Creature vs. Creature: Why Roger Federer Is Simply the Best

Please read Rob York's response here.

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Introduction

Friday.  Men’s semifinals.  Wimbledon 2009.  Roger Federer vs. Tommy Haas.  Simple, straightforward.  No rose-colored glasses, no muss, no fuss, and no bother.  This is a duel to the finish without systemic romantic overtones.

In sports we love to witness the triumph of the underdog.  Sports legends are built on those times when the poor and downtrodden rise up and defeat the giant, the ogre, the bully in green pants or the New York Yankees...or USC!

In real life, it just does not happen that way.  It is mainly in Hollywood where such heroics fill our hearts and cause us to weep uncontrollably.

In real life Roger Federer is not a bully or an ogre.  Nor is Tommy Haas a downtrodden weakling.  He is, in fact, a very handsome, aggressive, talented 31-year-old tennis player ranked No. 35 in the world and seeded No. 24 at Wimbledon.

Tommy is playing the best tennis of his career and ultimately on court for his last hurrah—for his final moment in the sun—for the crowning achievement of his tennis career.

Roger Federer is playing for tennis history, for one more glorious moment to add to an already illustrious career that may anoint him the greatest man ever to play the game of tennis.

Both are worthy but only the winner moves on to the finals and the loser goes home wondering what might have been...

Roger Federer

Is there anything left to say about Roger Federer that has not been said?  We all keep trying to come up with new phrases and new superlatives; but, face it.  No one in tennis history has received as much press as the delightful Mr. Federer.

What has distinguished Roger’s play so far in this tournament has been his own serve.  He has used this weapon in impressive fashion. 

John McEnroe commented on Wednesday that everyone felt it strange back during hard court season when Roger’s famed forehand seemed to be misfiring that Roger commented he needed to work on his serve.

No one is questioning Roger’s insight now.

In fact, he has lost just one set, to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round and Roger was up two sets to love when he lost it; so it hardly mattered.  He cannot, however, afford any lapses in concentration from this point forward. 

We all rather suspect that will not happen because Federer knows how to win and this is probably his biggest asset in this match. The man knows what winning takes and he is ready to bring all the forces to bear to achieve victory.

On Wednesday, predictably, he took down big-serving Ivo Karlovic, who hadn't been broken in his earlier four Wimbledon matches. But in nine previous matches against Federer, and eight losses, he'd broken Federer's serve only once. He didn't have a break point Wednesday in a 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (3) defeat.

Will Win If

Roger is playing his best tennis right now.  His serving is exceptional.  He is returning well and his forehand has reappeared as a magnificent weapon.  His movement is exemplary as he slides into position often anticipating his opponent’s next stroke.

Grass, most agree, is Federer’s best surface because all elements of his arsenal meld into one glorious game on the green lawns.  The ingredients all seem to work in perfect harmony here on Centre Court.

In face to face competition, Federer leads Haas 9-2. However, three of their matches, all in majors, went five sets, including the French Open round of 16 where Haas lost a month ago.

Most of the matches have been close. But Haas hasn't beaten Federer since the Aussie Open of 2002. That amounts to very ancient history.  We don’t expect this outcome to differ—close but no cigar!

Will Lose if

Roger must serve and return well.  He must keep his concentration and be ready to pass Haas who loves to serve and volley.  Haas has considerable skills that have brought him this far. Tommy did reach No. 2 in the world in 2002.  But then he was struck with an avalanche of injuries.

Most summoned fairly short interruptions, but then there were two shoulder surgeries in 2004 and one more in 2007. Everyone agrees that the talent has always been there and Haas has some weapons that could conceivably disrupt even upset Federer.

Roger acknowledges that Haas has one of the best backhands in the game. If by chance Tommy worked himself into a lot of backhand-to-backhand rallies with Federer on Friday, he's got a chance.  So the press prints...

But one never knows when Haas is going away—when his hold on the match goes up in flames like his fiery temper.  He's twice given walkovers to Federer.

The odds makers are going with Federer—but they predict a tight contest.  They point out that Haas has only won 51.78 percent of the points he has played thus far at Wimbledon and that isn’t enough to beat the likes of Federer. 

Who are we to disagree?