Fright for Roger Federer Increases Feeling of Vulnerability
Roger Federer was on the point of making a second round exit at the French Open but fought back to win in four sets
Roger Federer, 13 times a grand slam champion, looked on the point of making an early second-round exit from the French Open against José Acasuso and later admitted after his struggle on the Philippe Chatrier court that the Argentinian might have won in straight sets.
For all the great man's vulnerability in recent times, Federer's grand slam record over the last 16 months, as so many of his opponents, including Andy Murray, so frequently point out, is of the kind most players would give their right arm for: one victory, the US Open, three runners-up spots, and a semi-final. Indeed the last time he failed to get to the last 16 of a major was here five years ago. But all is relative.
Despite his recent victory on clay in Madrid against Rafael Nadal, there has been a growing feeling that Federer might be more vulnerable then ever during the early rounds at Roland Garros but he eventually defeated Acasuso 7–6, 5–7, 7–6, 6–2. Federer talked of his mental strength in such situations, though there were times when he resembled a dead man walking, as he had in last year's final against Nadal, in which he won only four games. "I just had to stay calm with all the ups and downs there were in the first three sets," he said in English, while in French he spoke of trying to change tactics in mid-match, and his complex struggle to gain control against the big hitting Acasuso.
These were tense moments for Federer as he pursues the only slam to elude him, his nemesis Nadal having beaten him in the last three finals, and the semi-final before that. The crowd rose to him, though it seemed more than a touch of nostalgia, as if they knew the ultimate cause was already some how lost. If the Federer baby is a boy, the chances of it being christened Roland appear slim.
On the women's side Venus Williams saved a match point against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic to progress to the last 32, while sister Serena, having struggled badly in the first round, defeated Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual inside an hour, though any confidence in either of them winning the title remains small.
France's Marion Bartoli, 13th seed, meanwhile, was on the verge of tears after being dumped out of her home grand slam, losing 6–3, 7–5 to Italian Tathiana Garbin. Bartoli later admitted: "I was a bit tired and a bit sick. It's like a bit of a sore throat, and my nose is running. I was not really fit. So it was really hard for me."
For all the great man's vulnerability in recent times, Federer's grand slam record over the last 16 months, as so many of his opponents, including Andy Murray, so frequently point out, is of the kind most players would give their right arm for: one victory, the US Open, three runners-up spots, and a semi-final. Indeed the last time he failed to get to the last 16 of a major was here five years ago. But all is relative.
Despite his recent victory on clay in Madrid against Rafael Nadal, there has been a growing feeling that Federer might be more vulnerable then ever during the early rounds at Roland Garros but he eventually defeated Acasuso 7–6, 5–7, 7–6, 6–2. Federer talked of his mental strength in such situations, though there were times when he resembled a dead man walking, as he had in last year's final against Nadal, in which he won only four games. "I just had to stay calm with all the ups and downs there were in the first three sets," he said in English, while in French he spoke of trying to change tactics in mid-match, and his complex struggle to gain control against the big hitting Acasuso.
These were tense moments for Federer as he pursues the only slam to elude him, his nemesis Nadal having beaten him in the last three finals, and the semi-final before that. The crowd rose to him, though it seemed more than a touch of nostalgia, as if they knew the ultimate cause was already some how lost. If the Federer baby is a boy, the chances of it being christened Roland appear slim.
On the women's side Venus Williams saved a match point against Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic to progress to the last 32, while sister Serena, having struggled badly in the first round, defeated Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual inside an hour, though any confidence in either of them winning the title remains small.
France's Marion Bartoli, 13th seed, meanwhile, was on the verge of tears after being dumped out of her home grand slam, losing 6–3, 7–5 to Italian Tathiana Garbin. Bartoli later admitted: "I was a bit tired and a bit sick. It's like a bit of a sore throat, and my nose is running. I was not really fit. So it was really hard for me."
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