FEDERER FLAT, NOVAK NASTY
The prevailing expectations were these entering Saturday's men's semi-finals at the Tier 1 Pacific Life Open tennis tournament: The world's No. 1 player Roger Federer would roll against American Mardy Fish while the Rafael Nadal-Novak Djokovic match up was destined to be something special, a potential titanic battle.
Ah, so much for expectations. Not only didn't form hold up on a sweltering 90-degree day at the Tennis Gardens of Indian Wells, it took a beating. Surprise and shock were the only words that applied to how things played out.
The stunner of the afternoon was how Fish reeled in Federer, hook, line and sinker. Federer didn't just lose, he got smoked. The Swiss star was swamped, torpedoed and hammered during a 3-6, 2-6 wipeout.
Far from looking like his normally majestic self, Federer had the appearance of a qualifier or some scrub just off the muni courts. He seemed strangely detached and uninvolved. It was as if he was merely going through the motions. Whether he was still feeling some residual effects from his bout with mononucleosis earlier this year was unclear. But this much was certain. There wasn't a scintilla of the passion, precision and pride one has come to expect from the "Fed."
It was almost as if he couldn't wait to get off the stage and seek refuge in an air-conditioned room. Federer appeared to grow very disinterested once he fell behind 0-3 in the first set and then 0-2 in the second. That indomitable will of his that has carried him on so many previous occasions was inexplicably missing.
As incredible as it may sound, if Federer didn't exactly pack it in, he came perilously close to doing so. He didn't seem to have an ounce of fight in him and that, even more than the startling result, was what had the crowd buzzing in genuine disbelief.
But, let's be fair here. While there's no doubt that Federer was flat and uninspired, it was Fish who helped put him in such a negative state. The stubbed 6-2, 180-pounder was nothing short of a revelation. Consistently blasting serves in the 130's and frequently painting the lines with laser-like winners from both sides, Fish literally blew Roger away. Federer was at a loss as to how to deal with Fish's power and accuracy.
Fish's stellar performance enabled him to gaffe his biggest catch ever. He was tantamount to the angler who went searching for a perch and ended up landing a marlin. This was big trophy stuff, the kind of win you savor for a lifetime.
The victory, Fish's first in five meetings with the "Fed," was arguably the highlight of his checkered career. In many ways, Fish is an enigma. Though blessed with upper-echelon talent, Fish hasn't put it to maximum use and thereby came into the PL Open with a decidedly unimpressive ranking of 98th in the world. Yet, with his booming serve and forceful ground strokes, the 26-year-old has the goods to be a legitimate threat in any event he enters.
But his inconsistency and tendency to get loose with shots has undermined him. Up until now, his excellence has surfaced only in brief spurts, not over sustained periods. Whether annihilating Federer will boost Fish to another level remains to be seen but taking down the game's top dog in such a decisive manner has to be a boon to his sometimes shaky confidence.
As for Federer, the rumblings that he can be had are now starting to grow louder. His pedestrian record of 8 and 4 in 2008 doesn't inspire much respect, let alone fear. His sluggish start to the new year has punctured his aura of invincibility and it'll take a convincing win or two to recapture it. For one of the few times in recent memory, Roger looks vulnerable and definitely beatable.
But though his crown might have slipped somewhat, Federer still must be considered the king of his sport. At least, for the immediate future that is.
He went through a similar lull last year only to rebound brilliantly and win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. The real tests for the "Fed" will come in the upcoming weeks, first in Florida, then at the French and finally, in jolly old England. If he hasn't won by then, Federer's remarkable and lengthy run of domination might very well be at an end.
And the man most ready to take over for Federer should the Swiss falter is a rising stud from Serbia. Though Roger may still be ranked No. 1, he's by no means the game's best player at this moment. That distinction clearly belongs to the dynamic Novak Djokovic.
Just ask Rafa Nadal who ran into the buzz saw that has become Djokovic. On the surface, Saturday's confrontation between the gifted Nadal, ranked No. 2 and the onrushing Djokovic, firmly ensconced at No. 3, offered much promise. It was a repeat of the Pacific Open final from the year before when the cleaver Spaniard had prevailed.
But Djokovic was unarguably the hottest performer on the ATP Tour over the past six months and his Slam victory in Australia only reinforced that fact.
So this match had the look of a real showdown. But the fierce tussle that many anticipated between the two princes of tennis never materialized. Though Nadal tried gamely to hang in, particularly in the first set, Djokovic had an answer for nearly everything Rafa threw at him. The numbers, a 6-3, 6-2 Djokovic conquest, accurately reflected the tenor of the match.
Djokovic did so many things well. And, in some respects , he was downright nasty. He served effectively, ripped winners off authoritative ground strokes and when he came to net, his volleys were examples of masterful touch and placement. Djokovic also did a splendid job of keeping the ball in play and won most of the match's longer points.
But what really stood out was the Serbian's fantastic return of service. Nadal had his spin and slice working but virtually nothing got by Djokovic. Time after time, he sent a Rafa serve back where it came from with depth and pace. This had to have been a source of extreme frustration for Nadal because it kept the colorful lefty back on his heels and unable to control the rallies.
Because he was able to solve Nadal's serve, Djokovic dictated play and that, more than any other factor, was the difference.
Always the fighter, Nadal was grinding it out on sheer tenacity in the first set. But when a near winner caught the net cord and fell on his side of the court, thereby putting him in a 3-5 hole, Rafa was all but gored. It was basically over then and there much to the dismay of many in attendance who were fervently pulling for the charismatic Nadal.
And so that's how it went on this day of unforeseen developments. Federer, a prohibitive favorite, was expected to toy with Fish but instead, it was Roger who got drilled. Then, in what was projected to be a tight contest with Rafa, Djokovic removed most all of the suspense and intrigue with a cool and cold-blooded effort.
Yes indeed, form most certainly took a beating at Indian Wells. Come to think of it, so did Federer and Nadal!