Federer - may need a fire in his belly for US open.

What really made me worrisome in his recent losses like he did not care enough inside/outside of the court to change the outcome and the fire inside the belly was not simply present. I am not undermining his ability to win still or his enormous talent.

Recently Ryan Harrison made similar comments about champ, which were not apprpriate though.. 

But the intense keenness to win matches was not there simply might be he is saving it for slams and I am one big fan of his ability and craftiness to win points.

What really concerned me is his return game in all these losses and his serve simply cracked when he needed it most, so may be self belief is also hurting a little bit and who knows may be he is hiding some injuries.

 

The unequivocal lines from the movie Gladiator haunt me as I wonder if I am witnessing the end of a tennis era.The majority of the tennis world certainly hopes not but fear age and on court miles are catching up with our tennis hero.

This was cruelly emphasized by Jo-Wilfred Tsonga at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, as he dispatched of Roger Federer for a second time this year including a crumbling third set in which the legend almost went without a game.

Most observers want to believe that Federer is still the best and most feared player on the planet. They still want to see him glide through tournaments without the loss of even a solitary set. Even if he does lose a match we want to find a good excuse. The mind still somewhat believes that it is 2006 and Federer has just won Wimbledon, following this he takes the Canadian title then goes on to clinch the U.S. Open. It’s supposed to be Rogers Cup at the Rogers Cup. Every cup is supposed to be Rogers Cup.

In truth Federer has not won a tournament since January.  He is suffering. He looks beatable and might be trying too hard to capture his old form. We wonder if he should retire but we would rather believe he can hold on like Sampras and get one more slam? We don’t want to see him hang up his racquet. And when he does leave us we want him to leave as number one. But the miles he has tread are catching up on him. He’s plus thirty now. He’s married with kids. Its tougher for him.

Now sadly, we are all making excuses for him.

I wish him all the best for US open starting from Cincy tournament, Delpo is his second round challenge  and may be winning this one he can ride a confidence wave going in to Us open. All the very best Roger.