THIRTY-FIVE YEARS YOUNG, ROGER FEDERER PLAYING WIMBLEDON 2017 WITH PASSION AND A GREAT LOVE OF TENNIS AND THE A.E.L.T.C. CENTER COURT

Written by: Staff on 14th July 2017

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS YOUNG, ROGER FEDERER PLAYING WIMBLEDON 2017 WITH PASSION AND A GREAT LOVE OF TENNIS AND THE A.E.L.T.C. CENTER COURT

epa06088004 Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his win over Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in their semi final match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 14 July 2017. EPA/NIC BOTHMA EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO COMMERCIAL SALES |

Thirty-five years young, Federer playing some of the best tennis of his career at Wimbledon

By Ricky Dimon

Roger Federer as booked his spot in the Wimbledon final without dropping a single set. It is a feat he thought he had never previously accomplished, as he discussed in his post-match press conference after beating Tomas Berdych in the semifinals on Friday. In actuality, Federer had twice before played his way into championship Sunday at the All-England Club without surrendering a set.

If what has been on display this fortnight has not been Federer’s absolute best tennis of his career, it’s right up there–even with 2006 (perfect in sets before beating Rafael Nadal in a four-set final) and 2008 (perfect in sets before losing to Nadal in five). And it’s certainly up there with 2014 and 2015, when he finished runner-up to Novak Djokovic.

But the 35-year-old is not letting himself get carried away.

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their semi final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 14 July 2017. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

“I don’t see myself playing better than a few years ago,” he commented. “But I always hope to improve every year. (I) think it’s definitely different ever since my (knee) injury–if I’m playing better this year than I have in ’14, ’15 when I had great runs at Wimbledon here. I just ran into Novak, who was red hot. Honestly, (it) was difficult to come past him for anybody–especially in the big matches.

“I’m just very happy that I’m still doing so well. Am I surprised? Maybe a little bit. But the plan was always to hopefully be strong later on in my career.”

Strong? Federer has been an absolute machine in 2017.

He is sporting a 30-2 record with four titles, including the Australian Open and at back-to-back Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. The Swiss is on a current 11-match run that features a triumph on the grass courts of Halle and six straight-set Wimbledon victories.

The latest victim was Tomas Berdych, who went down by a respectable 7-6(4), 7-6(4), 6-4 scoreline in Friday’s semifinals.

“I mean, I don’t see anything that would indicate really Roger is getting older or anything like that,” Berdych commented. “I think he’s just proving his greatness in our sport. So I think that’s all I can say about that. That’s very simple.”

And that’s bad news for Marin Cilic, who will be Federer’s final opponent on Sunday. It is a rematch of last year’s quarters, in which the Croat led by two sets to love only to fall in five. And that was with Federer playing on a balky knee.

“It’s a big mountain to climb,” Cilic, after beating Sam Querrey on Friday, said of Federer. “Roger is playing maybe one of his best tennis of his career at the moment, having a great season. So I know it’s going to be a huge challenge.”