At Wimbledon 2012, Roger Federer ended a 9-Slam streak without a title, the longest such period in his career at the time. Since then, the 34 year old had been in three Slam finals, all at Wimbledon, but had not managed to bring home Slam #18.
As the Slam-less streak reached 13 Slams coming into this year’s US Open, there was reason for Federer fans to despair. He has been so close three times since that last win under the Wimbledon roof. Yet all three times someone stood in his way.
The last two times, that man who beat Federer was Novak Djokovic. The world #1, who has dominated the sport with Federer-like results these past few years, is rapidly adding to his impressive career statistics–including Slam finals reached, Slams won, and time spent as World #1. He also levelled their career head-to-head at Wimbledon this year with 20 wins apiece.
Federer did not compete on tour for over six weeks since that Wimbledon loss, but his return since then has been with a vengeance. Showing off his new aggressive return tactics, Federer has ripped through the field in both Cincinnati and the US Open this year with his now infamous SABR (Sneak attack by Roger). His serve has been untouchable, his groundstrokes a reminder that he is one of the most precise ball-strikers to ever play the game. He met Djokovic in the final of Cincinnati and took back the lead in their career head-to-head with a convincing victory.
We have seen this before from Federer though. He has been able to beat Djokovic in Masters and smaller tournaments these past few years. But when it has come to the Slams, The Serb has had his number. Federer fans waited with bated breath to see if this was the Slam where the Swiss could finally break through the World #1 in a final.
Djokovic fans on the other hand, know that they are backing the current best player in the world. Sure, he might drop a match here or there and he might drop a set to someone random in a Slam. But when push comes to shove, Djokovic can beat any non-top player when he is not at his best. And when the world #1 meets a fellow top player, he always brings his best.
This was the stage our US Open final was set against. A resurgent Federer, dominant against everyone except for Djokovic, facing off against the best player in the world. It is a matchup that is always sure not to disappoint. And, as was every tennis fan’s dream, this match did not disappoint.
A flurry of showers held the excitement back a few hours, but once the players stepped on to court the raucous were treated to a mesmerising show of tennis.
The world #1 was in fine form in the early stages, hitting his strokes with power and precision. His reward would come in the third game as on the fifth time of asking he became only the second man to break the Federer serve in the tournament.
However, the Swiss would respond immediately. After a slip at 0-15 opened a small wound on the right arm of Djokovic, Federer would inflict his own damage by breaking straight back to level it 2-2.
A third service break in the set re-established the Serbian’s advantage after Federer made three critical errors from 30-0 up. That would be enough for Djokovic to take the opening set, thus snapping Federer’s 28 set winning streak. It was also significant in that Federer has only ever defeated Djokovic once after losing the opening set.
After being a marvel on serve since the end of the clay season, the world #2 would once again not be able to replicate that serving form in the final. His first serve percentage had decreased below 60% which is not promising against anyone, not least the greatest returner in the game.
Federer needed to find something to shift the momentum, enter the SABR. The much talked about and controversial return play from the Swiss was brought in to play in the second game of the set, but despite having numerous break point chances, Djokovic held strong.
Federer’s confidence increased and so did his serve percentage. The 34 year old managed to hold strong until 5-4 where he launched an attack on the Djokovic serve. Two set points came and went in a marathon game in which Djokovic prevailed.
The Swiss would try again at 6-5, and this time he was not to be denied. A backhand cross court forced the error from Djokovic and the match was suddenly level at one set all.
The pair exchanged breaks early in the third set with double faults costing them both. But the world #1 would be the one to eventually break through. Djokovic rallied to break at 4-4 and serve out the set to give himself a two set to one lead.
Djokovic would take an enormous step towards victory with a double break inthe fourth set. Federer however did not give up the fight and broke back at 5-2 to add some late drama in this clash. But in the second time of asking Djokovic would not be denied. Despite facing three break points and a pro Federer crowd, the world #1 would serve it out to seal a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory in a little over three hours on court.
The final would cap off a memorable two weeks in New York in both the women’s and men’s game. Federer was denied a record breaking 18th Grand Slam title by a man who just seems to have his number in the big tournaments. Djokovic on the other-hand has reached double figures with his grand slam total after claiming his third major title of the year. Only Stan Wawrinka’s heroics at Roland Garros stopped the world #1 from completing the calendar year grand slam.
It is hard to see who will end the Djokovic run of dominance as he will now have his eyes set on matching Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal’s 14 grand slam titles. For Federer this may have been his last chance to reach number 18 with time going against the 34 year old.
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