Out of the Mud - Onto the Grass
I hear everyone screaming at me 'Move on mate, what's with you being stuck in the red mud of Roland Garros?' But I just cannot stop thinking about the drubbing that Fedexpress copped under the tutelage of Rafa Nadal!
Not since Pat Rafter nailed Roger at the French Open in 1999 had the world No. 1 lost a grand slam set to love. (Sorry mate - I had to bring in the Aussie pride somehow!)
But Roger was mauled, physically, emotionally and mentally, by the bull who has played 28 matches over four years at Roland Garros - and won them all. You know what? There are some tennis experts that are preaching that Federer is the greatest clay court player ever, but he just so happened to be playing in the same era that the King Of Clay is! Whatever the case, Federer looked and sounded devestated by the end of the match, even long after the closing ceremony, during his press conference, his face and tone said it all. "I wish it was a different outcome," Federer said, "I don't want to play Rafa again tomorrow, that's for sure."
So do you boys reckon Fedex will ever win the French or is he doomed to join Pistol Pete and a few other legends who were unable to win the toughest of them all - the Roland Garros.
In less than a fortnight, Roger will start as favourite to win Wimbledon (-120), but is he the same Fedexpress that we've all fallen in love with over the last few years? I don't know, but the Djoker destroyed him in straight-sets in the semis at this last Aus Open. Then, Fedex has suffered ridiculous losses to ridiculous opponents such as Radek Stepanek and Mardy Fish. He has won one ATP title this year, but even that was by default, otherwise who knows, he probably would have lost that too! His confidence isn't at the highest ever at the moment, that's for sure. Now he's probably hoping that the grass really is greener as he steps out onto the lawn at the All England Club - but is he still the king of that court? Is he going to win this, or another failure added to his 2008 diary?
In Jerry Seinfeld's words, Roger is still lord of the manor, but I say - not for much longer.....