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Clad In Pink Roger Federer Earns Bruising Win
By Alberto Amalfi
© Tennis Canada
(August 12, 2010) A passive pastel presence at the outset, Roger Federer was a power in pink leaving a bruise mark across the blue court in Toronto today. In an entertaining match that featured some flashes of fine net play, a between-the-legs half volley and underhanded serve from flaky Frenchman Michael Llodra, it was the return of Federer's fierce forehand in the tie breaker that was the key stroke of his 7-6(2), 6-3 Rogers Cup triumph.
Struggling to find the range on his favored forehand in the early stages, Federer fell behind 1-4 today. But he began to measure the ball menacingly off the forehand side, igniting his comeback.
Side-stepping to his left to quickly pivot around his backhand, Federer fired an inside-out forehand that sank, snaked and slithered at Llodra's feet, prompting the serve-and-volley specialist to bump a half volley into net as Federer broke back for 3-4.
Federer unleashed some black-and-blue shotmaking in the second set, blasting a bruising backhand shot directly into the chest of Llodra, who recoiled at net trying to avoid the rib- rattling shot but was left rubbing the area above his heart as Federer held up a hand in apology.
It was the right shot delivered with ruthless precision from Federer, who said his motivation to regain his winning ways is not confined to Grand Slam play.
"I’m giving 100 percent for each and every tournament that I play because I don’t play a ton of tournaments," Federer told the BBC. "Tournaments like Toronto this week and Cincinnati next week are important to me, too. The motivation is huge for the next few years and obviously if I can win Grand Slams that’s fantastic, but they are not the only motivation over the next few years."
Playing his first tournament since he lost to Tomas Berdych in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Federer will take his third shot of the season against the seventh-seeded Czech in tomorrow's Toronto quarterfinals. Berdych beat talented Ukranian Alexandr Dolgopolov, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 in two hours, 14 minutes.
While Berdych and Federer are not acrimonious rivals, they aren't exactly the best of friends either.
No. 12 seed Berdych upstaged Federer in pulling off the most powerful performance of his career in making the six-time Wimbledon king disappear from the grass-court Grand Slam nearly six weeks ago. The 6-foot-5 Czech surprised Federer, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, to hand the Swiss just his second Wimbledon loss in his last 54 matches at The Championships.
A disconsolate Federer, who had won 80 of his last 82 matches grass-court matches since 2003, said he was both pained by the loss and by nagging back and leg injuries that diminished his mobility.
"From my end obviously I'm unhappy with the way I'm playing," Federer said immediately after that Wimbledon loss "I couldn't play the way I wanted to play. I am struggling with a little bit of a back and a leg issue and that doesn't quite allow me to play the way I would like to play. It is frustrating to say the least and I am looking forward to some rest."
Federer's comments bothered Berdych a bit, who felt Federer, who rarely relies on injury in explaining losses, tried to minimize the impact of the upset citing the injuries.
The father of twin daughters celebrated his 29th birthday on Sunday and will try to reassert his authority in his rivalry with Berdych tomorrow. Federer has won eight of 11 meetings with the 24-year-old Czech, but Berdych has beaten Federer in both of their meetings this season.
Prior to his Wimbledon win, Berdych saved a match point to edge Federer, 6-4, 6-7(3), 7-6(6), at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami in March. that marked Berdych's first win over Federer since their first meeting at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
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