Wimbledon Pre-Final War Cries: History v His Story

This shit needs to be made into a statue:
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images

 

History is a story of epics, and everything about Roger Federer – Mr History – is epic.

His records – you often lose track of them: 20 finals (surpassing Lendl’s 19), 21 consecutive semifinals, 7 consecutive Wimbledon finals… no one, past or present, will come close to touching those. 

How about this? No one in Open Era has made 6 finals or more in a row. Roger Federer has done it twice. 

When Federer’s grass court streak was finally snapped last year, it was in an epic, fitting fashion. History threw Roger Federer some obstacles, before the Tennis Gods smiled on one of their own once more. When Federer completed his career slam at last in Paris last month, 10 years after Andre Agassi completed his set of slams there, the Tennis Narrative of Roger Federer was just one slam shy of being epic. 

But I’m not handing it to Roger Federer yet. That would be disrespectful both to his opponent and to History. There is still one more obstacle, and depending on form, weather and nerves, that obstacle could prove to be unexpectedly tricky. 

 

 

Andy Roddick’s story is not historical in any way. His story is one of perseverance, hard work, of never giving up. It’s a love story, a man who joked about getting old, getting hitched, and in the meanwhile – grew up.

It’s also a story of redemption, of being written off, losing H2Hs, and triumph against all odds. A story of losing weight, changing coaches, endless drawing boards, and one nemesis who just won’t go away. His story might have a fairytale ending tonight. 

 

As much as I love fairytales, there is too much at stake for Roger Federer: the No 1 spot, the record 15 slams, his 6th Wimbledon, the “channel slam”, the perfect symmetry of the Historical Narrative if Federer were to break an American record by beating an American, when Pete Sampras himself broke an Australian record (Emerson) by beating an Australian (Rafter). I will be cheering for Federer very, VERY loudly. Andy may have been my second choice to win Wimbledon, but he’s behind my first choice by far. 

And if you’re cheering for Andy Roddick tonight – fair enough. Andy deserves some support too. See you on the other side. 

 

The Federer Parade.

 

What’s making me unhappy and contemptuous right now though:

The Age, my local broadsheet, ran a Wimbledon final preview which I thought was unnecessarily dismissive. Hasn’t Andy Murray’s loss in the semi taught people anything? Nothing is certain in sport. 

 

Given Federer’s opponent will be career whipping boy Andy Roddick, no one has considered the possibility the Swiss champion will not reach the incredible milestone tonight. Indeed, the general consensus is that we would get a better contest if Roddick handed his racquet up to the royal box and let the “Rockhampton Rocket” or the “Ice cool Swede” have a crack.

…
The expectation of a crushing Federer victory is the inevitable consequence of his 18-2 record against Roddick, which includes victories in their 2004 and 2005 Wimbledon finals.

If Roddick could not challenge Federer as he was leaving base camp in his incredible climb up the game’s tallest historical alp, why should anyone believe he can upset the Swiss as he prepares to shove Sampras off the summit? Especially given the no-nonsense way Federer beat German Tommy Haas in his semi-final.

Souce: the Age 

 

I just don’t like it. The article (and many just like it) is not only ignorant of the progress that Roddick has made, but it also understates the efforts Federer has to put up in about 8 hours time to potentially win this tournament. 

The line about Laver and Borg INFURIATES me.