Roger Federer's Strange Days...

What a year—2008 was singular in its drama and painful in its resolution as the year bore on like an awl through metal, scraping nerves raw and torturing psyches unendingly in anticipation of the next bitter blow to be dealt the chosen one...Roger Federer...or so it seemed to Federer fans.

You can bet that every tennis pundit worth his or her salt is pacing unmercifully, measuring, trying to identify that final piece of the puzzle—the one unique, sharply articulated and perfectly angled piece detailing 2008’s biggest story of the year in men’s tennis...

Subtle shades of interpretation need assimilation into your argument when it comes to presenting your particular point of view—that is, if you wish to convince people that your opinion—and yours alone—is spot on.

The year began with an explosion of the unexpected in Aussie land and as reporters descended we must consider—what was more stunning—Novak Djokovic winning the Australian Open or Roger Federer not winning it? Subtle shades of difference abound depending where you stand and how you interpret the results.

There were many, many firsts this year that received heavy press coverage including Andy Murray’s first round dismissal of Roger Federer in Dubai...the real beginning of Roger’s strange days...

Take that one step further down the calendar and consider the 2008 French Open Final—what was more significant, Rafael Nadal winning the French Open for the fourth consecutive time or Roger Federer losing it in straight sets with barely a whimper of resistance?  

It was a stunner from all aspects. In fact many articulate sportscasters were left speechless—at a loss to explain the strange final.

The piece de resistance could very well be the regal restructure that culminated at Wimbledon—what was more astonishing – Rafael Nadal winning his first major NOT on clay or Roger Federer losing on the sacred grounds of Wimbledon as he tried to capture his sixth consecutive crown and overtake the Iceman, Bjorn Borg?

It gets progressively more difficult to decide which focus and what event merits that ultimate designation as best of the year.

As we move forward, we cannot overlook the 2008 Summer Olympics—the grand stage for all major athletic competition on display in Beijing.   

What event captured the headlines and the imagination of athletes and fans alike—Rafael Nadal winning the Olympic Gold in singles or Roger Federer and fellow countryman Stanislav Wawrinka coming back from defeat in singles to win the Gold Medal in doubles for Switzerland?

The unrestrained joy of the Swiss duo seemed to reign supreme but Nadal fans felt equally blessed and equally vindicated by his win.

On to the US Open and New York—what was more remarkable—that Roger Federer captured his fifth consecutive U.S. Open Championship in New York by defeating Andy Murray in straight sets or that Andy Murray made it to his first grand slam final? 

Overall, what struck the press as more significant—the fact that Roger Federer did not win a Master’s Series Shield in 2008—the first time since 2003 he has not won at least one or that Rafael Nadal won three—as did Novak Djokovic, including the year-end championship with Murray winning two and Nikolay Davydenko and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga each winning one.

This is a fait accompli—the young guys are no longer content watching from the play pen as the big guy demonstrates his special brand of ball...they want in on the action and they plan to win. 

Patently obvious in this litany of high points during the 2008 season—is the constant presence of Roger Federer...no matter what story you select, he remains solidly a part of it.

Finally, we arrive at the particular point in time where the season was defined. What made reporters scramble to their laptops faster—to announce to the world that after 237 weeks at No. 1, Roger Federer lost his vaunted top ranking?  Or that after three years of chasing it, Rafael Nadal finally achieved the number one spot?

The No. 1 story is this seismic shift at the top of the men’s tennis as Federer’s game faltered and failed at inopportune times—staggering the mighty man and his legion of fans.  His detractors are loath to revisit the illness that plagued him all year...but it remains a factor—a piece of the puzzle. 

The rise of Nadal is extraordinary because he overcame Federer to get to the top. 

Federer never had to mount such a campaign or wrestle such an opponent to reach the apex of the men’s game. Nadal fought Federer, for many the best to ever play the game, for three long years...

The battle waged between the two during the clay and grass seasons was epic in proportion and spectral in consequence. When Federer was able to re-embody his game, he fought ferociously to retain the keys to his kingdom...

Nadal was not only fighting to gain the No. 1 ranking, he also had to fend off a charge by Djokovic for the No. 2 spot. That he was able to hold on and advance was the true mark of a champion.

So whether you choose to side with Federer fans who see the loss of the number ranking only from Federer’s perspective or whether you choose to see Nadal’s ascension to the top of the men’s game as Nadal and his fans see it…the event was the focal point of 2008 and its final resolution turned the season around—as Nadal began to fade and Federer found enough game to win his 13th grand slam in New York.

Will 2009 be equally as compelling? It can’t fall far behind. There is much to settle in 2009. Will Nadal retain his ranking or will Federer regain it? Or will Djokovic or Murray step into the slot? Will Federer win No. 14 and tie Pete Sampras?  If he does, when and where? 

Ah, there is much ahead tennis fans...rest up, take a deep breath and get ready to be dazzled because it all starts again in a month!