The Hindu : Sport : Federer holds all the aces

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 09, 2006

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Sport

Federer holds all the aces

WIMBLEDON : Roger Federer has lost only four matches this year. All in finals. All to Rafael Nadal.

This time, when they meet on the biggest stage in tennis, it will be on Federer's terms.

It's No. 1 vs. No. 2 in another Grand Slam final on Sunday when Federer and Nadal play for the Wimbledon title. Nadal beat Federer on clay at the French Open last month, but this one's on grass.

"I know I can beat him," Federer said. "I need to focus on me playing on grass, my style of play, playing aggressive. It's going to be easier on grass to do that than on clay where he can cover much more ground."

Federer, the three-time defending champion, was an overwhelming favourite to get this far. He showed why by routing Jonas Bjorkman in the most lopsided Wimbledon men's semifinal in history.

But Nadal? The two-time French Open champion has won a record 60 straight clay-court matches but few, including Nadal himself, believed he was ready to make a serious title run on grass.

"Yes, I am surprised," Nadal said after beating Marcos Baghdatis in the semifinals. "Maybe I improve a little bit, no?" No kidding.

The 20-year-old Spaniard hasn't lost serve since the second round and has won 15 sets in a row. He covers the court as well as anyone. He's been aggressive and volleyed with authority.

Underdog

But Nadal will still be a big underdog against the smooth-stroking Federer, who has won a record 47 consecutive grass-court matches dating to 2002.

"I'm going to play against one of the best in history, especially on this surface," Nadal said. "I will need to play the best match of my life to win."

It's the first time since 1952 that the same players have reached back-to-back finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.

"If they both bring the tennis we've come to see, how can you ask for more than that?" said Jimmy Connors, who played in classic Wimbledon finals against Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. "It's the 1 and 2 players in the world — sweet."

Federer is bidding to become the third person in the Open era to win four straight Wimbledons, joining Borg (five straight from 1976-80) and Pete Sampras (1997-00).

He's the first player since Fred Stolle in 1965 to get to the final of five straight majors, and has reached 16 tournament finals in a row overall. He hasn't dropped a set this tournament, and could become the first player to win the title by winning all matches in straight sets since Borg in 1976.

Simply awesome

Beyond the numbers, Federer has been simply awe-inspiring on the court. Everything is clicking: big first serves, searing forehands that seem to explode off his racket, quick-fire one-handed backhands off the short hop, stretch volleys into the open court.

Even the master himself was impressed by his own work on Friday. "I was flawless," Federer said.

Nadal is bidding to become the first Spaniard to win the title here since Manolo Santana in 1966, and the first player to win the French and Wimbledon in the same year since Borg in 1980.

Baghdatis, who lost to Federer in the Australian Open final and pushed Nadal to the limit in the second set on Friday, says the Spaniard has a chance.

"When he's in defence, he's playing unbelievable," he said. "When he's attacking, the ball is so fast. You just run everywhere and you don't know where to be on the court. He's a great player." — AP

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