Ask not Roger for
Andy Murray’s sudden and shocking mortality is a reminder that Roger Federer won’t be with us for eternity, either. As he has played every Australian Open this century, it is hard to imagine how it will be at Melbourne Park when he is gone. But for the sake of the exercise, let’s try.
For a start, who ever could reproduce that forehand, that overhead too? Who might play this deceptively physical sport without either sweating or grunting? Federer could fold up his shirt after five sets and sell it as new.
Who will carry himself with Federer’s grace? Who will indulge ball kids, sign autographs, hold court patiently at practice the way he does? Who will make some anonymous hitting partner’s day, no life, by staying on for a chat, every time? Who, with the world at his feet, will bend down to pick it up as Federer does?
No-one, you imagine, could make goofiness seem so cool and make a receding hairline the very thing. Dan Evans, Wednesday’s second round opponent, tried the hairline, but went too far.
No-one will gratify questions in four languages. No-one will spare a considered thought for the least-known Australian on the circuit, though I’m sure it’s the same for obscure French, English and Americans at the other majors.
Who could let inferior opposition down so gently in the first week of a tournament the way Federer does? Who will let near-equal opposition down so gently in the second week, as Federer often has?
Step at a time: qualifier Evans will have gone to bed on Wednesday night content in the honest knowledge that he played Federer as well as anyone could, and he lost in straight sets.
One way to look at it is that Federer should not have had to battle so hard against Evans. The other is that Evans is a top 50 player down on his luck and judgment, and that Federer survived anyway, and that will be without prejudice to his further progress here.
‘‘It was very cat and mouse, very interesting,’’ Federer said. ‘‘I liked the match.’’ But he likes most matches, and why wouldn’t he?
Who will enjoy the awe even of his peers and rivals? After being sliced to pretty ribbons by Federer here two years ago, Tomas Berdych said he would rather have been in the stands watching.
Who ever could improve at 37? On Wednesday, Evans thought Federer moved better and attacked more than when they played at Wimbledon three years ago.
Who in such a combative environment could so rarely grow cranky? It does happen, but rarely. After all, Federer has won the Stefan Edberg sportsmanship award 13 times, and has been the fan favourite for the last 16 years straight. Esquire’s Tim Lewis described his relationship with fans as ‘‘long and monogamous’’.
Of course, being the highestearning player on and off the court for the last 13 years helps with equanimity, I can only imagine.
Who could take over the umpiring of a match and offend no-one, not even the umpire? Federer did on Wednesday when rain threatened, offering Evans the chance to stop or play on, as he pleased.
Will anyone deal so evenly with defeat? Correction: Federer sometimes is a bit, dare we say,