By Alix Ramsay
Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you – for one night and one night only – the Roger and Andy Show. It will be the 18th episode of the everyday story of Grand Slam winning folk, a heart-warming tale of two decent blokes who wear shorts to work and terrify their workmates with the wave of a racquet.
As with most soap operas, the plot tends to be a little repetitive and you can easily miss out a couple of seasons, return to the action and pick up where you left off. Oh look, there's the lovely Roger, and he's winning. Ah, there's the lovely Andy, and he's losing.
Poor Roddick has tried everything he can think of to get the better of Federer, and yet he has only managed two wins in 17 previous meetings. Even then, he needed Federer's help to win.
Back in 2003, the Swiss had not evolved into the Mighty Fed and, with only one Wimbledon title to his name, he was still only the Awfully-Good-And-Might-Just-Turn-Into-A-Legend-So-Let's-Just-Wait-And-See Fed. As he faced Roddick in the semifinals of the Montreal Masters, he knew that a victory would give him the world No. 1 ranking. And he choked. Couldn't serve for trembling. Couldn't win for nerves. Admittedly, it was the last time that happened to Federer as he set off on the path to true greatness, but the moment was enough to give Roddick his first win.
That was back in the days of Roddick's pomp. That summer he swept all before him, losing just two matches from the day he walked out of the French Open to the night he lifted the US Open trophy. Unsurprisingly, one of those matches was to Federer in the Wimbledon semifinals, but Roddick was on his way to ending the year as the world No. 1. Alas, by the time that summer was over, the Swiss had become the Mighty Fed - and that was the end of that.
Roddick's only other chance to win came last year when he ambushed a slightly crook Federer in the quarterfinals of the Miami Masters. Suffering from glandular fever at the start of the year, not even Federer realised quite how long the after-effects would linger, and it was not until he got to the US Open in September that he began to feel like his old self. So when Roddick ran into him in March, the American took full advantage of an under-par opponent and did for him in three sets.
You would think that Roddick would be sick of the sight of Federer by now, but he and his Swiss rival seem to have formed a mutual appreciation society. They have known each other for half a lifetime, and much as Roddick may be fed up with losing, he will not have anyone else knocking his mate. So, as the critics and the pundits spent most of last year writing Federer's obituary, Roddick fumed.
"I was really happy to see Roger win the US Open last year," Roddick said. "If I'm being frank with you guys, he was a lot classier in that press conference with everyone here than I would have been if I was in that position.
"He has nothing to prove. He's the greatest. He's created quite an animal for himself, where if someone wins a set they're questioning his form. The guy made two finals, a semi, and won a Slam last year, and people are saying he's off form. I think he deserves a lot more respect than that."
Roddick, too, deserves more respect than his record against Federer suggests. Not only is he slimmer, trimmer and faster than he has ever been, he is also a more mature competitor this year. Where in the past, Roddick might have started to fret when things did not go his way, now he sticks to his game plan, goes back to the basics and tries again.
Against Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, his serve and his forehand were the expected weapons, but his backhand was a much improved shot. Not only that, when any stroke went off the boil, he did not panic but, rather, he tried it again and made sure he got it right.
The change in Roddick has not gone unnoticed. Federer has played Roddick in the good times, when the American was at his best, and he has played him when Roddick has been struggling. Now Fed is just pleased to be playing Roddick at all, whatever shape he's in. Then again, with that 15-2 winning record over A-Rod going into the match, it is no wonder he is pleased to see his old mate again.
"I'm excited playing Andy," Federer said. "I'm happy for him. He's doing well here again. He's one of my generation who was able to stay at this level for, what is it five, six years now? Maybe even more, because he came up in 2003 and won then. So he's already been up there for a long time and never really fell out of the top 15. That's rock-solid.
"That's why I'm excited to play against him and seeing him create an upset in a big tournament. That's what's kind of been missing for him in the big tournaments lately."
Judging by the way Federer marmelised Juan Martin Del Potro on Tuesday night, he is feeling confident. Judging by the way Roddick has been underplaying his chances of late, is seems that he is just enjoying the ride. It all bodes well for a belting semifinal. Episode 18 of the Roger and Andy Show, 7.30pm on Thursday. Do not adjust your set …
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