Roger and Wozzy storm through

Written by: Staff on 3rd September 2010

Roger and Wozzy storm through |

As the storm clouds gather, the natives of the press bunker are getting twitchy. Those who can actually get on-line via the US Open’s bizarre internet system or, indeed, have fathomed the workings of the new, all singing, all dancing, stats and information system, are all glued to the weather forecasts.

Favourite among the websites is one known to us hacks as “doom.com”. Its real name is best left secret (for fear of legal reprisals) but suffice to say that if everyone else is predicting light drizzle, doom.com predicts the end of the world as we know it: rain for 40 days and 40 nights, arks in short supply at Walmart (mind you, you can still get them in Ikea, but they are called Hvnhgsrtsgtot and require an Allen key for assembly) and all small, furry animals instructed to line up in twos and await further orders.

However, it does seem that doom.com is not exaggerating this time. The hurricane is headed this way and everyone had better batten down the hatches.

With this in mind, both Roger Federer and Caroline Wozniacki wasted no time at all in getting into the third round. Neither dropped a set and Wozzy did not drop a game. This was impressive stuff.

The Mighty Fed blitzed Andreas Beck 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 and looked rather good as he did so. The two had never crossed racquets before and, after his introduction to the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) on a grand slam show court, poor old Beck probably wishes that he never has to see the former champion again.

In sweltering conditions – it was not quite as hot as Wednesday but it was unbearably humid – Fed barely broke a bead of perspiration as he marmelised his German rival. (You may have heard the old saying: a horse sweats, a gentleman perspires but a GOAT gently glows).

When it comes to handing out the credit for the old GOAT’s success, Mr F is quite stingy – it’s all pretty much down to him. And now that he is working with Paul Annacone, former mentor to Pete Sampras and Tim Henman and one of the poor saps who has tried, and failed, to help Britain’s tennis federation produce more players, The Fed is not changing his approach. So, had he seen any major improvements since he started working with his new coach?

“No,” Federer said, presumably while Annacone was out of earshot. “I mean, when I’m playing great, regardless of who’s in my player box, I can beat anybody, you know. It’s about being consistent and being confident in the way I play. I’m not all of a sudden going to play a two‑handed backhand or serve and volley on my second serve non-stop. It’s just not going to happen.”

Annacone, on the other hand, was a little more forthcoming when he spoke to the British press. Much as he did not mean to, he did give a little clue as to what he might be telling his new charge at the moment.

“A lot of a coach’s role at this level for me is learning the environment first,” Annacone explained in his own, inimitable and cautious style. “I actually think it’s very smart that he said ‘let’s do some time together’ because it’s more than just saying ‘here’s your forehand and backhand’, it’s understanding his life.

“He has a wife and two kids and he is who he is, so you can’t just go in there and say: ‘you’ve got to hit your backhand down the line more, you’ve got to serve and volley more’. You have to make some evaluations based on information that hopefully is filtered through some system that makes sense.”

Right, then, Annacone is telling the GOAT to serve and volley more and to hit his backhand down the line more. You heard it here first on 10sballs.com. On Saturday, weather permitting, we may see a little more of that from Rodge as he takes on Paul-Henri Mathieu.

And then there was Wozzy, the top seed and the bird expected to reach the final. Again.

Now, it has to be said that many expected the delightful Wozzy to wilt when she got to New York. In the absence of Serena and her sorely, poorly foot, Wozniacki had suddenly found herself as the marquee name in Flushing Meadows and, given the recent performances of other women suddenly thrust into the limelight, many of us were waiting for her collapse. Not a bit of it. Wozzy has been Hoovering up the rounds and has dropped just two games in two matches.

Her 47-minute 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Chang Kai-Chen of Chinese Taipei could not have been more emphatic. Wozzy was lovin’ it. But, as top seed, how did she think things had changed?

“The expectations maybe from the outside have changed,” she said, “but from myself, I always go into a tournament and I want to win it. Doesn’t really matter what tournament I’m playing, I always believe in myself. It’s not always possible to win every tournament but at least I give it a shot.”

Seeing as her shot is considerably more accurate than most, you can’t say fairer than that.

So, as the four horsemen of the apocalypse put on their oilskins and head for Flushing Meadows, an old GOAT and a Great Dane are grazing happily in Manhattan. The others can swim towards the third round – The Fed and Wozzy are sitting pretty and care not one jot about what happens on Friday.

Topics: 40 Days And 40 Nights, Allen Key, Andreas Beck, Batten Down The Hatches, Blitzed, Caroline Wozniacki, German Rival, Grand Slam, Greatest Of All Time, Internet System, Light Drizzle, Old Goat, Paul Annacone, Pete Sampras, Reprisals, Roger Federer, Small Furry Animals, Storm Clouds, Tim Henman, Walmart

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