Day 11 - Wimbledon wrap
3rd July 2009Didn’t Andy Roddick do well? Let’s just get that out of the way because, as wave after wave of disappointment, crashes across British tennis fans, it is worth noting that there are times when the other player simply plays better than the one we want to win.
Their match did, as Murray pointed out afterwards, come down to one or two points and most of those came when Roddick was forced to come up with the sort of serving that most players dream about. It was a performance that is worthy of a man who will play his third Wimbledon final on Sunday.
It is Roddick’s misfortune to play first the home favourite and then Roger Federer in the final. Federer could win a record breaking 15th grand slam title and that means that the American’s achievement in beating the world No.3 and reaching the Wimbledon final is likely to get lost in all the talk of the player on the other side of the net. That is rather unfair.
Under the tutelage of his coach Larry Stefanki, Roddick has pulled himself out of a long slump that made many – Roddick included – doubt whether he would ever be competing to add to the 2003 US Open title which counts as his only grand slam title to date. His is a story of hard work and perseverance and though his victory over Murray spelled the death of hope for a British victory, it was also a celebration of what football managers are wont to call “stickability”.
“I mean, you know, you don't go back to a Wimbledon final by accident. It certainly is a process. And it's probably been a longer process than I would have liked,” said Roddick afterwards. “But, you know, I've enjoyed, you know, everything that has kind of gone into it. I'm excited about this one. I didn't know if I was gonna get to play a final of Wimbledon again. You know, I'm certainly thankful to have that opportunity.”
Roddick was also complimentary about Murray’s game afterwards, though the greatest compliment came in the way he played against the British No.1. He was in simply stunning form and when he wasn’t serving bombs he was attacking the net with guile and vigour. Murray’s own performance would have been good enough to beat most players but, at 22, he is still learning his trade and how to play matches that come in close proximity to Grand Slam titles. “He's going to break through and win one of these titles, and probably numerous ones,” said Roddick. “He's too good not to. In my mind it's a matter of time. It's not if, but when.”
Roddick knows better than anyone that he will have his work cut out on Sunday, for he has lost 14 of his 15 matches against the Swiss, but at least he knows that the burden of pressure is greater on Federer than it is on him.
Federer beat Tommy Haas with relative ease. The five-time Wimbledon champion’s 7 6, 7 5, 6 3 win suggests that Roddick is right to be wary of the challenge of playing a man in search of a record-breaking 15th grand slam title. “Obviously you can't really say enough to kind of signify what Roger's career has been to this point (but) I'd love to delay it for another Grand Slam,” said Roddick.
Federer sounded as though he could not quite believe what now lies on his racket and, given that his achievements seem extraordinary for those of us lucky enough to watch him, it must be positively mind-boggling to be in his position. “It's quite staggering now, you know, having reached again I think it's my sixth straight Grand Slam final I've achieved, as well. Having so many things going for me now again, opportunity again on Sunday, it's fantastic. It’s quite amazing.”
No-one could argue with that.