Roger will face Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in his first match in Indian Wells. It provides Roger with a fresh start, and he can put the Australian Open and Dubai behind him and move on.
I remember when I would look at Roger’s draw and see Lleyton Hewitt or Andy Roddick, and I would think to myself that Roger doesn’t have that difficult of a draw. However, due to Roger’s last couple of tournaments, I no longer feel that way. In a way, it brings me more excitement because Roger isn’t a shoe-in to win or make the finals. It’s more suspenseful, and it’s not, “Oh, how’s Roger going to win this time?” I look forward to seeing how Roger answers his critics that say his reign is over.
1
eva kovacs said,
March 16, 2008 at 11:21 am
That Federer will prevail and shut up the critics and would-be pundits is a certainty. As is the fact that he will reach, and even exceed his history-making goals. Yes, he gets difficult draws, but it only empowers him when he is well. A champion for a long time, the Champion of Champions. There are other great players, but none that are at his level of game, the level he himself created, and which, in fact, inspired other players to elevate their game. But Roger has that Quantum Leap ability; It is a stratosphere where no one can reach him. He is young, fit, perfecting his game, and mindful of how to play against his opponents. (As for Andy Murray, he got lucky, or played Roger at times that were not favorable to him. He will have a good career, but cannot ever approach what #1 has going for him.) And as for others, there are talents out there, but it takes more than that, and more than just sheer will, no matter how that will makes a player to perform beyond his natural capabilities–but only for a while. Then it takes its toll.
Roger has nothing to prove that he hasn’t proven many times over. He has a winning mindset and mental strength, for his own victories, and for the glory of the game of tennis itself.
2
Christian said,
March 16, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Eva,
Thank you for your passionate comment. You bring up some really good points about Roger and the rest of the field. I really appreciate it!