Federer Adds to Grand Slam Legacy

By Mike McIntyre

Roger Federer rolled over Andy Murray in straight sets in the Australian Open final on Sunday, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11). With the impressive victory, Federer increases his all-time Grand Slam record with his sixteenth major title.

Many felt that Murray had a legitimate shot at defeating the world number one, as he has held the advantage in their career meetings by a 6-4 margin coming into the match. After losing to Federer in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Open, a more physically and emotionally mature Murray seemed poised to at least push him to a fourth or fifth set this time around.

Instead, Federer was his usually dominant self and managed to thwart Murray's attempt to become the first British man to win a Grand Slam since Fred Perry in 1936.

After the match Federer was quick to diffuse any talk of mind-games leading up to their encounter in the finals. Federer had joked that it had been 150,000 years or so since a Brit had won a Slam.

"Well, I think it got exaggerated. The on‑court interview, I don't take those serious anyway. If you think it was a mental thing, it was not the case, you know. But you ask me a question, I'll give you a straight answer. That's how the press conference was after the Tsonga match. It's not an easy thing to do to win your first Grand Slam. That's not mental, you know, trying to screw with his head, you know. It's just a tough thing, you know."

Federer has not won the Aussie Open since 2007 and his victory on Sunday will spark talk of the potential for him to achieve a Grand Slam in 2010 - winning all four major titles in one calendar year. With Rafael Nadal out for four weeks with a knee injury that is seemingly becoming chronically debilitating, Federer could repeat at the French Open in May. Only a healthy Nadal stands in his way in Paris. He is still the runaway favorite at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, so those are still more than attainable. 

When asked how he feels about the possibility of attaining a Grand Slam this year, Federer had a lengthy and revealing reply:

"Look, I mean, it's not something I've ever put in my mind that this is something I want to achieve. I'll still go and play the smaller tournaments, you know, the Masters 1000s, the ones we're supposed to play. I try to give my best everywhere I go to, because I think there's not only the Grand Slams."

"I won't just put the entire calendar just around trying to win the calendar Grand Slam. I mean, it's something if it happens, it does, it's great; but it's not something that's like my number one goal. Not at all. It's the same as I haven't put a number on how many Grand Slams I want to try to win. Whatever happens happens."

"You know, I really want to try to enjoy, you know, my end to my career, because I've reached already so many goals I thought were never possible. I really want to just enjoy the tour, and that's what I'm doing at the moment. Obviously as a dad as well even more so."

Despite emerging challengers in recent years from Nadal to Novak Djokovic, from Murray to Juan Martin Del Potro, Federer has managed to consistently add to his growing legacy. He might not own the best record against all of his foes, and they may beat him at smaller events - but Federer has found a way to remain the uncontested greatest player in the game of tennis.

Comments

[Tom Loughrey]

Although it is impressive what Federer has done in the past, I can't say that I agree that he's going to get the Calendar Year Grand Slam this year. I don't think of his streak of consecutive finals in majors will last through the year either.

If Nadal is healthy for the French, which he probably won't be, Federer could potentially see him before the finals. That could be the end of that.

With the emergence of Davydenko, del Potro and Murray and the steady presence of Roddick and Djokovic any match within the quarterfinals is almost a toss-up.

Being a fan of parity, I see this year ending with no player with less than 10 losses.

How do you feel about parity? Would you like to see more?

[Mike McIntyre]

Hi Tom, thanks for the insightful comment.

I agree that a healthy Nadal will prevent Roger from winning a second title at Roland Garros, but it doesn't look like we're going to get a healthy Rafa unfortunately. This ongoing knee issue could become a threat to his career. As we saw last year, Nadal can be defeated on clay when he is not 100%.

I'm a big fan of the parity we are seeing right now on tour. While the Roger-Rafa rivalry was fun for a while, it really left everyone else out of the picture. Any of those players you mentioned had a real shot at winning the Aussie Open - but once again Federer proved his superior talents.

While it looked like he was starting to fade in 2008, Roger has emphatically shown that he is still in his prime.