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June 3, 2007
Master stroke
World No1 Roger Federer must trust his instincts on clay if he is to win his first French Open
By Nick Pitt at Roland Garros, The Sunday Times
It is not democratic, and it’s contrary to the spirit of a great championship
meant to be as much a celebration of a beautiful game as a grading of good,
better, best, but there is only one match in Paris that really matters:
Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal. With a week gone and a week to go, we are
still ploughing through the undercard, and it is like hanging around in the
environs of a great prize-fight while the ring is occupied by preliminary
contests.
There is a risk, of course, that we may be denied the big match. Thus far,
that seems unlikely. Nadal, who is 21 today, has won his three matches
without looking quite as murderous as usual, but without needing to. Federer
has eased through with a quiet majesty.
Of course, the ennui could have been worse and overwhelming. Just five weeks
ago, when Nadal had beaten Federer 6-4 6-4 in the final of the Monte Carlo
Open the dead hand of certainty appeared to have already gripped the French
Open. Nadal must win again, probably without conceding a set.
With Nadal around, it seemed Federer would never enjoy the crowning
achievement merited by his genius, the Grand Slam. And with Federer around,
Nadal could break every record on clay, yet remain forever chained to the No
2 ranking. But with Nadal even more formidable on clay and Federer
increasingly forlorn, Nadal could look forward to a third French title in a
row and then to usurping Federer’s supremacy at Wimbledon and beyond.
The spring gloom for Federer deepened as he crashed out of the Italian Open,
in straight sets against Filippo Volandri, thereby at least avoiding Nadal.
But he faced him once more two weeks ago in the final of the Hamburg
Masters, and once more was at sea as he lost the first set 6-2.
Then the miracle happened. Quite what was the trigger we may never know but
watching Federer was like watching somebody who has endured a lifetime of
servitude finally deciding that enough is enough.
Federer seemed the faster and more powerful athlete and his cross-court
forehand had become an unerring sword of vengeance. He won the final two
sets 6-2 6-0, hitting Nadal off the court. In an hour, he had ended Nadal’s
record streak of 81 consecutive wins on clay, he had saved the French Open
from inevitability, and he had given himself a rocket-boost of confidence.
He knows he can do it.
For an explanation, we must go back to that defeat by Volandri. Federer had
come to the conclusion that his working relationship with his coach, Tony
Roche, was no longer beneficial. Roche, who worked with Federer for 2½
years, was always engaged part-time. This year, his specific task was to
coach Federer during the clay-court season, and to find the way to beat
Nadal. Clearly, it was not working. In Rome, Federer was in that interlude
between deciding to get rid of somebody and doing it. And Federer is fond of
Roche. Unable to motivate himself, he lost tamely.
Coaching a genius may seem an attractive assignment but it is actually
unenviable. You are more likely to confuse than improve. Roche will have
analysed Nadal’s game and devised appropriate drills. After the drills would
come the game-plan.
All very well, except that Federer at his best is a natural, instinctive
player. He does not think too much on court because his feeling for the
right shot is usually correct. What matters is not the other guy, but
knowing what he, Federer, can do, and doing it. The same is true in the
greater scheme of analysing his ability. Federer has no glaring weakness.
That is true of many players. But he has been visited by a gift that
separates him, and he is as mystified as the rest of us as to why it should
have happened to him. Expressing that gift is playing naturally, which is
what he did to beat Nadal.
In the past, certain players, such as David Nalbandian and even Tim Henman,
have given Federer some trouble. But when he has got their measure, he has
moved on to master them easily.
It is tempting to believe that he can do the same with Nadal. But here we have
to be cautious. Just as it proved wrong to count out Federer after Monte
Carlo, it would be stupid to dismiss Nadal after Hamburg.
There are good arguments behind the thesis that Nadal was off colour in
Hamburg. He was tired after winning in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome. He
had struggled in semi-final matches against Nikolay Dav-ydenko in Rome and
Lleyton Hewitt in Hamburg and would have been better advised to have rested
at home in Majorca rather than play in Hamburg.
Furthermore, the slow clay in Hamburg suited Federer because it gave him time
to set his feet properly. In Paris, over five sets, with Nadal rested and
Federer having to slide to the ball on the fine grit, the advantage will
revert to the Spaniard.
Aside from such technicalities, there is the nature of the beast. To get the
better of Nadal, you have to knife him, shoot him from behind, blow him up
with gelignite and then, when you relax, he comes back more ghastly than
ever and with worse intent. That’s just one point. Multiply by a hundred to
win a match, and keep multiplying to permanently subdue him.
Such is Federer’s task, and it is no surprise that a majority of former
players and experts expect Nadal to triumph. As do the bookmakers.
Against all that, Federer’s psychological lift must be immeasurable. He has
packed and retained his winning mood from Hamburg and is much more relaxed
than in the past couple of years at Roland Garros.
On Friday, in his third-round match against Potito Starace, a decent
clay-courter, Federer displayed the full range of his weaponry. His
percentage of first serves was good. The second serve was deep and spiteful,
yet consistent. Taking his attacking game on to clay, his movement was
excellent. It seems that freeing his mind has freed his feet.
“I was serving well and moving well, and it all came very naturally,” Federer
said. “In the third set, when I pressed the accelerator, it all came
together.” Which is exactly what happened in Hamburg against Nadal.
Wounded, Nadal is dangerous. Content and optimistic, Federer is ready to slay
the dragon. The next instalment in their battle for supremacy could hardly
be more enticing.
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