Fair Play: The goat gets Roddick again

HOW could a guy, who lost his serve only once, lose to a guy whose serve got broken twice?

When he’s facing The Goat, of course.


Just like when Andre Agassi lost to the previous Goat in the semifinals of the US Open in 2001—despite not losing a single game on his serve.

This Goat doesn’t go “baaah,” but he did bawl a lot in a couple of losses to a Goat wannabe.

He is Roger Federer—The Greatest Of All Time.

The previous Goat, Pete Sampras, was there too, when the new King took over—aptly—on the green grass of Center Court.

At four hours and 16 minutes into his match against Federer, Roddick knew he lost the moment he hit that shot.

He misfired a forehand.

You could see it in his eyes. Watch the replay, he took one look at the trajectory of his shot and bowed his head.

It was over for the American.

On the other end of the court, Federer had a look at Roddick’s wayward shot, leapt and screamed.

History was his. A 15th major was his. Next up, as another ex-Goat, Rod Laver, said could be possible, is a True Grand Slam—four majors in one year.

Though Roddick lost, he gained—as what the commentators said after the match—a lot of fans.

He threw everything he possibly could at Federer—the Goat simply took it and spit some. Of the 39 times he had the serve, he held it 38 times and saved six break points.

He faltered at that crucial seventh time when he shanked that forehand.

“Sorry Pete,” Roddick, fighting tears, told the previous Goat, “You know I tried to hold him off.”

Roddick more than held off Federer. He also revived his career.

Despite the loss, Roddick showed he still can crack a joke or two.

After the trophy presentation, when Federer was extolling Roddick, the Swiss said, “Don’t be sad, I too went through the rough times, especially the previous year against Nadal, and I managed to fight back.”

I didn’t hear it, but based on Federer’s response, Roddick hollered something like, “Yeah, but you already won five before that!”

No. 15 came in the most difficult of circumstances. It came a year after most people thought he had lost it. That he was past his prime. That—gasp—the young guns were catching up with Old Roger.

Some say Rafael Nadal’s absence somehow dents Federer’s latest feat.

But for me, Nadal’s absence HIGHLIGHTS what the Goat did and has done.

Rafa couldn’t defend his French Open title, because he lost. Federer beat the guy who beat Rafa.

Rafa couldn’t defend his Wimbledon title, because of a lingering injury. Federer battled mononucleosis and made it to the Australian Open semis. He’s made 21 straight Grand Slam semifinals appearances—that’s almost five years of staying in the top flight of tennis sans any injury. This Goat is consistently good.

Nadal’s absence in Wimbledon shouldn’t put an asterisk to Federer’s 15th major. It’s unfair. Of Sampras’s 14 majors, they don’t put an asterisk on his second major, the Australian Open in 1994, because his greatest rival Agassi wasn’t there since the Brash One refused to play in the event during the first eight years of his career, do they?

So why pick on Federer?

Nadal may have Federer’s number. But Federer got the numbers that count—15 and 21.

And tennis is not about beating just one guy. Don’t forget that to get to just one Grand Slam final, a player has to win six prior matches. Federer did that. Twenty times, on clay, grass and hard court, and won 15.

That’s why he is the Goat.

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