Roger Federer Finishing the 2011 Season on a Strong Note

By almost any other player's standards, Roger Federer's 2011 season and fourth overall standing in the ATP world rankings, would be seen as a career year. For Federer, it's been a major disappointment. 

For the first time since 2002, Federer failed to win one of the four Grand Slams. While being the first player (and one of five players total) to defeat Djokovic in a memorable French Open Semifinals helped to ease the pain, losing in the Quarters of Wimbledon for the second time in two years and coming up empty in the Grand Slams surely caused Federer plenty of sleepless nights. 

After bowing out to Djokovic in the Semifinals at Flushing Meadows, many were wondering whether Federer was done and his best years behind him.

In the words of ESPN college football analyst Lee Corso, "Not so fast my friends."

Taking more than a month off and only playing two Davis Cup matches since the US Open, Federer was well rested entering his home country's Basel Open. After following up his trophy in Basel with another the following week in the Paris ATP World Masters 1000 tournament, Federer is proving he's not done just yet.

Since his loss to Djokovic at the US Open in late August, Federer is an impressive 12-0 and looking as fit and focused as ever.

In his last 10 victories, Federer has racked up five wins against players in the top 20 (including wins over Roddick, Berdych and Wawrinka) and avenged his Quarterfinals loss at Wimbledon beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga resoundingly 6-1, 7-6(3) in the finals in Paris.

During his 12 match win streak (including two best-of-five Davis Cup matches) the 30-year-old Federer has only dropped 3 of 30 sets bringing his year-to-date record to 59-12 (41-7 on hard courts). 

Saying he is playing well and feeling great, look for Federer to rebound in 2012 and have a more Federesque like season, something that few players can even imagine.

Expect more great tennis and epic clashes with Djokovic and Nadal as one possibly two, Grand Slam Titles are in store for the elder statesman next season.