago in the French Open final.
Federer showed what he's made of Sunday, while also showing Nadal a
few tricks. Roger came out smoking and defeated Nadal 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-7
(2), 6-3 in the men's singles final.
Federer's fourth Wimbledon championship in a row. Federer's 48th
straight grass-court victory in a row. Federer's reaction to any
doubts. Including his own.
"I'm very well aware how important this match was for me," said
Federer. "If I lose, obviously it's a hard blow. He wins the French and
Wimbledon, back to back. It was important for me to win a finals
against him for a change."
For a change against Nadal.
Federer won last year's Wimbledon, last year's U.S. Open, this
year's Australian. Then in early June on clay in France, the land next
to Federer's home in Switzerland, he was beaten by Nadal a second
straight year.
And Mats Wilander, the Swede, a former tennis champion seeking the
attention retired athletes so often crave, told Sports Illustrated that
Federer had no courage. Except he phrased it more crudely, saying Roger
lacked his maleness, implying Nadal intimidated Federer.
Yet there was no boasting from Federer. No threatening. No predicting.
What we got in so critical a match was just that huge serve and the forehands which had Nadal on edge and on the run.
We found out the 20-year-old Nadal, from the Spanish island of
Majorca, is able to play on grass, as well as clay -- where he had won
60 straight.
We also found out nobody can play on grass as well as 24-year-old Roger Federer.
"It was tough to get to his level," Nadal said. "I could not read
where he serves. He changes angles. He can toss it here and serve
there. He is unbelievable."
Federer did lose his first set of the tournament, after winning 20
straight sets, his first set in the previous 23 at Wimbledon going back
to 2005. When asked if he was disappointed, Federer, with a grin,
answered, "Not really, no. As long as I don't lose three, it's OK."
Federer walked onto Centre Court on Sunday as he had in all of his
matches, wearing a cream-colored blazer from Nike, making him look like
someone from the 1920s, a modern-day Great Gatsby if you will.
He came off 2 hours, 50 minutes later with a smile.
No theatrics. No machismo. Just a racket held high in recognition of his eighth Grand Slam triumph overall.
A question about the rivarly with Nadal, who had defeated him five
straight and six out of seven, brought a brief affirmation from
Federer. "Now," he said, "I like it again."
Nadal is the yin to Federer's yang, all sleeveless energy and
visible emotion, although after being shut out in the first set the
fist pumps and open-mouthed reaction were muted.
Federer goes about his work like a banker in Zurich, efficiently
and effectively, and then speaks candidly about the result, about
debits and assets. You can be honest and still seem humble.
"The start, obviously, was absolutely perfect," he allowed. "I played fantastic, didn't miss any shots."
Nadal led 5-3 in the second set, but Federer then won three
straight games. Nadal led 3-1 in the tiebreaker, but Federer won five
straight points.
Yes, Nadal could have won that second set. But Federer did win that
second set. The best players and the best teams succeed, which is why
they are the best.
Already some are saying Federer, so young, ahead of Pete Sampras'
pace of 14 Grand Slam tournaments, is the best ever. He avoids that
discussion.
"All I wanted," Federer said coolly, "was to go out and hold that trophy once again."
Unruffled, unpretentious and unbeaten on the grass. Those are the marks of a champion and a sportsman.
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