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| Roger Federer |
It's hard to say what was going through their minds as the scoreboard flashed Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 7-6 (7-5), but the lyrics of Adele's Sky fall couldn't have been far. "This is the end. Hold your breath and count to ten..."
Then somewhere from deep within that jumble of words came the warning: "I usually do turnarounds pretty good." You can call it the last flicker of defiance from a champion, who knows better than anyone else that his best days are well and truly behind him.
The 31-year-old Swiss had reached the last eight at every single Grand Slam since the French Open of 2004. That is 36 straight tournaments. Since winning the first of his record 17 Grand Slam crows on Centre Court in 2003, no one had stopped the grass court master at Wimbledon before the quarterfinals.
"What do you do after something like this," Roger Federer, who will slip to No 5 in the world following his shock Wimbledon second round exit, asked. "Do you apply the 24-hour rule? You don't panic at this point. You go back and work hard and come back stronger. It's simple, but hard to execute."
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| Wimbeldon player |
On the morning after at SW19 the talk was all about the passing of an era in which passing strokes played out like poetry.
American superstar John McEnroe asked: "How long can he take losing early? How long can he go in with 5-7 records or rubbish like that? That is normal for most players, but not Roger Federer."
Stakhovsky, ranked 113 places adrift of Federer, came into the net 96 times in the four-set encounter, unsettling the third seed. "He was uncomfortable to play against," Federer said, "He served and volleyed really well, it was difficult to get into a rhythm against him. I don't mind playing an opponent like that. To be really honest, I struggled on the big points, like I have for some time this season. What I am disappointed about is not finding a way to beat him, just like against Jo (Wilfried Tsonga) at the French Open. I had chances, had my foot through the door. When I had the chance I couldn't do it, that's very disappointing."
Stakhovsky wasn't intimidated by the play but the image of the player he was facing refused to fade. "On the cover of the Wimbledon book is Roger Federer. Our sport is Roger Federer. He's the greatest player.
He's the biggest name we had
and still have. When you play Roger Federer at
Wimbledon, it's like you're playing two persons. First you play Roger Federer
and then you play his ego. When you're beating one, you still have the other to
contend with."
The man, who said that he could now one day tell his grand kids that he kicked Roger Federer's butt, however, paid his opponent the ultimate compliment when he said: "As a person he showed us all that you can be a decent man and still achieve a lot.
The man, who said that he could now one day tell his grand kids that he kicked Roger Federer's butt, however, paid his opponent the ultimate compliment when he said: "As a person he showed us all that you can be a decent man and still achieve a lot.
A couple of times in the
match Federer had a go at his opponent, driving at him and refusing to
apologise, instead glaring at the man across the net. "It's nothing
personal," Federer said, "It's tactical. I was going after him, just
trying to win the point, not to hurt him. This is not the juniors."
You can be the greatest and
still be the person everybody admires." Somewhere in the background
Wednesday's heart-wrenching cries of `Roger, Roger' resonated through the
grounds of the club a good 24 hours later.
To be sure, he will be back at Wimbledon a few more times, but as Adele sang, "This is the end".
To be sure, he will be back at Wimbledon a few more times, but as Adele sang, "This is the end".