Federer vs. Nadal and WTA Finals Conclude Big Week of Winners and Losers
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal played a competitive thriller for the Swiss Indoors Basel, while Singapore hosted plenty of drama for the WTA finals. It might have been the most intriguing October week of tennis in several years for tennis fans, especially in Switzerland.
The WTA finals were so spectacular it seemed that there were no losers, but one star certainly has to be disappointed, while another one packs her bags for a retirement that feels all too sudden. In the end, one resilient star dusted off the playbook to her best tennis on the way to her surprising championship.
Our weekly winners and losers column zeroes in on the Swiss treat and the Singapore special, but we also take a quick look at subplots for the ATP Race to London and American tennis.
Loser: Richard Gasquet
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It turns out that the Swiss Basel Indoors finalized the ATP's Race to London.
Richard Gasquet could not keep his hopes alive for London's WTF finals, while David Ferrer was absent from the Valencia Open. Gasquet, playing in the semifinals, faced the Herculean task of needing to defeat Rafael Nadal and win a Sunday final against Roger Federer. Think of the headaches he’s had over the last decade trying to win anything from either player. He’s 2-15 against Federer and now 0-14 against Nadal.
Had he pulled off this miracle, it would have still been unlikely he could win the Paris Masters and have David Ferrer collapse. So Gasquet’s loss to Nadal this week finished him from November’s prestigious year-end WTF final. There will also be no Jo-Wilfried Tsonga nor Marin Cilic. For them, the dream dies and the drama for the elite eight is officially over.
The eight for London will be Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Nadal, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori.
But there is one hope left for Gasquet. He is first in line as the alternate in case one of the eight is injured, or in case Murray decides to withdraw and tune up for his country’s Davis Cup final on red clay. So the Frenchman should still be motivated to finish ninth.
Winner: Maria Sharapova
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Until Agnieszka Radwanska earned the story of the week, Maria Sharapova nearly pulled off the comeback of the year. The longtime superstar, having missed almost everything since Wimbledon, roared back to threaten for the WTA's year-end championship.
She swept the red group and looked to be the co-favorite with white group winner Garbine Muguruza, until both players were upset by Petra Kvitova and Radwanska, respectively.
Still, Sharapova proved her competitive fire once again and reminded the tennis world that she is one of those special, rare competitors who will throw herself into every point with uncompromising power and ferocity from the baseline.
Win or lose, Sharapova brings a level of professionalism and championship mettle that really must be appreciated after more than a decade of toil and nagging injuries. She very well could be back to win another major or two in the future, and most of all it will be great for tennis fans to see her in the mix.
Loser: American Tennis
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The battle for the best American was held in Switzerland.
The winner: Jack Sock. The 23-year-old has good power on his serve and forehand, and the past year has seen him become a force in doubles, while he has steadily risen up to his current No. 24 singles ranking.
He defeated a trio of Americans on his way to the semifinals, including Denis Kudla, John Isner and Donald Young. Isner at No. 13 is the only American ranked ahead of Sock, but that could change if Sock continues to rise in 2016.
So what did Sock get for this all-American success? He was pasted 6-3, 6-4 by Swiss legend Roger Federer. So, no, we cannot award Sock with a winner’s label this week. If America’s best is Sock or Isner, there will not be an American major winner unless Taylor Fritz or other teenage prospects come of age.
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Winner: Roger Federer
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There was evident relief on Roger Federer’s face when Rafael Nadal’s final ball was stroked beyond the baseline. He clinched the Swiss Indoors Basel final 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 over his career nemesis, and most importantly he defended his home turf on a surface that completely favors his game over his Spanish rival.
How much pressure was there on Federer? For the most part he dictated play, but he was also pushed off the net at times, and he was tighter and more hesitant as Nadal clawed back in the second set. His kicker serve gave Nadal a few frame shots, and his footwork once again helped him hit some key highlight shots.
Ultimately, Federer’s been at a higher level than Nadal in 2015, and he had enough to pull through in the match’s final two games. That was the difference.
Federer moves to 5-1 against Nadal on indoor hard courts, and he picks up his 11th career victory against 23 defeats in their head-to-head encounters. For some reason, all of this feels more important than the fact that he won his 88th career title and seventh at hometown Basel.
On to Paris and then London’s WTF finals, where Federer should be feeling like he has the confidence and skills to take care of Nadal in these conditions.
Loser: Rafael Nadal
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Rafael Nadal’s fans might argue that he was a “winner” this week. After all, he survived several three-setters, including fine wins over Cilic and Gasquet, until falling to rival Federer in Basel’s championship match. All this on indoors courts where the speedier conditions take the grueling, high-hopping edge away from the King of Clay.
But losing to Federer anytime, anywhere is still a loss for Nadal. It’s another immortal mark that will forever be cited when the two eventually hang up their rackets, and it was a lost opportunity for Nadal to feel VERY GOOD about himself as the year winds down. This is a win and title that could have galvanized him, given him the belief that he can be the best player on any planet that does not include Novak Djokovic.
Instead, he must look for moral victories or point to more “progress.” It was a good match, but not a clean one for Nadal, who would love to have back a few critical decisions, like hitting some passing shots right at Federer.
It was nice to see the two titans finally play each other after about 21 months, and we can only hope for a few more, bigger titles to be at stake. How about an Australian Open encore of 2009? It’s far too early to hope for something like that, and unless Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and others decide to pull up folding chairs rather than compete, it’s a long shot that these two hook up for a major final once again.
Winner: Agnieszka Radwanska
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All but dismissed as a contender before Wimbledon, Agnieszka Radwanska began her comeback losing to Garbine Muguruza in the semifinals. At least she proved she could battle with her assortment of shots, even if players like Muguruza have usually overpowered her when it mattered most.
The road was not easy in the months that followed as Radwanska needed a late charge and important match wins just to make the WTA year-end final reserved for the top eight players.
So it was fitting that Radwanska made several mini-comebacks in the past week after dropping her first two matches at Singapore’s WTA finals. She defeated Simona Halep and got help from Sharapova’s victory to get her the red group’s No. 2 seed.
Most impressive, she battled back after losing the first set in her semifinal against the favored Muguruza, who had tormented her with four prior victories this year. Radwanska was a magician with her shot-making, time and again pulling the string on soft-angle drops or precision groundstrokes. It was the throwback kind of touch and guile that took the breath away from tennis fans. She showed what she could be when operating with near perfection.
Her final victory over the powerful Petra Kvitova was another clinic. Radwanska hit 15 winners, which is typical of her game, but had only five unforced errors. She refused to beat herself, but most importantly she put pressure on Kvitova’s more powerful, high-risk game. Her 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory was well-deserved and also the biggest title she’s earned.
Can Radwanska play this well again in big matches when nothing less than spectacular control and defense will be needed? She showed she could win a couple of big matches, but it will be more difficult for her to string together a major and be a No. 1-ranked player.
For now, she will be all smiles heading into a confident 2016.
Loser: Simona Halep
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While Radwanska was holding up her big year-end trophy, Simona Halep had been eliminated for a few days. There are striking parallels between these two players. Rather than harp on the disappointments surrounding the favored Halep’s two losses in the round robins and failure to reach the semifinals, Halep is the player who can most take heart with Radwanska’s championship.
Both players have held the No. 2 ranking, and each player lost her one major final appearance.
Both players must overcome their lack of height and power by compensating with their scrappy and swift footwork and excellent shot-making.
There was a sense that Radwanska might have already peaked at Wimbledon 2012, just as it might be fair to ask if Halep has already peaked with her French Open final in 2014.
There will always be more powerful players than Halep and Radwanska, but their unique gifts always give them a chance when they put together their perfect games.
There’s a solid chance that either player or both could win a major in 2016.
Winner: WTA Year-End Finals
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What a terrific week! Although No. 1 Serena Williams did not play, the other stars put on a spectacular, well-balanced series of matches that did not lack for drama, shot-making and great tennis.
There was Sharapova leading the way with her comeback into the elite, serving out a lesson on competitive fire.
Flavia Pennetta played her last match and can go out as the U.S. Open champion. It's a great career reward for her to compete at the WTA finals and to get a round-robin victory over eventual champion Radwanska. It was that close between all the players.
In fact, everyone came away with at least one victory, even Halep, who could be dubbed the biggest disappointment given that she is the No. 2 player in the world.
The group winners were not decided until the last possible days, and even when the semifinals produced two dominant 3-0 champions with Sharapova and Muguruza, they were the two bounced away from the final.
Who does not feel good to see Radwanska win with tactical tennis, a beautiful array of shots and a great deal of resilience?
An absolutely mesmerizing week with the top women, and although Serena was missed, everyone else picked it up and showed that the WTA is a competitive and talented field, especially with many other young up-and-coming stars who are sure to make an impact in 2016.
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