Wimbledon 2008... Federer's Toughest Test

Namaskar Junta

I had planned to write about my memories in VIT in the next blog, but then a small matter of Wimbledon came along..and when the topic is about Federer, then everything can wait( just a little while longer!!!!)...


Well the season is starting to change in London, the rains have come and they come and go with no pre announcement... The weather is usually pleasant but suddenly changes its mood....
This can only mean one thing.. its Wimbledon time...

With only a few days left, before the start of the most coveted tournament in tennis calendar year things cannot be any better...

We have had 2 different grand slam winners this year..Yes one of them is Nadal (French Open... as if u had not guessed it already..duh..) and the other one is Djokovic. Yes its true. Federer has not won a slam yet this year. He lost in straight sets to Djokovic and even more humiliatingly to Nadal in the final of French Open.

So has Federer's time finally passed. Is he no more the threat he used to be? Is he no more the champion he was for the last 3 years?


The answer is a yes and a no.

Yes, the great man is finally past his prime years. Yeah people would kill me saying he is only 26.. and still plays some of the finest shots in the tennis world... but to all those people i would like to raise another question.... can Federer finish a year with a 92-5 Win/loss record again??? And then u would have ur answer......

No for saying that he is no more the threat he used to be because he is the biggest threat to any one wanting to win a slam. He is the best player in the world ( but only just...!!), he is the best player on grass having not lost for 59 matches over last 5 years...and he has won US Open for last 3 years.

Federer has always been in his prime form from Wimbledon.. the US Open... winning both for last 3 years... and the Season Ending Master Series 3 times in last 4 years.. .. then why the whole point of him being past his prime and all....
Its the manner of his defeats, the manner in which he has looked outclassed at times, unable to deliver at stages where he delivered like no one else before him....The word pressure was only for his rivals, but just look at the French Open final again.

That is why Wimbledon this year assumes utmost importance for him. This is the great man's stage. A stage where he has given performances even Marlon Brando would have appreciated, cause Federer is an artist and his shots an exhibition of his talent. Of late, things have been slipping away. The forehand has not looked the weapon it was, and the back hand has resulted in more errors than winners.



Nadal is coming with French Open and Queen's success behind him, Djokovic is improving with everygame.....Roddick will be there again as he always been....Federer would be relishing it . There is nothing more satisfying for a champion than to silent his detractors....This time battle is in his arena.. but it will be his Toughest battle yet.....