November 20, 2006

Federer masterclass casts pall of gloom for pretenders to throne

By Neil Harman, The Times

They prised apart the petals of the Qi Zhong stadium so that the tennis gods could feast their eyes on the acclaim of the latest and most graphic demonstration of Roger Federer’s brilliance. A chill suddenly descended, one that will have been felt by anyone who believes that they can challenge his supremacy next year, or for as long as tennis takes his fancy.

Federer’s third Masters Cup success in four years — he would have won last year, had he not been incapacitated and playing at 75 per cent — was further proof that the Swiss is a special athlete indeed, one in complete command of himself and all he surveys. “The difference is that Roger is completely relaxed with life,” Tony Roche, his coach, said.

In this state of detached serenity, Federer secured a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 victory over James Blake, the American whose remarkable rise in the past two years will be rewarded with a career-high ranking of No 4 today, one that he never imagined he would attain.

Listening to Blake putting that achievement and Federer’s extraordinary talent into words, one was reminded that, not so long ago, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski occupied that position in the league table and the British public heaved sighs of indifference.

This is an unforgiving world, as Blake found to his cost yesterday. “One of the best things you can do when he is too good is simply acknowledge it because there is not much you can do — there’s no point dwelling on it and expecting anything different,” he said. “There’s a lot of people out there that hope to get him and there’s a lot of people who never will.”

There are days when being Federer’s opponent has about as much going for it as taking a bicycle out in a city whose streets, like the ones here, are filled with death-wish drivers. You either get out of the way or risk ending up beneath the wheels. Blake felt like that and it is not as if he played badly.

Imagine how it is, though, when you lose the first seven games against the world No 1, you are facing two break points in the eighth and an annihilation is in the offing. Bar his five-set defeat by David Nalbandian here last year, the Swiss has played stupendous tennis in three Masters Cup finals — against Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt in Houston before yesterday — losing an average of three games per set. The higher the bar is set, the easier he clears it.

What makes Federer so good? Be it in attack or defence, he sizes up the court so quickly, reads the game so superbly and has so many options, because his feet get him into position to make the shots he needs.

Many of those yesterday defied convention, one backhand passing shot — played on the half-volley and more of a flick than a shot — from a foot inside the baseline for an outright winner was the most outstanding. He smiled at that, as he did at many others.

Blake could only shrug his shoulders and keep as mentally strong as possible. “Although it looked as if I got destroyed out there, I still feel like I’m one of the best in the world,” the 26-year-old said. “That is something I never thought I’d be able to say and would not have had the confidence to utter a couple of years ago. That’s why I’m not ashamed of anything I did out there today.”

If, by his genius, Federer improves the quality of those attempting to challenge him, the future of the men’s game is rosy indeed. Asked to nominate a couple of those who might be prodding him in the next couple of years, he mentioned Andy Murray and Richard Gasquet, the British and French No 1s respectively. Both have beaten him and he admires them, but he is not about to become deferential.

“Maybe they need a bit more time [to challenge for grand-slam titles],” he said. “It could be next year, but I’m not sure about it.”

In the meantime, Federer heads to South Korea for a sellout exhibition match tomorrow against Rafael Nadal, which should be tasty. Then, he travels to India in his role as a Unicef ambassador before hitting the beach and planning how he can continue to dominate in 2007 and beyond.

Why he is No 1

1 Number of tournaments this year when Federer failed to reach final (Andy Murray defeated him in second round in Cincinnati)

5 Players since tour was established in 1973 to end three years in a row as world No 1. (Others are Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras)

5 Matches Federer has lost this year

12 Titles in 2006, equalling ATP record

48 Winning streak of matches on grass

92 Matches Federer has won this year

146 Consecutive weeks Federer has been No 1

8,343,885 Dollars won this year

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