KINESKI CAR JAČI OD KONKVISTADORA
Što ne dočeka u Njujorku, ostvari se u Šangaju ! Švajcarski teniski Maestro nastavio je godinu iz snova jednim skoro pa perfektnim turnirom u kineskoj metropoli gdje je na turniru na kojem je blistao od prvog do posljednjeg meča uzeo i onaj najvrijedniji skalp u finalu i zakucao poker ove sezone protiv vječitog rivala sa Majorke. El Matador je bio papirnati favorit pred finale, ali Rodžer je potezima svog reketa pocijepao papire i porušio sve nade Nadala da može ičemu da se nada u finalu, pa je i trijumf od 6:4, 6:3 za svega 73 minuta tenisa bio još i pozitivan ishod za Španca, kakvo razaranje je igrački trpio cijelim tokom meča. Ovom pobjedom Federer je upisao svoj 27. Masters pehar (drugi u Šangaju), a ukupno 94. titulu, čime se na vječnoj listi izjednačio na drugom mjestu sa legendarnim Ivanom Lendlom. Šestom titulom ove sezone ostavio je krajičak nade da može do prvog mjesta na kraju, ali realnost je da je samo popravio međusobni skor protiv Nadala (15-23) i okrenuo momentum na svoju stranu pred završne evropske borbe nakon što je Rafa vezao 15 pobjeda uz titule u Njujorku i Pekingu.
Prije kratkog osvrta na finale valja pomenuti i polufinalni okršaj protiv Huan Martin del Potra u kojem je Federer protiv u najavama povrijeđenog Argentinca (nekako te njegove fantomske povrede polako ali sigurno počinju da me iritiraju, lik je protiv Federera ispaljivao plotune po želji cijeli meč, a onda je tako krhkog zgloba preletio pola svijeta i osvojio Štokholm juče... iko iznenađen?) uspio da okrene meč u kojem je praktično cijelo vrijeme bio bolji rival, ali protiv Delpovog forhenda i servisa nekad biti bolji nije dovoljno da se uzme pobjeda. Toga dana međutim bilo je - 3:6, 6:3, 6:3 za tačno 2 sata igre.
A onda je stiglo finale. Nabrijani Rafa koji tokom turnira je samo jednom izgubio svoj servis, na putu do finala tukao i dvojicu članova Top 10 ešalona, ali u finalu se namjerio na najboljeg igrača na brzom hardu u prethodnu deceniju i više. Federer je od starta nametnuo svoj stil, što servisom, što forhendima, što bekendima. Slabosti u njegovo igri prosto nije bilo. Rafa je pokušao sistemom vraćanja servisa maltene sa tribina Ći Žong Arene koji mu je dao tako dobre rezultate u sličnim uslovima protiv Andersona, ali iako je Rodžeru majka iz tih krajeva on svakako nije Južnoafrikanac. Odnos u bekend vinerima priča cijelu priču ovog meča u suštini - 8-0 za Federera. Kada se na to doda britki servis (imali smo servis gem od 50 sekundi), kojim nije dozvolio ni brejk šansu protivniku, onda forhend na cijelu priču dođe samo kao šlag na tortu. Zaista Federer je u Šangaju djelovao najimpresivnije od svega što sam ga gledao cijele godine, i nesporno je da su mu i uslovi pogodovali, ali vratio je igru neophodnu da u Bazelu i Londonu (ne očekujem da igra Pariz) juriša na titule. Petom uzastopnom pobjedom protiv Nadala koji je kao i u Majamiju djelovao nemoćno, i prije svega bez ideje kako da se suprostavi, Rodžer je upisao 10. pobjedu protiv Top 10 rivala (10-1 ove sezone). Vremena za odmor bilo je malo, od danas već startuje Bazel, uz veliku želju da titulu vrati u svoje vitrine Maestro će turnir u rodnog gradu otvoriti duelom protiv Tiafoa, a svi se dobro sjećamo njujorškog meča i 5 setova na otvaranju. Oprez i maksimalan pristup su neophodni u voljenoj Sent Jakob Hali.
"I had no nerves really before the match, which was nice," said Federer. "I was pretty clear about how I wanted to play the match. And then I came out and started off very well. Felt relaxed from then on. I always know that Rafa can come back at any moment if he connects well, picks the right sides, and does the right things.
"I even felt that way being up 0/40, you know, going for the double break, but, I had a clear game plan and felt I was playing well all week. I think that settled my nerves, because I was returning well from the first match here I played against Schwartzman. The serve only got better. I guess I saved the best for last. I played some good matches now against del Potro and also now these two sets.
"In a way, it's not surprising, because I did feel good all week, and it does pay off to arrive early to an event. You can't do it all the time, but I was here since Thursday late night and that's five, six days to prepare for a Wednesday match. So I was ready."
Jako interesantan osvrt na rivalstvo sa Nadalom, kako je uspio da se izvuče iz kandži Španca, ali i realno o mogućnosti da ga nekad preokrene.
“I think I'm maybe serving consistently better. I get easier power ever since I switched to the bigger racquet, the RF97. I feel I'm connecting better on the backhand and I'm serving good, and that consistently,” said Federer, who at one point in Sunday’s final won a service game in 52 seconds with four straight aces.
“Before I had to slice more just because the racquet was good for the slice, and it was good for the coming over, but I would always shank too many balls,” he added.
“I think it was hard for me to consistently just keep on attacking with the backhand,” Federer said. “Today it seems almost not a problem anymore to do it."
“I just think I'm not so scarred like maybe I have been in the past, not that I was horribly scarred in any way, but I did lose against him sometimes, a lot of the times especially on the clay courts. I do believe I still lost that Wimbledon final in '08 because of the French Open beatdown he gave me. It just affected my first two sets when I played him at Wimbledon.
“But, yeah, I think I have also played him well. Clearly avoiding him – not playing him on clay has helped,” added Federer. “So I'm able to stay on the hard courts or on faster courts against him, but I have been playing very well when I have faced off against him."
“It's not going to happen,” said Federer bluntly on overtaking Nadal in their rivalry. “We don't have enough years left on the tour, and we're ranked too good that we play each other only in finals at the moment. It looks like that's going to stay like this for a few months more. So can't win them all against Rafa, to be honest. He's too good of a player.
“I'm just excited I'm on a good stretch right now. Head-to-heads? Yeah, sure, I would like it to be different, but I have utmost respect for Rafa. It's been a tough matchup for me, and I tried my best. I have played him a lot on clay in the beginning of my career. No problem. I tried. I was close on many occasions, but he's better on clay. I try to win the other ones that I can, and this year has been great so I'm happy about it.”