Roger Federer beat Andy Roddick in five grueling but absorbing sets on Wimbledon center court Sunday. That is the synopsis. The actual more than four-hour marathon tells a different tale of grit, determination, desire to win, willingness to fight until the other man drops dead, and above all the triumph of human spirit. And that cannot be captured in any synopsis.
Before and when the match began most of the world would have been rooting for Federer who was chasing a record 15th Grand slam title. That was though contrary to backing the underdog theory which generally prevails when a multi-time champion meets a two-time loser in the finals to the same opponent and a testimony of Federer’s ability to capture the imagination of a whole generation of tennis fans. Not even the great Pete Sampras had been able to capture the collective fancy of tennis fans as Federer has since Bjorn Borg retired in 1981.
And when Andy Roddick against the run of play captured the first set, the Federer millions, including me, groaned. The second set went on game until the tie-break where Roddick again was on the verge of consolidating 2-zip, leading 6-2 in the tie-break. But then the plot went awry for the former world number 1 and 2003 US Open champion and he lost 6 straight points to lose the tie-break and the set. Fedex had equalized.
The third set again went to a tie-break with Federer emerging winner, now leading the match 2-1. However, what was visible even at the third set was Roddick’s impressive play, with Federer failing to break the Roddick serve even once. And Roddick was playing some of the best tennis of his life.
In the fourth set, Roddick mounted a gamely challenge, breaking the Federer serve for the second time in the match to take the set. Federer’s inability to break the Roddick serve after four tough sets meant that Roddick was now favorite to win the match, given the fifth set had no tie-break
By the beginning of the fifth set, I in my heart had secretly started praying for a Roddick win and so must have many other Federer fans. And that was not because I suddenly stated disliking Roger. It was more because Andy was playing better tennis than Roger, and it’s always fair that the better player on the day wins.
The fifth set began with me now firmly rooting for Andy and what a set it was. A total of 30 riveting games played over more than 90 minutes with both players dipping into their years of experience to conjure one game win after another. And here Federer did show his class, whipping up aces at will. Both had their chances until the 30th game of the set, but failed to convert.
As the last game of the set got underway with Andy showing signs of cracking up, I guess the collective cries of viewers across continents of “Go Andy, you are almost there” would have increased. But alas, that was not to be. Fedex broke Andy’s serve for the first time in five sets that too in the last game of the match, to lift the cup, with a disconsolate but sportsman to the core Roddick watching.
The sight of Roddick watching Fedex lift the cup with moist eyes must have brought tears to the eyes of most viewers for Andy played like a true champion and deserved to win the title as much as Roger, if not more. But then sport is cruel and life always is not fair. And what better example can there be than Andy winning 39 games to Roger’s 38 in the match and yet ending up the loser.
To me Andy may have lost the match, but was as much a winner as Roger. And I hope that he retains his form until the US open, and maybe beat Roger in the finals, i.e., if Rafa is not yet back by then.
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