The master did it again. Roger Federer has a 16th grand slam title, a fourth in Australia and his dominance over men’s tennis shows no sign of ever ending.
Britain’s long wait continues. The added burden of 74 years of expectation was too much for Andy Murray and he was unable to produce his best when it mattered most.
The Scotsman was brave, but Federer was just too good, winning yesterday’s Australian Open final 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 in 2 hours, 41 minutes. It was not so much a match as a tennis lesson.
PHOTO: EPA
At the presentation ceremony, Murray broke down in tears, just as Federer did when he won in 2006 and again last year when he lost to Rafa Nadal.
“I can cry like Roger. It’s just a shame I can’t play like him,” Murray said.
Murray’s time may still come. He is just 22 and has already played in two grand slam finals, at the US Open two years ago and now in Australia.
PHOTO: REUTERS
He might have lost both in straight sets to Federer, but there is no shame in that. The apprentice’s best years are still ahead of him and Britain may yet get their first male grand slam champion since Fred Perry won the US Open in 1936.
“You’re too good a player not to win a grand slam so don’t worry about it,” the Swiss said to the teary-eyed Scotsman.
Federer’s game is not quite as clinical and precise as it used to be — he double-faults and shanks the ball into the stands like everyone else. He is mortal after all.
However, his grip on the game has never been tighter. He may not be able to run as fast as some of his younger rivals, but his court craft and ability to handle pressure situations have kept him well ahead of the chasing pack.
Rarely has this been better illustrated than in yesterday’s final at Melbourne Park.
Murray went into the match full of hope and confidence after playing the best tennis of his life to get to the final. There were moments when he was able to frustrate Federer and put the world No. 1 under pressure, captivating the Rod Laver Arena crowd with some absorbing rallies.
In the opening set, he broke Federer’s serve with a sweeping cross-court winner and in the third set he broke him again with another sweetly struck winner.
Murray even served for the third set in the ninth game and had five set points in the tiebreaker that would have sent the match into a fourth, but each time he was unable to convert.
Federer wasted two match points in the tiebreak, but took the third that came his way, with Murray lamely slapping a backhand into the net.
“I’m over the moon, winning this again,” Federer said. “I think I played some of the best tennis of my life again the last two weeks. This is also special because it’s my first grand slam as a father. I’m looking forward to them watching me next year maybe.”
Indian Leander Paes and his Zimbabwean partner Cara Black won the Australian Open mixed doubles title yesterday by defeating Russian Ekaterina Makarova and Czech Jaroslav Levinsky 7-5, 6-3.
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
After nearly six years away from the NBA, New Taipei Kings player Jeremy Lin (林書豪) is set to participate in the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend’s Rising Stars mini-tournament as the coach of Team G League. The NBA announced Monday (U.S. time) that the Taiwanese-American player will join a trio of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers – Tim Hardaway Sr., Chris Mullin, and Mitch Richmond – as honorary coaches for four teams featuring 28 rising talents. "See you soon in the Bay," Lin wrote in an Instagram story sharing the news. As the All-Star Weekend will take place at