Looking forward to the 2012 season

Like million other people, I want to talk about a legend who answers to the name of Roger Federer. He compiled a 59-12 record for the year, did manage to peak for the slams and at the age of 30, is the one top player on the tour who is finishing strong. Looking at the 2010 season vs 2011 season, it would be tempting to say that 2010 was much better (1GS, WTF, 1MS and 2 other titles) but looking at the matches individually is far more illuminating. The losses he endured in 2010 were very depressing for me personally as his fan. To lose from the situations he did against Baghdatis, Berdych and Gulbis showed mental frailty not previously associated with him. The loss to Montanes was the lowest point. While he had a tall mountain to climb against Soderling in those conditions at RG, the losses to Hewitt and Berdych on grass really hurt and one kept thinking, we have to keep perspective of what he has already achieved and that is really just a way of accepting he is no longer good enough. Fortunately, Roger did not believe that nonsense. He did have a couple more hurtful losses in 2010 (Djokovic at USO, Monfils at Bercy) but the new trend was that people needed to play outstanding tennis to beat Roger. And that is the major difference to me this season. His losses in 2011 have rarely been down to self destruction or very poor planning, and have mostly been due to the level of play from his opponent. That is something we have to accept as a fan. There were some matches this year when he wasn't playing good tennis by his lofty standards (Miami semis, Dubai finals, Monte-Carlo loss to Melzer and Cincy loss to Berdych) but all other matches showcased a Roger playing very good tennis and telling the opponent that he needed to play exceedingly well if he hopes to win. He lost 3 slams to the eventual winner and was frankly playing well enough to win all 4 slams. Often in tennis, your best results don't coincide with your best efforts and require an element of luck (dropshot on set point missing by an mm, catching the tape on a forehand drive on match point and floating wide). Last year, Nadal benefited from a loss of form suffered by Roger, Novak, Murray and injuries to Del Potro and Davydenko and he used the momentum and the draws opening up for the same reasons to win 3 slams. It makes Djokovic's achievements a little more admirable because he won his 3 slams while the other 3 top players were in great form all year round. Assuming that Roger rounds out the season with another WTF title, there will be no doubt that he will be the hottest player heading into 2012 much like 2011 but a year later with his skills well honed, achieving lofty goals might come down to good scheduling and staying fit. And that might mean getting his own room to avoid 4am wake up calls during the tournaments.