Revival still within reach

Chief Sports Writer

Sunday 27 November 2011

HIS greatest rivals have fallen, cut down by problems both psychological and physical.

Renaissance man Roger Federer marched into his 100th ATP final with a commanding victory over David FerrerPhotograph: Getty

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Hugh MacDonald

Roger Federer, meanwhile,strides purposefully on and will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in today’s season curtain call. The media centre at the O2 Arena in London has resembled both casualty station and counselling room this week.

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, the world No.1 and 2 respectively, have talked about their lack of motivation and nursed sore shoulders and aching joints. Andy Murray, who has now surrendered the No 3 slot to Federer, limped away with a sore groin after a sombre address to the press.

Federer yesterday bounced into the same room with all the energy of a child spotting gifts under a Christmas tree. He had just beaten David Ferrer of Spain 7-5, 6-3 in one hour 25 minutes in the semi-finals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. At 30 years of age, Federer retains both his fitness and his motivation.His chapter in the history of tennis is long, reeks of success and constantly needs updating. Federer today seeks to win the tour finals for a record sixth occasion in what will be contesting his 100th ATP final. He has already won a record 16 grand slam titles and his leapfrogging of Murray into the No 3 slot in the world yesterday secures his ninth consecutive top three year-end ranking.History acknowledges the greatness of Federer. The packed O2 Arena witnessed his enduring ability to overwhelm opponents. The defeat of Ferrer, the world No 5, was not a surprise. The Spaniard had come on to court after a late-night Friday toil against Tomas Berdych and held a record against Federer that was ever-so slightly lopsided. They have now played 12 times and Federer has won the lot, losing only three sets in the process.He franked this form with a facile win. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who now heads to Seville to play in the Davis Cup final against Argentina, summoned up all his resistance in the first set, but could not resist the Swiss player. The second set took only 35 minutes with Ferrer scuttling gamely but unable to put his opponent under any pressure. It was Federer’s 16th consecutive victory, but any judgments about the future are best delivered with a dose of caution. The player’s imperious form, in particular his thrashing of Nadal earlier in the week, has prompted the sort of enthusiastic response that greeted Lazarus when he got up after that particularly long lie. The truth of the Federer resurrection is somewhat more prosaic. His decline as a top-class player was overstated after a title drought that lasted from January until November. His comeback, too, may be exaggerated.He remains a great player, but Federer seeks to be measured in major titles. When he steps out on to court in Melbourne in January for the Australian Open, he will be aware that he has not won a grand slam for two years. His invincibility at Wimbledon has not just been broken by Nadal but by Tomas Berdych and Tsonga, too, his opponent this afternoon. Djokovic has taken on the mantle of supreme No.1 and Nadal has always been too good for Federer at the French Open.Federer is aware, though, that he has to improve just to maintain his competitiveness at the very highest level. He faces yet another final today, but he knows that he only contested one of the four grand slam finals this year and that was at Roland Garros where he was very much the outsider against Nadal. “It’s normal to improve as a player,” he said “Why should you move backwards? I used to have a weak backhand. But then everybody played to my backhand. So I was always going to improve my backhand eventually. “For me, it’s only logical to improve. But you have to have the work ethic, the professional side of things, to sleep, drink, live healthy as a tennis player, because no one else is running but ourselves. We have no substitute.” The tennis world has become accustomed to his longevity and his consistency, but both have surprised Federer. “I have been amazed myself how long I’ve been able to keep it up. But I’m happy my level is still very high and my body’s holding up,” he said.This endurance of form and commendable level of fitness has made him irresistible this week. Federer has basked in fulsome praise over having timed his season so perfectly that the tour finals now seem at his mercy. However, he will not be fooled by the feverish praise just as he was not demoralised by the premature obituaries. It is a moot point whether he has improved over the past two years, despite his protestations about constantly becoming better. It is undeniable, though, that he has slipped off the pace in the grand slam tournaments. That two-year drought will irk and motivate, but his form this week should not be seen as proof that he has slipped on the mantle of past invincibility. Federer easily won this title last year before a season that yielded titles in Doha, Paris and Basel. This is not enough for the former world No 1. A fit and vibrant Federer will enjoy his ovation when he steps out on to the O2 Arena this evening, but all of him aches for another grand slam title.

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