FEDERER’S UNFINISHED SYMPHONY
Title No 9 beckons for artist Roger
In the often unsteady and sometimes nerveshredding universe of Brexit, Donald Trump and, yes, even England winning penalty shootouts, Roger Federer at Wimbledon may just be the world’s one remaining, reassuring constant.
As the public strives to recover its collective heart- rate after events at the World Cup, there was little better to steady the pulse than the calming serenity of yet another Federer masterclass.
This latest exhibition of balletic poise and emphatic backhands teased, tormented and dismantled the Slovakian Lukas Lacko 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
This was a definitive victory. Federer did not face a break point and hit 48 winners. The second set was exemplary, as Federer won every service point. We should remind ourselves he is 36 years old. By winning five Grand Slam titles after the age of 30, he is out on his own and that number will surely rise.
This straight-sets victory for the defending champion took his streak of consecutive Wimbledon sets to 26, equalling his secondbest run at the tournament. He now pursues his record of 34 consecutive sets, which has stood since 2006. In this form, who would bet against a ninth Wimbledon title? Such a triumph would equal Martina navratilova’s record of nine Championships.
‘ It feels good,’ said Federer. ‘I think, physically, I have stayed up there. And I have never fallen out of love with the sport. I have kept it fun.
‘Obviously since the last 10 years, we have children. Trying to make that work with my wife, we have come through it well.’
Federer’s only blot on the week came with Switzerland’s departure from the World Cup against Sweden on Tuesday.
The taste is not sour,’ said Federer. ‘We deserved what we got. Maybe we’re not part of the best eight in the world. I expected more from the team.’
Federer, we should know by now, does not accept second best. In the absence of Andy Murray, it would certainly appease the Wimbledon faithful for Federer to conquer once more.
And it was only a matter of time before he slalomed through the gears yesterday.
For poor old Lacko, it was a grievous ordeal, an exercise in quite exquisite agony as Federer forced him short and long, right and left.
As Federer served for the first set, he tortured Lacko, taking him right with a resounding forehand, then stretching him to his left with a clean backhand.
Lacko responded each time but Federer dinked a featherlight dropshot to bamboozle his opponent.
The silk blends with ruthless steel. After breaking his opponent in the second set, Federer hammered home his advantage, with Lacko unable to win a single point from the champion’s serve.
Federer glided through the second and third set.
During a beautiful 52 minutes of zinging groundstrokes and authoritative service, the applause grew louder and the smiles broader from Federer’s admirers in the crowd.
Only one match point was required as he aggressively dispatched his latest challenger.
After his first-round win over Dusan Lajovic, Federer declared he wishes to play until his fouryear-old twin boys can remember his talents clearly.
For those of us watching on, that can only be good news.