Posted on 01/31/2010 4:43:43 PM PST by SeekAndFind
ROGER Federer was true to his word, shrugging off Andy Murray's ambitious challenge last night to enhance a staggering grand slam record with a glorious Australian Open victory.
Federer's imperious 6-3 6-4 7-6 (13-11) defeat of Murray brought his 16th major title.
But he was made to sweat through a dramatic third-set tiebreak, which saw Murray hold five set points and Federer three match points before the contest ended dramatically after 161 minutes.
"I'm over the moon," Federer said. "I've played some of the best tennis of my life. This is a special moment in my life. It's also very special, first grand slam as a father."
Federer's wife Mirka gave birth to twin girls Charlene Riva and Myla Rose in July.
Murray struggled with his emotions post-match.
"I can cry like Roger, it's just a shame I can't play like him," Murray said. "(Roger), your achievements in tennis are incredible. You were a lot better than me tonight."
No male has won as many grand slam singles titles as Federer. Pete Sampras is closest with 14. Only five women - Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22), Helen Wills Moody (19), Chris Evert (18) and Martina Navratilova (18) - have won more.
At 28, Federer is a chance to become the most prolific winner of singles majors in the history of the sport.
Mindful of the widely held opinion Murray shapes as his natural successor, Federer went out of his way to make a statement to the 22-year-old Scot.
Watched by his parents Lynette and Robert, Federer monstered Murray after a tight start, where both men dropped serve four games into the first set.
Murray was effectively gone from the moment Federer broke serve in the eighth game of the first set.
He was simply stunning as he improved his record in major finals to 16-6.
Federer soaked up Murray's best in the first 30 minutes before mercilessly exploiting the Scot's shrinking confidence.
Wary of attacking Federer's magnificent forehand, Murray found himself over-playing to the Swiss genius's backhand.
Murray first raised hopes of a late-match revival when he led the third set 2-5, only to collapse when serving for the set.
Regrouping in the tiebreak and holding five set points, Murray sacrificed his hopes by netting a sitter forehand and then narrowly missing a backhand volley. He then saved a match point as Federer looped a forehand down the line.
More drama followed as Federer wasted a second match point by attempting to drop-shot Murray only to have the Scot scoop a backhand winner into court. Eventually, it ended when Murray's weary backhand found the net.
Federer was seemingly eager to also make a point to the British media contingent that its man is not yet good enough to become a grand slam champion.
After the match, he said to Murray: "You are too good a player not to win a grand slam, so don't worry about it."
Federer last night smoked 46 winners to Murray's 29 and joined Jack Crawford, Ken Rosewall and Andre Agassi as a four-time winner of the championship.
How do you compare players within any sport that played in different eras?
Add to that McEnroe, Conners, and about five others.
You can’t really compare players in different eras. We have different equipment now, e.g. racquets made out of high tech materials, the latest technology, shoes, there’s much more fitness involved, etc. etc.
I enjoyed the match and I was rooting for Andy Murray really hard. I love watching Roger and he is awesome but I’m ready to see the new talent come and take over. Andy has great talent and has all the shots and tricks in his bag but today Roger was his old self, was much more consistent and served beautifully. Andy couldn’t get his first serve going and made many more unforced errors. His time will come. For now we get to enjoy Roger though. And what a champ he is.
I was rooting for Andy Murray too. I’ve always been for the underdog, and a Federer win would be a yawn. But I guess it isn’t meant to be at this time.
One thing I observe is this — If you want to beat Federer in a grand slam, you have to be ABOVE and BEYOND your best. Just being very good will not be good enough. The man is a virtual tennis machine ( if you took the tears out ).
“How do you compare players within any sport that played in different eras?”
Well to be fair, tennis isn’t really a sport. It’s more like a recreation activity like golf or lawn darts.
I agree. And nobody, I mean nobody, could return a serve like Jimmy Connors in his prime.
Tying a kangaroo down?
You are either tongue-in-cheek "funny" (not really) or a complete moron who has never played a competitive match.
I could run your sorry ass back and forth in 15 minutes of play and make you run home crying to momma.
It is difficult to compare players from different eras. I get into arguments when I maintain that Babe Ruth was the greatest of all-time in baseball, but he was. What other ballplayer in history hit more home runs in a season than any other team? No one. What other power hitter was 3-0 as a pitcher in World Series play? Who was the only player to lead the league in home runs (12 times at that), RBIs, BA, Fielding Ave., runs scored, ERA, Wins, Shutouts, etc.? Who hit the first home run in an All-Star game? Who hit the first home run (on opening day) at Yankee Stadium? Who shares the record with Ron Guidry for shutouts by a left hander in season (9)? Who was the first player to hit 30 HRs? 40 HRs? 50? 60? The first to hit three home runs in a WS game? What pitcher had a winning record against the great Walter Johnson (6-3)? Which player topped .700 in SA nine times? What former pitcher compiled a lifetime SA of .690? (Something that Hank Aaron, Joe DiMaggio, Willie Mays, & Hank Greenburg never accomplished in their best seasons!) What power hitter stole home 10 times in his career (which puts him ahead of Lou Brock)? And who consistently won pregame fungo hitting contests, on one occasion (7-31-29) hitting a ball 447 feet? That would be Babe Ruth. No one comes close. And please no arguments about him not facing the best black players. Well, he didn’t in regular season play, but he did quite well against black stars in exhibition games.
Unfortunately, that might never happen because it appears Nadal's nagging knee problems could end his career early.
I'm sorry but that really doesn't show you anything.... The BEST tennis player of all time. Hard to say, but you compete against the person in front of you. Nadal being hurt or any player being hurt or injured has and will keep a player from being the best at any sport. That's just the breaks.
Gale Sayers was a great running back, but the greatest... we'll never know. Jim Brown never blew his knee out, but then again who would want to hit him.
Federer has 10 more grand slams than Nadal. On all surfaces and with the ability to change his game on the fly. He doesn't have the "best serve" in the world but can hit a 127 mph serve out wide if he wants to about 75-80% of the time... he can crank it up to 132 mph out wide but his percentage goes down. He can place his serve anywhere in the box with the same toss.
Then you have his "shots". From any part of the court he has six options -forehand crosscourt, down the line and out wide to the short side... same with his backhand, which he can slice or hit with topspin. His forehand today on one shot was measured at 95 mph flat cross court. He can also hit a high heavy top spin.. so he can change the direction, the spin and the trajectory on every shot.... then he added a nasty drop shot for the French Open.... and he keeps getting better.
Now on top of that, he hasn't had any serious injury other than a bad case of mono that kept him from training.
I think he's the best all around tennis player in the world... ask the pros.... Rod Laver today chuckled when he was asked if Federer could beat him. Talked about his power, flexibility and shot making.
I'm not a big Federer fan but I respect his game. My favorite player of all time was Patrick Rafter. He was the best sportsman I've ever see compete and wished that every young Junior tennis player hoping to be a pro could have seen the man play and just compete. Best serve and volley player I've ever seen and just about the funniest and nicest guy off the court.
Can’t.
You are 100% correct on Ruth. He was the best left-handed pitcher in the American League - during the time of Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson - before completely transforming the game of baseball with his power hitting.
No other baseball player has a comparable record. Ever.
“How is a sport defined?”
Where none of the participants wear a skirt to play.
Let’s see a tennis player and a CPA...the true definition of toughness.
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