Federer's French open victory... luck and weak opposition?
The recently concluded French Open saw an end to a golden era in men’s tennis lead by the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer rivalry, with two other leading men - Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic – fronting the field.
Now, the gentlemen’s draw for the 2009 edition of Wimbledon could serve up surprises like 2003. The tennis landscape has changed so dramatically in a month that it may be wise to start with a blank slate.
Defending champion and world number one, Rafael Nadal finds himself without the French Open title for the first time in four years, nursing his troublesome knees that has kept him from defending his title at Queen’s and facing a race against time to be fit for Wimbledon.
First Briton to taste victory on British soils since Henry ‘Bunny’ Austin in 1938
While arch rival Roger Federer is crowned with his first French Open and equalled Pete Sampras’ Grand Slam record and there are plenty of people hailing him as the greatest ever, including, no less, than Sampras himself. But it’s not hard to point out that luck and weak opposition had much to do with Federer’s victory at the Parisian clay.
World number three Andy Murray has just become the first Briton to win the Queen’s Club tournament – a Wimbledon lead-up tournament in London - without dropping a single set in 71 years. This victory ends the barren run of British winners that stretches back to Henry ‘Bunny’ Austin’s victory in 1938.
Murray had been consistent enough this year to be considered the player most likely to break the Federer-Nadal duopoly. With four titles this year already, including two Masters Events, and a career-high ranking of three in the world, Murray stands a great chance to be a national hero at this Wimbledon. In the year of Fred Perry’s 100th birthday, could Wimbledon have a British champion again since 1936?
Djokovic wrote off his Wimbledon chances
The ones complaining that men’s tennis was getting predictable should be pleased now. My job to predict The Championships in 2009 has just become impossible.
Reader's Comments
Like bearlover said, it is certainly not Federer's fault that Nadal lost to Soderling and FAILED to get to the final.
And lets face it, Djokovic is a flash in the pan and will probably never get another Grand Slam.
take that! ;)
Please log in to use this feature.