We’ve seen Roger Federer fatigue a lot in the last couple years as he’s pushed deeper and deeper into Grand Slam draws, fighting not just opponents but age as he’s tried and failed to recapture the magic that once made him the best player in the world.
But I’ve never seen him as gassed as he was in this five-set loss this afternoon to the ebullient Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga — 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Federer didn’t have a break-point opportunity in the final four sets — a run of 23 consecutive return games.
That final game, which finished at the 3-hour and 8-minute mark, told you all you needed to know about Federer’s inability to stay in adequate fitness. He had lost a two-set lead and now he was going down at 40-love after having a monumental brain burp on the first point of this last game.
It was horribly bad judgment by Federer, and bad judgment is a first cousin to fatigue, because when your legs aren’t responding, it inevitably affects your brain.
Here’s what happened: On the opening point with Tsonga serving for the match at 5-4, Federer had a bunny of a shot sitting right in front of him, inside the service line, with Tsonga, his backhand side completely open, desperately scrambling left to try to cut off the next shot.
Incredibly, Federer decided to wrong-foot the Frenchman by going cross-court, an absolutely needless play. There was so much court open on Tsonga’s backhand side your grandmother could have put this ball away.
Jo reached back right to get a forehand on Federer’s surprise shot and blooped one back down the line. Reacting late, Federer covered his sideline but his backhand was long. Score: 15-0.
Next, Federer returned a second serve to Tsonga’s backhand side and Jo hit an inside-out forehand that Federer slopped into the net. Score: 30-0.
A 135 mph service winner down the T made it 40-0 and, without a hint of nerves, Tsonga pasted a 133 mph flat blast to the deep corner of the ad court. Federer took one step to his left and flailed at it. It was over.
None of Federer’s inability to close this match out in three should detract from the magnificent job done by Tsonga, who served brilliantly and without nerves throughout the match. He’s a risk-taker and that has hurt him in the past. But in this match, he played with more controlled aggression, and he was just about impeccable on serve.
You can add this performance to the growing list of Federer’s Grand Slam fatigue matches.
* 2009 U.S. Open final: Up two sets to one on Juan Martin Del Potro, he faded and lost in five.
* 2010 U.S. Open semifinals: Up two sets to one on Novak Djokovic and lost in five.
* 2011 French Open final: Played dead-even with Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay, for three sets before fading very badly and lost the fourth set 1-6 to lose the match.
I guess what surprised me most about this Wimbledon fade is that it was only the quarters. Usually, his fatigue sets in at the semifinal level. And this is grass — easy on the feet and legs and fast points. I didn’t expect him to lose fitness at this juncture, but there it is.
He’s safe at No. 3 in the rankings because this is a rankings point wash for him, having gone out in the quarters a year ago to Tomas Berdych.
It’s sad to see a great champion in decline, even if it’s just to No. 3, because you get a sense that there will be no more Grand Slam titles. But age gets every player out there and Federer will be 30 on Aug. 8.