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Avid Tennis Fans will know the results of the recently concluded Roland Garros Final. It was the most lopsided win in the French Open in recent memory, and it was the worst defeat suffered by Roger Federer in 178 grand slam games…

Has the Swiss Mastro lost his Mojo?

I am a fan of Roger Federer’s graceful brand of tennis. Through my analysis of games since the start of the year, from the Australian Open till Roland Garros, i realized there is something different about him in this year’s games.

He is still a great player, often bulldozing past average players with nonchalant ease. Yet its often the competition amongst the best that really matters.

He seemed to have lost his passion for winning. Now i know that is a strong statement, and i have to say i am merely stating my opinions. And let me reiterate myself that i am Roger’s fan as well!

There was this video “The Making Of a Champion - Roger Federer”, which showed Roger’s rise from a teenager to Wimbledon Junior Champion and finally to the World No.1 ranking. I was moved to tears when i saw how he rise from being a player who threw tantrums and couldn’t stay focused, to the brilliant,and at times seemingly invincible World No.1, He not only displayed amazing skills that were the benchmark in recent years, he displayed a passion for winning. He wept openly after winning his first ever ATP finals. in the Wimbledon 2002 4th round win over tennis great Pete Sampras, he played as if it does not matter who is playing over the other side of net, he just focused on playing! He carried that look on his face that “no matter who’s playing on the other side, I am going to win”. That was how he ascended to be the world No.1 That is until this year…

Throughout 2002-2007, where he was so dominant, he showed his emotions after winning. Who could forget his emotional victory speech after his 4 setter win in 2006 Australian Open over Marcos Baghdatis. Who could have imagined a player of his grace and stature, could have wanted to win so badly.

The passion for winning was missing from his games this year. Yes, he showed short bursts of emotions in the 2nd set of Roland Garros Final agains Rafal Nadal, and in Semi-Finals of Australian Open against Novak Djokavic but thats about it. Where, before he would bounce back after losing a break point, now he would lose consecutive points. Its seems to me that his belief has shifted from “I want to win this game!” to “I do not mind not winning this game”.

We all know to win a game is not as simple as just having great skills. You also need thorough preparation and perhaps most important of all, the control of mind, over weather, type of playing surface. Between the top players and average players, the mental component may not matter that much. At the top level, skills seldom separate players, its always the mental edge that separate a win froma loss.

I still believe in Roger. I believe he must be drained from staying at the top for so long. I believe that through the years, with the constant pressure on him to win every game, and a grand slam, he must be feeling the strain. All players go through that. Only the best will eventually remember how they got there, and snap out of their funk.