Sampras to Stakhovsky: The flipside of Roger Federer (Part 3)

Sergiy Stakhovsky dumped Federer out of this year’s Wimbledon (Getty Images)

Since then, Federer has never reached the semifinal of a Grand Slam. Federer was dumped out of this year’s Wimbledon by Sergiy Stakhovsky, just like he had done to Sampras all those years ago, as he lost in four sets in the second round. He put on an extraordinary display of serve and volley tennis to which Federer could not respond. He was so quick, Federer couldn’t match his pace and transition from the baseline to the net.

A look at Federer’s statistical career will tell us that he was the greatest player of all time. But, a closer look at his comparison with Nadal would say he was never better than Rafael Nadal.

Some may argue that Nadal himself said,” If somebody says I am better than Roger, I think that person don’t know nothing about tennis”. This was said by Nadal out of sheer respect for the man. Federer himself would agree that Nadal at his peak would have easily beaten Federer at his peak.

As he rightly said, “He’s a fantastic player and he’s going to be around so much longer so I’m happy with every one I get before he takes them all”.

Federer neither had the power to hit forehands like Djokovic, nor did he have the ability to run all day like Nadal. His shots were precise and had elegance in them. But elegance is nought against hard-workers and determined players like Nadal, who give their best every point.

Rafael Nadal has one of the best forehands of today’s game with an enormous amount of topspin and power combined with pace and bounce, while Federer’s is an elegant, yet not-so-effective forehand. When not in form, he keeps hitting his forehands wayward and they are a liability.

Serving is an art. Federer was a master of this art, but Nadal devoloped himself into one. Federer was one of the best servers on tour. On his day, he serves extraordinarily, but on most days he serves averagely. Rafael Nadal on the other hand didn’t have a potent serve, but improved it so well that it is one of the most venomous serves in the game.

Coming to the physical part of the game, Federer would not even be near Nadal. Nadal is an extremely fit player possessing one of the best physiques in the world of sport. Nadal would have given body-builders a run for their money. Federer on the other hand was just good enough to equal the fitness of any top 20 player. Nadal can slug it out all day whereas Federer is just not good enough to keep running the whole match.

The mental strength is what matters most in long matches. While both of them are equally good at it, Nadal plays the same way throughout the whole match, he has the burning desire to win which can be seen on his ferocious face. Federer plays every set in a different way and doesn’t have the burning desire in him like Nadal does.

To tweak chef Marco Pierre White’s words,” Hard work beats the talent, when talent doesn’t beat hard work.”

Federer was every player’s nightmare. But Nadal was the man who was Federer’s greatest nightmare. Federer outclassed most of his opponents, but that was insignificant against Nadal. Nadal would simply overpower Federer and outlast Federer.

Overall, Federer is a magician who wields his wand, the racquet to accomplish the things, while Nadal is an acrobat who lets his body do the work. As it was proved, magic works only against the feeble-minded while physical effort can outlive the greats.

It is a saddening fact indeed that Nadal shall always be remembered as “The man who dominated Roger Federer” rather than “The greatest player of the Open era.”

To all those who may think I am a Federer-hater, I too am a Federer fan who wept when Stakhovsky put him out of Wimbledon.

Deluded people keep dwelling in their dreams; come back to reality and realise the truth rather than jumping with the masses.

Many fail to realise the importance of time and still believe Federer has what it takes to win more titles.

In what was a story of David and Goliath, many were deceived into believing Nadal was the Goliath. It was always Federer who was the Goliath.

Winning one more Grand Slam may be an over-achievement for Federer at this stage of his career.