THE WORKS Roger Federer: going for his Sport 14th grand- by Richard Becht slam title. Chasing the record Can the Fed Express still deliver? oger Federer used to know more were there for all to see both before his due when he finished, that many in the about winning than just about 2008 US Open win and since. sports world weren’t always so fulsome in R anyone on the globe. Indeed, through much of last year the their acknowledgement of him. For four-and-a-half years – 237 weeks, Fed Express started to wobble and he’s Since Sampras departed, Federer has to be precise – he was ranked the tennis still wobbling, battling more than a little regularly been handed the “best-ever” world’s No 1 men’s singles player. If he to stay on the tracks, another victim of label, but wondrous though he is, true had challenges playing on clay – always that rare ability sport has for brutally greatness can’t be bestowed until he had, always will – he was close to invinci- exposing and scrutinising even the best not only matches but beats Sampras’ 14 ble on every other surface and markedly of the best. grand slams. superior to the next best in line. If that has been sad to watch, it has also Just as Federer usurped Sampras, so There never seemed any doubt he been inevitable. Combine sport’s foibles Nadal has done to Federer. It’s the way it would some day own every record of sub- and Father Time – not to mention a feisty so often works. stance, above all toppling Pete Sampras’ challenger in Rafael Nadal – and something In that respect, 2008 was a transition count of 14 grand-slam titles. will give. The fact is Federer will count 28 time as Federer failed to even reach the But now, with this year’s second grand- candles on his birthday cake on August 8, Australian Open final (breaking a run of slam tournament, the French Open, which puts him close to superannuation 10 consecutive grand-slam final appear- about to start (May 24), it’s reasonable class in professional tennis terms. ances) before twice losing in the final to ask whether Federer will indeed win Witness an exceptional performer in to Nadal at the French Open and Wim- again at the highest level. Sampras. He began to splutter around the bledon. The first was expected but the Considering he secured his 13th grand same age but reasserted himself to pick up second was far more poignant as Feder- slam as recently as last September – the the 14th of his grand slams as a 31-year- er’s dominance on grass was ended by the US Open – it seems preposterous to even old at the 2002 US Open. baseline-slugging Nadal. consider such a predicament. Yet while That comparison reinforces what a Since last year’s US Open triumph, it’s premature to speak of a total eclipse, genius Sampras was; there’s a gnawing Federer has won just one ATP Tour title – he has been in gradual decline; the signs suspicion that he wasn’t always given his the Swiss Indoors – and this year has been a constant struggle so far, his glorious and tearful defeat – by Nadal, naturally – in Singles champions at the last 10 the Australian Open final rather defining French Open tournaments where he is at. The red clay at Roland Garros is Year Men’s Singles Women’s Singles 1999 Andre Agassi (US) Steffi Graf (Germany) no place to expect any sort of 2000 Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) Mary Pierce (France) recovery. 2001 Gustavo Kuerten (Brazil) Jennifer Capriati (US) His one hope of salvation is 2002 Albert Costa (Spain) Serena Williams (US) Wimbledon a few weeks later. 2003 Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spain) Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) Sentimentalists would relish 2004 Gaston Gaudio (Argentina) Anastasia Myskina (Russia) even a brief resurgence, but 2005 Rafael Nadal (Spain) Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) it’s sadly true that this spe- 2006 Rafael Nadal (Spain) Justine Henin-Hardenne (Belgium) cial player will need to find 2007 Rafael Nadal (Spain) Justine Henin (Belgium) extraordinary reserves to 2008 Rafael Nadal (Spain) Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) rediscover his grand slam- Rafael Nadal GETTY IMAGES, AFP GETTY IMAGES, winning ways. z 50 LISTENER MAY 23 2009.