There’s only a matter of months until the start of the 2012 Olympic Games and the opening coin toss in the race for the rarest of prizes on the tennis calender: a gold medal.
Roger Federer has stated in no uncertain terms that he fully intends to compete for the one remaining crown he’s yet to wear. After entertaining a veritable feast of questions surrounding his desire to continue in the sport when it seems there’s nothing left to gain, the Fed Express is always quick to retort that he has no intention whatsoever of retiring before the 2012 Olympics, which will be hosted on the green green grass of home, or more accurately, the slick lawns of the All England Club, a place where he has enjoyed more success than anywhere else.
However, long gone are the days of Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards and Paula “The Crawler” Bolopa, who’s qualification for the Olympics could be earned by simply being the best in one’s respective country regardless of their international accolades, and this is true for tennis players.
Not to suggest that greats such as Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal aren’t eminently worthy of automatic entry into the Games, but just like everyone else, they will have to earn their spot, and what is more, their individual merits may not be enough. In addition to proving their worth on the international stage, players must also prove their are worthy of representing their country as loyal citizens and ambassadors.
This might account for Mr. Federer’s recent change of attitudes with regards to playing in the Davis Cup.
When asked back in May about proposed changes by the players to the century-old competition which would allow more top players to compete, the 16-time Grand Slam Champion responded,
“It’s disappointing they don’t listen to us enough. The ITF seems to know best what the players want and need and we all disagree with it. It’s just somewhat frustrating for us and then they shouldn’t be surprised when the best players don’t play.”
And yet, two months later, Fed took the court in Bern, Switzerland to face off against 34th ranked Portugal. So, why the change of heart?
As it turns out, in order to compete in the Olympics you must make yourself available for Davis of Fed Cup competitions in two of the four years leading up to the Olympics.
This probably explains Federer losing his serve twice in the opening set to the 93rd-ranked Machado before recovering to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. He wasn’t there to win, but simply to stamp his card so he can don the Swiss flag for the Games next summer.
Perhaps this is somewhat of a cynical move by the ITF to bribe players into competing in the Davis and Fed Cups. But it worked, and is certainly making for a more interesting tournament. The question is whether or not it will prove justified for the aging Swiss legend.
Federer will turn 31 during the Games, and while Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Jimmy Connors were all able to win majors in their early thirties, it’s unlikely you’ll see Federer competing at the Rio Olympics at the age of 35.
No, this is almost certainly Federer’s last chance to claim the Career Golden Slam (a feat hereto only accomplished by Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi and Federer’s arch-rival, Rafael Nadal) and he’s all too aware of it.
Federer’s best shot at an Olympic Gold actually came at the 2000 Games in Sydney, where he ghosted through the draw unseeded into the semi-finals eventually losing to Tommy Haas, before going on to lose to Arnaud Di Pasquale of France in the Bronze Medal match.
Four years later, Federer was the World Number One and the heavy odds-on favorite at the Athens Games, but somehow managed to lose to Tomas Berdych in the second round.
At the third attempt in Beijing, Federer only fared slightly better, losing in the quarter-finals to James Blake, allowing his nemesis Rafael Nadal to take the Gold.
However, something remarkable happened in Beijing when he teamed up with countryman Stanislas Wawrinka to capture the doubles Gold, beating the Bryan Brothers en route.
As far as I’m concerned, a Gold Medal is a Gold Medal regardless of what sport, event or category. If I was an Olympic Champion of any kind, I would have the Gold Medal tattooed onto my chest, and the ribbon permanently etched into my neck. Anyone who felt it appropriate to say “Oh, but it was only for the synchronized hand clapping, wasn’t it?” would quickly become persona non grata with me.
Unfortunately, in the world of professional tennis, singles does count for more than doubles. Singles players get abundantly more prize money, infinitely more television coverage and considerably more respect.
However, Federer clearly doesn’t feel doubles at the Olympics is too far beneath him, and has actually sought former World Number One Martina Hingis’ courtship for the mixed doubles. She will of course have to qualify by entering WTA tournaments and competing in the Fed Cup. Something she has not done since retiring at the grand old age of 12. Or however old she was. It’s been a while.
Just as when Pete Sampras retired with 14 Grand Slam trophies in his cabinet and his legacy as the “Greatest Ever” seemingly locked in for at least a generation before Federer came and messed things up, so too now does Roger’s claim on the highest mantel seem in danger from Rafael Nadal, a man only five years his junior.
Nadal’s already got a better head to head than Federer (although these numbers are deceiving), as well as the Golden Career Slam. If Federer wishes to make his mark as the Greatest Player of All Time, he’ll want to make one last big charge to the finish line in London next summer.
But can he do it? Popular wisdom would have to say no. He’ll simply be too old. Plus Rafa and the Djoker will surely be too strong for him by then. But, the tournament will be on grass, and perhaps more importantly, only best of three sets. This may prove the determining factor as his form at Wimbledon showed his major weakness was running out of intensity and steam.
I personally would love to see Federer win the Olympics as the underdog. Just like when Goran came back to win Wimbledon at 30, or Sampras’s final victory at the US Open at 31, or even Jimmy Connors inexplicable run to the US Open semi-finals at 39, it’s always a thrill to see great champions prove they’ve still got the touch even after everyone’s written them off.
I can’t wait. Good Luck Roger!