Roger at his best at Cincy

If the outfit that Roger Federer was wearing nice, what about the “I am-aggressive-today” attitude that he was wearing? It was needed and he wore it on two good occasions. Once against Andy Murray in the Semi-Finals and once today in Finals against Novak Djokovic. Both times it worked wonders.

It helped Federer dominate Djokovic right from the outset who had not dropped a set enroute to the finals. The Swiss master never allowed Djokovic to pose any serious problems and played up to his No.1 ranking to win the Cincinnati Open- a Masters tournament. With this win, Federer is just one short of equaling that magical 17 masters record held by the great Andre Agassi.

Novak Djokovic outplayed Rafael Nadal completely with an authoritative win over the former world No.1 in the semi-finals to set up a date with the invincible Roger Federer in the finals. The final was expected to be a cracker of a match by tennis fans. It wasn’t.

The ease at which Roger Federer dominated the early stages of his 6-1, 7-5 straight set victory in the finals was simply outstanding. So formidably he did control the exchanges, advancing menacingly whenever Djokovic left the ball short, that it was a surprise to see Djokovic playing well in the second.

Federer displayed and gave Novak Djokovic a good tennis lesson on how to play forehand winners, backhand passes, how to play the disguised drop, cross-court angled volleys that was so perfect and many others that left Djokovic admiring at the other side of the net. Federer’s timing, feet movement and court coverage were as exquisite to those famous watches made in his country. The Swiss Master was at his very best.

With this win, Federer continues his stellar form and takes loads of confidence on hard court before he starts his US Open campaign. If anyone who is capable of asking Federer any questions in the coming fortnight in New York, it will be Andy Murray more than Rafael Nadal or Andy Roddick or Novak Djokovic.

Will the Swiss Master go on to win his 16th Grand Slam and the 6th US Open title at the Flushing Meadows? Will his good friends Pete Sampras and Tiger Woods be treated by the Swiss master at Arthur Ashe stadium? We will know the answers in just a couple of weeks from now.

I dont want to cry Fed!

The whole world is busy stocking up face masks as a precautionary measure to stay off possible swine flu epidemic. I am not. I am in fact stocking facial tissues instead because in a few days time the three things that I hate passionately will come and haunt me sizing me down to tears. The three things I mean are “Clay”, “Rafael Nadal against Roger Federer” and “Rafael Nadal on Clay”. I do have developed a bad habit of breaking down and have picked it up from Roger Federer. Yes I do cry and give Roger a good company whenever he breaks down. At the same time, I am hoping against the hope that my facial tissues won’t come of use this time in the hope that Federer beats Nadal at Roland Garros . So the next couple of weeks starting next week, I am doubtless I see my emotions flare, witness happiness and soak in sadness etc as the French Open at Roland Garros gets underway.

There was some respite coming Roger’s way last week when the Swiss Master beat the world no.1 comprehensively in straight sets in Madrid Masters Tournament. Although the surface was clay, the court was too fast paced unlike the one at Roland Garros and was to Roger’s liking where he loved the ball coming onto his racquet nicely as he always does. He made full use of the newly laid Monola Santana Centre Court conditions and beat the tired Rafael Nadal in the finals to win his 15th Masters tournament needing 2 more to break the world record of 17 Masters wins held by Andre Agassi.

While it’s good to have a win against Nadal on clay before going into the Roland Garros, Roger knows that it means nothing as he has experienced before. Roger beat Rafa in Hamburg in 2007 on clay before going into the French Open only to be beaten in the finals a couple of weeks later by the King of Roland Garros.

To add to his agony, the times have changed from then to now. Roger was focused and strong mentally then. Now, the super-cool, fiercely focused, unbeatable-in-big-matches Roger Federer – has been behaving strangely. Like losing his cool, losing his focus, and like losing big matches as easily as he once won them.

In fact, his behaviour has become as retro as those knitted cardigans and blazers that he dons at Wimbledon, taking back to the days when he did stupid things as well as anyone; when in his own words: "I was throwing my racket like you can't imagine … I mean, I was getting kicked out of practice sessions when I was 16. I used to talk much more, too, and scream on court."

The lack of a proper coach is also showing up with every passing failure and every little emotional convulsion, be it a smashed racquet, recourse to tears or dejected press conference. He sacked Peter Lundgren as his coach in 2003 and then, two years ago, parted with the astute Australian Tony Roche.

Despite all these problems, I do hope the Swiss Ace makes it to the finals this time surpassing the resurgent Andy Murrays, Verdascos, and Djokovics to beat his two nightmarish nemesis, clay and Rafael Nadal.

We will know in two weeks time whether Federer wins or did I use my facial tissues.