Federer Still Shows Class In Defeat
Federer Still Shows Class In DefeatJuan Martin del Potro and Roger Federer come to the net after their 2009 US Open Mens Championship match in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billie Jean King USTA Tennis Center in Flushing, New York on September 14, 2009. Juan Martin del Potro upsets Roger Federer in five sets by the score of 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 to win the 2009 US Open Mens Championship. |
FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – Not much bad can be said about Roger Federer. Even in defeat, he was as gracious as ever and that’s even after the tough five-set loss in the US Open Finals in the Juan Martin Del Potro, 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
“I thought it was a tough match from the start,” Federer said. I think even the first set was, you know, pretty close. I think both getting used to the conditions. It was kind of tough starting around the 4:00 time because the shadows moving in and stuff.
“I got off to a pretty good start, and had things under control as well in the second set. I think that one cost me the match eventually. But I had many chances before that to make the difference. So it was tough luck today, but I you thought Juan Martin played great. I thought he hung in there and gave himself chances, and in the end was the better man.”
Federer just had a bad day. His serve was off and he had an uncharacteristic 62 unforced errors in the match as well as 11 double faults. Del Potro admitted his first set was nothing but nerves, and he caught himself in the second, which means the Maestro was having even a harder day than the score indicated.
“I thought I had him under control for the first two sets,” Federer said. “I should never have lost so many chances. It was just a pity. I think if I win the second set, I’m in a great position to come through. Unfortunately, I didn’t win that and that was it.”
Although he composed himself after the match was over, you have to believe Federer was frustrated. In the third after holding to make the score 5-4, he was caught by the television cameras cursing at the chair umpire about the allowance of Del Potro’s challenge. The five-time champion makes no bones about his disdain for the “Hawk-Eye” system used in replays. And this time was no different.
“You know, what I think about Hawk-Eye,” he said. “Shouldn’t be there in the first place. So then second question shouldn’t happen. It is what it is.”
As is Federer who is the same classy player win or lose. And this loss will mean nothing for his legacy. Federer is still the best ever, even with the 2009 record of 2-2 in Grand Slam finals.
“Unbelievable,” he said. “Unbelievable run. Being in all major finals and winning two of those, I’m losing the other two in five sets. Sure, I would have loved to win those two as well. Being so close, I think was two points from the match today. That’s the way it goes sometimes.
“But year has been amazing already and it’s not over yet. Got married and had kids, don’t know how much more I want.”
Topics: Bad Day, Better Man, Bones, Chair Umpire, Disdain, Double Faults, Eye System, Hawk, Hawk Eye, Juan Martin Del Potro, Maestro, Match, Nerves, Replays, Roger Federer, Score, Television Cameras, Time Champion, Tough Luck, Unforced Errors
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