DUBAI // Wearing a bright-red T-shirt with hubby in tow, the female fan hurried toward the stairs leading into the grandstands. Printed in white on her jersey were the sentiments of many tennis fans: “No Roger, No Tennis”.
Inside the stadium, the stands for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships were packed. It was the first full house of the year, and if you add those standing in the shadows, unable to find seats, the attendance was probably twice the total of Saturday’s final in the Dubai women’s division.
“From Turkey with Love”, read a massive banner unfurled by a group of fans in the stands. No guessing as to who that message was intended.
Roger Federer might have slipped down the tennis rankings in recent times to No 8, but he is still the biggest attraction in the sport. And like he keeps saying, he can still play tennis, often of the sublime kind, and then some of the incredulous variety that bring the fans to their feet.
Like on Monday night. As Benjamin Becker lobbed him, the 32-year-old Swiss turned and raced back to hit the “hotdog” – that incredible signature shot between the legs. This one was a bit different – it was not hit flat, but was a lob.
Becker, rushing back, just managed to return the shot with a desperate lunge, but then decided to squat. He saw no point in making another futile chase.
After losing the first set in just 22 minutes, the German must have been a bit crestfallen, anyway. He lost the second in 40 minutes and fell 6-1, 6-4.
“It worked perfectly, so I’m happy,” said Federer about that shot. “Even better that he got it back, so he created even more to it. It was exciting and the fans enjoyed it, which is almost as important as winning point.”
Playing a match for the first time in almost three weeks, Federer showed little rust, getting into the groove straightaway.
The Swiss was happier to be reminded about American legend Pete Sampras’s recent predictions that Federer could break his Wimbledon record and keep playing for another four years. Currently, the two are level with seven Wimbledon titles each.
“I’m just happy he’s being positive about my game,” Federer said. “I mean, he’s a good friend. I would be a little bit surprised if he would be too rough on me, but at the same time, I think it does say something. It counts.
“It gives me extra confidence to know that someone like him believes in me, is in my corner.”
Millions of tennis fans around the globe believe, too, like that lady in red and the thousands of fans who vanished as soon as Federer left the court.
arizvi@thenational.ae
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