Ressaca

Djokovic had been the comedian of the United States Open, a 20-year-old Serb who had won over the crowd with his postmatch impressions of fellow players as well as his gutsy baseline game.

Federer did not care for his act. And in the accelerated end, Djokovic, playing in his first Grand Slam final, was not yet ready for the inimitable Federer.

Those were the closing words of his news conference, perhaps fueling a compelling rivalry between the fashionable traditionalist, Federer, and the YouTube star, Djokovic.

Not that Federer, 26, was willing to admit it. He is chasing one man, Pete Sampras, the retired career leader with 14 Grand Slam titles.

He could not say the same for Djokovic. Federer said he still considered Nadal his true rival, even as Djokovic joined the conversation.

Federer was dismissive of Djokovic’s impressions of other players — Nadal, Roddick, Andre Agassi and even Federer.

“I know some guys weren’t happy. I know some guys might think it’s funny. He’s walking a tightrope, for sure. If fans like it, it’s good for tennis, to be honest. It’s good to have a character like him out there, there’s no doubt.”

Federer left no doubt. For now.

Na minha modesta opinião, não é em Novak Djokovic, nem em Rafael Nadal, que Roger Federer encontra o seu maior rival e a sua principal motivação para manter-se no topo. É com a história da modalidade que Federer tem um ajuste de contas a concretizar. É verdade que Nadal uma vez ou outra traz Federer à terra e dá-lhe uma lição de humildade, mas a aparente vantagem de Nadal frente a Federer não deixa de ser fruto das circunstâncias. Nomeadamente da circunstância de Nadal invariavelmente ser eliminado nos torneios onde Federer é mais forte, enquanto Federer recorrentemente vai à final dos torneios de terra batida onde Nadal, por enquanto, é o rei. No dia em que Nadal ou Djokovic conseguirem rivalizar com Federer de igual para igual, dificilmente será por estes dois elevarem o seu jogo ao nível do jogo do suiço, mas será sempre por um abaixamento de forma do melhor jogador de todos tempos.