Tennis 

Wimbledon Review

By The B Man
Outsports.com

Maria Sharapova and Roger Federer.  The 2004 Wimbledon singles titlists.  Sharapova won her first Slam title and Federer his third, and his second consecutive Wimbledon grand prize.  Different matches, different runs to the final, different significance for the sport, but one thing about each player’s victory is the same: they did it their own way.

After eschewing the Russian training and development system for time with Nick Bollettieri and then later with Robert Lansdorp, who honed her game from the baseline, Maria Sharapova has developed an arsenal of groundstrokes that are not only consistent but consistently hard and deep.  What’s more, she has a great serve, unlike say, Elena Dementieva or even Anastasia Myskina. 

Another thing strikingly different about Sharapova than the rest of the Russian players is her mental steel.  Sharapova practically radiates a genuine, deep self-assuredness.  More than that, she’s able to get over a lost point pretty easily and uses good points and winners to really stoke her competitive fire.  These things simply can’t be said for Dementieva (who has admitted being embarrassed by her own inability to serve), Kuznetsova (who has squandered opportunities to advance deep into Grand Slam draws), or Myskina (plenty of on-court histrionics).

Even though each Russian seems to have a “warm fuzzy” backstory, e.g., having to share rackets when she was 7, playing 10 kids on one court, etc., Poppa Sharapova’s sacrifice and determination to see Maria succeed, plus the sheltering environment he and her agent provide, beg comparison to the Williams family, something many have discussed and something even The New York Times has noted.  But there is an even more direct comparison: the bravado that won Sharapova  the championship match is a strong dose of “a taste of your own medicine” for Serena and the Williams Co.

Watching Sharapova play Serena brought to mind Serena’s match against Steffi Graf at the 1999 Indian Wells final.  Sharapova  played against Serena the same way Serena played against Graf: enormously confident and completely unafraid.  Sharapova  remained fearless and focused even when Serena crushed her second serves for screaming winners.  That kind of confidence is a beautiful thing to behold.

One must wonder whether this major win might somehow “taint” or spoil the naïve confidence that has informed Sharapova’s Slam-worthy tennis.  Will the pressure to title again, or the pressure from being hailed as the usher of a new regime in women’s tennis, be too much?  If Maria’s father, family, and agent continue to ground her as well as they have to date, not wanting what happened to Anna Kournikova to happen to Sharapova, chances are Sharapova can stay in the mix for major titles for several years to come.

As a competitor, she’s got enormous height, powerful groundstrokes, and the mental tenacity to stay a contender.  So, if her camp continues to do its part, fans might get to see this teen phenom be more successful out of the gate than even Martina Hingis.  Really.

In the men’s draw, an astonishingly steady Roger Federer played so well in his final with Andy Roddick that fans, television commentators, and sports journalists have been left dumbfounded and, well, stunned, by what he has accomplished.  Not the two Grand Slam event titles on the year, or the second consecutive Wimbledon trophy.  Well, not just those things, but rather that he’s outplayed and outlasted the strongest, most competitive players in the world still without a coach.

This accomplishment speaks volumes about Federer’s natural instincts and understanding for the sport and its strategy.  Soaring to such majestic heights after deciding to fly solo, Federer gives us hope that we may yet see another player ascend rightfully to the stature of Borg or Sampras.  If Federer can win two Slam championships without a coach, imagine what he might be able to accomplish with a coach or mentor who can really compliment the vision and raw talent he brings to the game.

Federer is legend. 

Federer is history unfolding before us. 

Federer is clearly and indisputably the best of the best, and he will be for some time to come.

A few words must be said about Serena Williams and Andy Roddick, as well.  The Wimbledon finalists represent two different stories. 

Serena and the Williams camp made assumptions about the final, like that Serena would win, if only because she had beaten Sharapova  early during the year, or maybe because Sharapova would buckle under the pressure of her first Grand Slam event championship match.  One thing is for sure: Serena walked onto center court with no particular strategy or game plan.

While many will find this telling of Serena’s arrogance, rightfully earned some may say, I think it’s more indicative of Serena’s respect for Amelie Mauresmo and Jennifer Capriati, and for how the women’s game is changing in critical ways.  Clearly, Serena and Williams, Inc. did scout and craft strategy for Serena’s matches vs. Mauresmo and Capriati.  These elite players are so used to playing each other, and surviving or barely losing tough, tight matches, that they no doubt prepare differently and amp themselves up differently for their encounters.

When Serena swats a backhand down the line off Mauresmo’s or Capriati’s serve, you get the sense they start thinking, “Oh, damn…I’ve seen this before, and I know where this is going.”  This is not said to underestimate the scrappy determination Mauresmo and Capriati have brought to their matches with Serena.  The point is rather to illustrate how the top players may be so accustomed to each other’s games, and the ebbs and flows and rhythms of their matches together that a new factor, like a Sharapova, might really throw things off.

Sharapova did not flinch when Serena hit screaming return winners off her serve.  This may have been Serena’s ultimate undoing: unable to intimidate her younger opponent and lacking any sort of match history or experience with Sharapova, because they’ve played only once before, Serena could only hit the ball hard and fight for every point.  Valiant, but without a complete plan of attack, it was a doomed approach.

The ascendancy of Sharapova, and of Myskina, too, will force Serena, Mauresmo, and Capriati to really lift their games and take no one for granted.

Andy Roddick, on the other hand, knew exactly what he had to do to beat Roger Federer.  Whereas Serena underestimated her opponent, Roddick was superbly coached and prepared. Further, he had momentum and several opportunities to square things up and even take leads.   

Unfortunately, a few mental lapses kept Roddick from extending set four.  On two break points in the same game half-way through set four, Roddick temporarily abandoned the “to-the-backhand” strategy and instead tried spanking shots deep to Federer’s forehand side.  Rather than roll a deep shot to Federer’s backhand side, which was open and begging for it, Roddick attempt to pull the cross court shots across his body, searching for the other corner of the court.  Instead, he found nothing but net.

The All-American hero has improved by leaps and bounds since only last year.  He played Wimbledon with more confidence, and with loads more technical proficiency.  While it is disappointing to see him lose, you have to think coach Brad Gilbert is going to show Andy the tape over and over and over and over again.  Roddick will see how open Federer’s backhand side was and will squirm in his seat, wondering “Why?!, WHY?!???” he didn’t stick to the plan.

And it’s a good thing for Roddick to squirm and wonder “Why”, for if he can improve his game so dramatically from last year, it stands to reason that he may be able to evolve his game even further in anticipation for both the Olympics and the US Open.  If his Wimbledon final finish and performance are any indication of the quality of the coaching and training he’s receiving, and of his own hunger to win, then Roddick will certainly continue to live up to his hype.  Indeed, he may be the only player to provide a consistent, remarkable foil to Federer.  Tennis fans could ask for no better a rivalry.

Have your say on the Wimbledon threads on our Discussion Board.