The Australian Open

Roger Federer proved once again early this morning that he is the greatest tennis player in the world, and continues to build a case for being the greatest tennis player that has ever lived. Fortunately for the spectators Andy Murray was able to settle into a better brand of tennis late in the match a provide a pretty entertaining sequence to conclude the tournament. Both men opened up tight, each dropping serve once early. Federer was able to take the first set before even really settling into the match, as Murray pressed beneath the pressure of defeating Federer for his first Grand Slam title. Federer found his groove in the second set and the less experienced Murray was visibly shaken, until settling in late in the set. Murray was able to hold easily late in the second, but was unable to do anything with an increasingly imposing Federer serve. Murray seemed looser in the third, possibly at the thought that the match was all but over, and he was able to calm down and play great tennis, even going up an early break. Although, he seemed to tighten up again at the prospect of taking a set, dropping serve to even the set, we can thank him for it, as it led to a very entertaining tie-breaker before Federer hoisted the trophy.

I read a preview of the Australian on ESPN, including predictions by a large number of their tennis experts. It must have been 10 or 15 writers giving their favorites, sleepers and early departures for the tournament. Now, before I attack these experts, I must give them the dap they deserve for majority-picking Robin Soderling as an early departure, which was entirely accurate. However, with this group of writers, none of them had the expertise to pick the greatest player in the world to win the tournament. Now, I understand that it can be perceived as lame to take chalk, but it's not like they were picking Fernando Gonzales or Lleyton Hewitt; the picks were mostly covered by Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro. And you don't see experts afraid to pick chalk when it comes to Serena. So, I just hope that they remember this event in the future. Roger Federer crushed the Australian Open. Save a brief struggle against Andreev early and a slow start against Nikolai Davydenko, Fed was dominating. Lleyton Hewitt, Jo Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray were really no match for the champion in 3 of the last four rounds, and neither was Davydenko in the latter stages of that match.

Federer can play so many ways, making it near impossible to overtake him strategically. Pete Sampras was a great player, who won a lot of titles, but he couldn't offer the variety of approaches that Roger can. I have seen Federer win matches with imposing returns, with bruising ground strokes, or just with a big serve when nothing else was working. His ability to strike winners on the backhand is criticized at times, but he proved against Murray today that the winners are there if he needs them. Federer also moves as well as any of the young upstarts that come to his feet to challenge him. He ran all over the court with Murray, and is so capable defensively and so strong on the attack that you are never more than a half an inch away from losing control of a rally. He has the kind of game that is not to be forgotten. And deserves to be among the 2-3 favorites for any tournament he chooses to play in. We should all make sure we appreciate the kind of tennis we are privileged to witness.


APT