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THIS IN THE STYLE OF THE TIMES
Almost a year and a half ago after lifting his fourth successive US Open title against Novak Djokovic in Flushing Meadows, Roger Federer was world number one and excelling at his game.
The Swiss performed unstoppable forehand winners and delicate backhands with consumate ease. Now 17 months on from his last quadruple Grand Slam success in a calendar year, Federer has claimed just one Grand Slam victory since (defeating Britain's Andy Murray at the US Open last September) and looks desperately short of reclaiming the prowess he once exuded.
Defeated by current world number one and arch nemesis Rafael Nadal in a five set thriller 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2 yesterday at the Australian Open in Melbourne, the 27 year old 13 time-Grand Slam winner once again faltered in a final against the Majorcan raging bull.
It is becoming an all too familiar sight for Federer to be beaten by a player in unstoppable form. The Basel-born player suffered successive defeats last June and July to the Spaniard, at the French Open at Roland Garros and at Wimbledon respectively.
At least the last two finals - or duels - that both have engaged in have been contests and not the sporadic mess of which Federer miserably lost in straight sets to Nadal on clay in France.
But the French Open is a holy ground of which Nadal remains king - "King of Clay" - with any opponent expected to be cast aside with a minimum amount of fuss - or by the sheer ferocity of the 22 year old's running forehand nonetheless. It is arguably acceptable therefore to accept such cumbersome displays from an opponent on clay; even the might of Federer.
However what is surprising is the lack of recent success by Federer on courts of which he is supposed to cherish and reign in victory against his opponent. From the offset of this year's Australian Open tournament, the Swiss stuttered past Thomas Berdych in five sets, regaining composure after a two set deficit and proceeded to defeat Juan Martin Del Potro and former mainstay rival Andy Roddick in straight sets on his path to the final; the latter unconvincingly.
Yesterday's final demonstrated how far Nadal has come and how much Federer's superiority has diminished. Last year's saving grace victory in New York for Federer apart, he was brought back down to earth with numerous clumsy bumps as Nadal returned to form against his rival at the Rod Laver arena.
By contrast, Federer produced a hap-hazard display more commonly associated with inexperienced and erratic underachievers like Spain's Fernando Verdasco or last year's Australian Open runner-up, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga - who is the cousin of Newcastle United footballer, Charles N'Zogbia.
Too many first serve set points were lost by the three-time Australian Open champion and the Swiss worryingly failed to convert enough of the regulation aces and serve-and-volleying techniques either. Watching a plethora of misconstrued or limited efforts through Nadal's sheer supremacy, was visibly painful for Federer.
But to overshadow Nadal's wonderous win with Federer's surprising ineptitude, would be to discredit the Spaniard his deserved success. Nadal has now beaten Federer in three of his past four Grand Slam finals and if not beaten by Murray at Flushing Meadows last September, may have claimed a quadruple clean sweep against his nearest opponent.
Nadal though shrugged off memories of his semi-final defeat to the 21 year old Scot last year by bruising his way past Federer and importantly capitalising opportunistically on the chinks of his armoury.
Last year at Wimbledon, Federer missed a superb chance to clinch his sixth successive title at SW19 after recovering from a two set deficit and stuttered by pushing a forehand wide on match point. Nadal meanwhile struck back to punish his mistakes and clinch his first Grand Slam title in West London and outside of Roland Garros.
It was a similar situation in Melbourne on Sunday. Federer carelessly lost serve in each set - even those he won, with 11 consecutive first serve losses in the second set - and proceeded to double fault nervously on too many occasions. Seemingly, Nadal's mental strength has eclipsed that of Federer's as the Spaniard ghosted past him in the third set tie break, as Federer lost control and precious break points consecutively.
Nadal's ability to remain persistent and never give in is what is making him a champion and world number one. He has taken the vigour and characterful fire of which Federer possessed only 17 months ago and used it to his advantage. With his marauding command of the bassline and the net, Nadal's presence on court is overwhelming, with anyone daring to produce a winner past him duly destroyed - in a tennis sense - by his play.
Whilst Federer remained tearful after his four hour 23 minute defeat to Nadal at the end of what was another epic, of which both players deserve relentless praise, Australian former world number one Rod Laver must have spotted a change in the old guard when presenting the trophies to both finalists, like he himself did against Ken Rosewall and Arthur Ashe in the 1970s.
But what is conclusive from this latest battle between two tennis giants, is the realisation that Federer produced tears of despair and not joy at not being able to overhaul Pete Sampras' Grand Slam record of 14 titles.
Even more disturbing for Federer is this may become ubiquitous as long as six-time Grand Slam victor Nadal remains as imperious as he currently is.
Furthermore, Federer will need more than luck to defeat Nadal anytime soon.
I think Federer is still the best technical tennis player in the world and one of the most impressive ever. Nadal, while himself gifted, is more a brute i think. I think it is only a matter of Federer adapting to Nadals style, but Nadal is also disgustingly good, for a man that big, he can't half move around a court.
His confidence is a bit low after losing his number 1 spot after a good few years. And since the summer when he lost he hasn't looked like recliaming it. I think he will, I think this setback will make him stronger, maybe he lost focus because it was getting a bit too easy. I wouldn't want to play a fed up Federer.