Is the door 'slam'med shut?

This post comes in the aftermath of a pulsating Australian Open final.On this backdrop, I would like to dwell on the burden of expectations and the curse that strikes the leaders time and again.

He usually does, but it was horror sight for me to see Federer breaking down after collecting Runner-up plate.This wasn't like Wimbledon final when Federer had to make ground by winning sets 3 and 4. Federer was in control in the first 4 sets at some point or the other. Nadal fought for every point and with every stunning winner he delivered to save a break point, he gained in confidence. Whereas Federer, despite winning set-4 had no momentum going into the 5th. It was a meek surrender in last set. School boy stuff...

Every fan wants to know what's running in Fed's brain and I'm no exception.

Is he still failing to acknowledge the fact that he has to share the limelight with another emerging talent and is he being stubborn in refusing to adapt his style of play to conditions when Nadal is opponent?

I have heard Fed say #1 rank doesnt matter. He was kind of defensive after losing last set 6-0 in French open final saying he has blanked Nadal before. Basking in past glory doesn't suit a champion.

Giving Nadal his due would only help Fed prepare himself, raise his game level, use his brains to devise pre-emptive tactics to get the better of Nadal rather than press the panic button or give up mid-way.

Is he still trying to deliver every shot with the intention of proving he is superior to Nadal?

Some extravagant shots he tried when he was 2 break points ahead were horrendous like the cross court backhand top spin shot which hit the net more than it went in.And no excuses for double faulting when Nadal is at set point.

Is the expectation level getting to him?

Could be. All former greats had tipped him for #14 in Melbourne. However, having handled things well till Wimbledon 2008, this doesn't look a convincing reason for his poor output.

Is age taking its toll on him?

Fed's record in 5 setters is 13-12. So, yes, this could be a reason.Also he is at the wrong side of 25. It did have a say in Wimbledon final. However, here I felt, fatigue's role was less. In fact in last set, he had rallied with Nadal with both hitting back to each other before Fed powers one past Nadal's reach. At that point, I felt, wow, this is his best chance to improve his 5 setter record.

Is Wimbledon loss telling on him?

This I feel is the root cause of all misery. It was adding insult to injury that was suffered after being blanked in French open final. It has hit the Leo's ego so bad that he wants to do something different, that extra bit he wants to try to put one across Nadal. Nadal benefited immensely due to this. His game play was simple, keep hitting to Fed's weaker back hand. Nadal did his basics right. Fed went for colour over correctness, power over precision to assert his technical supremacy or whatever. Nadal used the drop shot twice before Fed used even once. And Nadal was standing much much behind the baseline than Fed and still did it. What took Fed so long to use the drop shot? Nadal never volleyed from the net. He won't, he is not good at it and he didn't have to, given Fed's pathetic shot selection. Whenever Nadal came close to the net, Fed had the option to lob the ball over. Be it any athletic player,running backwards, turning and hitting it inside the court will require more reaction time. However, those cross court passes were the villain again. Had it been any opponent other than Nadal, Fed would have done these right at the right time.

What Next?

I just hope Fed takes some time off the game, maybe engage in more involving off field work like UNICEF, skip some ATP tours, basically free his mind.He needs to believe Nadal is beatable, but he needs to acknowledge him as a genuine contender to the throne than act in plain denial and exhibit negative vibes. Other than these I see no reason for the jitters he showed in 5th set.

Fickle media

Recently, I had an argument with a friend of mine who claimed that Shahrukh Khan is "The International Superstar". Though I had differences with the title that was being attributed to, I still don't belittle any of his achievements. I just want stuff like Swades and Chak De more often from SRK. That's the only complaint against him. SRK has been under spotlight for more than a decade. He has been enchanting so many Indians around the globe and despite being criticised and lauded by different sections of the society, he has handled the media quite well.

Coming back to Fed, I wonder how it must be for him to come under the scanner after Wimbledon loss and this loss (Media widely claimed that he is back after US Open title) despite having won 13 slams. I don't know when the so called Fed fans started following him. Do you become fan of a player who is winning consistently at that time period and is also hot on current form? Or is there some philosophy on the basis of which you become a fan of a celebrity or a player? I certainly base my tennis player loyalty (atleast in Men's ;)) on technical capabilities and ability to be pleasing on the eye.In fact my obsession with Fed began when he toppled my all time favorite of mine, Sampras in Wimbledon 2001 pre-quarterfinals.

Bandwagon effect or True fan loyalty?

How many Nadal fans can claim to have followed him ever since he made his debut 6 years ago? I find that people find it convenient to side with the current form than class. Form is temporary, class is permanent. Wait, wait, I'm not taking anything away from Nadal. He is a perfect sportsman, the challenge he used when Fed had run out of his in a set is a glowing example. Off field, the way he consoled Fed is a sight to see indeed. His mental strength is a great source of motivation for many youngsters, am sure. However, still it will take more than these to win loyalty of so many Fed fans.

Why still hopeful about "#14 Roger that"?

Nadal missed Australian Open 2 years ago due to injury. The work ethic he is following right now can't be continued forever. There have been promising players who were unstoppable once, but they took one serious knock and then had their career development disrupted temporarily or permanently. Brazil's Ronaldo after a career threatening knee injury in 1999 is an example. Nadal is adapting fast to different surfaces, he is improving his range of shots. Heartening indeed. However, these are all employed less. Still the ruthless muscle power yields maximum returns. I would like Nadal to show more guile. I would like him to age wisely using more of brain than brawn. As of now, his brute force has only left me feel like how I would after seeing a horror movie. Chill down the spine!!!Will all supposedly Nadal fans be happy to see the current version and expect him to be the same after 5 years as well? He could fade away unable to expand his game play to match with increasing age. This may look like I'm talking in plain denial, Unable to swallow Fed's repeated failures, disbelief at seeing Fed being usurped so convincingly from his position. I do have past instances where seemingly infallible cam crashing down to earth in no time. Arsenal's 49 match unbeaten streak came to an end abruptly though they looked unstoppable till match #49.It could not go on when you use the same core of 14 players for more than a year and half. Even machines need yearly maintanance. Ferrari's complete dominance in 2004 and 2005 was checked by bringing in rules to promote competitiveness. Fatigue and injuries will eventually take a toll on Nadal if he continues motoring on like this. Who knows, like F1, tennis balls maybe made lighter to promote more serve and volley (suggested by a friend, and I hope such a thing happens to revitalize a dying art). And something on these lines would surely happen, am confident and it could mean that it is too early to write him off and Fed still stands a chance. Maybe, enroute to a slam trophy, he could put one over Nadal or someone else may do him a favour. But I'm highly optimistic about him emulating Pistol Pete.Maybe it could be his final swansong too as I don't expect Fed's fitness levels to cooperate so beautifully like that of Andre Agassi after 30 years.

Grand Slam - Threatening legendary status

Fed may or may not win the French Open and make the grand slam.True, it adds lot of glitter and glamour, the honour of a grand slam. What if he doesn't? Does this make Edberg, Sampras, Becker and Fed lesser mortals?Sampras' 14 slam achievement doesn't lose its gloss due to it. Edberg still remains as the greatest serve and volley player of all time. He happens to be Fed's role model too. Why is it that achievements of these great men are forgotten and only voids are being looked at with microscope?

Is all this fame and favourite tag worth it all?

My dad used to say "If you just pass your exam, no one will pester you to score more as they know that this is what you are capable of. If you are scoring 95/100, they will urge you to put in more to reach 100 or complain about you missing out on 5 marks. if you are used to scoring 100/100 in each test and get 99/100, you are written off as complacent". In the business world, so called leading companies have had to constantly reinvent itself with ingenious strategies to stay ahead of competition. But how long? Is there a limit to human mind's ability to invent (for the good, am not talking about Lehman type inventions which have thrown the whole world economy into a chaos)? Is being a leader actually worth it considering the hard work needed to maintain it? Doesn't winning get boring after sometime? Is winning a curse? Questions linger on.