Why Switzerland's Loss Might Actually be Federer's Gain

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After this weekend, it's clear that we should forget about Roger Federer adding a Davis Cup to his list of accomplishments. Crystal clear, in fact. And you know what? It's probably the best thing for Federer, given his age, lofty Grand Slam ambitions, and the youthful state of the competition that he'll have to overcome to achieve them.

While many were holding out hope that Switzerland might use a tidy little victory over the supposedly clay-phobic Americans this weekend as a springboard to a title run, the cold, hard truth is that the only thing a Davis Cup run would have done is distract Federer from his "real" goals this year.

And who can fault Federer if he's guilty of feeling and subsequently disguising his lack of interest in Davis Cup? Who can say if it's right or wrong? He showed up, he played hard, he lost -- let's move on now, to what really matters to Federer. The man has been keeping busy looking for ways to stem the tide of two of the most indomitable, physically daunting specimens to ever play the game. In short, Federer's got work to do, and Davis Cup would only hinder -- not help -- that process.

Put yourself in Roger's shoes. Would you really want four weekends full of five-set marathons tacked on to your already busy schedule, during an Olympic year, no less? Sure, if he was five years younger and Stan Wawrinka was a little more like David Ferrer and a little less like, well, Stan Wawrinka, maybe. But Roger is 30, he's got twins to watch over, and let's be frank: if he's obsessed with winning anything right now, it sure as heck isn't Davis Cup. Wimbledon, maybe. U.S. Open, sure. But not Davis Cup.

That's why I'm thinking that this weekend's loss was actually a blessing in disguise for Federer. For a while there it seemed like even he was getting caught up in taking one last shot at going the distance in Davis Cup. But now that Swiss hopes have sagged, Federer can get back to his bread and butter. Let's face it, the man, brilliant as he still remains, isn't so young anymore. Federer needs to divert every last ounce of energy in his tank toward his Grand Slam quest. He'll need to be as healthy as he possibly can be to weather the rough and tumble Roland Garros-Wimbledon-Olympic grind that is coming.

And even that likely won't be enough. He'll need some divine intervention too.

Playing Davis Cup in April and then again in July would have only clouded the picture for Federer. He's better off where he is right now.

Once he shakes off the disappointment of a deflating performance this weekend, Roger Federer too will realize that the last thing a 30-year-old who wants to win more Grand Slams and Olympic Gold medals needs to do is get caught chasing the wrong dream.

Davis Cup might have been our dream for Roger Federer. It might have been the story that we wanted to read, the pleasant surprise, the proof of his spirituality, love of country, unselfishness, etc... but I don't think it was ever his dream. If it was he would have played like it was. He wouldn't have fell asleep at the wheel during the second set on Friday against John Isner, something we'd never catch him doing at a Slam.

Either way, it's over now. We can blame anything we want to blame -- we can blame the clay, blame Stan Wawrinka's shoddy doubles game, blame the inevitable passage of time -- but it'll never change the real crux of this quandary. The fact remains: the last few chapters of Federer's legacy were never destined to be written at Davis Cup -- they are destined to be written at the Slams.

Now that Federer has less on his mind to worry about, he's got more to put into them.

The Prince of Abu Dhabi

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I honestly don't know how much of a correlation you can make between the winner of this weekend's exhibition in Abu Dhabi and who is going to make some noise at the upcoming (yes, really) Australian Open, but if there is any correlation, all signs are pointing to Novak Djokovic being in fine form once again in 2012. He was dominant in Abu Dhabi, just as he was dominant in 2011.

As for Roger Federer, he'll still be "officially" riding a 17-match winning streak when he takes the court in Doha vs. Nikolay Davydenko next week, but the 6-2, 6-1 thrashing at the hands of Djokovic probably won't do much for his confidence (nor will the straight sets loss to Rafa in the consolation match). Then again, maybe he's forgotten it already. I guess only Roger truly knows. And similarly, probably Rafa only knows what the fact that he was beaten in straight sets by David Ferrer means for his chances in Melbourne, bad shoulder and all.

So here's my question regarding Abu Dhabi: Should we pretend it never happened, even though it did? I'm confused.

That said, you can have a look at some of the highlights and form your own opinions.

Here you go:

Federer-Djokovic



Djokovic-Monfils:



Nadal-Federer:



And you can keep an eye on Federer and Nadal next week as they make their way to Doha for their first official event of the year.

Shine On, You Crazy Diamond

Roger Federer defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a record 6th ATP World Tour Finals title today. Many are now wondering: What will he win next?

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Sunday's 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 victory over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was yet another shining example of Roger Federer's current status as a force to be reckoned with on the ATP Tour. The landmark victory (it was Federer's 100th career ATP final) not only moved Federer back into the current ATP top 3; it also moved him past Stefan Edberg into 6th place on the ATP's all-time win list (with 807), and scooted him past Ivan Lendl and Pete Sampras with 6th ATP Championship titles.

But for Federer, who seems to break a slew of records each time he takes his racquets out of his bag, this wasn't about padding his legacy, or stoking a once-burning-brightly fire. Today's win was about the Federer of here and now. His never-ending hunger for competition, his indefatigable passion for the sport, and his belief that he is still a player who is very much in his prime, more than anything else, are what is driving him.

Can a man who has just hit thirty, an age often associated with tennis's version of senior citizenship, still be a terror on the court? Federer thinks so. "It's interesting how you evolve as a tennis player," Federer told reporters after defeating David Ferrer in London yesterday, "For me it's only logical to improve."

Words are one thing, but Federer's play of late is entirely another. The Swiss won his 17th consecutive match today, and after starting the year 3-9 vs. Top 10 competition, he's finished the season by reeling off seven straight vs. the top 10.

That's improvement any which way you slice it, and for Federer it must be doubly sweet, given that he had just recently dropped out of the top 3 for the first time in over eight years. Now, he's back, and today's thrilling cliffhanger vs. the hulking Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stands as yet another testament to that fact.

Still, there are skeptics who'll argue that Federer's re-emergence has been timed perfectly with a pull-back from his competition. It's no secret that both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal hit the wall somewhere between New York and London this season, and it's also no secret that Federer benefited from this.

But it only proves that Federer -- old "codger" that he is -- is finding ways to win in spite of the rousing improvements that Djokovic and Nadal have made to surpass him in recent years. This is what we find so endearing about Federer's recent ascent. He's still as silky as ever on the court, but his recent gains have been due to his maturity. Yes, the fatal forehand is still running full blast, and yes, the feathery touch is there too, but Federer's recent renaissance is more a product of another skill that is vastly underrated in tennis today: the ability to stay healthy.

It may sound simple, but it is not. The essence of Federer has always been his technique: the lightness afoot, the easy power and the ability to shorten points with volleys, flattened-out winners, or aces. Now -- whether by design or good fortune (I'm thinking design) Federer's essence is a big reason that he's able to keep breaking records, even on nights when his twins keep him up until 4 A.M.

It's uncanny. In a day and age where 25-year-olds have great difficulty playing consecutive tournaments, let alone making 30 consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinals, it seems that Federer doesn't age. Well, we know that he does, but his ability to preserve his body is, at least in the short term, making him appear ageless.

Today was no exception. Even after a scare from the bullying Frenchman, who can overpower anybody when he's hot, Federer stayed calm. Calmer, perhaps, than he has been all year. He won this tight three-setter like he's won so many Grand Slams in the past. By staying light on his feet, and by saving his best for last.

Now we are thinking that maybe his best has yet to come.

The Deuce Court: Is Nole's Season Diminished By London?

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Today The Deuce Court will discuss the merits of Novak Djokovic's 2011 season, even though it isn't technically over yet.

Deuce #1: So, How Good Was His Season?

Djokovic was as succinct as could be after losing in three sets to Janko Tipsarevic today, when asked about what was missing from his game in London by a member of the media: "Freshness," was his reply, and the word spoke volumes. Of course, in tennis, there are no excuses for losing. As a result, Djokovic will have to face the fact that his mind-bending 2011 season will forever be tainted in the eyes of those special few who decide which player had the "Best Season Ever," due to this lack of freshness. How much will it be tainted? Not much at all. But, enough to place him below John McEnroe in 1984 and Roger Federer in 2006, most likely.

Deuce #2: Not So Fast

Personally, I'm not so quick to write off Djokovic's accomplishments. Look, he was running on empty in London, and that has to be taken into account. But placing too much emphasis on two uninspired matches would be a mistake, especially given the sheer brilliance of Djokovic's Grand Slam season. Novak may tap out at 70 wins and 6 losses, leaving him with a decidedly lower winning percentage than McEnroe's 96 % or Federer's 95%, but can either Federer or McEnroe say that they disrupted the most legendary duopoly in the history of the sport during their critically acclaimed seasons?

There is an element of transformation to Djokovic's ascent that makes his season even more remarkable. Who could have predicted, before the year started, that we'd be looking at a sport with a Serbian No. 1, a player who had been cast off by so many as an underachiever, as one who'd never be able to overcome his physical limitations or the otherworldliness of Federer and Nadal?

Ad In: Fine, Have it Your Way

I'm not trying to argue that we should give Djokovic a pass for not finishing his season with a flourish. But I will argue that you should take into account the following things: 1) The sheer physicality of the game is astounding these days, so it's no surprise that Djokovic played some flat tennis in London (see Nadal, Murray...) and 2) the depth of the men's field is perhaps as strong as we've ever seen it. So, if you're going to dock Djokovic's 2011 body of work for his London letdown, you should also take into the account the very tangible reasons for the lack of "freshness" that he experienced (namely, that he played off-the-wall highly inspired tennis for 9 months).

Deuce #3: It's not quite over

As I write this, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych are warming up for the last round-robin tilt of the week. If Ferrer wins, Djokovic will face Federer in the semis. Will naysayers have a change of heart if Nole somehow rallies to take the title?

Ad Out: Summing it Up

Regardless of where Djokovic's season stands on the all-time list, it's pretty clear that the fact that we have been debating the merits of his season since early spring means that something UTTERLY AMAZING has been achieved by Djokovic in 2011. When you put everything into perspective and consider how far he had to climb, who he had to defeat and how often (6 finals over Nadal? Are you serious?) and what kind of style and verve he did it with (the match point miracle in New York? Are you serious?) you pretty much have to bow down and show respect, regardless of how his less-than-devastating performance in London might lead to criticism from the pundits.

Finally, when we think about how Djokovic's season stacks up, I think it's a good idea to realize that numbers, while telling, aren't the only way to measure a season. Can a 70-win season with six losses be as good as an 82-win season with three losses, or a 92-win season with five losses? Sure.

Now that so many are now secure in the notion that Djokovic's season, because of his performance in London, cannot be considered the best season ever, the precedent has been set. Djokovic's season, at least the way it will be perceived in the future, has dropped a notch.

I'm not so sure that's a proper thing, nor am I sure that it's warranted. I'm not a betting man, but if I was, I'd be betting that tennis doesn't see another season as remarkable as Djokovic's in the next 30 years, maybe more.

The Deuce Court: Rafa's Rambling Presser

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The Deuce Court tries to decipher the meaning of Rafa's post-match presser. Nadal only managed three games against his long-time rival Roger Federer in London today.

Deuce #1: Rafa's shoulder: Not Great

For those who were caught off guard by this talk of Rafa's shoulder bothering him, there were reports surfacing that Rafa was having difficulties with the shoulder as of ten days ago. To his credit, he said very little about the shoulder until he was pressed for the reason that he did not practice yesterday, at the end of the interview.

So what does it mean going forward? Hard to say. It seems like planet Rafa is destined to always have a wide range of nagging injuries orbiting around him. Right now it's the shoulder. With more matches to play in London, a huge Davis Cup final the following week, the primary concern has to be what kind of recovery work can he get done after Davis Cup and before Australia.

Deuce #2: Read between Rafa's lines

Throughout this presser Rafa paints a very bleak picture about his next few months. Not only is he hurting in London, he's also under immense pressure to perform in the Davis Cup final. So he might be hurting even more when it's over. As soon as Davis Cup ends the clock will start ticking to Australia. Talk about no rest for the weary.

Rafa isn't fuming mad, but I think it's clear to anybody watching this presser that he's fed up. There's so little time to rest and recover, and he seems desperate right now. For a player who relies heavily on being in almost freakish physical condition, this is a very big deal. Just like Federer has done over the last few years, Rafa will have to make very wise decisions regarding scheduling, maintaining fitness, etc...

Ad In: The problem with Rafa managing his schedule is that he likes to play himself into form. If he needs to skip events to stay healthy, how will he stay match tough?

Deuce #3: All this said, if Rafa can manage a win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Thursday he'll be in the semis. He could still win this thing.

Ad Out: The consolation? Next year will be slightly better.

Next year should be a little better, with the ATP lopping two weeks off the schedule, but what are they going to do about that Davis Cup Final date? Someday, as much as I'm loving late-November tennis, I hope the ATP can find a way to put their season to bed before November begins. It's just too taxing for the top guys right now, and it's becoming painfully obvious with the growing number of walking wounded (Fish, Murray, Nadal, Djokovic) in London.

ATP World Tour Finals: Federer, Nadal Set to Meet

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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will renew their storied rivalry next week in London, as the two were drawn into Group B alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Mardy Fish. Below are all the singles and doubles group pairings.

Federer is attempting to become the first player to win the event for a sixth time. The 2010 champ is currently tied with Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl, who have each won the title five times.

Nadal leads Federer in their head-to-head rivalry 17-8, and he won all three matches that the pair contested in 2011, losing only one of the eight sets they contested.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is seeking a second World Tour Finals title to top off one of the most successful seasons in ATP history. He will contest Group A, along with Andy Murray, David Ferrer and Tomas Berdych,

Play begins on Sunday, with 2 singles and 2 doubles matches taking place. Stay tuned for previews and analysis later in the week.

From Out of the Ashes, A Final to Die For

The valiant efforts of the world's top players during Davis Cup play over the weekend reminds us that the event is about more than just tennis.


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Pity on me, for I spent most of the Davis Cup weekend wondering why the heck Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic were subjecting themselves to the rigors of the Davis Cup semifinals when they should have been spending the week shuttling between the Hyperbaric chamber and the massage table. After the torturous final week of the US Open, I had convinced myself that the worst thing for the game -- and subsequently, the worst thing for the game's top two players -- would be to see these guys take the court for their countries less than a week after the US Open's Monday final.

In this age of brutally physical tennis, where players are considered over the hill at the age of 30 (well, not all of them, but most), I was worried that Djokovic and Nadal were taking on too much of a burden to play Davis Cup. This is how careers get shortened, I was thinking, already lamenting the day that each will declare themselves through with the game (when none of us are quite through with watching them play the game).

Even as it had to be therapeutic for Nadal to lead his fellow Spaniards to victory on home soil against France, I kept finding myself asking "Why the heck is he playing?" In the end, Rafa probably made the right decision to play. He did it for the fans and for his teammates, and down the road, he'll be remembered for acts like this where his humility and dedication to country take center stage right along with his otherwordly brand of clay court tennis.

But even after Nadal sealed Spain's 4-1 victory with an awe-inspiring thrashing of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, you could tell he wasn't happy that he had to do it with the fatigue of four matches in five days still weighing heavily on his bones. Such is the quandary that Davis Cup presents.

To play or not to play? To care or not to care? To sacrifice the body or preserve it?

Given that the event can be such a momentum-grower, it was hard for me to understand why the Spanish team didn't try to grow some momentum for some of their players who need it the most. Why not give Fernando Verdasco a chance to get the inspiring win he so badly needs at the moment? (Verdasco did beat Gasquet in a meaningless dead rubber to close the festivities.) We're talking about a wonderfully talented Spanish team that is built not just on one man after all.

I know in hindsight Rafa's triumph was what the fans wanted, what the team wanted (it sets up a mouth watering final vs. Argentina in December) and maybe even what Rafa wanted, but it would have been nice if someone else had been given a shot to shine. Especially since Rafa could have used the rest, and his comrades could have used the confidence that might have come if they had beaten the French without him.

In Belgrade, Serbia suffered exactly what Spain avoided. Novak Djokovic was sent to the court running on fumes, and he paid dearly for it when he faced an inspired Juan Martin del Potro. Djokovic's retirement gave Argentina the victory, and it puts the Argentines in position to win their first Davis Cup title in Spain in December.

The decision to send an already injured and energy-depleted Djokovic on court against Del Potro was a head-scratcher for sure. The pressure to put Nole out there on the final day must have been great -- and coming from everywhere. Still, the man had a torn rib muscle -- why run the risk of doing serious damage to it?

Here's a better question: Why ask why?

In the end, Djokovic and Nadal's valiant efforts, regardless of the outcome, shines a light on Davis Cup and points to it's uniqueness and validity as an event. The event has been much maligned due to its inconvenient placement on the tennis calendar, but regardless of its knack for bad timing, or its relatively meager compensation levels, the event is major source of pride for for all who partake.

The fact that Nadal and Djokovic were willing to lay their bodies on the line for their countries this weekend -- as much as it pained us to watch -- has once again opened my eyes to the allure of Davis Cup. It's about tennis, but also it's about something bigger. In the end, I realized that I have no business questioning Serbia's move to play Novak Djokovic on Sunday, even though he was only at 60%. They wanted the win, and they were prepared to risk it all to get it. Who can fault them for that?

Additionally, the Davis Cup finally got a dose of the starpower it has been yearning for so badly, with Federer showing up in Australia and Andy Murray getting busy against Hungary.

All things considered, it was a fantastic weekend for Davis Cup, in which the true spirit of the event came through. My initial reaction was to reject it, but in the end, it won me over. With Argentina set to clash with Spain in the final in December, the tennis cognoscenti are already wondering if a bit of Davis Cup glory might do for Juan Martin del Potro what many believe it did for Novak Djokovic after Serbia's victory in 2010.

In a sport that is highly individualistic, we owe it to Davis Cup for providing a platform for fans to see the world's top players in another element. Even when things go horribly wrong, like they did for Novak Djokovic and Serbia in Belgrade, we learn something new about the character of the players in the process.

I can't complain about that at all.

Big Four Beware, Delpo Loves New York

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When it comes to being the defending US Open champion, Rafael Nadal has company, and some pretty good company at that. Juan Martin Del Potro moved into the second round on Wednesday when he won his eighth consecutive match at the US Open, pounding 18 aces against Filippo Volandri in a 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 drubbing.

The 2009 champion, currently seeded No. 18, would like nothing better than to conjure the spirit of his lone Grand Slam title, in a place that will forever be a source of inspiration to him. But he knows it's not that simple. He still considers himself a work in progress and refuses to acknowledge that he is a serious threat in New York.

The 6'6" Argentine has been plagued by nagging injuries this year, and there is doubt as to whether Del Potro's massive frame has been built to withstand the physicality of today's tennis. Still, he's 22, on the mend, and he's back in the top 20. Plus, he absolutely loves New York: he swears allegiance to his loyal Argentine followers, which is code for he will be playing with a chip on his shoulder.

The problem is, Del Potro still doesn't feel like his game is where it needs to be. He stated that clearly in today's presser (see above), and it makes you wonder: It's been 15 months since wrist surgery...what's missing, and why?

Most who watch Del Potro are convinced that nothing is missing that time won't heal. They're buoyed by the steady progress that has occurred in his game and results—he's gone one round further at all three Grand Slams he's played since returning—and they expect him to return to the top 5 in 2012, maybe higher.

Tepid summer notwithstanding (believer speak: calm before the storm), things have been moving forward nicely for Del Potro in 2011. Now that he's in New York for the first time since he crushed his way to the 2009 title, it could be time for the Tower of Tandil to reach a new high for the season.

The motivation will certainly be there. Del Potro has openly spoken of the fact that he feels like he's defending his title here. In his mind, this is his tournament, his surface, his people in the stands, and he's letting hit inspire him.

It's early, and the tall Argentine hasn't had the best summer in the states (lost to Gulbis, Cilic and Fed in straight sets before the semis in the last three events), but his form today was saying 'it's in the past, I'm ready now.'

Maybe he can be a legitimate dark horse?

Maybe a quarterfinal match with Andy Murray is looming?

Maybe he can stay healthy?

There are  lot of maybes with Del Potro, I'll give you that.

But maybe New York will be the place where he puts it all together again.

Grass Seeds: 10 thoughts on the Men's Quarters

The Nadal camp breathed a sigh of relief when Rafael Nadal's left foot didn't give him any problems today against Mardy Fish.

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Speaking of Rafa... If that was a guy with a foot problem out there on Court 1 against Mardy Fish today, then he's the best player with a bad foot of all-time. That would make him, in my humble opinion, the official GPWABFOAT. Not quite as sweet as being the GOAT, but I'm pretty confident that Rafa doesn't care either way. Babolat may go to the trouble of customizing Rafa's racquet bag with commemoration of his 10 previous Grand Slam titles, but in spite of all his achievements, Rafa appears only to think of one thing: what to do about smashing that yellow Slazenger that is fast approaching him. And you know what? He always seems to have the most splendid ideas about that. If only we all could be that decisive and that focused at our jobs. That's 19 consecutive Wimbedon wins for Nadal, and while he seemed a tad perturbed by his own inconsistency at times today, this is an athlete who is clearly relishing the chance to defend his Wimbledon title.

Andy Murray was understated in his post-match celebration after defeating Feliciano Lopez in the men's quarter-finals on Wednesday. He was calm, almost stoic. Could this be the look of a man who knows that every ounce of his energy now needs to be saved for the monumental task of unseating Rafael Nadal at the Wimbledon throne? Whatever the reason, Murray appears to be a player who expects to win at Wimbledon; those expectations will be put to the test on Friday, when he meets the man who bounced him from the draw in 2010.

Let's not forget the women. There are two delicious semi-finals slated for tomorrow: Kvitova-Azarenka and Sharapova-Lisicki. It seems that dudes like me (curmudgeonly tennis writers) have to defend the WTA every few weeks, so here goes again: The women have more than carried their weight during the fortnight, with Venus Williams-Date Krumm, Lisicki-Li, and Serena Williams-Bartoli being three of the most compelling matches of the entire tournament thus far, men or women. Add to that the Williams Sisters exciting return, Lisicki's rise from wildcard to phenom, the untapped potential in the already imposing 21-year-old Petra Kvitova, and you're way ahead of the power curve.

Toss in the Juxtaposition of the allure and tenacity of Maria Sharapova, and now you've got enough footage to make a blockbuster movie with several sequels.

I love Wimbledon's Centre Court roof, but I was overjoyed to see it was sunny today at Wimbledon, because it allowed me to enjoy one of my favorite tennis aesthetics: Telling time by the gentle encroachment of shadows on Centre Court. When they drift diagonally across the grass, you know the last match is almost over and you begin to wish that time would stop. It is Simply divine.

The Bryan brothers gutted out an epic victory today, 16-14 in the 5th set vs. Simon Aspelin and Paul Hanley. With Mardy Fish bowing out vs. Nadal in the quarters, can we please turn our collective eyes to the beauty and spontanaiety of the doubles game in America? Note to the networks: some live shots of the upcoming Bryan Brothers vs. defending champs Petzschner-Melzer might be a fine way to show the tennis freaks of the world that you care about us. If you can do it without a tape delay, all the better.

Betting houses currently have Rafa as the clear favorite to take the men's title. $100 will only net you $125 for a Rafa bet. That same $100 will net you $220 for Djokovic, $350 for Murray, and $650 for Tsonga.

Sabine Lisicki is the heavy underdog of the four women's semifinalists. Why do I feel that she's going to win it all?

See you soon, Bernard? So, is the youngest male Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 25 years going to drift back into relative obscurity like Alexandr Dolgopolov did after his first Slam quarter-final appearance? I certainly hope not.

Tsonga is 5-2 vs. Djokovic head-to-head. We've all heard about how great Djokovic's return is in 2011, but will he have an answer for the nastiness of Tsonga's service offerings?