Federer’s greatness failing the test of time
This week, writing of the Federer-Nadal rivalry that has intrigued them, the New York Times tennis blog widened its eyes and indulged us.
“What were the odds that two players of their dimensions and drive would both emerge in the same era from the same time zone?”
Where then does the latest collision of the CET giants at the Australian Open leave both men’s place in the annals? After Rafa proved his nemesis for the eighth time in ten Grand Slam meetings; can Roger still be regarded as the greatest of all time zones? Ever since the tears flowed in Melbourne three years ago and Federer admitted Nadal’s role in slowing the climb of his Slam tally was “killing him”; it appears Rafa is living, rent-subsidised, in Roger’s head.
Just as in many of their recent encounters, Federer seemed a little passive at key moments on Thursday and at others inexplicably choked the forehand John McEnroe once described as “the greatest shot in our sport”.
In Federer’s defence; the gradual slowing of all surfaces has neutered his service advantage over Nadal and means he must win many points twice or three times over to best the Spaniard’s hulking athleticism.
Generously, Roger admitted after the match this very homogenisation of the game’s battlefields has helped both he and Nadal develop a consistent game that works all year round.
And that, perhaps, is what leaves our European heroes still trailing a man from the other side of the world.
On chalk and cheese surfaces, Rod Laver had a gear change for every speed you threw at him en route to his 1962 Grand Slam and 12 majors in all.
A different time, in every sense.
