Roger Federer out to Prove Best Tennis Is Still in Front of Him

Roger Federer faded after a fine start against Rafael Nadal. According to the man himself, that is not a sign of things to come. 

You can take all your talk about Federer being over the hill and stuff it. Forget about the notion that his Grand Slam-winning days are over. 

The Swiss maestro would like you all to know that there is tons left in the gas tank. Federer spoke with reporters after yet another epic chapter in the ongoing saga that is his rivalry with Rafa Nadal. 

Federer may have dropped a marathon match, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, but he is optimistic about his future in the sport, and he has every right to be. He was asked if he will return to the Aussie, and how often that might be. Via The Herald Sun:

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"How many times? I hope often. Yes, I do. It's not that bad. Don't feel too sorry for me. I haven't lost in five months or something."

"Obviously I would have loved to have come through and gotten a chance at winning the title here again. But then again, (what is) important is the reaction from here."

"Where do I go from here? You know, start planning other trips. Start planning the preparations and have a good reaction like I showed after the US Open."

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It must get fairly frustrating when the hot story is how you are washed up and have no more Grand Slams left in your career. 

In fact, it's any wonder that Federer wasn't far more gruff in his response. This is a man that hadn't lost a match since the US Open. 

Nadal put it best after the match (via Herald Sun):

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"He was a little bit unlucky in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, a little bit in the semis of the US Open. He had his chances (against me) too. Anything can happen there. I won."

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That may be a bit too kind from Nadal, whose tenacity was as much a part of his win as Federer's misfortune. 

There is something to the hope that Federer still has at least one Grand Slam in him. He dominated the fall and was primed to do so again in Melbourne. 

Some of the backhands we saw from the Swiss master were the best we had seen in his career. His form prior to Nadal was uncanny and classic Federer. 

The last few months, he has played some amazing tennis, and that doesn't end with one loss to a foe that has had his number for years. He can still find fortuitous fortunes in the next wave of Grand Slams. 

It's easy to forget that he is the No. 3 player in the world for a reason, and that's because he is still very much elite. 

The confidence remains, and so does the form. That is why Grand Slam glory is in Federer's future. 

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