in Tennis Articles

The Fed Express Continues to Roll

The question of how good Roger Federer is is a tired story. The real question is: Can anyone beat this guy? When Fernando Gonzalez rampaged through the likes of James Blake, Rafael Nadal and Lleyton Hewitt, everyone thought that he might, at the very least, be able to give Federer a decent match.

Boy, were they ever wrong.

Federer rolled in straight sets to beat the speedy Chilean. That made it ten victories in a row against Gonzalez, who played just as well in the finals as he did throughout the tournament. The difference was purely Federer, who showed why is the most feared athlete in his sport.

Gonzalez used his speed and finesse to hang with Federer in the first set. As the match went on, Federer began returning shots that were getting past easier than all of Gonzalez's previous opponents. The key was superior positioning.

Federer has shown this trait his entire career. He simply knows where you are going to hit the ball. The same way NFL coaches study tape all week long in preparation for their battle on Sunday, Federer has a keen idea of what his opponent's game plan will be.

Many of the so-called experts tagged Roddick as the player to watch in 2007. Though he has made steady improvements over the course of his career, the one major road block on the court has always been Federer. Yet Roddick failed to peel a set off of Federer and lost in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. That could not have done any wonders for his confidence.

Then there is the other American: James Blake. Blake is known typically as a grinder who grinds it out with the best, showcasing superior athleticism and endurance. While the American may have alligator blood, Blake still has yet to prove he can takeover a game with good shot selection and proper technique. Simply out-lasting an opponent does not cut it, especially against Federer.

The only player on the planet even close to Federer is Rafael Nadal, the master on the clay who is known for his flash as well as his fire. Nadal trails Federer by 3,595 points on the ATP Men's Rankings. Still, Nadal holds the only Grand Slam victory over Federer, a win he posted in the 2006 French Open.

Federer is simply the man right now, and has been for well over a year. He has been the no.1 ranked tennis player in the world for 156 straight weeks, and he has the points to break Jimmy Connor's record of 160.

We are still waiting for someone to emerge as Federer's antagonist, the same way Sampras battled Agassi during those epic years of tennis. For now, Federer is miles ahead of the pack. At the young age of 25, there is no telling what he is capable of. The 2007 Australian Open is only the beginning of this year, as we all kick back and watch his legend grow.

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