Federer is abusing his power
pointed out that Federer was mute during tour discussions about the scheduling of Davis Cup, until it clashed with his own tournament. Then he spoke out.
When Federer was asked if he had anything to say about Benneteau’s comments, he said, ‘‘I don’t.’’
This was Oz saying, ‘‘Think yourself lucky I am giving you audience.’’
Federer then tediously said ‘‘all of this has been taken totally out of context,’’ the stock, feeble answer of the evader. When pressed on whether his agent had asked for him not to be scheduled on Armstrong, Federer waffled in general terms before concluding, ‘‘A lot of the facts aren’t right just to be clear here.’’
Only Federer wasn’t saying which of the facts weren’t right, just to be clear here. His treatment at the Australian Open has been outrageous and has given him a clear competitive advantage.
At the end of the tournament, Marin Cilic was unhappy because the rules were waived and the roof was closed for the final, when outside conditions did not demand it. Federer has an exceptional record indoors. He won.
It is worth noting that Federer’s least successful of the big events is the Olympics,because it is the one place where he is not in control of his environment. He is not always the most popular athlete. In 2008 in Beijing it was Nadal. The courts are unfamiliar. He is not getting unconditional love from the crowd.
Federer likes to be in charge. He likes the feeling of being the supreme, all-powerful being. That’s why he hates the hawkeye line-calling system. Federer gets a lot of challenges wrong. His fallibility is exposed. He does not like it.
Federer plays magnificent tennis. He signs countless autographs and shows great dignity and patience when approached all over the world. But he is Oz. He is too all-powerful in the kingdom of tennis. It took a Frenchman to pull back the curtain.
But somehow I don’t think anything will change. It’s not sport. It’s business.
Federer likes to be in charge. He likes the feeling of being the supreme, all-powerful being.