A while ago I wrote about Roger Federer needing to bulk up and get stronger and change the way he plays a bit in order to break through at the US Open. Well.....he didn't......and he's still in the semifinals. Last night, Sept 8th, I watched him dismantle Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straight sets. The same guy who beat Federer in 5 sets after losing the first two sets at Wimbledon, Fed's favorite tournament, just a couple months ago. It was clinical. It was classy. It was Federer being the best that has ever lived.
Fed changed up some tactics this time around. He took the ball early. He forced Tsonga to twelve feet behind the baseline regularly. He served big and volleyed fairly well. The bigger Tsonga couldn't hang last night. He gave Roger too much time. Tsonga was faulting too many times on his first serve. When Federer got the chance to put away the second serves he went at them. Forehand, forehand, forehand. Not the strongest ever, or even on the tour now, but the timing was impeccable. He took the ball early. He attacked. He played aggressive.
At one point in the match I looked at my wife and said after one of the longer rallies where Fed dictated the whole point, "I've never seen him look this good." I probably have, but it's been a little while now. He hasn't been the aggressor that often these days. He used to make it easy on himself by going for big shots all the time. Those days seemed to be gone. He was content to hang out at the baseline and trade punches with the younger, stronger players. He played on his pedigree alone, seemingly. I guess if you have the shot-making ability he has you would too. It's a sight to see. And he knows it. And he knows he can still make shots. And I think last night he showed the world that he can still crank it up when he needs to.
Tsonga is a beast. Big boy. Strong. Tall. Quick as snot. Pretty much the prototypical body styling for a tennis player. He hasn't put it all together yet but he's still young. He might. The technique falls apart sometimes and he gets into trouble when his athleticism and strength let him down. Last night Federer broke him. He crumbled him. The Frenchman just couldn't hang. Roger had his share of unforced errors but that is a good sign for him. He's going for shots. He's forcing the issue. He made Tsonga his bitch.
Maybe he's not bigger, faster, stronger than everyone else. Maybe he doesn't need to be. I still think putting some weight on and going after points Pete Sampras-style would be good for keeping him healthy and playing longer, but I guess that's why Roger gets paid the big bucks. He's been criticized in the past for not adapting his game enough. I guess he feels he doesn't have to. I guess he feels the track record speaks for itself. He's won everything imaginable. He has the streaks that are unparalleled. But he hasn't won a grand slam in a while. And he's getting older. And the kids have caught him. Seeing 3 in front of Federer's name at a tournament just seems wrong. Maybe 3 will work out though. Or maybe Djokovic will have enough to beat him in the semis. If he loses will someone please tell Roger to bulk up and start bullying around the court a little more? It would really be great. Thanks.
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