Roger Federer will walk tall into Wimbledon 2017. Roaring with confidence at age 35, he defied both logic and critics to win yet another Grand Slam – the US Open 2017, after going almost five years without a major. Federer now has 18 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in men’s tennis history.
Federer skipped this year’s clay season and the French Open to lengthen and strengthen his career. It was a calculated decision in the context of the game, with many calling it a smart ‘play’ on his part. The Swiss maestro said the move was necessary in order to give him the best chance on grass – a surface he has seen his best results on. Federer admitted that his best chance of sealing a 19th Grand Slam would be at Wimbledon 2017. Having won four of the six tournaments entered this year (most recently in Halle), also makes him a potential favourite at the All England Club. Better news for the Swiss ace is that he has recently been able to neutralize Nadal’s extreme topspin, an answer he credits to using a larger racket. Nadal has been the only opponent that Federer has been unable to solve for such a long period of time, losing 23 out of their 34 previously played matches. With eternal rivals Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic not at their marked best, and Rafael Nadal still fretting about whether or not his knees will hold up on grass, it is Federer in the box seat and on the go! Federer has won Wimbledon seven times (tied with Pete Sampras) and now sets his sights on claiming a record eighth.
The key to him winning, going by his own admission, is to ‘play the ball, not the opponent’ approach. The Swiss will look to attack from the word go and play aggressive. And as his compatriot Stan Wawrinka rightly said, “ A player like Roger, as long as he’s playing, he’s going to have a chance to win a Grand Slam. The day he will stop playing he will have no chance to win.” True that Stan the man.
– Varun Kumar | SpreadSports
