Federer's Frenzied First Round
Roger Federer squeaked by Alejandro Falla 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0 in his first round match today at Wimbledon. If Federer had lost, it would have been the shock of the season, but Roger managed to pull it out in five sets. As Federer said afterwards, this is a match
he should have lost and he said he’s lost other matches this year, e.g. at Indian Wells and in Key Biscayne, that he probably "should" have won. Tennis is like that... a few points, some nervous play and a shocking upset… or not!
The reality is that all players are nervous in the first round of a tournament, even the top players and defending champions. Therefore, although it can be a very tough draw to be facing a defending champion such as Federer in the first round, realistically, Falla had a better chance to beat Federer in the first round than in the fourth round. So what does a shaky first round mean for a top player? It really depends on the second round. From a tennis standpoint, Federer came through when he wasn't playing his best, but he can't win the title again if he continues to play that level. At the same time, Federer expended some energy in playing five sets on the first day. Therefore, the implications of this match can be significant, or minimal, depending on how well and long Federer plays in his subsequent match(es). However, as eleventh seed, Marin Cilic, and newly-crowned French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone, seventeenth seed, Ivan Ljubicic, and twentieth seed, Stan Wawrinka, found out, you must arrive ready to play well in the first round or your stay at Wimbledon will be a short one.
The reality is that all players are nervous in the first round of a tournament, even the top players and defending champions. Therefore, although it can be a very tough draw to be facing a defending champion such as Federer in the first round, realistically, Falla had a better chance to beat Federer in the first round than in the fourth round. So what does a shaky first round mean for a top player? It really depends on the second round. From a tennis standpoint, Federer came through when he wasn't playing his best, but he can't win the title again if he continues to play that level. At the same time, Federer expended some energy in playing five sets on the first day. Therefore, the implications of this match can be significant, or minimal, depending on how well and long Federer plays in his subsequent match(es). However, as eleventh seed, Marin Cilic, and newly-crowned French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone, seventeenth seed, Ivan Ljubicic, and twentieth seed, Stan Wawrinka, found out, you must arrive ready to play well in the first round or your stay at Wimbledon will be a short one.
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