He is more than a year ahead of Pete Sampras' pace now, in the only match that matters for Roger Federer anymore. It is the contest that should confirm what our eyes already tell us about this gentle wizard. Federer, barely 26, now has 12 major titles and needs only two more to tie Sampras, three more to prove his point.
And if this famous chase for greatest ever comes down to a perfect shot at the right moment, then you know Federer will land the ball on the line, by the width of the stringiest, synthetic felt fuzz. He will smack a service winner down the middle or he will scream a backhand passing shot in the corner. He is a freak, born without a raw nerve in his body.
He says his stomach hurts and his hands are cold from the pressure. "You never get used to it," Federer said last night. But you never see that. There he was yesterday, beating back the challenge from an impertinent upstart, Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4. Djokovic, quick and canny, pressed him hard. Federer wasn't at his best. All it would have taken was one little error on five set points against Federer in the first set, or then again on two more in the second. One botched groundstroke and this match might have meandered in any direction.
But Federer won all seven of those points - some with Djokovic's help, others without - and he also captured the biggest tiebreaker points. He won a fourth straight U.S. Open title, and he did so while sweating only minimally into his headband.
"I've played better matches in the past, no doubt," Federer said. "I played well when I had to."
The match was really decided in the first set, when Djokovic threw away a 40-love lead and five set points on his own serve. "At this point, you have no hope," Federer would say. But Djokovic flinched, chest heaving, brain unraveling.
Djokovic smashed his racket to the ground after blowing one backhand, and the little yellow vibration dampener flew off his strings. In Djokovic's box, friends and family were yelling, gesturing at their player for support. Maria Sharapova was there, rooting for her new tennis pal. Sharapova has given up on Roddick, apparently, but last night she was still backing the wrong guy.
How could Djokovic look across the net and not be unnerved? There was Federer, Houdini in black, calm in the face of every impossible predicament. Federer knocked enough balls back in the court to summon Djokovic's inner demons. The younger player's backhands sailed long in the wind. He looked 20 years old, because he was.
"I just needed to calm down and wait for my chances, which I didn't," Djokovic said. "I think I was mentally weaker on the important points and he was stronger. It's normal. It was the first Grand Slam title for me, 23,000 people, everybody expected a nice match ..."
Djokovic came back, broke Federer in the fourth game of the second set, and the game was on again. He owned two more set points on Federer's serve, and this time it wasn't Djokovic giving away points. Federer blasted eight straight first serves and knocked a brilliant backhand passing shot down the line to win a second tiebreaker.
The third set was easier for Federer, the way it became easier in the quarterfinal against Andy Roddick. He required 2 hours, 26 minutes altogether, the length of a crisp baseball game. Federer was the champion, receiving $2.4 million in checks from the U.S. Tennis Association. He is such a nice guy, nobody would begrudge him a single penny.
There was not really a sense of gloom from Djokovic yesterday at his own demise. He is very young and already very, very good. He can do the math. "Bottom line is, he's five, six years older than I am," he said. When Djokovic is 22, reaching his tennis peak, Federer will be 28 and maybe not so magical.
Still, there were all these opportunities last night, lost.
"My next book is going to be called 'Seven set points,'" Djokovic said, laughing.
Djokovic may well become the conspirator to dethrone Federer on hardcourts. Meanwhile, Federer won three of the four majors this year, and at this rate may surpass Sampras right here next year.
"Sampras and Federer have this thing in common," Djokovic said. "In important moments, they always play their best. Ice cold faces and going for their shot."
Ice cold, on a warm evening. Three titles to go.
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And if this famous chase for greatest ever comes down to a perfect shot at the right moment, then you know Federer will land the ball on the line, by the width of the stringiest, synthetic felt fuzz. He will smack a service winner down the middle or he will scream a backhand passing shot in the corner. He is a freak, born without a raw nerve in his body.
He says his stomach hurts and his hands are cold from the pressure. "You never get used to it," Federer said last night. But you never see that. There he was yesterday, beating back the challenge from an impertinent upstart, Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (2), 6-4. Djokovic, quick and canny, pressed him hard. Federer wasn't at his best. All it would have taken was one little error on five set points against Federer in the first set, or then again on two more in the second. One botched groundstroke and this match might have meandered in any direction.
But Federer won all seven of those points - some with Djokovic's help, others without - and he also captured the biggest tiebreaker points. He won a fourth straight U.S. Open title, and he did so while sweating only minimally into his headband.
"I've played better matches in the past, no doubt," Federer said. "I played well when I had to."
The match was really decided in the first set, when Djokovic threw away a 40-love lead and five set points on his own serve. "At this point, you have no hope," Federer would say. But Djokovic flinched, chest heaving, brain unraveling.
Djokovic smashed his racket to the ground after blowing one backhand, and the little yellow vibration dampener flew off his strings. In Djokovic's box, friends and family were yelling, gesturing at their player for support. Maria Sharapova was there, rooting for her new tennis pal. Sharapova has given up on Roddick, apparently, but last night she was still backing the wrong guy.
How could Djokovic look across the net and not be unnerved? There was Federer, Houdini in black, calm in the face of every impossible predicament. Federer knocked enough balls back in the court to summon Djokovic's inner demons. The younger player's backhands sailed long in the wind. He looked 20 years old, because he was.
"I just needed to calm down and wait for my chances, which I didn't," Djokovic said. "I think I was mentally weaker on the important points and he was stronger. It's normal. It was the first Grand Slam title for me, 23,000 people, everybody expected a nice match ..."
Djokovic came back, broke Federer in the fourth game of the second set, and the game was on again. He owned two more set points on Federer's serve, and this time it wasn't Djokovic giving away points. Federer blasted eight straight first serves and knocked a brilliant backhand passing shot down the line to win a second tiebreaker.
The third set was easier for Federer, the way it became easier in the quarterfinal against Andy Roddick. He required 2 hours, 26 minutes altogether, the length of a crisp baseball game. Federer was the champion, receiving $2.4 million in checks from the U.S. Tennis Association. He is such a nice guy, nobody would begrudge him a single penny.
There was not really a sense of gloom from Djokovic yesterday at his own demise. He is very young and already very, very good. He can do the math. "Bottom line is, he's five, six years older than I am," he said. When Djokovic is 22, reaching his tennis peak, Federer will be 28 and maybe not so magical.
Still, there were all these opportunities last night, lost.
"My next book is going to be called 'Seven set points,'" Djokovic said, laughing.
Djokovic may well become the conspirator to dethrone Federer on hardcourts. Meanwhile, Federer won three of the four majors this year, and at this rate may surpass Sampras right here next year.
"Sampras and Federer have this thing in common," Djokovic said. "In important moments, they always play their best. Ice cold faces and going for their shot."
Ice cold, on a warm evening. Three titles to go.
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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