Federer One Away From Another Wimbledon Title - 網球 Tennis

Federer One Way From Another Wimbledon Title

By CHRISTOPHER CLAREY
The New York Times
July 5, 2008

WIMBLEDON, England - Perhaps Wimbledon was not that wild and crazy, after
all.

For the third straight year, the men's final will be between Roger Federer
and Rafael Nadal. And the women's final will be the latest family affair
between Venus and Serena Williams.

None of those four establishment tennis figures have been seriously
threatened in this tournament, and Friday's men's semifinals represented more
of the same as Federer and Nadal secured their much-anticipated rematch by
advancing in straight sets.

Federer, serving superbly under pressure and controlling the flow of play
from the backcourt, coolly defused the still-dangerous game of Marat Safin,
6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Then Nadal, not quite as all-conquering as usual, avoided any major
complications against the unseeded German veteran Rainer Sch饝tler, 6-1, 7-6
(3), 6-4.

Now, these two, who are on unusually friendly terms for archrivals, have the
chance to keep chasing history at the other's expense.

Federer, the 26-year-old from Switzerland, will be trying to break his tie
with Bjorn Borg by winning his sixth straight Wimbledon singles title and
thereby equaling the record established by the 19th-century Englishman
William Renshaw, who only had to play one match a year in the more privileged
days of the challenge round.

Nadal, the 22-year-old from Majorca, will be trying to become the first
Spanish man in 42 years to win the singles title here. A victory would also
allow him to become the first man since Borg in 1980 to complete the grueling
French Open-Wimbledon double in the same season.

But Sunday's final, which risks being delayed or postponed if preliminary
weather forecasts are accurate, is much more than a numbers game. It is also
a one-match tussle for supremacy in the men's game. Though Federer will
maintain the No. 1 ranking no matter what the result, he needs to win to
maintain the aura he began building in 2003; Nadal, the longest-reigning No.
2 in modern tennis history, wants to prove that he can win a big one on
something other than the red clay of Paris.

"It certainly is a dream final for everyone," Federer said. "I love playing
him, especially here at Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament we have.
Rafa deserves it totally. He's played a great tournament. It should be a
great match."

Last year's classic final will be hard to trump. Nadal had four chances to
break Federer's serve early in the fifth set, but Federer was able to dodge
trouble and keep his winning streak alive.

This year, Nadal has been on the most impressive roll of his career,
overwhelming Federer in the French Open final with the loss of just four
games. He won on grass at Queen's Club the next week, then hustled through a
sometimes tricky draw at Wimbledon, losing just one set to Ernests Gulbis of
Latvia in the second round.

Asked if his lopsided defeat in Paris would matter, Federer shook his head.
"It's one month ago," he said. It's forgotten. We're not on clay. It doesn't
mean too much at this point."

Believe that or not - what else is Federer supposed to say? - Federer
clearly has done a fine job of shaking off his latest French Open
disappointment.

"I think the public perception is feeling like it's sort of Nadal's destiny
to win here after such a close final last year and really dominating Roger in
Paris," said Darren Cahill, Andre Agassi's former coach and one of the more
trenchant observers of the game. "But I just love the way Roger has stepped
up his game since Paris. I think his form in this Wimbledon has been his best
in 2008 and I think he is taking as good a form going into a final here that
I'v seen from him going into any final here.

"I think his serve is right on song again. He's placing it in the box
beautifully, hitting closer to the line with lots of aces. And what I also
like, quite honestly, is the quickness of step and lightness of foot in his
movement. He's got the sharpness back in his game."

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