Nothing can be quite as ridiculous or preposterous as talking about the minor contribution made by good fortune or plain, simple luck when celebrating a genius. And when you are talking about the greatest of the great, to say that chance had anything to do with the person’s achievements is the worst of all crimes.
But, at the risk of being taken to court for blasphemy by tens of millions of fans, this scribbler will set out to say that Roger Federer has had luck on his side on the odd occasion even as he amassed 17 Grand Slam singles titles in a career celebrated as much as any great accomplishment in any sport.
The last Major that the Swiss maestro won was here in 2012, and many would have believed his best was behind him. But the point is, someone with his talent can win even while not playing at his customary altitude.
And even as Rafael Nadal pulled out because of injury and Novak Djokovic suffered a shock third-round defeat — both have better win-loss records against the great man — Federer seems as hungry two months shy of his 35th birthday as it was 13 years ago when he won his first Grand Slam title here.
In 2003, on the Middle Sunday here, this correspondent wrote under the headline “Federer looks the part, but questions remain”: “Predictably a lot of attention has been focused on Henman while Roddick and Agassi are the bookmakers’ favourites here.
Roger Federer kisses the winner's trophy after winning the men's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 6, 2003. Photo: Reuters “But in terms of pure talent, if not entirely on the form displayed during the first week, Roger Federer is my choice for the men’s championship.”
Little did I imagine then that it would be tempting to repeat what was written then — a week before he won his first Major — 13 years later.
The manner in which the third seeded Federer saw off Steve Johnson, ranked No.29, did suggest that he believes he can add to his impressive collection of silverware at his second home. Going into the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 victory, Federer looks like he is as good a bet as anyone else left in the draw.
After breezing his way to a two-set lead, Federer upped the ante just when the American seemed keen on stretching the fourth-round match. Federer lost just a solitary break-point of the four he faced and was never really troubled.
It was Federer’s 14th quarterfinal here, matching Jimmy Connors’s record at the AELTC.
Did it matter to him, he was asked.
“It is probably going to be something I am happy I achieved, looking back when all is said and done.”
Asked if he would consider himself the best of all time, Federer said that the game had changed a lot in the last 25 years. “Obviously, today probably we chase more records than they used to in the past. There are so many guys who did so many great things. There are streaks and stuff. Whatever you look at, I think it is a very open debate,” he said.
Talking about his own career and what lies ahead, the Swiss superstar said: “[In] life there is much more to come but in tennis there is not that much more. I hope there is more tennis. I hope I can win Wimbledon one more time. That would be nice.”
Next up for Federer is Marin Cilic, the ninth seed who spent even less time than Federer in making the quarters. Kei Nishikori retired in the second set with a suspected rib injury as Cilic led 6-1, 5-1.
“I think it was by far my best match. I am confident going into the Cilic match. I think it is going to be a tough one,” said Federer, whose only loss to Cilic was in a US Open semifinal. “He has won Queen’s before and has done well here. I am looking forward to a tough one.”
In the countryside — well, on the outside courts — Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis outplayed Christina McHale and Jelena Ostopenko 6-1, 6-0.
But Rohan Bopanna and Florin Mergea lost a tough five-setter to Henri Kontinen and John Peers, going down 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-8 in the doubles third round.
