Nadal stifles Federer's fire

One wonders if Roger Federer will ever look at fireworks in the same way again. The world No.3, four times a champion on Rod Laver Arena, was a set up against his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal, a break down, admittedly, but working his way back into the second set with every skip inside the baseline. Until the fireworks.

Not that one can blame a load of sparkling lights. Of course not. And Federer never would, beyond admitting that it was “not helpful”. But regardless, following the 10-minute pause for the traditional Australia Day celebrations, the former great went on a losing spree of 11 points, surrendering the second set 2-6, and getting off on an uneven kilter in the third.

The way Federer was playing in the first set, all up tempo aggression and shot-making so beautiful it belongs in a museum, there seemed to be no living with him. He may have been up a break and seen it snatched back, but his execution to clinch the first set tiebreak 7-5 was nigh on impenetrable. Shades of his form at the O2 Arena last November, in fact.

He had the lead, he had the crowd, he had the confidence, he had the tennis. Melbourne 2012 would be the scene of his first Grand Slam final since the 2011 French Open, and this time, there would be no Nadal to stop him in the final.

“I was slightly disappointed, obviously, you know, leaving centre court, because I, you know, felt like my game was good, you know, and I could have done something in the finals potentially,” Federer said afterwards.

But you always suspected, as has been the case time and time before when these two great foes meet across the net, that if Nadal can get into Federer’s head, it’s a completely different scripture.

And so he did. Aided by the brief break or not, Nadal burrowed underneath Federer’s perfect locks, breezed through the second set, clung on to Federer’s coat-tails in the third, and went ahead in the fourth.

The Swiss had opportunities, as he always does. But whether he is prevented from seizing them, or whether he prevents himself, they did not transpire.

“[I] missed obviously the opportunities in some of all the sets maybe,” Federer said afterwards. “But Rafa did well to hang in there.  At the end, was a bit better.  It was a tough match physically as well, but, you know, only beginning of the season. I'm feeling all right, so it's okay.”

Sliding off the court as quickly as he could, not witnessing Nadal’s exuberant celebrations, Federer simply said he was thankful there was no trophy presentation to sit through as the loser.

“You look at that I haven't lost in five months or something,” Federer said.  “It's not that bad.  Don't feel too sorry for me, kind of thing.  Obviously I would have loved to have come through and, you know, gotten a crack, a chance at winning the title here again.”

For this, unusually for `Fedal’ epics, was not a Grand Slam final. It was their first meeting in a Grand Slam semifinal since the 2005 Roland Garros last four, the occasion of Nadal’s 19^th birthday. A lot has changed since. But what has not is their respect for each other.

“We have had good matches over the years,” Federer said.  “I enjoy playing him.  The crowd really gets into it, which is nice.  We have a lot of respect for each other, which is good, too, I think.

“I hope it inspires future generations or other players, you know, being nice to each other on the court and all that stuff.”

Thus it was that a quiet and reflective Federer remained adamant the facts and figures don’t matter to him.

It doesn’t matter to him that Nadal leads their head-to-head 18 to nine. It doesn’t matter to him that Nadal has now won every Grand Slam match between the two since the 2007 Wimbledon final. And it doesn’t matter to him, ultimately, that he lost. Disappointed, yes. Devastated, no.

“I respect it,” Federer said about Nadal’s record.  “I think he's doing great against me.  It is what it is, you know. Head?to?heads for me, I mean, are not the most important. At the end I care about my titles, if I'm happy or not as a person.

“Clearly I'm disappointed. But then again, important is the reaction from now, you know.  Where do I go from here?”

Wherever he goes, and it will be forwards, one wonders when we shall witness the 28^th chapter of these two so different players, who have pushed each other to achieve so much. Hopefully, soon.