adminNew York — Roger Federer hopes to mark the 10th anniversary of his first US Open title with a sixth triumph in New York and become the oldest Grand Slam champion in more than 40 years. In an astonishing reversal of fortunes, the 33-year-old, written off as a relic of the game when he slipped to a fourth round loss to Tommy Robredo 12 months ago, finds himself perfectly positioned to win a staggering 18th major.
Buoyed by claiming a sixth Cincinnati title — his 80th career crown — and with long-time rival Rafael Nadal again sidelined with injury, the Swiss is relishing the twilight of his career.
His last-16 loss to Robredo in 2013 in New York meant it was the first year since 2002 that he had failed to make a Grand Slam final. The defeat also marked the first time in 10 years that he hadn’t made at least the last-eight at Flushing Meadows.
Suddenly, his five consecutive US Open titles from 2004-2008 appeared a detail in history and his 17th and most recent major success — the 2012 Wimbledon title — looked certain to be his last. But the Swiss never doubted his ability to remain a force in the sport and he goes into his 15th US Open with his unwavering confidence justified.
There were hints of a revival at Wimbledon in July where he was defeated in five sets by world number one Novak Djokovic.
Since then, he has been runner-up at Toronto and champion in Cincinnati and the problems of 2013, when he was hampered by a back injury, are now distant memories.
“I was scared to have another setback, and so it was just not as clear-cut and simple as it is this year,” said second-seeded Federer, who faces Australia’s MarinkoMatosevic in the first round of what will be his 64th consecutive Grand Slam.
“This year I played a lot of good matches. Not just Toronto and Cincinnati, but really from the first week on I have always played really nice tennis.
“You almost forget how to lose to a point and confidence rises. You’re back to winning ways again and everything seems so simple. I’m looking forward to this tournament, because I really feel like I can play a great tournament.”
Djokovic, the 2011 champion and who has featured in the last four finals, heads into the US Open with two dispiriting third round losses in Toronto and Cincinnati.
The 27-year-old Serb, recently married, has also had to bat back accusations that he is distracted by impending fatherhood.
“I wanted to do better in Canada and Cincinnati. Unfortunately I wasn’t even close to my best. But, you know, a lot of things happened in the last two months, and it was very emotional period,” said Djokovic, who plays Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in Monday’s first round.
The odds on Djokovic and Federer meeting in the September 8 final were shortened when defending champion Nadal was forced to withdraw with a right wrist injury.
Andy Murray, the 2012 champion, has not reached a final of any description since his historic 2013 Wimbledon triumph.
Now down at nine in the world, the 27-year-old has not got beyond the quarter-finals of any tournament since his morale-sapping semi-final loss to Nadal at the French Open where the Spaniard allowed him just six games.
Women’s draw
Serena Williams is taking nothing for granted as she vies for a third straight US Open title, which would put her alongside two greats of the game.
The 32-year-old once known for stepping up her game when it mattered most has thrice been thwarted in 2014 in her bid to join Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova as 18-time Grand Slam singles champions.
Although she has lifted five WTA trophies this year, she has failed to make it past the fourth round at the Australian Open, French Open or Wimbledon.
So she sounded wary of the suggestion that a return to Flushing Meadows, where she has won five US Open titles, would produce major number 18. “Yeah, Australian, Wimbledon, and French also could have been 18,” she said. “Didn’t quite happen.”
But Williams was firing on all cylinders as she won two hardcourt titles in the buildup to the Open, signalling she won’t surrender her crown without a fight.
Her straight-sets win over Ana Ivanovic in the final at Cincinnati showed Williams at her dominant best.
“At some point of the match, I actually felt quite embarrassed walking from one side to the other for returns,” Ivanovic said of the near-hopelessness of returning Williams’ best serve.
It was a long way from Ivanovic’s fourth-round victory over Williams at the Australian Open, where the American was hindered by back pain.
Back trouble, a humbling second-round exit at Roland Garros, and the virus that left her weak and woozy in doubles after her shock third-round singles exit at Wimbledon, are all in the past, Williams said.
“I’m in some of the best shape I’ve been in,” said the world number one. “I can play long points and be ready to go again. I feel really fit — 32 is the new 22, right?”
An actual 22-year-old, Simona Halep, will be among those trying to topple Williams in New York.
The Romanian has been knocking at the door of a first Grand Slam title this year, finishing runner-up to Maria Sharapova at Roland Garros.
Halep also reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the semi-finals at Wimbledon as she climbed to number two in the world.
Williams will also be challenged by more familiar foes, including Sharapova.
Sharapova’s appetite is only greater after she missed last year’s US Open with a shoulder injury that brought her season to a premature close.
She sealed yet another return from injury by capturing her fifth career Grand Slam in Paris, but she has never won two majors in the same year.
“I only have one more chance to do that this year,” she said, and admitted that such milestones matter.
“At this position, that’s where you showcase how strong you are and how much you really love it and (want) to show your legacy through the sport,” she said.
Just who else might emerge to challenge Williams is unclear.
Australian Open champion Li Na of China is an injury absentee, while Czech Petra Kvitova was an early casualty in Canada and Cincinnati although she did claim the New Haven title on Saturday.
Victoria Azarenka, beaten by Williams in each of the past two US Open finals, goes into the fortnight under an injury cloud.
The Belarusian, owner of two Australian Open titles, has been limited to just six events in 2014. — Sport 24
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