the King

The return of

Table of contents

The greatest ever?

Roger Federers belief is what makes him a champion Unbelievable stats: Federers career so far in numbers Is Federer Wimbledons Champion of Champions? Oxfam wins $157,750 thanks to ten-year-old bet on Federer 04 06 08 10

Against all odds

Wimbledon: Federer is back to his best and he knows it Evergreen Federer is back at No.1 The Federer twins know their daddy is the best Roger Federer and Serena Williams at the Wimbledon Winners Ball Another Wimbledon ends in despair for British fans After Wimbledon, Federer eyes gold spot at Olympics 12 14 16 17 19 21

we knew it was coming

Can Federer conquer the age barrier? Unreal: Roger Federer is defying the 30-plus slide 25 27

And a thought for Murray

A smile still eludes Lendl and Murray Andy Murrays crying game: Why we all love a good cry Murray aftermath: Britains unhealthy obsession with defeat Murrays failure: A sad day, but dont forget the bigger picture 30 32 34 36

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The greatest ever?

Roger Federers belief is what

makes him a champion

This is what the insiders say. Roger Federer is 30, half-a-step slower, the father of two, no longer invincible and his one-handed backhand can be broken down. But not all of that is true now.

Ashish Magotra, Jul 10, 2012 five years to most of his opponents. He is on the decline not terminal but the slow, unstoppable kind that forces all sportsmen to eventually call it quits. For the first set and a half during the Wimbledon final against Andy Murray it all seemed to be true. Federer was going for outright winners and more often than not, missing them. It seemed like the wrong strategy to begin with. The crowd was firmly behind Murray the local hero

have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. Michael Jordan This is what the insiders say. Roger Federer is 30, half-a-step slower, the father of two, no longer invincible and his one-handed backhand can be broken down. He doesnt even hit as many winners as he once used to, he gives up

and to hand over the momentum to him was dangerous. He could have ridden the wave to victory. But then it started raining, the roof closed and the match turned on its head. Federer believed in himself when no one else did. AP Federer believed in himself when no one else did. AP This year I guess I decided in the bigger matches to take it more to my opponent instead of waiting a bit more for the mistakes, Federer said after the final. Yeah, this is I guess how you want to win Wimbledon, is by going after your shots, believing you can do it, and thats what I was able to do today. When Federer lost to Djokovic in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2011 he looked like a man who had come up against a wall and for the first time in his career, he had looked clueless. It was also the second straight major where Djokovic had knocked out the Swiss Master. The writing was on the wall and as clear as it could be the others were catching up. And over the last two years we have seen ample evidence of that. The irritation was writ large on his face and in his actions. During the first set, he had words with the umpire, objecting to Djokovics interaction with the coaches in his players box. During the third, he complained about the length of time 13 bounces that the Serb takes between each serve. Stuff you would never see him do, normally. But even then, you only had to see the look in Federers eyes to know this man wasnt beaten. Not yet. There was something in the way he carried himself; there was something in the way he dismissed questions about his decline; there was something about the way he believed that at his best, he was unbeatable. He was defiant but to the world at large, it was a faade we all wondered how much longer could he keep it up? To find an answer to the genesis of this confidence, one needs to go back to Shanghai in 2006. Federer had then explained the one thing

which helped him turn his career around after the slow start when he regularly lost to the top players such as Lleyton Hewitt. The 30-year-old had said his career finally took off when he learned not to panic on the court when he was down or under pressure and that rather than giving up; he now hangs in there and hopes for the best whenever things are down. And thats what he did against Murray as well he hung in there. He kept playing as well as he could and by the end, he was playing, in his own words, some of his best tennis. The commentators were calling it genius. Many players believe that confidence is directly related to how many matches you win. But Federer realised that in order to become a champion, he needed to start thinking like one. Most players believe that the belief will come but Federer believed and then made it happen. In Federers mind he is already a winner. Even before he steps on to the court he sees himself playing brilliantly in every department of the game. He never talks himself down. If he loses, it is because he didnt play well. The opponent no matter who did not beat him. He beat himself. Some thought of Federers attitude as arrogant but he was making sure that the inner dialogue in his mind was positive and upbeat at all times. But most importantly, he needed to keep telling himself of all that he had won. The records, the trophies and that bit would have come to Federer pretty easily. The papers, the net, the television they were all reminding him that history was his for the taking. Belief is, in most cases, a fragile little thing. It often takes one little crack to destroy it. But when you consider how long Federer has lasted, one cant help but think that his belief is made up of something different it might suffice to say; its the stuff of champions.

career so far in numbers

Since his first Grand Slam in 2003, Roger Federer has broken and created some incredible records. How many more Roger?
Reuters, Jul 9, 2012

Unbelievable stats: Federers

M
zerland.

AKING HIS NAME - Born August 8, 1981 in Basel, Swit-

2007, 2010; French Open 2009. - In 2003, becomes the first Swiss man to win a grand slam after beating Mark Philippoussis in the Wimbledon final. - Is the only man to win five consecutive titles at two different grand slams Wimbledon and US Open. - Is the first man to win Wimbledon-US Open double four years in a row. - Is the only man in the professional era to win

- Bursts on to the scene in 2001 when he ends Pete Samprass 31-match winning streak at Wimbledon in the fourth round before losing in the quarter-finals. RECORD 17 GRAND SLAM TITLES - Wimbledon, 2003-2007, 2009, 2012; U.S. Open 2004-2008; Australian Open 2004, 2006,

three consecutive majors twice in his career when he captured the 2007 Australian Open title. - Equalled Bjorn Borgs record of five consecutive Wimbledon titles in 2007. - His run of reaching 10 consecutive grand slam finals is snapped by Novak Djokovic in the 2008 Australian Open semi-finals. - The 2008 five-set epic at Wimbledon is regarded by many as the best ever tennis match. He lost the match to Rafael Nadal. - His 2009 French Open crown made him the sixth man after Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson and Andre Agassi to have won all four grand slam titles during his career. Nadal has since become the seventh to achieve the feat. - Breaks American Pete Samprass record of 14 grand slam titles with his 15th win in the 2009 Wimbledon final to reclaim the world number one spot from Nadal. - In 2009, becomes the first man to reach seven successive Wimbledon finals since the abolition of the Challenge Round in 1922. Reaches a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon final in 2012, extending his overall major final appearance record to 24. - His record run of reaching 23 consecutive

grand slam semi-finals is snapped by Robin Soderling in the last eight of the 2010 French Open. That record is widely considered as one of the most astonishing in sport as it means Federer finished in the top four at a major for almost six successive years. His streak is more than double the previous record held by Ivan Lendl, who reached 10 consecutive major semis. OTHER CAREER MILESTONES - Becomes the 23rd man to top the ATP rankings in 2004, and keeps the ranking for a record 237 consecutive weeks. By winning his seventh Wimbledon title, he also matches Samprass record of spending 286 weeks as world number one. - Holds a record run of 24 consecutive final victories, which was snapped when he lost 2005 Masters Cup final to David Nalbandian. Finished the season with an 81-4 win-loss record. - In 2006 he reached all four grand slam finals, winning in Australia, Wimbledon and the U.S. among a haul of 12 titles and a 92-5 win-loss record. - Has a professional era record of 65 consecutive wins on grass, which was ended by Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final. - Won an Olympic mens doubles gold medal with Stanislas Wawrinka at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Is Federer Wimbledons
Champion of Champions?
The 30-year-old Swiss star has been great but in ouranalysis, Bjorn Borg edges him out. Find out why...

Avinash Subramaniam, Jul 8, 2012 am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was. - Muhammad Ali Apart from Federer and Sampras, there are two other worthy contenders in the race to decide the pre-eminent singles champion on the grass courts of Wimbledon in the open era, which, incidentally, began in 1968. One of these two many time Wimbledon champions was, of all things, a rock solid baseline metronome who reached six consecutive finals (1976-1981), while the other was probably the greatest serve and volley specialist of all time who managed to blast, snort, spit, cuss, and dive his way to seven final appearances over the course of eleven years (1985-1995).

By the time the day is through, well know whether or not Roger Federer has equaled Pete Sampras record of the highest number of Wimbledon singles titles won (7) by one man. But no matter what happens in the 2012 final, a majority of tennis fans of a certain age will insist Federer is the greatest ever Wimbledon mens champion and tennis player the world has ever seen. But thats like saying Sachin Tendulkar is by any stretch of imagination the greatest batsman in the history of ODI cricket.

On both counts Federer, who glided to seven out of seven Wimbledon finals from 2003 to 2009, and is now in his eight (an all time record for final appearances) tops them. But setting aside sheer numbers, it might be interesting to consider Federer at Wimbledon in relation to Sampras, Bjorn Borg, and Boris Becker. Lets delve a little deeper into their Wimbledon records to arrive at some conclusions. Federer can truly call Wimbledon his second home. AP Federer can truly call Wimbledon his second home. AP There are many fine cricket thinkers who vehemently insist Sir Vivian Richards was a better batsman than Tendulkar. Others will feel the same way about Brian Lara vis--vis the Indian. Imran Khan is even reported to have held the opinion that Inzamam-ul-Haq was better than his great Indian contemporary. Now one may or may not agree with these assessments, but there are grounds for taking such positions. Here are a couple of thought-provoking reasons for your consideration. For one, the folks in Richards corner insist that since their man never wore a helmet in any form of cricket, he is superior to Tendulkar. Others say that Tendulkar opens the innings in ODIs, which makes it much easier for him to score runs than for those coming lower down the order. Neither point can be dismissed easily. Can we put forward similarly solid arguments in support of Sampras, Borg, or Becker versus Federer? In order to properly answer that question, it might be useful to look at the names of the men these four great Wimbledon champions bested in the finals. Sampras beat Jim Courier, Goran Ivanisevic (twice), Becker, Cedric Pioline, Andre Aggasi, and Patrick Rafter in seven out of the seven Wimbledon finals he reached. Borg beat Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors (twice), Roscoe Tanner, and John McEnroe, and lost one final to McEnroe. Becker beat Kevin Curren, Ivan Lendl, and Stefan Edberg, and lost to Edberg (twice), Michael Stich, and Sampras. Federer has beaten Mark Philipoussis, Andy Roddick (thrice), and Rafael Nadal (twice), and lost to Nadal once.

Connors, McEnroe, Lendl, Agassi, and Nadal would definitely qualify as all time greats in the history of the game. Borg beat two of them on his way to his titles. Becker, Sampras and Federer scalped one each. On the other hand, Sampras and Federer beat grass court specialists like Ivanisevic and Roddick more than once in finals. Becker, however, holds the record for the most matches won by an individual player at Wimbledon (71). But only Borg and Federer have won five Wimbledon titles in a row, which makes them a little more special than the others. What tilts the final verdict in favour of Borg, at least, as far as this writer is concerned, is his gob-smacking achievement of winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year three times in a row. By way of comparison, Nadal snaffled both titles in 2008 and 2010, whereas Rod Laver and Federer managed this twin feat once in 1969 and 2009 respectively. Pray, why is winning these two Majors in the same year so special? Well, if you know your tennis youll know that the French Open and Wimbledon are held within a month of each other on surfaces that are poles apart. What most people dont know, however, is that to be able to calibrate ones game in such a short span of time so masterfully on vastly different battlegrounds requires a level of control and ability that borders on superhuman. (In cricketing terms, its almost like scoring a hundred or taking a fifer on a dustbowl and a green top in back-to-back Test matches.) Its why so few people have managed it. Borg reached the final round of four French Open and an equal number of Wimbledon Championships consecutively from 1978-1981. Federer and Nadal did so from 2006-2008, and Federer, by himself, from 2006-2009. But only Borg won seven of these eight finals. And this is why Borg might well be the greatest Wimbledon champion of the open era. He, better than any other champion, was able to make the adjustment from clay to grass. Whats more, Borgs game was designed for clay courts. Still he was able to train his mind and body to win big within and without his comfort zone. This is what makes him the ultimate Wimbledon mens champion. And to think he retired at the ripe old age of just 26.

ten-year-old bet on Federer

The 30-year-old Swiss star has been great but in ouranalysis, Bjorn Borg edges him out. Find out why...
FP Staff, Jul 10, 2012

Oxfam wins $157,750 thanks to

he Oxfam charity organisation has won some big bucks on the back of Roger Federers Wimbledon triumph on Sunday.

AFP reported that tennis lover Nick Newlife, from Oxford, southern England, placed a bet of 1,520 at odds of 66 to 1 almost ten years ago with bookmakers William Hill, on Federer winning seven or more Wimbledon titles. But Newlife died in 2009 and left his entire estate including the 2003 betting slip to Oxfam. Despite most of Britain rooting for Murray, who

was bidding to become the first British Wimbledon mens champion for 76 years, Oxfam said its staff were backing the Swiss tennis star in the hope of securing the giant windfall. Oxfam says it already claimed 16,750 pounds in 2009 when Federer won his 14th Grand Slam title at the French Open. Cathy Ferrier, fundraising and supporter marketing director at Oxfam, told The Guardian that they were grateful and the gift would help thousands around the world.

Against all odds

Wimbledon: Federer is back to his best and he knows it

The 30-year-old Federer finally equaled Pete Sampras record at the All England Club, and won his 17th Grand Slam title overall, by beating Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
AP, Jul 9, 2012

nce the Centre Court roof was closed, nothing could stop Roger Federer from winning his record-tying seventh Wimbledon title. The 30-year-old Federer finally equaled Pete Sampras record at the All England Club, and won his 17th Grand Slam title overall, by beating Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday. It has worked out so many times over the years here at Wimbledon that I play my best in the

semis and the finals, Federer said. I couldnt be more happy. It feels great being back here as the winner. Once Murrays forehand landed wide on match point, Federer collapsed to the grass with tears welling in his eyes. He got up quickly and shook hands with Murray at the net. Roger Federer poses with the Wimbledon trophy. AP

Up in the players box, Federers wife and twin daughters cheered and smiled as he took his seat to await yet another Wimbledon trophy presentation. When the roof closed, he played unbelievable tennis, Murray said. Federer is now 17-7 in Grand Slam finals, including 7-1 at Wimbledon. Murray dropped to 0-4 in major finals, with three of those losses coming against Federer. Its amazing. It equals me with Pete Sampras, whos my hero, Federer said. It just feels amazing. Besides Sampras, 1880s player William Renshaw also won seven Wimbledon titles, but he did it at a time when the defending champion was given a bye into the following years final. Sundays match was the first Wimbledon singles final to be played with the roof closed. The roof was first used at the All England Club in 2009. Britain has been waiting 76 years for a homegrown mens champion at the All England Club, and the expectations on Murray were huge. Thousands of fans watched the match on a huge screen on Murray Mount, but left the grounds still waiting for a British winner. Inside the stadium, Prince Williams wife, Kate, sat in the Royal Box along with David Beckham, British Prime Minister David Cameron and a slew of former Wimbledon champions. Many of them left a bit disappointed as well. Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, how tough it is, Murray said. Its not the people watching. They make

it so much easier to play. The support has been incredible, so thank you. With his victory, Federer regained the No. 1 ranking from Novak Djokovic, allowing him to equal Sampras record of 286 weeks as the topranked player. I never stopped believing. I started playing more, even though I have a family, Federer said. It all worked out. I got great momentum, great confidence and it all came together. So its a magical moment for me. Murray is coached by eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl, the only other man who lost his first four major finals. At the start of the match, Murray was the one dictating play and winning the tough points. He broke Federer in the first game of the first set, and then broke again late before serving it out. It was the first set Murray has won in his four major finals. The second set was much more even, and both had early break points that they couldnt convert. Federer, however, finally got it done in the final game of the set, hitting a backhand drop volley that Murray couldnt get to. Both held easily to start the third set, but then the rain started abruptly, suspending play for 40 minutes. Shortly after they returned, it turned into a one-man show. With Federer leading 3-2, they played a 26-point, 20-minute game in which Federer finally converted his sixth break point after Murray had slipped on the grass three times. Federer lost only five points on his serve in that set.

back at No.1
The accepted theory is that male tennis players begin the slow decline into retirement once they hit the 30 barrier but, as he has done throughout his career, Federer is showing scant regard for conventional wisdom.
Reuters, Jul 9, 2012 ith his 31st birthday looming Roger Federer began a record-equalling 286th week at the top of the world rankings on Monday after claiming a seventh Wimbledon title. The accepted theory is that male tennis players begin the slow decline into retirement once they hit the 30 barrier but, as he has done throughout his career, Federer is showing scant regard for conventional wisdom.

Evergreen Federer is

Against Britains Andy Murray on Sunday, Federer finished like an express train, raising his level to extraordinary heights in the third and fourth sets to complete a crushing 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 victory and seal a 17th grand slam title. Since losing to Tomas Berdych in the Wimbledon quarter-finals two years ago, Federer has watched Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic carve up the big prizes between them. Many doubted whether he would win another

major, let alone return to the top of the rankings to emulate the 286 weeks of his idol Pete Sampras. Now they may be asking whether he can reach the 20 mark. Im so happy Im at the age I am right now, Federer, the second oldest man to be ranked number one after Andre Agassi (who was 33) said after breaking British hearts on Sunday. Because I had such a great run and I know theres still more possible. Whatever feats Federer goes on to add in the final chapter of his career, he can rest assured that he has elevated the mens game to previously unimaginable heights. He raised the bar, Nadal and Djokovic took up the challenge, and, despite marriage and the responsibility of twin daughters, Federer is reacting again, striving to be even better. I want to leave the game better off than when I came into this great game, which was already unbelievable with the great rivalries we had, Federer said.

It is often said that the fearlessness of youth erodes with the passing years, a phenomenon seen in professional golfers who, as time goes by, start looking for the heart of the greens rather than firing at the pins. Despite being one of the best defenders in the game when in a corner, Federer remains the most fearless player of his generation, always aiming for the lines, always pushing the boundary between agression and recklessness. I tried to take it more to Andy, and I was able to do that, Federer said on Sunday. I think I went to maybe fetch victory more than he did. Federer and his family will return to Wimbledon in two weeks, as he aims to fetch the Olympic singles gold that would complete his collection. Should he do that, however, he wont stop there. People forget sometimes I do have twin girls, he said. That has had a massive impact on my life. I think its helped my game more than anything because I think Im playing some of the best tennis of my life right now.

their daddy is the best

The Federer twins know

The Federer twins seem reasonably awed by their fathers achievement: Reuters

Moments after Federer won the title: Reuters

Roger Federer and Serena Williams

at the Wimbledon Winners Ball

Wimbledon Singles Champions Serena Williams and Roger Federer attend the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners Ball. Getty Images

Seven time Wimbledon Mens Champion Roger Federer attends the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners Ball at the InterContinental Park Lane Hotel on July 8, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Girls Singles Champion Eugenie Bouchard of Canada attends the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners Ball . Getty Images

Five times Wimbledon Ladies Champion Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Championships 2012 Winners Ball. Getty Images

Another Wimbledon ends in despair for British fans

A day that started with dreams of a great British millstone being erased from the record books ended as a rain-soaked nightmare with sodden fans trudging away having seen Roger Federer blast his way to another title.
Reuters, Jul 9, 2012 fter 76 years of national pain, tennis fans will have to wallow in disappointment for at least another 12 months after enduring torrential rain and a hail storm of Swiss bullets that ended Andy Murrays Wimbledon hopes on Sunday. A day that started with dreams of a great British millstone being erased from the record books ended as a rain-soaked nightmare with sodden fans trudging away having seen Roger Federer blast his way to another title. National fervour had gripped the country since Murray beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Friday to set up a mouth-watering final, with stories circulating of Centre Court tickets changing hands for more than 10,000 pounds ($15,500).

Sixteen grand slam titles ensured the Swiss started as favourite, but it seemed nobody wanted to miss the chance of seeing Murray become the first British man to win Wimbledon since 1936. Some had travelled from the far end of the country and even queued and camped over the weekend just to get into the grounds to watch Murrays bid on a big screen. They crammed on to the sloping patch of earth named Henman Hill, after its namesake Tims Wimbledon exploits a decade ago, but it would have been more aptly named Heaving Hill as not a single patch of grass was left uncovered just before the match started. Their dedication had been pushed to the limits

as sheeting rain greeted their arrival, but there was still a bubbling sense of optimism that Murray could overcome the odds. If we cheer loud enough, he might just do it, said Paul Hansford who had arrived in the queue five hours before the gates opened. For others there was a sense of destiny.

and murmurs that greeted the Britons every error and as the match wore on and Federer got on top those began to multiply. The Swiss clinched the second set with a backhand volley and Centre Court was reduced to polite applause.

Then the rain came down in sheets. Outside, many scampered for cover while the brave Its the London Olympics, the Queens Jubilee, toughed it out first physically and then emotionthis is our year, said Sabina Auckburally, who ally as Federer returned to court under the roof had travelled with her mother from Gatwick and with his A-game firing. Southampton and arrived as dawn was breaking at the All England Club. Rhythmic claps and cheers of Andy, Andy reverberated around as Murray sat on his seat and Ironically the first person in the queue for Federer prepared to serve for the match; even ground passes was a Federer fan from Toronto, the Prime Minister joined in. who had been waiting in line since before Murrays semi-final had even finished. Then Murray sent a forehand wide and Federer collapsed to the turf to receive the ovation he Scarlett Li was there to see the King go back to deserved having equalled Pete Samprass record where he rightfully belongs. of seven Wimbledon titles and crushed British dreams. The great and the good were also keen to muscle in on the occasion as British Prime Minister Murray had been carrying the weight of a nation David Cameron joined Prince Williams wife, on his shoulders and choked on his words as he the Duchess of Cambridge, in the royal box, tried to address the crowd. along with former England football captain David Beckham. Im going to try this and its not going to be easy, he quivered, trying not to look at his girlPIERCING SUN friend Kim Sears who had also broken down in tears. Inside Centre Court grey skies and squally showers had given way to a piercing sun when As fans trudged away from the rain-sodden the umpire called time on the warm-up and slope there was appreciation for the effort along Murray strode out to receive serve. with muted disappointment in the result. A deathly hush among the Union Jack clad fans was followed by a murmur as two solid Murray backhands tested the Swiss while a Federer error handed the first point to Murray, causing the crowd to erupt. A deafening roar followed the ace that brought up Murrays first set points and when Federer banged his next return straight into the turf the crowd exploded again as their hero clenched his fist in celebration. That was as good as it got for those inside the stadium and the desperate hordes on the hill. There was an oppressive tension in the groans Im gutted, he played some really good tennis but Federer is just a champion, said Valerie Hinds, who was wearing a Union Jack rain coat. We have been through the sun and the rain, but there was proper British spirit today, her mother Carolyn Mason replied, wearing a matching patriot outfit. Hell be back next year, she added, when it will be 77 years since Fred Perry delighted a nation as the last British man to win the title.

After Wimbledon, Federer eyes gold spot at Olympics

Having restored his reign at the Grand Slam tournament, Federer can quickly follow that up by earning a gold medal in singles for Switzerland, one of the few accomplishments missing from his overflowing resume.
AP, Jul 10, 2012

imbledon: The morning after Roger Federer won a record-tying seventh Wimbledon championship, he returned to the site of his latest triumph to conduct interviews in various languages and, while there, ran into All England Club Chairman Philip Brook. They exchanged pleasantries on Monday and before parting ways, Brook said: Ill see you in

a few weeks. Ill check in with you when I get back, Federer replied with a grin. In this rather unusual season, the green grass that Federer knows so well is the scene of two significant events: Wimbledon, which ended Sunday, and the London Olympics tennis competition, which begins on 28 July. Having re-

stored his reign at the Grand Slam tournament, Federer can quickly follow that up by earning a gold medal in singles for Switzerland, one of the few accomplishments missing from his overflowing resume. And make no mistake, Federer is not merely happy to be participating in the 2012 Summer Games. I do believe my situation has got that little star next to it. I am now the Wimbledon champion, and I think that gives me even more confidence coming to the Olympics. And maybe in some ways, it maybe takes some pressure, he said, uncrossing his arms to make air quotes with his fingers, off the Olympics, because I already did win at Wimbledon this year. So thats a good thing for me, because of course there is a lot of hype around me playing at the Olympics this year. This is about winning, not participating. He wont stay in the athletes village. Been there, done that. Instead, Federer will rent his usual house near the All England Club, an arrangement that worked well this past fortnight, clearly. Federer has already been to three Olympics; he met his wife, Mirka, a former tennis player, at the 2000 Games. He carried the Swiss flag at the opening ceremony twice, but said he might allow someone else to have that honor this time. He owns a doubles gold he won with Stanislas Wawrinka in Beijing four years ago. A singles gold would be the perfect gift for a guy who has everything, including a record 17 Grand Slam titles (his first came at Wimbledon in 2003) and, as of Monday, 286 weeks at No. 1 in the ATP rankings, equaling Pete Sampras career record. Obviously, the Olympics is the next goal, Federer said during a 15-minute session with a halfdozen reporters. I was taking it in steps, really: All-out until Wimbledon. And then, after that, take a break, reassess, prepare well, then come back for the Olympics and hopefully play well.

On Tuesday, Olympic organizers officially begin to take over the All England Club and make it theirs. There was a flurry of activity around the grounds Monday. A large electronic video scoreboard was getting dismantled. Potted plants were being discarded. A souvenir shop was being emptied of purple-and-green umbrellas and other Wimbledon items to make way for Olympic mementos. Apparently, people are moving in and (are) just going to change everything. I mean a lot. Also, its going to be different, because all of the (staff) are going to be different. Normally, we have familiar faces, everybody we know. Those are all apparently gone, so thats going to be a bit odd and disappointing, almost to a degree, Federer said. But Im sure the IOC are going to make it work. Im excited to see how theyre going to make it work, because this already works as good as can be. So I dont know how theyre going to make it better. But anyway, let them try. It was tough to imagine how he could possibly make himself into a better player, but he keeps on honing his craft and adding to his record totals. Most Grand Slam titles. Most Grand Slam finals. Most consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals. Most Grand Slam match wins. And on and on it goes. But until he beat Andy Murray 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday, Federer had gone 2 years since his most recent major championship, at the 2010 Australian Open. Did that gap make this one a little more special? Absolutely, Federer said. I mean, look, this one has a very unique place in my heart because of many reasons. But maybe also the bitlonger wait has created this as a more fairytale tournament for me. Approaching his 31st birthday on Aug. 8, hes the oldest man to win Wimbledon since Arthur Ashe in 1975. Hes also a father of twin girls who turn 3 later this month and were at Centre

Court on Sunday. Nothing quite like being a parent to change the way one thinks about things. I dont know (about) other 3-year-olds, what they understand, but mine ALMOST understand the difference between a match and a practice. So there you go. Winning and losing? They dont quite get that yet, either. Which is a good thing, I think, Federer said with a chuckle. I saw them this morning, and theyre playing games. And I was like, Do you remember yes-

terday? And ones like, No. I dont. I was like, OK, OK. And then the other ones like, Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I remember clapping. So honestly, Im not sure what they do remember. When I won in 2003, never in my wildest dream did I ever think that I was going to win Wimbledon and have my kids seeing me lift the trophy. So this is pretty surreal. Yet it all could happen again at the very same spot in only a few weeks time except with a medal hanging from his neck instead of a trophy cradled in his hands.

we knew it was coming

the age barrier?

Its been nine years since any male over the age of thirty has won a Tennis Major in the singles category. But can the fading genius of the Swiss Master overcome that barrier?
Avinash Subramaniam, Jun 16, 2012

Can Federer conquer

ts been nine years since any male over the age of thirty has won a Tennis Major in the singles category. The last man to do it, Andre Agassi, was thirty-two when he bagged the Australian Open in 2003. In fact, Agassi is one of only three male players in the last forty years to have taken home more than one individual Major after entering his thirties. Agassi won two The Australian Open in 2001 and 2003). Only two male players have lifted more singles Majors in their thirties. And neither of them

is named Pete Sampras, the man considered by most tennis aficionados to be the greatest singles player to have ever held a tennis racket. Sampras won only one Major in his thirties The 2002 US Open Championships, which we will come to a little later in this piece on tennis oldies. The two players who did win more than one singles Major after they crossed into their thirties are Rod Lever and Ken Rosewall. Astoundingly, Rod Lever picked up his second Grand Slam (the act of winning four Major Championships

in the same year) in his thirties. Perhaps even more astonishing is the fact that the oldest man to lift a singles Major, Ken Rosewall, won the Australian Open in 1972 at the ripe old age of 37; a record that is not likely to ever be broken. All this to say that there is still hope for Roger Federer. Or is there? Federer bagged only one out of the four Majors in 2010 (The Australian Open.) Unfortunately for his fans, things didnt get much better in 2011, a year in which the Swiss ace did not win any of the Majors. In fact, Federer has made it to the finals of only two out of the last ten Majors, winning one and losing one. Its been nine Majors since Federer has gone the distance in any of them. The last year Federer didnt win any of the four Major titles was 2002. Whats more, he hasnt even made it to the finals of the last four Majors. It might be pertinent to mention at this point in the piece that Federer turned 30 on 8 August 2011. Of all the Majors, Wimbledon, in particular, hasnt been kind to players in their thirties. The last man over thirty to snare a Wimbledon singles crown was Arthur Ashe; he was 31 years 11 months and 25 days when he won it way back in 1975. Federer will be 31 years and 11 months and 0 days if he does lift Wimbledon on 8 July 2012. Since he hasnt made it past the quarters of the last two editions of the premier grass court tournament in the world, I wouldnt bet on it. Perhaps Federers best chance to win his first Major since turning thirty will come at the US

Open. The last man over thirty to take home a US Open singles title is, possibly, the only one with a body of work more impressive than Federers and the man the Swiss maestro is most often compared with: Sampras. Those in a hurry to write off Federer would do well to bear in mind that Sampras, too, was in the middle of a poor run before he won his last Major. In Wimbledon that year (2002), Sampras suffered an early exit, losing in the second round to the 145th ranked fast court specialist George Bastl of Switzerland. Coming into the US Open 2002, Samprass stock was so low that the eccentric Greg Rusedski, after losing to him in an attritional five-setter in the third round, famously said that Sampras was a step and a half slower and predicted that the great man wouldnt make it past the next stage. Sampras proceeded to convincingly defeat Tommy Haas in the fourth round (in four sets) and Andy Roddick in the quarters (in straight sets). He then dispatched Sjeng Schalken in the semi-finals (also in straight sets) and went on to conquer his legendary rival Agassi in the final in four sets to win his 14th Major and equal another rare plus-30 Majors winner Jimmy Connorss record of five US Open singles championships. Clearly, its hazardous to write off all time greats like Sampras and Federer. Another all time great who has had a relatively poor last 12 months and who many believe may be in the evening of his momentous career will be there to cheer Federer at Wimbledon 2012. Surely, Sachin Tendulkar and Federer have a last hurrah (or two) for their adoring fans before they call it a day. No? Yes.

Unreal: Roger Federer is defying the 30-plus slide

In 41 matches since the defeat in the US Open last year, Federer has won 39 and doesnt look like stopping anytime soon.
Ashish Magotra, Mar 19, 2012

n the life of a sportsman, it is very difficult to arrest a slide especially when you are over 30. It starts slowly you lose the odd game, then you start to lose a few more and then finally, it becomes an avalanche one that forces you to retire. Much the same seemed to be happening to a certain Roger Federer. There are very few very few, say an Andre Agassi, who have managed to arrest that slide in the fag years of their career. From the heady highs of 2006 when he lost 5

matches and won 92 to the lows of 2011 where for a majority of the year, he seemed mortal Federer seemed to be fighting a losing battle. Then post the US Open, something clicked again it was like an artist whose sight was restored. Its the age that people talk about right now, he said on Sunday after beating Isner at Indian Wells. Some dont understand how you can play tennis at 30, which is shocking to me. In 41 matches since the defeat in the US Open

last year, Federer has won 39. His record this year is 22-2 and his only defeats came against John Isner in the Davis Cup (does that count?) and his old nemesis Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open. At Indian Wells, as he cruised to his record 19th ATP Masters 1000 title, he defeated them both with plenty to spare. He was the old Federer again running around his backhand, his groundstrokes cutting through the wind in a manner few can replicate and hitting winners to all corners of the court. The unearthly ease with which he wins points makes his opponents second guess more often than theyd like. They get desperate but only because Federers play leaves them no option but that. When the Swiss master wins, he makes it seem so simple that its almost unreal. And when he loses hes done a fair bit of that his disbelief is shared by us. But wed prefer him to live in the world of the unreal where anything and everything is possible for him. Federers demise as a top tennis player has been discussed at length but there are some things he knows better than anyone else prime among them being his standing among the top tennis players. He always believed he was better than the rest and now he is showing that.

As good as Djokovic was last year, its almost impossible to imagine his repeating the super human effort. But his winning form last year might just have helped rekindle the competitive fire in a man who knew only winning. Federer was a step slower than the young guys for most of 2011 perhaps he still is but hes found a way around that. His vast experience has allowed him to do that and perhaps thats the edge he has now. Hes seen things, done things that the others are aspiring to do. In turn, their efforts are pushing him once more to become the best which doesnt mean becoming World No.1 anymore. Unlike a Michael Schumacher or a Tiger Woods, who took a break from sport Federer has been a regular on the tour since 1999 and there is no rust that needs to be worked out of the system. However, a true understanding of how high Federer has risen will only come once the clay court season starts. Thats when we will know whether he has risen above the norm or just restored status quo. P.S. And if you are interested in womens tennis, it is worth noting that Victoria Azarenka, who won the Australian Open, is on a 23-0 start to the year. Can she do a Djoko?

And a thought for Murray

A smile still eludes Lendl and Murray

Ivan Lendl was once asked about his relationship with Andy Murray, his answer was succinct: We crack jokes at each other... without smiling.
Ashish Magotra, Jul 10, 2012

van Lendl was once asked about his relationship with Andy Murray, his answer was succinct: We crack jokes at each other without smiling. Even as Murray and Roger Federer battled to a standstill during the Vimbledon final, as Lendl would say, it was interesting to watch the former world number one, who now coaches Murray, in the Scots box. He didnt smile, he didnt talk and he rarely ever moved. The

sunglasses would go up and then would come down. Every now and then the camera would pan on to him and the commentators would crack a joke or two each time they caught a glimpse of emotion on the former world number ones face. But not once did he smile. Not even when Murray was leading in the first set. But Lendl does have a sense of humour a

pretty vicious one at that. In the book, Courts of Babylon, veteran tennis writer Peter Bodo recalls an incident thats downright scary. One thing I wouldnt do was put a tennis ball in my pocket at Lendls request. When Gunther Breswick, a former coach of Jacob Hlasek and Boris Becker, did that during a visit, Lendl gave his dog Cayden a covert fetch command. Cayden bolted from the margin of the court and pounced on the ball, which was still situated in the front pocket of Bresnicks track suit. Lendl, even then, barely smiled. He wasnt one to cry either. Two days after winning the 1984 French Open his first Grand Slam title Lendl lost in the first round at Queens. His response was typical: The defeat is not going to send me into a corner crying. Hes now older, not as fit as he once was but hes still the same old Lendl ruthless in his pursuit of victory. There was a time when he was known as the choking dog in press circles. Of course, that moniker had a lot to do with his record on Grand Slam finals, which was an awful 1-6 then. But he figured out a way to end that dreadful sequence. By the time, his career ended, he had won eight Grand Slams, one more than John McEnroe and the same number as Jimmy Connors. And heres the really important statistic: After the 1-6 start in Grand Slams finals, Lendl eventually ended up with 8 wins in 19 finals. And it is this turnaround that Murray is seeking. The first time Lendl saw Murray play, he re-

called thinking to himself, How many shots can he could hit and how clean he hit the ball. But this is a difficult era in mens tennis. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won 29 of the last 30 Grand Slams. It is the kind of extended domination that tennis has never seen before. And Murray is trying to break into that exclusive club and with every step, he seems to be getting closer. However, is that good enough? Lendl isnt one to beat around the bush. Hes never been that kind of guy. Instead, he is the kind of guy who grows on you. When he first came on to the tennis scene, he was the guy every writer liked to bash; he was the kind of guy who would give Wimbledon a miss and say that Grass is for Cows but by the time he was done, his determination had won the crowd over and they cheered for him as if he was one of their own. His methods will grow on Murray and change him. But every year new challengers crop up how long can he afford to wait? For now, though, Lendl is fighting a different battle. He isnt on court but his goal still remains the same to win seven matches, to win a Grand Slam, to win Vimbledon. Then, and only then, we might just see them both smile. Itll be worth the wait too.

Andy Murrays crying game: Why we all love a good cry

Andy Murrays manly tears, after he lost at Wimbledon, melted hearts. It shows we are human. A bit too human, perhaps. From Satyamev Jayate to Centre Court, its raining tears. But which ones are real?

can cry like Roger. Its just a shame I cant play like him, declared Andy Murray after the 2010 Australian Open. And on Sunday, he proved himself right. The formerly stoic Scotsman turned the Wimbledon mens final into a four-hanky weeper with a display of manly histrionics that left his audience in tears. I think he won over a lot of people and the hearts of the fans because of the emotions he showed in Australia, and now again here, said Roger Federer, a notorious tennis court-crier himself, It does show as well that we are human.

Lakshmi Chaudhry, Jul 10, 2012 A bit too human, perhaps. Its raining tears these days. Everyone is waxing lachrymose, from politicians to reality TV contestants to movie stars and its a global epidemic. Even cultures known for their circumspection cant seem to stop blubbering. Ice-cold Swedes like Bjorn Borg have been replaced by shameless sobbers a la Federer. The Brits like to blame the damn Americans, who have always been an emotional lot especially in front of the camera. And thanks to Hollywood aka American cultural imperialism were all Yanks now, eagerly wiping our snot on our sleeves. A dour realisation that hit the Brits when they lost it over Princess Di, and regressed right into Tony

Blairs Cool Brittania. The stiff upper lip is but a fond memory. Andy Murray reacts after losing the Wimbledon final. Stefan Wermuth/Reuters Of course, we Indians arent exactly rookies in the crying game. No one no one does fake, over-the-top weeping quite like us. We are a nation weaned on the high decibel tears of AK Hangals and Nirupa Roys. Those were the golden days of hair-rending, chest-beating sorrow. The cinematic excess, however, was in stark contrast to a middle class culture where real-life tears were strictly discouraged especially in public. As every good Indian kid knew, there was no surer guarantee of a parents wrath than sobbing outside the home. The only kind of public display we condoned was the fake, cinematic kind. There was a certain nobility in that artifice, in its resolute refusal to mimic genuine sorrow. But now.. now we live in the era of Satyamev Jayate, where everyone from the host to the audience leaks like a sieve. Many of the stories are so emotional that I end up crying daily, sometimes four to five times a day! I also feel very depressed after that, but I am enjoying every moment of this exercise, says a sentimental Aamir Khan, summing up just how much we now enjoy a good, honest-to-god cry. Those ohtoo-fake tears no longer satisfy. Gone are the theatrical excesses of the past, in their place is the steady trickle of real tears, manufactured on cue for the camera. Everyone uses them for that perfect effect. Politicians sniffle to make themselves more human, be it Hillary or Yeddy. A movie stars tear ducts can help score the right kind of attention. Aww, look, Shah Rukh Khan made his best buddy Karan Johar cry! Upward soar the ratings. Of course, Shah Rukh is our blubberer-in-chief whos sold countless movies, products, and himself by rolling that perfect tear. And if his sobbing skills are losing effect, its because theyre much too mannered for a TV-addicted audience that now demands the real thing.

As Forbes magazine writer Nick Morgan observes, the television camera loves big, fat, hot tears: Emotional outbursts are hot TV; they will get covered. Theres no hiding if the cameras are rolling at the same time as the tears. TV is a cool medium, and it craves hot emotions. In other words, we love to watch people get angry, sad, happy, or whatever. As long as its emotional and extreme it will play well on TV and get lots of coverage. Television and human sorrow make an unbeatable combination, as even our news channels know. Hence, the eagerness to stick that lens right in the bedroom of Neeraj Grovers mother as she awaits the verdict in her sons murder case. Or shove it in the faces of families and friends awaiting news outside the Mumbai Taj on that fateful night. And reality TV is just the next logical step: from recording real emotion to manufacturing it : On reality television, tears are as common as pennies. In fact, crying is not only ubiquitous but mandatory. When you pay to play, tears are currency. The question is no longer whether to cry but rather, What kind of crying will maximize camera time? Is it any wonder that we grow more jaded with each passing episode? That a moment of genuine and rare emotion is hard to distinguish from the scripted kind. So journalist John Walsh thinks it fair game to mock Andy Murrays tears in The Independent. His head swung from side to side like Stevie Wonder singing I Just Called to Say I Love You. The crowd looked on, nonplussed. Was he having a seizure? Then the penny dropped. Murray was weeping. A real-life contest on the Centre Court reads no different from an episode of Project Runway. One guy wins, the other loses, everyone cries. Different channel. Same difference.

unhealthy obsession with defeat

Britain doesnt give a toss if they win any or all the other Wimbledon titles - they only want the mens. And in some cases, they only want the right kind of person to win the mens.
Tristan Stewart-Robertson, Jul 10, 2012

Murray aftermath: Britains

omebody told me that Britain invented tennis. Youd never know it by how selectively people celebrate its victories.

Britains Jonathan Marray and his Danish doubles partner Frederik Nielsen were wildcard entries to this years Wimbledon but won in five sets on Saturday night. A great victory and the first for a Brit in the mens doubles since 1936. And there were empty seats around centre court.

Britain doesnt give a toss if they win any or all the other Wimbledon titles they only want the mens. And in some cases, they only want the right kind of person to win the mens. Yes, no Briton has won the mens championship since 1936 with Fred Perry its a date and name everyone knows from the endless annual media laments. When Andy Murray reached the finals, the first Brit since 1938 to do so, it meant that he adorned every front page and several inside

ones on Sunday morning. Is it any wonder he broke down after the match, battered down by expectation? Murray has had an uneasy relationship with the British public for many years, partly because he hasnt won a Grand Slam tournament, and because hes not English. So while the Scottish media was very sympathetic after his loss, English media was less so. The Suns headline and intro says it all: New bawls please! Beaten Murray is the crying Scotsman; Murray turned on the waterworks after his Wimbo final dream was shattered. Comment boards on news sites across the spectrum told Murray to grow up and branded him a spoilt brat. Immediately after the match, the BBCs Sue Barker handed the microphone to Murray to speak as he wanted, and then quizzed Federer, particularly asking him about how Murray was across all the papers. And Federer replied, Well, I dont read the papers. And thats the difference between those who play sport and those who just watch and comment. Armchair fans are plentiful. Many celebrated Murrays effort on Sunday and choked up with him when the effort was outclassed by perhaps the greatest tennis player in history. But you have to wonder if even perfection and victory would satisfy some people.

Different sports and different athletes win different levels of public support and vitriol. In 2005, Athens Olympics double gold medalist Kelly Holmes was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. When it was reported by the BBC on the evening news, this led the story of the list of latest honours. At the end, as an incidental, they mentioned that Tanni Grey-Thompson was also made a Dame. Tanni Grey-Thompson won double gold at the 2004 Paralympics, but had another 10 in the games stretching back to Barcelona. So why was she less notable than Kelly Holmes? What benefit is there in making certain sporting accomplishments lesser, and in so doing making the athletes lesser? Are Tanni Grey-Thompsons medals worth half as much because shes half a person? That kind of statement should be appalling but its clearly the attitude towards sport. Have your favourite team, athlete and event, sure. But dont ignore national successes simply because they dont fit into your category of approved wins. And if you are so vocal in your criticism, then feel free to find the time, energy and money to train and defeat your chosen fallen hero. If you expect athletes to strive ever higher, dont expect them to do it so you can just sink lower into the sofa.

Murrays failure: A sad day,

but dont forget the bigger picture
Murrays loss should not be seen as a failure of British sport - their cricket team is ranked no.1 in Tests and T20s, the current yellow jersey holder in the Tour de France is Bradley Wiggins and Team GB is set a target of winning 48 medals at the Olympics.
Oliver Brett, Jul 10, 2012 he irony of Andy Murrays emotional, draining, gut-wrenching defeat to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon mens final on Sunday is that it comes at a time when British sport has never been in a stronger position. Theres a tired clich that persists, namely that my compatriots are embarrassingly rubbish at sport, never win anything any more and have to patiently watch as others exceed them in every discipline. Id argue it has little substance.

Britons pretty much invented most sports that are played at a global level today, so every time England fail to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, get crushed by another team in a cricket series or fail in pretty much any sporting pursuit it gets remembered. The failures have a tendency to resonate that little bit more. And yet, Team GB has been set a target of achieving 48 medals at the London 2012 Olympic Games. If you think thats unrealistic, they

won 47 in Beijing four years ago. The cricket team is ranked top of the world in Tests and T20s, and has embarrassed Australia in a recent one-day series. The current yellow jersey holder in the Tour de France, and hot favourite to win this years historic cycling marathon, is Great Britains Bradley Wiggins. In club football, the current champion of Europe is Premier League side Chelsea. In the aftermath of Murrays glorious failure to Federer theres a tendency to forget all that. Theres a requirement, almost, to accept defeat valiantly, to acknowledge the superior ability of another, to graciously bow to a conqueror. Perhaps no sporting environment is so precarious as a Grand Slam tennis final, and perhaps this explains the anguish. With 126 other competitors already accounted for, and after two weeks of lung-bursting endeavour, its the final hurdle that is by far the hardest to scale. Over the course of that fortnight, Murray had come so very far, had heard the cheers of his supporters spurring him on. He had known that for every one British tennis fan with a cherished Centre Court seat, there were dozens standing in front of a giant screen within the Wimbledon complex, and many thousands at home. And every one of them, barring his own impassively serene coach Ivan Lendl, had been torn between exhilaration and despair in the course of individual points, across games, across whole sets. Perhaps most cruel of all is the whiff of hope and optimism. Like some recreational drug, it numbs the senses, drowns out the reality. So you believe that with the first set in the bag, Murray has gone from plucky underdog to raging favourite. Heck hes even got break points in the second set. You hear a commentator say how Federers backhand returns are landing too short, how hard it is for a 30-year-old to win a Grand Slam,

how the Swiss is bound to tire. Everyone is impressed by how fresh and focused Murray looks and you imagine the riproaring celebrations and the headlines the next day. But were all forgetting, first, who the opponent is. Federer is not simply one of the greatest tennis players of all time, hes one of sports greatest champions ever. In all of the most subtle, most technical rallies, hes found a winning angle; one shot looks beyond the gift of mortals, a halfvolley forehand off his own baseline whipped back and landing on Murrays own baseline for a clean winner. The second set is snatched by Federer, the rain comes, the roof closes and Murray? Its tough for him now, so tough. Federer summons up reserves of stamina to play some of the best tennis of the tournament in sets three and four. He wins. For Murray, theres no disgrace, but the tears afterwards are a potent explainer: How can I, being so good at tennis, not win a Grand Slam? Thats what they appear to be saying at least. Is it unfair that the three players above him in the world rankings are so outstandingly brilliant? No. Unfortunate, but not unfair. The crux of the matter is this: would he have been similarly confounded in another era that did not include the peerless trinity of Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic? Well never know. All we can do as British sports lovers is react to the individual occasion: to accept Federers utter brilliance, and give Murray a great big collective hug of commiseration. Just dont, ever, fall into the trap of thinking British sportsmen and women are failures. An Olympics on home soil should prove that is most certainly NOT the case.

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