Abby Brammell

By Alan Fraser

Tester: Federer was made to work hard for a place in the second round


As scares go for Roger Federer and his many fans, this was right up there with the girl with the revolving head and the guy who used an axe to go to the bathroom.

Arguably the greatest tennis player in history, on the precipice of defeat to an unknown Colombian on one leg. On Centre Court of all arenas, at Wimbledon of all places, his second home.

That the fright failed to be converted into a fully fledged shock — potentially the biggest in the history of the sport — came down to that old combination of champion’s fortitude and challenger’s frailty.

‘I got lucky,’ Federer admitted after scraping through 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1), 6-0 against Alejandro Falla. ‘I should have lost that match.’

There was no dispute from Falla himself who, having edged close to a winning position in the third set, actually served for the match in the fourth.

‘I was thinking I had big opportunity to beat Federer here (as I went out to serve),’ Falla said. ‘I just doubted a little bit in the first two points.’

When doubts creep in, mortals crash out.

It was not that Federer could not have lost; rather, it was a case of Falla being unable to win. The failing was psychological rather than physical, nothing to do with the thigh injury which twice required a massage from the physio on court but hampered him not a jot.

The fact that Falla first called for the trainer after taking the first two sets prompted one wag to suggest he was in need of smelling salts and not deep heat.

As stirringly as the 26-year-old South American played for the vast majority of the match of his life, Federer was by his standards pretty awful and there for the taking.

Someone with slightly more of a pedigree and slightly less overcome by the prospect of victory might have sealed the deal.


Eye on the ball: A focused Falla played some excellent tennis against Federer


But Falla came face to face with what in Colombian sporting terms would have represented immortality and perhaps predictably froze.

Not that the list of Colombian sporting greats is a long one. Who else but the shockingly coiffured footballer Carlos Valderrama? This is a modest South American country famous for climbers and runners, in cycling and drugs respectively.

Falla himself is a modest player with a modest record who, prior to Monday, rated his first-round match on Centre Court against the very same Federer as the most memorable experience of his career.

He lost that match 6-1, 6-2, 6-0. Some memory, some career. He now has a new favourite.

‘Today is a special day for me,’ he declared. ‘Many players would like to be serving for the match against Federer.’

An honest enough reaction, though surely one which betrayed his limited ambition. He seemed happy enough to be a part of the kind of contest that generates a buzz around the courts, locker rooms and restaurants of the All England Club.


Struggling: Federer was under pressure in the early stages of the match


No vuvuzela needed. Just a great champion in trouble on Centre Court in front of a crowd willing to cheer the underdog then ultimately cherish a legend. They wanted Falla, pronounced ‘fire’ to blaze but eventually be extinguished. Which
he was.

As chance would have it, this was the third occasion the pair had played each other in the last month.

‘Everyone wants to play Federer, but three times in a month is too much,’ he said with a slightly weary smile.

Falla had served for the first set at the French Open before losing in three. At Halle a fortnight ago, the Colombian managed only three games.

‘He should have known that I was going to beat him. But he forgot I beat him, ’ Federer commented with a trace of that famous Swiss humour.


No pain, no gain: Falla required treatment during his epic encounter with Federer


Falla, in fact, had learned from those defeats. He showed considerable improvement in his forehand, often served wide to the backhand and determined to come out swinging. It helped that he faced a defending champion whose timing was anything but Swiss.

When Federer was not dumping the ball into the bottom half of the net he was firing his ground strokes far beyond the baseline.

Twice the inhabitants of the Royal Box flinched as mishits flew in their direction. Once Falla had to jump to avoid what in cricketing parlance would have been a beamer.

Not that Federer, with a seventh title in his sights, wanted to dwell on the negative when there was a positive up for grabs.

‘I did play a great fifth set,’ he said. ‘Nobody will talk about that. People will say he was tired, he choked already way before. But I was starting to play great with my backhand. Things were really clicking in the end.’

Things had been really stinking at the beginning.

Federer is occasionally prone to spraying the ball in all directions but never on the court with which he conducts almost a love affair.

‘It’s a dream for any player to play opening day on a perfect grass court,’ said Federer. ‘There were a few times I thought I was going to lose. I’ve been unlucky enough this season, so I needed one lucky match.

'We’ll see how important it is, depending on the run I go on now.’

Federer, who has struggled at times this year, will need more than luck if he does not pick up his form in the days and rounds to come. But you can count on him doing so. This is Wimbledon and Roger Federer is a legend.


source: dailymail