The sweet taste of success

I am of course referring to Roger Federer, the winner of this year’s US Open Tennis Tournament that concluded at Flushing Meadow, New York, USA, on Sunday last.

On Sunday, Federer defeated the legendary Andre Agassi in a relatively hard fought battle to take the US Open title for the second consecutive year, and this in four rather than five sets.

Federer’s achievement on Sunday took him, yet again, into the history books of one of the most attractive sports in the world. It is as far back as 70 years ago that another Tennis player completed the double – win the Wembledon and the US Open titles in the same year on two consecutive occasions.
In a sense, Federer’s achievement already distinguishes him from the more recently retired Pete Sampras and the legendary Roy Emerson, Bjorn Bjorg and Boris Becker, to name a few.

The US Open 2005

Throughout this year’s US Open, Federer showed that he does possess the class possessed by the select few. His early matches were characterised by the desire to do what was required and little more. As the Tournament developed however so did his game.
In the semi final matchup with David Nalbadian, Federer showed the entire US Open cast and indeed the entire world of sport that he was ready to lay claim to the newest entry into the very rich annals of his sport. His systematic destruction of Nalbadian gave all around the impression that he was unbeatable regardless of the pending opponent in the finals. Unfortunately that finalist was the legendary Andre Agassi, who at the age of 35 was still playing some of the best Tennis around.
It was unfortunate that Agassi’s stout-hearted performance in what may well be his last US Open before officially retiring from the game had to be so commandingly dispensed with by so worthy and great a champion.
In the first set it was all Federer. The commentators were themselves overawed by his command of the game and felt that there was nothing to stop him.
In the second set Agassi fought back gallantly enough to raise doubts among some in the large crowd on hand. He forced Federer into errors and for one brief moment the latter seemed to wilt just that little bit to offer the challenger and former champion a glimmer of hope of success.
Agassi was fighting for his life, in a manner of speaking and there were kudos everywhere that he had returned to the very top of his game against an opponent ii years his junior and who was already being seen as the greatest Tennis player of all time.
Agassi’s second set victory created new energy at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. The tension was gripping. People shifted to the very edge of their seats in anticipation of a great match, akin to those witnessed at this very arena between some of the former greats of the game not the least of whom were Pete Sampras and the same Andre Agassi.
In the third set, Agassi continued to match the strides of Federer, taking an early lead and moving around the court in a manner that certainly defied his years. For 20 years he had been on these courts playing in this US Open and he relished the opportunity to show his many fans the world over that this was a stage all too familiar and from which he would not readily be moved.

Federer however seemed to have had other ideas. He seemed to believe that indeed his time had come. He was the new generation and no one would deny him this particular place in history.
It was not about the money or the car to be won with the title. It was about being the world’s best at a game that has a very long and attract albeit intriguing history.
He would not be denied.
With his easy calm, Federer began to throw in his best strokes and rallied back to force a tie breaker. On the previous evening he had been in a tie-break with Nalbadian and punished him with a 7-0 drubbing. Everyone wanted to see how he would fare in this matchup with the legendary Agassi.
They did not have to wait long.
Showing virtually little regard for the former champion, Federer handed him a 6-1 whipping that spelled doom for the one-timer master.
The writing was on the wall and everyone knew it.
As the fourth set began there was something ominous about it.
Agassi suddenly looked tired. The energy suddenly seemed as though it had abandoned him. Just as readily however, it appeared as though the younger Federer had sapped it up and he was using it to full advantage.
Federer broke Agassi’s serve and drum-rolled to what was a spectacular victory in the fourth set and the match.
When Federer served through to hand Agassi a 6-1 drubbing in the fourth set it reflected the comprehensive nature of his game. It was his 6th Grand Slam title at only 24. He has within his sights the record currently held by Pete Sampras and is determined to launch an attack on it in the years ahead. He is indeed a worthy champion and the future of the sport.