Steve Flink on Roger Federer's Time to Win
The Article on this Link was posted by Steve Flink, who is as you all know has been a long time Sports Writer specializing in Tennis Commentary. This article talks about why he feels Roger Federer will win the 2009 French Open especially given Rafael Nadal is no longer in the running. You can read his Article HERE
After reading his article I decided to write Steve and provide him with my take on his comments and what I thought were Roger's chances this year. I realize of course that this is a lot of reading. To first read Steve's comments then to read my followup might be a lot for some of you however I would appreciate if you would take a moment and add what you think.
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HiYa Steve ~
I wrote a Post on the Tennis Forum I belong at http://www.tennisw.com in that Post I found myself speculating very much the same scenarios you have in your article, with one exception. For some reason History & Fate has a strange sense of humor. Take last year when the very surface we've come to consider was Roger's to have and to keep (Grass), He finds himself getting beaten by a Clay Court Specialist. And for Roger to fight back after being down two Sets to none only to lose it in a thriller 5th Set was mind boggling.
Very much like Monica Seles found herself unable to recoup after her attack because of the emotional trauma it placed on her, Roger Federer suffered a similar fate after losing Wimbledon. Truly it wasn't until Madrid that Roger finally pulled it together enough to make an impression. But you do remember Ivan Lendl's ill fated bid to win Wimbledon and how close he came on so many occasions ? Poor Ivan past on the French Open the year Andres Gomez won over Andre Agassi, to practice on Grass. Found himself beating Boris Becker in the finals of Queen's Club enroute to Wimbledon only to fall short once again. It was not to be.
The Book Makers actually had Ivan as the Odds on Favorite to finally win that year. Well if it were not for Robin Soderling's impressive display not only over Rafael Nadal but also his incredible dismissal over Davydenko, I'd say this guy had a great run but it's time for him to leave. But to be honest, I think good old Robin has more in his bag of tricks. His match against Gonzales should tell the tale. Should he dismiss Gonzales in the same manner and thus find himself in the Finals, we just might see the longest shot of all hoisting this year's Trophy. I mean Steve, wouldn't it be just the thing that after Roger's biggest nemeses gets the boot making Federer the obvious benefactor, that someone leaps up from the depths of who knows where, to snatch glory from his hands?
Also, given Roger is now the #2 Player in the World, in my opinion, Roger can not get the respect he deserves unless it's Nadal he beats. I'm all for Roger getting to the Finals of the French & Wimbledon but I wanted Nadal to be there waiting so he could reclaim what Nadal took from and denied him of.
Winning the French without beating Nadal is bitter sweet. Pretty much like on the Women's side where they've been having a Merry-Go-Round of #1 Players that have no Slam Title to their name.
Anyway, you get my point Steve, I'd love to read your thoughts on this.
Sincerely,
Coach