Wimbledon starts on Monday. It's usually quite safe to pencil in - or heck put in permanent marker - Roger Federer as the champ... but this year, as Fed goes for his 6th straight title, things seem a bit different.
In previous years as Wimby rolls around, Roger usually has the Australian Open under his belt along with a handful of other titles... this year, just two small tournament wins (the 2nd only last week, keeping alive his 50+ match win streak on grass)... and while his loss to Rafa Nadal in the French Open final a few weeks ago was no surprise... but that it was his worst loss at a Slam, only managing to take 4 games off the Spaniard, was.
The smack talk has already started -- most predictably from cocky Serb, the #3-ranked and current Aussie Open champ, Novak Djokovic who said this week: “Some things are changing. I think he’s a little bit shaken with that loss (at the French) and mentally he has been struggling in the last couple of months. New names are coming, fresh talented players who believe more they can win against him and I am one of them. Suddenly he is worried a little bit.” Djokovic will get his chance - with the Wimbledon draw just out - the two could meet in the semis... with Nadal looming on the other side of the draw.
Talk of a Federer Wimbledon demise even came off the lips of Bjorn Borg who says Federer is only the third favorite to win the title this year... preferring Djokovic and Nadal. And if that wasn't a enough of a punch in the stomach, went on further to say he wouldn't be surprised if 26-year old Federer retired from tennis next year! Yikes!
Federer can take some comfort from words coming from the current all-time Grand Slam champ, Pete Sampras, who still believes that the 12-time Slam champ will beat his record of 14. Sampras said he would like to be there when he does...adding his hopes that he does it in London or New York and doesn't have to make the long trip down to Melbourne. Reading between the lines, it appears Pete doesn't have much confidence that Roger will be able to accomplish something Pete never did - win at Roland Garros.
What do I think? I wouldn't be surprised if Federer wins... or loses. After the French, I suggested that Nadal could win Wimbledon... he has always been in Federer's head, but has to have gained even more confidence from the French shallacking... plus having come pretty darn close in last year's Wimby final... and having won his first grass tournament last week (taking out Andy Roddick and Djokovic along the way) certainly did nothing to change my mind.
However, all this talk could only serve to motivate Federer... and just stepping on the grass has to give him confidence. Perhaps, he only needs to be inspired by his buddy and closest peer in the world of sports peer, Tiger Woods, who pretty much did the impossible - winning the U.S. Open last week on a bum knee and a broken leg. The difference though is that Tiger's mental strength ultimately triumphed over his physical... and one has to wonder if Roger can do the reverse... fascinating tennis days ahead!
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