Rafa comes of age as age comes in Fedex’s way

BY VIKRAM VISHAL

WHAT is it that “killing” the 13-time Grand Slam champ? The missed opportunity to become the greatest-ever, equalling Pete Sampras’ magical tally of 14 majors– the most talked-about number in tennis? Yet another opening to avenge defeats to rival Rafael Nadal meeting a dead end? Or the agony of seeing the gap between the World No 1 and No 2 increasing further?
It probably is the amalgamation of all these ‘factors’ and many more that made the Swiss break down at the Melbourne Park. Having reached the final of the first Grand Slam of the year, he had a number of motivating factors, including the support of most of The Greats, not only to beat the man who is at the pinnacle of men’s tennis, but also to affirm that he is down but not out.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity for me, of course, you know, not being No. 1 anymore, trying to beat No. 1 in the world and getting the 14th Grand Slam… This is where I won the Grand Slam to become No. 1 in the world back in 2004, so I've always had a special liaison with this tournament,” is what he had to say a day before the grand finale. Fedex’s 2004 victory had come after winning Wimbledon the previous year. And on Sunday, history repeated itself sans the Swiss master.

Twenty-four hours later: “The problem is you can't go in the locker room and just take it easy and take a cold shower. You can't. You know, you're stuck out there. It's the worst feeling, you know. So, I don't know, it's rough,” said the three-time Australian champion after the Spaniard triumphed at the end of the four-our-and-23-minute match.
He might have said before the match that “I don't only look at the majors”, and still feels every tournament he enters he would like to win, but he was very clear of the fact that what all wonders a Grand Slam victory can do, particularly if a No 2 is eying the top rank.

“It gives the most points, it's most rewarding in terms of ranking and in terms of being judged how you're playing. You get the biggest test. It's best-of-five sets. That's why obviously Grand Slams are very intriguing,” were his words hours before tears left him speechless upon receiving the runners up trophy.
His inconsolable emotion (along with his game of course) did earn him a standing ovation soon after the match. But the kind of reception given to Nadal was not the one a champion deserved, thanks to the ‘emotional’ spectators who, predictably, got ‘carried away’, so much so that even the 22-year-old could only say “I really know how you feel right now, but remember you are one of the best in history”.
While the former World No. 1 used words like “it’s killing me…” and “… will return next year”, the present No. 1 replied with “sorry for today mate”.
Federer has announced to return next year as he knows he is a master of the game as also the fact that Nadal has spent a year dragging him down, ending his run of five Wimbledon titles and his record stretch atop the rankings. While the former ‘fact’ will no doubt be a shot in his arm to retrieve his lost crown, the latter ‘truth’ seems to be what that might be “killing” him.
If anything that today’s on-court action followed by the off-court drama reflects is while Rafa has come of the age, age has come in the way of 27-yar-old Fedex!