I have already written about the exploits of Swiss tennis star Stan Wawrinka and how he captured three Grand Slams over three years from 2013-2016. He is a player I am really looking forward to watching in Melbourne in a week's time at the Australian Open. Especially considering he looked in great shape at the ATP Doha tournament last week. But how about Stan's far more illustrious Swiss compatriot Roger Federer, could he be the one to upset Stan, possibly even in the first round and go on to repeat his famous comeback run in Melbourne 2017?
The signs are actually looking promising for Federer, he may have endured a wobbly end to 2018 loosing matches against John Millman (at the US Open - his worst performance of the year), Borna Coric (Shanghai Masters) plus Kei Nishikori and Alexander Zverev at the London finals but this year at the Hopman Cup he looked rejuvenated, sharp and formidable.
He won all four singles matches in straight sets whilst leading Switzerland to another Hopman Cup victory vs Germany, with the pick of them all being his two set domination of Alexander Zverev which was literally the polar opposite to his match against him in London at the end of 2018. Zverev during much of the game had a look of bewilderment on his face, almost as if he pretty much reconciled himself to the fact that he couldn't keep up with Federer's movement and shot selection, so why should he really get that frustrated, the Swiss star was in God Mode on court and Zverev clearly accepted his fate like a true sport! Think about one of those multiplayer shoot-em video games where your mate picks up the invincibility bonus for a short period of time, you just accept if you come across him your going to get annihilated with no chance of touching him, that's how Zverev came across against Federer.`Check the highlights out here:
Federer Wins In Emphatic Fashion vs Zverev at the Hopman Cup
Notably strong were Federer's forecourt volleying and sliced defense, two key elements of his game that can really turn a point in his favour with a few swings of his rackets. It reminds me of the Troy Movie, where at the beginning Achilles needs convincing by Agamemnon's Officer to kill Triopas' champion fighter - the giant Boagrius. He tell's Achilles - "You can end this war with a swing of your sword". Federer was and still is the Achilles of the court, he moves and kills games off so gracefully with a swing of his racket, moving unlike any tennis player we have ever seen before.
His slice defense lands so near the baseline so regularly it's the best in the game and brings him back into a point when he's being pushed into the corners. Then his approach game at the net see's him get his body into the perfect position for even the most awkward of volleys. His footwork is what really sets up his volleys, he moves and anticipates the ball with such intelligence and speed.
Zverev actually put up a good fight in Perth, when he did hold serve he hit the ball very deep and aggressively off both wings but some of Federer's picks up from the forecourt were simply too good. Where as Zverev atleast put up a convincing fight against Fed-Ex, Norrie for Great Britain got absolutely obliterated 6-1, 6-1. It was actually quiet embarrassing and for those thinking Cameron Norrie is some substandard player, he's actually a promising talent for Great Britain who defeated some big names last year. I don't think any other player could have beaten him the way Federer did. He just looked second best in nearly every point of the match, never mind every game.
Norrie Get's Obliterated by Federer at the Hopman Cup
A Roger Federer hitting as crisply and consistently as he did in these two games is going to be trouble for anyone unlucky enough to draw him early on in the Australian Open. But what about a more worthy adversary, say his all time nemesis Rafa Nadal? Well I really fancied Nadal to come good in Melbourne and potentially claim the title, but with him pulling out of Brisbane due to a thigh strain there's a big question mark hanging over his head, is he really going to be match fit and can he get away with playing the sort of dogged defensive tennis we have known him to rely on in the tougher five set games? We saw how his knees buckled at the US Open last year vs Del Potro. If he comes up against a stern opponent like that earlier on again, does he have the fitness and mental strength to last given his lengthy spell out from tennis. I now have my doubts.
Djok Not Looking So Invincible Afterall
Then there's Novak Djokovic, seemingly unstoppable up until the Paris Masters in October 2018. Before that match he had cleared up winning two Grand Slams and completing a Golden Masters. In Paris he fell to the young Russian Karen Khachanov in straight sets. That seemed to light a small fuse whereby he then imploded against Zverev in the London Final in straight sets followed by this years shaky start in Doha. There he conceded sets to both Marton Fucsovics and Nikoloz Basilashvili, both hungry improving players who were keen to put the champ through his paces. While Djokovic weathered the storm before dominating Fucsovics in the third set, he was rather fortunate to come through against Basilashvili and needed some luck to see him through. But even then he fell to Bautista Agut in the final. The Argentine deserved the victory, he simply bossed Djokovic throughout most of the match and looked the more confident and assertive player from the back. Federer must have been looking on with a degree of satisfaction realising the Serbian isn't quiet as invincible as he seemed last year when Federer lost to him in the Cincinatti final and the Paris Masters semis.
Given the circumstances of the World Number 1 and 2, there will never be a better time for either Stan Wawrinka or Roger Federer to make a big run for their next Australian Open title. Swiss tennis fans must be rubbing their hands with glee at the potential opportunity on offer. Backing either player to claim victory in Melbourne or even both is smart move. Let's just hope they don't get drawn against each other in the first round. I'd like a draw where they end up on the opposite sides of the tournament. An all swiss final would certainly be a curious affair, Federer may have the far superior record of the two head to head (21-3) but when it comes to final meetings it's currently 1-1 and Stan is due a win having lost the last five matches to Roger.
Comments