I actually like Federer now

Before 2008 there was an air of inevitability about men's tennis matches. Unless it was French Open, it was a given that the winner would be Roger Federer. Even at that venue, there were some doubts - what if Rafeal Nadal were to succumb to a hot player in an earlier round and lose. After all Federer had been in 19 consecutive Grand Slam Semi-finals and 18 of the past 23 Grand Slam Finals!! You had the sense you were watching Borg in their relentless mission to assimilate and nothing would get in his way - Resistance is futile and all. If there was a smidgen of suspense left, it was always who was going to be the bridesmaid.

If all this did not give away my opinion, let me state it before it is too late. I do not like Federer, I do not mean as a person, since I do not know him at all. I know, it is sacrilege, as if I said I did not like Michael Jordan. Yes I did not like Michael also; only one who has lived in Detroit or New York and rooted for Pistons or Knicks respectively would understand. Similarly I always rooted for Pete Sampras from the outset. Sampras lost at Wimbledon in a 5 setter to Federer in 2001 in their only head to head meeting in an ATP tournament.

Before 2008, the question was when would Federer win more Grand Slams than Sampras's tally of 14. Then came the year 2008 when Federer won only a single grand slam title and lost in (holy cow) of all places Wimbledon to Rafa. Now people could actually dare to ask - will he ever get more than 14?

In 2009 it gets more interesting. Roger Federer aiming for the 14th grand slam title, loses again to Nadal in a final of 2009 Australian Open in another 5 setter epic considered by many to be one of the best matches. To compound it he breaks down and sobs during the the award ceremony!!

The Borg do not cry!!

I was always afraid that if we we ever peered inside Federer, we would see nuts, bolts and micro chips not blood and guts. I guess, this was the first time I saw the human side of Federer. I could even conceive of the possibility of actually rooting for Federer, since no matter what, he is definitely now the underdog whenever he plays Nadal.