Roger Federer lost to Novak Djokovic for the third time in succession in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells hard court tournament. The score line was 3-6 6-3 2-6. He has also lost the number two position to Djokovic. It appears to herald a new era in contemporary tennis.
Federer’s serve did not have the sting and it is not the first time that it has been like that. The times when he would extract himself out of trouble by serving aces appear to be over. The serve does not go to the lines too which means one of the potent weapons in his game does not fire consistently. He sent his first and the only ace in the seventeenth game of the match. Going round the backhand and taking the ball on forehand backfired many a time since Djokovic had the ability to reach the ball and flick it into the open court. His patience wears thin in rallies now a days and a large number of unforced errors are the result of that. He wants to end the points quickly and has become more mechanical. Djokovic is not easy to be brushed aside within a few shots in a rally. Inability to convert double break points or win from double game point was a rare spectacle in Federer’s game in the past. Infact he could save a triple break point many a time. Federer is now finding Djokovic invincible just as he did Nadal since a few years ago.
Djokovic appears to have speed, a potent back hand and a terrific return of serve. He is at the top of his physical prowess. There appears to be no ball on the court that he can not reach. This is what has been the hall mark of Rafael Nadal too when he would retrieve each and every ball forcing the opponent to play one more ball and commit unforced error. When the opponent is returning your best shot, you tend to go more and more to the lines and commit unforced errors. Djokovic hits deep and with power not allowing opponent to step into the court to create angles. Acute angles are bread and butter of Federer’s game. Previously he would serve with precision and step into the court to take the ball early and despatch the return for a winner at an acute angle. Djokovic returns did not allow that luxury for Federer. Federer has predominantly one side to hit winners these days, i.e., the forehand. More and more opponents are targeting his back hand to win points.
Djokovic has become insurmountable wall for Federer now. Whether Djokovic has got into Federer’s psyche or not, it is too early to say, but there are indications that Djokovic is a feared opponent to Federer and to all others. Federer plays the same game he has always played. The depreciation in his game has coincided with the upswing in the game of Djokovic. Both Nadal and Djokovic have improved their service in recent times. Djokovic has improved his stamina and speed on the court which has been in evidence especially during the last six months. We have a different world o
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