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He experienced the greatest moment of his career five months ago in this place. Just a few blocks away.
Well not exactly , but almost...
How much happiness he had felt in that unforgettable summer here.
Alas, there was to be no joy today. Chilly winter had indeed arrived...
The world's best tennis player, Roger Federer, who was looking for a unique "Paris double" in the BNP Paribas Masters 1000, endured perhaps his most embarrassing loss of the year.
Coming into the second round clash as the hands-down favourite to go through, the Swiss suffered a surprise 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 defeat to the unseeded Frenchman and local favourite Julien Benneteau on Wednesday evening, in the final Masters Event of the calender year—the only one where he has failed to reach at least the final.
His exit capped off a dramatic and erratic day of top flight tennis in the event, with World No. 2 Rafael Nadal, saving five match points in the second set and cashing in on his opponents poor 'head' to progress in three exhausting sets in the bottom half of the draw.
It was a patchy showing from Federer—one littered with meek mistakes, shoddy shanks, and appalling judgmental errors.
After rolling through the first set in the typical Federer fashion (read six games to three), he looked set for a comfortable win.
And then, he broke down. Benneteau broke him down. Without facing much resistance.
Finding no rhythm from the baseline and apparently showing no real fight on the outside, Federer simply threw it away.
After failing to covert the break opportunities in the sixth game of the third set, Federer ended the match in fitting fashion. With a wrong challenge (Oh! Not Again Rog) !
In short, a totally torrid day in the office for the Swiss Mister.
Even as he made a (not so unusual anymore) high number of unforced errors to self destruct, his unheralded opponent was cheered on vociferously by the home crowd.
Federer hasn't reason to grudge the Parisian crowd though.
It is hard to think that he will ever forget the adoration they had bestowed on him during the French Open this year, when they had literally carried him through the toughest of moments of the tournament.
They had wanted him to win that fortnight. More than anyone else. More than even one of their own.
Today, they did not.
"He played incredible at the end. Julien went out and got the victory," said Federer after the shock defeat.
"I definitely had chances. I missed them. I feel fine physically, and mentally I was fresh to do really well here."
One cannot help but honestly wonder how fresh and fine he really is.
Nevertheless, it was a resilient performance from the Frenchman, who fell down on his knees in tears as the final service winner gave him the victory of his life.
"It's magic. It’s fabulous. Everything you can imagine. The memories will stay with me forever," Benneteau said.
Savour the moment Julien. Even as this loss had more to do with Federer, you deserved the match yesterday. Far more than your celebrated adversary.
The 15-time Grand Slam Champion says he will not be too down after this loss.
But even he cannot ignore the bigger picture—the fact that he has voluntarily provided that chink in the door for Rafael Nadal to regain the year-end World No. 1 ranking in the Tour Finals a fortnight from now.
Expect Nadal to fight like a manic, folks.
If this form trails him to the O2 Arena come November the 22nd, then maybe Roger will start getting concerned.
A little bit.
Well, at least as much as a man who has the most number of Grand Slams in history, has completed the package and has fathered two beautiful twin kids can, that is.
Come to think of it, what motivates him now?
The Grand Slams, as usual should. But nothing else matters? We cant say for certain...
One thing we know for sure. For this one day of madness from the World No. 1, the tenacious Rafa can make him pay. Dearly.
PS: Lindt may taste good, but the chocolate polo definitely isn't going well with Roger. Bring on the Blue for London.
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