Roger Federer may boast a special love for the green grass of Wimbledon but it is his comparable grace on the New York hard courts that rescued the champion in 2008.
The serenity on the face of the Swiss maestro immediately following his clinical 6–2, 7–5, 6–2 victory over world number four Andy Murray in Monday’s U.S. Open final signified an end to a year of torment for the classic all-court player in his quest for tennis greatness.
A loss at Flushing Meadows would have seen Federer fail to win a single Grand Slam title for the calendar year—an unthinkable prospect by his standards that was rendered more remote after a lopsided 6–2 opening set on Monday.
Playing in his first Grand Slam final, Murray did lift his game in the second set to throw down a challenge in pushing his formidable opponent to 5–5.
But Federer did not falter and his superior service game coupled with his brave decision to repeatedly charge the net prevented Murray from ever settling in his baseline comfort zone.
To his credit, the sometimes tempestuous Scot was gracious in defeat.
“I came up against the best player ever to play the game today,” said Murray.
For Federer, a jolly jig to the courtside cameras following his match point joy showed there was clearly untold satisfaction in winning his fifth consecutive U.S. Open and so becoming the first player to win five consecutive Grand Slam titles at more than one event.
The memory of his run of five titles at Wimbledon being so heartbreakingly stopped just two months ago by his worthy nemesis Raphael Nadal in a five-set all-time classic final, was clearly fresh in his mind.
But just as importantly for a champion such as Federer, with one eye always on his opponent and the other on tennis history, his latest U.S. Open win takes his Grand Slam tally to 13—just one short of the record set by Pete Sampras.
Federer’s semifinal loss at the Australian Open in January followed by his French Open and Wimbledon final defeats to Nadal had no doubt blunted his confidence in ever reaching this mark.
Relieved and Relaxed
But in his relaxed post match interview, Federer presented as a man both relieved and renewed.
“It’s a very special moment in my career—it means the world to me.”
Hints of being stuck on the superstitious number were brushed aside with firm resolve however.
“One thing’s for sure, I’m not going to stop at 13—that would be terrible.”
Federer congratulated his opponent while being aware of the talent that could stop him from surpassing Pete Sampras’s 14 Grand Slam titles record.
“There’s a great bunch of guys right behind me or now front of me as well...I’m sure we’re going to see much more of Andy in the future as well.”
“I really feel that tennis is in a great place right now. We have incredible athletes out there at the moment. A lot of fair play. For me I love playing the tour.”
Federer hadn’t won a hard court title all year. If he only wins one, the U.S. Open would be the one to win.
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