Crazy as it sounds, Roger Federer is at last getting old. On 8th August he will turn 30, the milestone athletes around the world cower before. Nevertheless, Federer isn't quite ready to pack everything in yet. His one-man domination over the world of tennis came to an end several years ago when Rafa breezed in, but Federer intends to fight on as he always does, oozing class.
Tennis has hauled up its anchor that was deep in the grass and clay of Europe, to sail over the Atlantic to the North American hard-court season. Men and Women are descending on the major cities as the warm-up events for the US Open get under way.
Questions have begun to arise over how long Federer will be able to maintain the motivation that has pulled him through, but he seems to be answering them with ease and dignity at the moment. As Federer said recently, "I don't feel it's my last chance, not at all".
Montreal and Cincinnati ATP Masters
Traditionally there have been four ATP Masters events on North American hard-courts, split in the year between March and August. Federer's record is nothing short of fantastic. He has won eleven so far in his career, including two in Canada and four in Cincinnati. Not a bad record to come into 2011 with.
Age may not be on his side, but experience still is and he will use every tiny fragment he can muster to try and weave himself another chance of a title. Just like Nadal, Djokovic and Murray he has taken a prolonged holiday following the French Open and Wimbledon so many will be watching him like hawks to judge just how his form keeping up.
In fact Federer will be feeling the heat less than others out on the courts. Andy Murray for instance has won the Canadian Masters, alternating between Montreal and Toronto each year, on the past two occasions so the pressure will be on to continue this run. His lack of a Grand Slam trophy in his cabinet at home will be questioned once again in the build up to the US Open.
What Can we Expect from Federer
Tennis is evolving into a younger man's game. Suddenly winners are appearing in teenage form, squeezing their way between the ranks of the seasoned professionals. Federer's chances have been heavily decreased since the start of the Nadal era but he has clung in there and still pulled out some magic performances.
There will always be doubters, just with Federer it has taken many years for them to appear. His record of winning a Grand Slam title each year runs back to 2003, a feat even Nadal will struggle to repear. If there were thoughts he'd given up on achieving another in 2011, he put that to bed saying, "My game is in a good place right now and I’m excited to see how I’m going to do at the US Open.”
Deep inside Federer will know his years are probably limited, although not necessarily close to an end quite yet. He is still fourth on Forbes highest paid athletes of 2011, far ahead of all other tennis players, but soon to be one of just two players over the age of 30 to be inside the world's top 20.
His goals must be to win another Grand Slam, to win many more Masters events and perhaps even to gain back his no.1 ranking. Whether this is possible only time will tell but he has the mentality to try and make it happen. Even if he doesn't quite get back to the peak of men's tennis, there will be no greater crowd pleaser on Tour while he continues to play.
Thomas Drake - Thomas Drake writes for www.centre-court-tennis.com and frequently writes for the Warwick University newspaper as well as other ...
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