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Roger Federer wins French Open. AAP Images
Roger Federer, the Swiss master, bowed out of Wimbledon after losing ungraciously to the world number twelve, Tomas Berdych. Federer also dropped two positions in the rankings, slipping down to number three in the world.
Going into the third set tied at one set a piece (6-3 3-6), it appeared to be anyone’s match, but a defiant Berdych took control in the third to win convincingly (6-1). Berdych displayed courage and a game plan to which Federer could not keep up. Recent leg and back problems surfaced in Federers’ press conference concluding the match.
After years of under-achieving, the richly-talented Berdych, 24, finally delivered on his potential to give Federer his second Wimbledon defeat since 2002.
His other loss came against Rafael Nadal in the 2008 final.
Berdych had a chance to close the match at 5-4 in the fourth. However, could not compose himself, and understandably so. As the points dragged on and nerves reached boiling point, Berdych finally closed the match after a deep forehand shot behind Federers’ ‘sore’ back.
Roger continued his press conference to a stunned media contingent giving very little credit to Berdych.
“It was brutal for me. Every time he had a chance, he took it.
“I’m unhappy with the way I’m playing,” Federer said.
From that point on Federer continued to blame anything and everything for his loss to the world number twelve.
“That just doesn’t quite allow me to play the way I would like to play, it’s frustrating to say the least,” said Federer.
After Federer shook the umpires hand as the loser, he graciously walked off centre court to a capacity crowd with Thomas Bedych by his side. But is it off the court where we don’t really know Federer as well as we should?
Claiming the bounce of the ball went against him and that he threw the match away.
“You can’t concentrate on each and every point because you do feel the pain sometimes.
“And then you tend to play differently than the way you want to play,” said Federer.
“Then when I had chances early on, I was actually not too bad. I just felt like I got the unlucky bounce once in a while, and at 30-all he got it on the line over and over again,” he added.
Federer spoke like it was a fluke win for Bedrych, however, I simply believe he is in denial after being the best tennis player in the world for so long.
The sulking Swiss said he wouldn’t bother watching Sunday’s final – “I’ll be on vacation” – and refused to tip who might take his crown.
“Let’s wait and see who gets through. But, as we don’t know, I can’t answer. What a pity,” he said.
Berdych was not impressed by Federer’s comments.
“I don’t know if he is just looking for excuses.
“I think every time when he played, he was 100 per cent ready,” said a disgruntled Berdych.
“You can say that he was unlucky or you can say that maybe the opponent was a little bit better, and he just won the big points,” he added.
This proves that it is not just the Fed and Raffa game. This is anyone’s Wimbledon title.
Berdych has booked a semi-final on Friday against Novak Djokovic, the swift Serbian who is back to his best tennis.
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