Federer looks to regain the US Open crown

Roger Federer has heard the talk and read some of the press about him losing his greatness and starting the decline of his career.

The talk first started back in 2008 when he only won one Grand Slam tournament at the US Open and lost the world No.1 ranking. However, the mighty Federer rebounded to complete the career Grand Slam in 2009 with his first French Open title and then became the all-time Grand Slam tournament titles leader with his 15th at Wimbledon and regained the top ranking.

He suffered an admittedly disappointing loss in the 2009 US Open final to Juan Martin del Potro but rebounded to start 2010 with his 16th Grand Slam tournament title at the Australian Open.

But then his ridiculous Grand Slam tournament semifinal streak was snapped at the 2010 French Open at 23, when he lost in the quarterfinals to Robin Soderling. It was the first time he missed a Slam semifinal since 2004. The loss also left him one week shy of tying Pete Sampras' all-time record of weeks at No. 1 in the world as he lost the top ranking to champion Rafael Nadal. Even more shocking, the five-time Wimbledon champion then lost in the quarterfinals at the All England Club to Tomas Berdych.

Nadal then won Wimbledon for his seventh Grand Slam tournament title and all the talk began anew that the great Federer was in decline, as losses such as those in Paris and London were unfathomable for Federer just a few years prior.

He then took six weeks off from competition after Wimbledon, returning during the Olympus US Open Series, where he won his second title of the year at the Cincinnati Masters, heading right into the US Open.

But all the talk, all the press about his decline does not bother Federer, now 29. The way he looks at it, it is a testament to all the great things he has done in his career and hardly sees himself in serious decline at No. 2 in the world and winning a Grand Slam tournament title this year, noting it is very difficult to keep up the pace he once had.

And he now looks to make it two majors this year and regain his US Open title, feeling mentally fresh and physically perfect as he goes for his 17th overall major and sixth in Flushing Meadows. It would also certainly help silence the rumblings, at least for awhile.

"At times I took it as a compliment really, too. I mean, I was No. 2 in the world most of the time and playing winning one or two Slams a year and I was on the downslide," Federer said. "You can't win every season 12 tournaments. That's clear for me well enough. I spoiled myself by playing so well, and you just prepare for the times when it's just maybe not 12 tournaments a season, you know. If it's two or four or six, it's still a good season depending on how you're feeling, how you're practicing, how you're evolving as a player. I was always making sure I tried to get better."

After his loss to Berdych at Wimbledon, Federer admitted his frustration at not being able to play the way he wanted and knew he could because of a back problem. He also missed time with a lung infection earlier in the year, admitting maybe he should have taken some time off to recover but wants to play tournaments and has no fear.

"I'm not scared of taking losses," he said. "I wanted to know where I stand, and the only place I could find out is at tournaments. Hopefully I'm not losing in the first or second round. I like to play. And if people think, 'Oh, he's not the same', well, that's not something new, because I knew I was not the same playing for a few events."

His fellow players would agree he is still a major threat in any tournament.

"I think from a player's point of view, he's still obviously one of the best players in the world, for sure," Andy Murray, ranked No. 4, said. "When the big tournaments come around, he's always one of the big favorites to win. Yeah, that's kind of what goes through my head. I think it's pretty poor judgment if that's what you think (that he is on the downside or done)."

During Federer's six weeks off after Wimbledon, he spent time with family and friends in Switzerland to clear his mind and get over such a frustrating loss. When he returned to competition in Toronto, his muscles ached from the return to being pushed in a match.

"I feel as good as I can feel prior to a Grand Slam," Federer said just before the start of the 2010 US Open. "I have no niggling injuries, no pain anywhere. After going through a tough Toronto really I had a lot of muscle pain, my arm, my wrist, my chest, my shoulder. Coming back right off the bat after six weeks and playing such tough matches early on was tough on the body."

By the time he moved through Cincinnati, the soreness was gone. And from his first match against Brian Dabul on Opening Night in Flushing Meadows, he looked back to his usual self.

It was an easy 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 win for Federer that included one of the best shots of his career: His famous 'The Tweener' from his semifinal win over Novak Djokovic at the 2009 US Open was one of his best, as he hit a shot between his legs for a winner that put him just a few points from winning the match.

And Monday night he did it again. Running back to the baseline to catch up with a Dabul return - on a ball he admittedly did not do enough with - he reached the shot and did it again. He hit the return between his legs, with the ball landing just inside the right line of the court as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Federer himself could not believe it, as he raised his arms over his head and then flapped them down. For Dabul, there was nothing he could do with it.

"Obviously the importance of last year's (between the legs shot) was probably a little bit more important just because I think it was Love-30 to go Love-40, two points away from the match, and it was a semifinal. So obviously that has a little bit of an impact, too," Federer said when he was asked to compare the tweeners. "But maybe in terms of difficulty maybe this one was harder, because I had the feeling I had to run a longer distance and I was further back somehow, I felt. I had to really give the last big push at the end. I didn't have time to set it up. So I felt like this one was incredible again. I turned around and couldn't believe the shot landed in the corner.

"So (the) ovation was fantastic. Crowds went wild. Yeah, you could see on my reaction I couldn't believe it," he added.

He has also caused quite a sensation with another shot this summer - this on the internet - as fans questioned and are still questioning whether it was real or not. In a commercial take for Gillette, the video shows Federer knocking a bottle off someone's head with a serve. But he will not say much more about it.

"The shots on center court in front of 22,000 people is a bit more difficult than what I did at the Gillette commercial," he said. "That (the video) was just having a bit more fun. No, I can't tell you if it's real or not. That's up for debate."

This summer Federer also made an addition to his team, hiring Paul Annacone, Pete Sampras' former coach. They started the partnership as a test trial but things have worked out well and Annacone is being integrated into the Federer team. Annacone has been the head coach of men's tennis for the British Lawn Tennis Association, for which he still has responsibilities.

"He's a very nice guy and he's very calm and speaks as experience from a player and as a coach, as well," he said of what Annacone brings to the team that also includes Swiss Davis Cup Captain Severin Luthi.

As a father to twin daughters, who are just over a year old, with wife Mirka, Federer also appreciates the insight Annacone can provide regarding balancing tennis and family.

"I guess he also had kids early as a player, so he knows how to handle that," he added. "You know, it's just nice to hear, a different fresh different voice for a change."

At the 2010 US Open, many fans would love to see Federer renew his rivalry with Nadal. The two have not met in a Grand Slam tournament since the 2009 Australian Open, which Nadal won in five sets. On opposite sides of the draw, the two could only meet in the final. In contrast to many rivals, Federer and Nadal not only respect each other tremendously on and off the court but are very friendly.

They have never played at the US Open, where Nadal has never reached the final. Federer would love to make this year their first meeting in New York.

"I think it would be great. We've played in all the other majors," Federer said. "I hope we can do it this year, otherwise I think we'll both be around for quite a bit longer that we'll have a chance further down the stretch.

"He's been my rival for almost five years now, so we're a very healthy rivalry," he added. "We get along really well. We chat a lot in the locker rooms, just hang out sometimes, play XOs against each other. So it's been nice to have such a rival like Rafa who has been so respectful, really. I think I've helped him to be a better player; same for me. I think he's helped me to become a better player."

Nadal is also joining Federer in a December exhibition match in Switzerland with all proceeds going to Federer's foundation. He agreed with Federer about their friendship and the way they push each other on the court.

"I think Roger and me understand exactly what happen outside the court and what happen inside the court," Nadal said of their relationship. "So the matches, you win the matches inside the court. You fight all inside the court. But when the match is done, is finished. So I think we understand that it's only a game.That's not the more important thing of this life."

And make no mistake, Federer is in every tournament to win. Playing well is very important but he is never satisfied just reaching a semifinal or a final. Losing the US Open final to del Potro last year was hard because he knew he had chances to win and let the match get away and against a player of del Potro's caliber, it cost him.

A win this year in Flushing Meadows would surely help ease the pain - and the talk about any diminished skills.

"Maybe there is an extra incentive for me to try to win it (the US Open) again after being two points away last year. It was a disappointing loss for me," he said. "I felt like that was one of the finals I should have never lost. At the end, del Potro played great and deserved the victory. It was a tough one to swallow.

"But I've had a bit of an up and down season so far," he added. "I've won the Australian Open, so I have a chance to win a second one (Grand Slam tournament) this season. There's still a lot to play for. That's why I'm excited to be back in New York and feeling great."