Roger Federer is still in a slump, not a grand slam slump, but a slump nevetheless. This slump has to do with three set matches. For some reason, the "Great One" can't find a way to win these matches against decent competition.

He recently collapsed again in the third set of the Madrid semi-finals against US Open finalist Andy Murray. I have no doubt that if this was a Grand Slam and a five set match, the result would have been slightly different. Federer needs more than a Master series nowadays to propel him into the edge of his abilities. Three sets, it seems, isn't enough.

Tennis is a strange game. Mental freedom has a lot of affect on a person's shotmaking ability. With five set matches, it seems as if Federer feels he has all the time in the world to win a match. This is evidenced in his Grand Slam performances. However, without this freedom, he often cramps out and loses to a younger opponent.

Federer has yet to win a Masters this season. I don't know if he considers this a major black spot on his productivity this year, but it has to be surely puzzling or frustrating. We will never know whether his skills have truly eroded until he really starts to flop in Grand Slams.

Right now, we can only assume that his motivation level only simmers in non Grand Slam competition. But, imagine that the Wimbledon finals were only three sets. The score would have read Nadal 6-4, 6-4 and we would have been deprived.

Men's tennis needs to be out of five sets; that is the true test of a champion tennis player. Three set matches are like an abridged novel, okay, but not always enthralling.

For now, I can only consider Federer a great five set match player. His performance in three-set matches leaves more than a little doubt in this writer's mind.

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