Everything started with the ‘horrible’ (for Roger’s fans) and incredible (for Novak’s fans) Djokovic’s forehand (closed eyes?) at the 2011 US Open on Roger’s match point. To tell the truth that looked to be beginning of the end of Roger’s mega career. You know if he could not win even that match… Interesting enough that marked a new beginning. Federer skipped the Asian campaign to comeback fully regenerated and to win the next 39 matches out of 41 (22-20 this year) and 6 tournaments. No bad for a player that should retire any soon (???well… don’t really think so!!!!).
This week Roger did another masterpiece. Tough he fell sick from the infamous stomach flu that ravaged Indian Wells (8 players included), the Swiss maanged to hold on his game to survive the first rounds. with some scares (Bellucci and Raonic to name some). Than he had the (nowadays) typical easy one with Delpo to then have one of his finest performance with Nadal (a sheer masterpiece). Then he could not resist doing the same in the final (what else?).
Isner was a difficult player. In top form, he punished Djokovic (in an epic 3 set match) and he did something bad to Roger in the Davis Cup match in Switzerland in February. John is on the roll.
The final started as you would expect… no breaks at the opening sets and the guys stright to the tiebreak (Isner’s delight). But this time was Roge getting the upper hand and squandering 2 set points when leading 6-5 and 7-6. Roger melting? No way! He is now a grown up! The Swiss eventually got it at 7.
The second set was easier (if you can use this expresson…) with Roger breaking 2 times uncle John at the 7th game and at the 9th to clinch his 3rd title of the year.
‘It’s been a tough tournament for all of the players with a lot of sickness,’ Federer said ‘I’m happy I survived the early rounds to give myself a chance. I couldn’t be happier,’
‘I was able to come through and so convincingly at the end is amazing,’ he added. ‘I’ve really played amazing these last three matches in particular. I couldn’t be more happy. They were really great wins.’
John is also very happy also because he will now enter the top 10 players ranking I’m going to remember this one for a long time, so getting into the top 10 is nice,’ Isner said. ‘The hard thing now is staying inside of the top 10. That’s what I’ve got to work on.’.
Good good stuff from everyone…
Novak and Rafa adviced…(but be sure they won’t just see a cute Swiss taking their place without doing anything)
ROGER GOT THE HOT SHOT OF THE DAY
