Is Roger Federer’s Reign Over

Posted on 24th July 2008 by Ben

King Roger

For those of you that don’t know or just don’t care, Roger Federer is one of the greatest tennis players of all time. The reason I say he is not the greatest is because he still has yet to break Sampras’s record of 14 majors. Roger has amassed a dedicated fan base that respects the Swiss star for his humble off court and tenacious on court personality. This guy is a winner. He is the Tiger Woods of golf but garners about half the respect.

Roger has won 12 majors in 5 years, that is a remarkable achievement. He has won at least one major every year for the last 5 but this year may be the first to end without a win since Wimbledon 2003. The one title to elude him has been the French Open, losing in the finals the last three consecutive years to his nemesis, Rafael Nadal. Rafa, as he is known to the tennis world, is a tennis anomaly. The guy looks like an Inca warrior and has the stamina of a bull. His unyielding demeanor and smash mouth tennis make him an unstoppable force, especially to Roger.

Federer had no trouble dismantling Rafa’s clay court game at the past two Wimbledon finals, however, this year was a different story. The five set epic match at this years final proved that Federer doesn’t have what it takes anymore. He is lacking something, it just seems that he isn’t playing with enough heart. It seems that Rafa wants it more, he is driven by the achievement not by the respect. Roger is starting to falter because the guy finally has some critics; he is trying too hard to reinstate his reign over the ATP.

Currently there is a Master Series tournament in Toronto. Roger is a two time winner there and also a runner up. In his second round match yesterday he was upset by the Frenchman Giles Simon. After the match Federer said, “It’s not the end of the world, but I wish I could have started better,” … “I like this event, and I’ve done well here. I’ve got to regroup and look forward to the Olympics and the US Open. This is really where I want to win. I have to make sure that I’m ready to.”

The thing about Roger is that even after an embarrasing second round elimination, he still remains positive and never loses faith in himself; which is why so many people think he still is the King because if he wants it bad enough he will get it. When it comes to Roger you can never count him out, no matter if he loses 30 straight first round matches, the guy just knows how to find himself and play amazing tennis. Hopefully he will unearth the yearning and win gold in China and take down the U.S Open.

Come on Rogie!!!