Heavily criticised and after being written off by many due to two below par outings at Roland Garros and on the hallowed turf at Wimbledon, Federer’s welcome return to form under the guidance of Pete Sampras’s and Tim Henman’s former Coach Paul Annacone has seen the Swiss ace chalk up back to back finals in Toronto (lost to Andy Murray) and Cincinnati (beat American Mardy Fish) in the run-up to the year’s final major.
The predatory instincts of a consistently placed serve and a enviable forehand offered a throwback to the Federer of old, and with nemesis Rafael Nadal still seeking his first US Open title and struggling on the quicker hard courts, it is a golden opportunity for the father of two to turn a mediocre year (in comparison to his standards established in recent years) into a good one yielding two Grand Slam crowns.
A player, whom is still to taste his first major success, is Britain’s Andy Murray. The talented Scot, two years ago was crushed by Federer under lights in the Flushing Meadows final but many feel this is the World number 4’s best chance to claim a maiden major title.
Murray (left) and Federer (right) pose for the photographers following the Swiss players comfortable three set final win.
Much, it appears depends on Murray’s ability to transfer the form he has shown against Federer in best of three set matches into the long, slog of a five set marathon. If he can put the past behind him he has a chance, with Federer perhaps not being as ruthless as previous, but still it looks likely it will have to take a career best Murray performance to beat Federer, a Federer of which is coming into form.
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