Deja Vu

We really have gone back in time.

Six years ago our two finalists met for the first time on the grass of SW19. One was a rising star with the biggest weapon in the game and a guaranteed path to stardom. The other was a wildly talented underachiever who punctuated brilliant wins with underwhelming losses. It would perhaps shock you to learn that the former was Andy Roddick, while the latter was Roger Federer. The underachiever in the Swiss died that day and a champion in him born, as he managed to summon all of his talent and glided through the encounter in three breathtakingly flawless sets. A few days later, he held up his first Grand Slam trophy on a day that would change tennis forever.

Five years ago our two finalists met for the second time on the grass of SW19. This time Roddick was the underdog, storming into the final with nothing to lose and everything to gain. His play reflected that. The American rocketed down ace after ace, propelling himself to a 6-4 first set win. Then, the rain came and washed away his momentum. Recharged and refocused after the break, Federer shook off the expectations and nervousness of having to defend a Slam for the very first time. He got in touch once again with the Gift and seized the match by the ankle, never letting go until he clipped the line with an ace on match point. The Swiss then crumbled onto the grass and fell back until his head touched the ground and his eyes gazed into the heavens.

Four years ago our two finalists met for the last time on the grass of SW19. Federer was the undisputed King of Wimbledon and had the gold-incrusted sneakers to prove it. Roddick had a new coach in his corner and promised to throw more than the kitchen sink at the match this time. However this was not to be. Tamed by the Swiss’ shotmaking, the American meekly folded in straight sets. With other, younger threats looming in the distance, we thought the story had run its course. We were wrong.

Today they will meet again on the grass of SW19. Will it be history in the making, or a resurrection of a rivalry once believed long past its prime? The world is watching.

Join our RSS feed and mailing list to be up to date and entered into our contests.
(We do not sell or distribute your email)

Delivered by FeedBurner