Djokovic Rules, but Stan’s the Man!

The mood was set, the ambience was lit and the Philippe-Chatrier court was buzzing with excitement. For only the second time in 10 years would the prestigious Roland Garros be devoid of a certain Matador contesting in the final. His conqueror, Novak Djokovic, though was all set to script history.

Who is Novak Djokovic, you ask? Novak Djokovic is a beast, I reply.

He’s so much of a beast that the name “Djoker” does not suit him anymore. He’s dead serious on court, there’s no room for recreation and a lapse in work ethic is frowned upon by him. Gone are the days when a match was followed by an ebullient episode of mimicry. Gone are the grins, gone are the smirks!

It’s all down to brass tacks nowadays with him and his jovial smile seems to have lost its melodic charm.

At the other end is Stanislas Wawrinka. Who is Stan, you ask? Stan’s the man, I reply. Period!

All eyes are on this match. Mostly to see 8-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic complete his career Grand Slam. Roland Garros is the only tournament missing from his prodigious portfolio and what better way to get it than to tame the king of clay en route to it. Rafael Nadal fell to Djokovic’s wrath in the quarterfinal. Andy Murray was a victim in the semifinal. Who finer than Djokovic to win this one?

As Novak warms up on the court, we get to see the graphic on screen that shows his achievements during the year. Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome. Too much of text to fit in one small aston on screen. Almost taunting the opponent in the most intimidating manner, it seems.

Then comes Wawrinka’s graphic. Chennai Open and Rotterdam. That’s it! Reaching the French Open final was a brilliant way to mark his erratic year. Winning it would be a dream come true for the Swiss.

Wawrinka did lose to Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinal earlier this year - a match that truly tested the fortitude of both players. However, today was a chance to negate the Melbourne heartache and scribble some Paris ecstasy. To do so, Wawrinka would have to derail the Serbian juggernaut.

“Time,” says the chair umpire and both players head towards their respective ends. The people at the court for the first time ever are not sure who to support. The last time when Nadal missed out, the crowd knew who they were backing. But, today, they’re torn! June 7th was the day in 2009 and June 7th is the day today. Federer completed his career Grand Slam that day. Would it be Djokovic’s turn today?

The second point of the first game shows a glimpse of what both players are made of. A 39-stroke daunting rally gets the 2015 final underway and promises some heart-stopping action in the sets to follow. Consistency is what made Djokovic who he is today and he displays a fine sense of flawless forehands. Wawrinka, meanwhile, just proves that he is an epitome of power-packed precision.

An unlucky error from Wawrinka gives Djokovic the break who then serves out the first set. He tries hard not to smile. “Not yet,” he thinks. Coach Boris Becker, whose immense aura has transformed an artist formerly known as ‘Djoker’ into an exhibit of beastly immorality, agrees. There still is a lot left to do.

15-40 in the second game of the second set and Djokovic was set to break Wawrinka early. The concealed smile on the Serb’s face was as revealing as the red clay on court. Grand Slam number nine was in reckoning. More importantly, Djokovic could smell the shoal of legends he would be a part of.

But little did Djokovic know that he would be smiling for a whole different reason 14 games later.

Never before has it happened that Djokovic has been on the receiving end of himself. But it was happening suddenly in front of the capacity crowd in Paris. Not only were Stan Wawrinka’s one-handed backhands ‘orgasmically’ scintillating, but they were also infringing Djokovic’s consistency with ease.

At 4-5 in the second, Djokovic starts to serve to stay in the set. Seemed like a pretty ordinary thing to do at the time. But Wawrinka was in no mood to let this one go the distance. Being 30-0 up, Djokovic throws the ball in the air and connects well. He feels good. His mind tells him “Good serve. Now rush to the net to finish this one off.” Djokovic does that only to be slapped in the face with a colossal backhand down the line.

“It’s ok. There’s still time to regroup,” thinks Djokovic. He serves again and this time Wawrinka’s stunning forehand down the line triggers Djokovic’s earthward plummet. “Bring it on,” murmurs Stan to himself. A jittery Becker adjusts himself in his seat. Things just got serious. It’s often a case of one big game that turns a match around and Becker somehow knows that this is that game for the Swiss.

In no time it’s set point for Wawrinka. After a rally that seemed to be ongoing till eternity, Djokovic finally hits his shot long. “What?” Djokovic asks himself while he tries to put up a show by spinning his racquet. Becker couldn’t help but stare helplessly into the abyss of oblivion.

Wawrinka turns back and looks towards his coach Magnus Norman. He points a finger to his head almost in a manner to acknowledge an intellectual regime that outsmarted the World No. 1 in stupendous manner. This was tennis at its cognitive best and no one could have executed it better.

To beat a person as grand as Novak Djokovic, one needs to fashion a strategy that is indeed very special. Of the three matches that Djokovic has lost this year, all came to men with one-handed backhands. Not only does that shot constrict the genius of Djokovic’s concrete defensive tactics, but it also creates an angle that is unmatched in supremacy if effectuated perfectly. And that is exactly what Wawrinka did!

Wawrinka’s “Come Awwnn” chants were beginning to get on Djokovic’s nerves. It was more than just a chant now. It was sheer passion. This is what a sport that is so close to one’s heart does to you. One could get the sense that deep down Djokovic knew that Wawrinka was unstoppable as everything that the Serb was throwing was being returned with unrivalled precision.

Drop shots were being destroyed with devious deft, forehands were being barraged with piercing backhands and future tennis players were being given a new video to learn the immaculate execution of a “down-the-line” shot. 14 games after the second game of the second set the smile on Djokovic’s face was back.

Only this time he knew that it was over. He knew that his dream was shattered.

Stanislas Wawrinka simply overpowered World No. 1 Novak Djokovic at the Roland Garros. That’s a line that has never been used against the 8-time Grand Slam champion.

Never!

Wawrinka did to Djokovic what the Serb has been doing to the world as of late. The 2014 Australian Open champion dictated points in a manner that even the great Roger Federer would be proud of. Being powerful and consistent is what lifted Djokovic to the pinnacles of success, but little did the world know that Wawrinka would exploit the same qualities to push the great man to the brink of a total blackout.

One can’t say that Djokovic did not deserve the Roland Garros title. In fact, the prowess of skill and constancy that he has displayed this year can still make him one of the greatest of all times. Unfortunately for him, Wawrinka was unreal and disturbingly good on Djokovic’s most important day.

In 2005, Djokovic was playing in a meager qualifying tournament for the Australian Open and Wawrinka won the Boy’s title at Roland Garros. 10 years later while Djokovic is a beast winning the Australian Open title for the 5th time, Wawrinka, in one of the greatest finals in French Open history, proved that Stan’s the Man!

For Roger Federer, Greatness is Vengeance!

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” – William Shakespeare

For those who remember that dreadful evening at SW19 when Roger Federer came within striking distance of winning his eighteenth Grand Slam title, the pain and anguish would have been hard to endure. The next opportunity to avenge the defeat seemed eternities away. And when the occasion came, the dream final at the US Open was abrogated by the heroics of Marin Cilic and Kei Nishikori.

True that there were other matches like the ATP Shanghai Masters semifinal, the ATP World Tour Finals and the International Premier Tennis League, but nothing could come even remotely close to matching the supreme aura that a Federer-Djokovic “final” exudes.

Until two nights ago!

Dubai seemed the perfect place for two stalwarts of the game to renew their epic rivalry. Clash of the titans, world no. 1 takes on world no. 2, seventh heaven versus Djoker fifer, call it whatever you like but nothing said it best like Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic.

While the country was still trying to recuperate after the loss at the hands of India at the ICC World Cup, a different set of fans (read tennis fanatics) were making their way to the Dubai Duty Free Stadium on a clear night to witness a stellar clash - a rematch of last year’s semifinal when the Federer juggernaut was too hot for Djokovic to handle. Would this year be any different? Current form would state differently.

As the players line up for the pre-match photograph, one could feel the butterflies in the stomach of the kid who has been “ordained” for the coin toss. His first flip of the coin is a disaster. One can’t blame him though. He’s standing in the presence of the best tennis players in the world right now. I’m just glad he didn’t throw up. Federer looks at the kid and smiles. That should calm him down. Djokovic pats him on the back to comfort the lad and give him a sense of belonging. Time for the toss again. No pressure kid!

Any match between Federer and Djokovic promises to be a thriller and tonight is going to be no exception. Time now for Federer and Djokovic to pose for the players’ photograph. Time for the fake smiles to come out. Click! Now it’s time to get serious. Djokovic places his hand on Federer’s back and says, “Good game.” Federer returns the favour with nothing but a smile. “Let’s do this,” he thinks.

The match begins with Federer’s serve that seems to be teeming with meticulous precision. The intent is clear. It’s a slow start to the match but it’s a sign of things to come. It’s never easy to push a player like Djokovic, whose immense emanation on the court can deflate even the best, on the back foot so early in the match. But nonetheless Federer is doing it and doing it in style. It’s the kind of greatness that Federer was born with and it’ll remain unparalleled till the end of time.

Meanwhile, the camera focusses on Switzerland’s Davis Cup and Federer’s personal coach Severin Luthi. Stefan Edberg is not here tonight. Hence, the onus is on Luthi to lift Federer’s spirits should he feel low - a fanatical paradox that is ineffable when it comes to an explanation. Luthi knows that his job is easy considering the manner in which Federer is playing. Djokovic’s coach Boris Becker, on the other hand, seems to have a task cut up for him. Things just got serious in the Djokovic camp after just two games.

The Serb retaliates in emphatic fashion and rushes to earn one break point. Djokovic waits for Federer to serve. He knows the gravitas of the next point. An early break could have a crucial impact on the match. Federer knows it as well. He looks up and then back down. Just like he always does. He knows exactly where to hit his serve now. But Djokovic is not just any opponent on the other side. In a world of incisive competition, players tend to know their opponents more than they know themselves.

Federer serves! It’s one of those boomers that just zip right past without giving one a chance to even breathe. But Djokovic is ready for it. He fashions an unbelievable return that looks too good to be true. This one seems to be bagged. “Come Awwnn,” almost yelled Djokovic only to have his bubble shattered by the sheer audacity of a phenomenon called Roger Federer. Not only did Federer manage to get an immaculate angle on his one-handed backhand there, but he also managed to flatten Djokovic’s ego.

It’s not often that one sees the world no. 1 Novak Djokovic spellbound thinking what needs to be done next. Everything that he’s hitting is being sent back with equal or better magnitude. Federer, on the other hand, is getting better and better as the match is progressing. Not only is he slapping immaculate volleys, but he’s also killing those crucial points with his 1-2 angle combinations and with his one-handed backhands that have power, precision and that “dear-lord-did-that-just-happen” prowess.

Djokovic has this dazed look on his face. He knows that on his day no one can come even close to reaching Federer’s level. Let alone surpassing him. Just like a batsman who has been stupefied by a bouncer-yorker combination, Djokovic too seemed to be knocked out senseless. “This can’t be happening,” he tells himself wondering how old Federer is. May be 31, 32! Nope! Try 33! At some level Djokovic knew that he had a good chance of losing today, but this just seems to be an inequitable riot.

Almost in an act of reprisal, Djokovic hits his traditional two-handed backhand to silence the crowd who is going wilder with every Federer shot. The Australian Open champion thinks he has a chance now considering that Federer has missed a couple of easy shots. Momentum shift? No way! Federer’s just too good today. He hits yet another pristine 1-2 combination. This time resembling the jab and hook!

The umpire calls for new balls. The old ones have taken quite a beating it seems. Federer looks upon this opportunity as a time to change his racquet as well. The crowd goes wild at this unscheduled break. Djokovic does not seem happy waiting. His impatience is pertinent. Some in the crowd suggest that this is a ploy from Federer to play mind games with Djokovic. The Serb hits an unforced error followed by a double fault. Mind games affecting him already? But boom! An ace! “He’s back,” say the Djokovic fans.

But alas! Federer bounces back with an angle so deep into Djokovic’s court that even the 6 feet 2 inches 2-time Wimbledon champion could not reach it in time. Break point Federer! His first of the match and what a time to get one! The pressure builds on Djokovic. He needs to put in his all to save this one. Djokovic serves! Not a good first serve according to Djokovic standards. “This one is mine,” thinks Federer as his pounces on the ball to convert the break. Djokovic is left fuming. The world is enthralled!

Federer serves out the next game to take the first set. Djokovic tries to put up a fight but I guess it’s a little too late. The Serb hits an unimpeachable return to save one set point. But Federer follows it up with a scintillating first serve. Federer is just that damn good tonight. A dejected Djokovic starts his slow walk back to his dugout with a mind heavier than the weight of expectations on his shoulder. His body language gives an impression that he needs a reboot. Just like his tortured racquet needs to be restrung.

The crowd at the stadium erupts with joy at the onset of the second set. Two of the greatest at present are giving them a show that will last in memories for a lifetime. Djokovic begins serving in a hope to implement a new strategy. It’s time for him to start calling the shots. Literally! But Federer is in no mood to let the momentum shift. He starts charging up the net. Something that the Swiss maestro is quite uncomfortable with at times. Edberg might not be in the stadium, but he’s still evident on the court.

Federer starts running Djokovic all over the court. An out-of-this-world drop shot is followed by an angle. A sliced return followed up with a powerful cross court passing shot. Everything that was deemed impossible is happening on court. This is vintage stuff from a stellar persona and that too against the world’s best according to ATP. Becker’s edginess is as apparent as Federer’s fluorescent orange t-shirt. Djokovic somehow holds on to win the game. Deep down inside he knows that he might have won the battle, but he’s losing the war.

Djokovic catches Federer’s eyes at the changeover. They stare at each other for about 2 seconds. Too little to count on a watch perhaps, but when it comes to evaluating a tense rivalry those 2 trenchant seconds become long enough to last an eternity. “How many times will I have to win a point to actually win it?” Djokovic’s eyes ask. “One too many times mate,” reply Federer’s. Almost immediately my mind drifts to the World Cup Titantron with David Warner saying “Game Awwnn” in his thick Aussie accent.

Djokovic is now trying something new. He’s started hitting his serves to target Federer’s weakness – his backhand. Something that Rafael Nadal exploited quite brilliantly at the 2008 Wimbledon final. Djokovic shoots a commanding first serve. So robust was its speed that it could derail a freight train. Federer returns it with ridiculous ease. Almost in the effortless manner that Rahul Dravid used to leave a 160 kmph Shoaib Akhtar delivery. The crown goes wild. The commentator goes wild. Djokovic just applauds.

Greatness is not targeting others' weakness with your strengths. It’s killing others' strengths with your weakness. And that is what makes Federer who he is. Djokovic serves again to Federer’s backhand - his weak spot they say. Federer hits it on the opposite side as a return ace. “Leave Djoker alone,” frustrated Djokovic fans shout from the stands to Federer. The joy of greatness comes for a price and for Federer’s benefit it’s Djokovic who’s paying the price tonight. He knows it! Becker knows it! The world knows it!

Federer begins the next game with an ace. His fifth of the night! That makes it 9000 career aces for him. For the world it’s a big accomplishment. But for Federer, it’s just another number. Djokovic gets a passing shot of his own on the next point, but soon realizes that he did not win the point because of himself. Federer misjudged that one. Even greatness is accompanied by gaffes. Federer hits a stupendous lob on the next point. Probably the greatest in Dubai’s history. Title number 7 beckons!

Djokovic now looks at Becker. Becker with his stone cold eyes can’t help but applaud the genius of Roger Federer. In his mind though, he is already planning the next tournament. Meanwhile, the tables seemed to have turned suddenly. Djokovic rushes to a 15-40 lead on Federer and has earned two set points. All the pressure has suddenly shifted base and is now on Federer. He serves and then charges to the net. The crowd cannot believe this move. 2 set points to save and you rush to the net after a slow serve?

Djokovic thinks that this is in the bag but he still hits it out. That’s what demoralization does to you. Next serve time. Boom! Federer with a killer serve saves both set points. Fortune favours the audacious it is said. But aggression, on the other hand, is the final nail in the coffin. Federer knows it! Djokovic knows it! Even Brendon McCullum knows it. Djokovic looks lost. He looks defeated. He looks out if this one.

There have been numerous instances when Federer has been written off because of ludicrous reasons. But what makes a champion is the inspiration he derives and the manner in which he derives it. Djokovic could do nothing but smile in this match. Not because he did not have the talent, but because the 17-time Grand Slam champ, who was on a “no-mercy”, mode had derived his inspiration from vengeance.

Federer is always at his best when he has revenge on his mind. Whether it was the year 2009 when his Australian Open sob was followed by his career Grand Slam achievement at Roland Garros or the 2011 Wimbledon exit at the hands of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga that led up to his prodigious form in 2012, every action has an equal and sublime reaction for Federer. His mind just like his persona is a tennis legend.

Roger Federer never shows his frustration on court. He never loses his cool on court. He rarely throws a tantrum on the court. Even when he does, his quietness follows his rant. But for all Federer haters and opponents, who think that they’ve succeeded in taming the virtuoso, just remember one small thing.

Federer never gets mad. He just gets even!

Once a champion, always a champion!

It’s that time of the year again when I, probably for the only time, long for the sophistication that sport, especially tennis, has to offer. I’m not a fan when it comes to witnessing stringent rules and stern schedules, but when a certain ‘King’ ascends to his throne every year around the time of my birthday everything else can go take a hike. Yet another Wimbledon has come and gone. Yes! Roger Federer made the final. No! He did not win it. Yes! He’s still the greatest of all time. No! That’s not my heart talking.

There comes a time in a tennis player’s life when all that he’s thinking about is how much more his body can handle the grueling sport. At 31 years of age, Pete Sampras probably had the whole world get inside his head and force him to contemplate retirement. He did retire eventually after winning the last of his 14 Grand Slams titles at the 2002 US Open where he was seeded a shocking 17th. At 32 years of age, Roger Federer is World No. 3 in an era that is bullishly dominated by impeccable fitness and sturdy stamina.

I know what people are thinking about right now. You’re not wrong you know. I thought the same thing as well. What about Andre Agassi? The American was ranked No. 1 in the world at 33 years of age and is hence the oldest player to have achieved that feat. But what people miss out there is that the whole Agassi era was not about ‘power’. It was all about ‘technique’ and ‘craftsmanship’.

 What Agassi did brilliantly despite being at the fag end of his career was to master the art of technique. Indeed that era had young guns like Andy Roddick, Xavier Malise and Lleyton Hewitt, but they were all just getting started and the feisty epoch of fitness, speed and power was yet to start. And that is where Roger Federer comes in. The reason why Federer has achieved what he has achieved is because he has mastered the blend between artistry and power to such levels of brilliance that the whole world just cannot not stop doing what they’re doing and watch a genius execute some serene immortality.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is currently an epitome of discipline in the field of fitness. He has an inflexible diet regime, his stamina is next to being unconquerable and his vigour is supreme. Add some beautiful tennis to that and imagine being on Centre Court against him. There’s a count-on-one-hand list that can stand up against that sort of domination. And in that list is a 32-year old, father of 4, Swiss maestro who, even in this indomitable power era, can go out at the biggest stage of them all and derail a Swiss compatriot’s swift bandwagon, produce master class to deflate a Canadian hero and implement some unprecedented tennis to push a Djoker right till the edge of a cliff. And to top it all, it’s on grass.

People should not be judging any player on the basis of just one match. I agree that Federer’s back hand in the final was not at its destructive best. However, Federer played some heart-stopping tennis at SW19 this time around. His new attitude is what drove him further to achieve greatness even at a time when he has surpassed all set levels of perpetuity. It’s that intent to enjoy the game that drove him to being so ridiculously great at it. Losing just 4 sets in total at Wimbledon 2014 (3 of which were in the final) should be more than enough to figure out the dominating persona that the 17-time Grand Slam champion has.

Over the years Wimbledon has become synonymous with Roger Federer. To put it more delicately, Wimbledon is incomplete with the essence of Federer. And why not? Federer was an integral part of the three most epic finals that SW19 has ever witnessed.

2008, a time when Centre Court was without its ‘Royal Roof’ and Rafael Nadal was still in his shady sleeveless shirts. Federer being 2 sets down roared back in heart-thumping manner to win the next two only to lose the 5th set 9-7 in partial darkness. It was the longest final in terms of time in Wimbledon history. And who was part of it? Roger Federer.

2009, a time when Federer broke down at Rod Laver arena after losing to Nadal only to complete his career Grand Slam 4 months later in Nadal’s own backyard. Federer and Roddick battled it out in the longest final in terms of games played in Wimbledon history that ultimately witnessed Federer pip Roddick 16-14 in the 5th set. Again, who was part of it? Roger Federer.

2014, a time when Federer, who probably for the first time was the least favorite after a shocking second round exit in 2013, reached his 9th Wimbledon final after shutting out young and fast players by moving around the court like a gazelle. He saved a championship point in the 4th set, pushed it to the 5th against all odds, and smashed 29 vintage sniper aces only to lose it at the end. Indeed the world was gutted. Some even wondered whether it’s time for his majesty to throw in the towel. But then we heard those 4 magical words “See You Next Year” and everything was ok with the world once again.

Federer no doubt has gained the love, appreciation and respect of the world. His majestic inventions still make me find something soft to keep under my face so that I don’t break my jaw when it falls with astounding awe. To win against Federer is like winning against the whole world. And just thinking about the fact that Federer’s opponents still thank him for letting them win is a testament of his greatness and without a shadow of a doubt speaks a lot about the quality of exquisite tennis that the King still has left to offer.