Is This The End For Roger Federer?

Federer left with much to ponder

Roger Federer's dream of an 8th Wimbledon title was ended this evening in sensational style. Fans will have watched on in disbelief as the great Roger Federer, arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, failed to find a way to beat Ukrainian and World Number 116 Sergiy Stakhovsky. 

The returning Wimbledon Champion crashed out in four sets, 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 7-6 (7-5) and became another one of the early casualties at this years Wimbledon after two-time Champion Rafael Nadal exited on Monday.

It must be said that despite Federer not being at his best Stakhovsky played the match of his life, implementing his serve and volley game to perfection. He dominated on serve as Federer's struggled to create break-points chances as he only managed to break Stakhovsky once in the match, coming in the final set.

This defeat will have saddened many and maybe even brought a tear to the eye of his fans as they sense the possible end of a great career. Will this be the Sampras moment for Federer, who never played another Wimbledon after his second round exit to George Basti in 2002? Federer has often stated that he intends to play tennis for years to come, but can he come back from this? 

  

After Federer had edged the first set tie-break, surely he would now go on and dominate using his experience and class to see it out in 3 straight? However Stakhovsky, 27, trusted his game plan and continued to execute it brilliantly. Serving terrifically he took the second set after another tie-break.  

Federer struggled to find top form

For a man on centre court against the seven-time champion Stakhovsky looked calm and controlled. The consistency of his play was incredible to see, and may it difficult to understand his current ranking. Having got the break he served out the third set.

Suddenly you could sense even the crowd were doubting Federer's future in the tournament. After the exit of Nadal, and the shocks that had preceded this match with a number of top players crashing out, could Wimbledon have no Nadal or Federer in the third round.

Having been broken again early in the fourth set, the exit of Federer was becoming increasing likely. But he finally broke to get the set back on serve. However Stakhovsky continued to play well and after saving a set-point at 5-6 down, forced the match into a third tie-break.

Soon Stakhovsky had two match points. Federer saved the the first with a terrific forehand but after another unforced error, this time a poor backhand went wide, the unthinkable had happened.

  

It was Federer's first defeat by a player ranked outside the top 100 since losing to 101-ranked Richard Gasquet at Monte Carlo in 2005 and the earliest defeat for a defending champion at Wimbledon since Leyton Hewitt in 2002.

    

The defeat also brought a end to Federer's incredible record of reaching 36 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals, stretching back to Federer first round exit at the French Open in 2003. It was also Federer's earliest exit at Wimbledon since 2002.

It is therefore not surprising that fans and journalists have seen this as the end of an era. Suddenly for Federer, 31, 'father time' has caught up with him and his ability to regularly challenge for Grand Slam titles is over. 

Questions of Federer's decline started a few years ago. Having only won 2 of his 17 Grand Slams since the start of 2010, he has been seen as a continuing fading light. His failure to win a Grand Slam in 2011, signalled for some the changing of the guard with Novak Djokovic taking the great mans place. 

However he defied these critics with his Wimbledon win of 2012. But can he come back from this?

2013 had already been a tough year for Federer with only one title to date coming at Halle two weeks ago.   

This was a crushing defeat  but one Federer will not panic about. He will now be looking at the US Open, but can he make a impression there? Is he still capable of playing to the standard required over a  two week period to win a grand slam? 

At 31, is the motivation still there for Federer? He has won so much, does he have the willingness to put in the hours? 

Is this the last time at Wimbledon for Federer?

All of these questions will continue to be asked and he will be under some pressure going into the US Open however he will not be alone. Rafael Nadal will also be under pressure, can he perform on a hard court or will the knees give way? Is this the end of the 'big 4'? Hopefully both Federer and Nadal can return and perform at the US Open. 

Another point it that unbelievably Federer could now drop to as low as 6th in the ATP rankings by the time the US Open comes round. This will make his US Open even tougher. Federer has failed at the quarter-finals of the US in the last two years, how far will he get this year?

Federer has spoken of how he plans to play for years to come and even indicated he wanted to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio. However if this becomes the norm and he struggles to get past the early rounds will he want to continue having been at the top for so long. That will be the true test. In searching for that next Grand Slam will he in fact damage his legacy if he ends with a series of early knock outs? 

It is clear Federer still believes he can compete for Grand Slams but is he deluding himself? Many believe this to be the case, however as much as the fans do not want to see this, it is a fact of life. He is without doubt a fading light but one who can still beat the best. The level he set in the mid-2000's he would never be able to maintain. However he is still a joy to watch and one the crowds always look towards. He is a true artist in his style compared to the sheer strength, power and endurance style of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. It is very rare to watch an unset in an individual sport and genuinely feel that the crowd and millions of people around the world watching are sad for the outcome. Especially in Britain where we love to cheer on an underdog.

It would be very naive to write Federer off, as there is no doubt he has the experience and the class to beat the best. He clearly does have a back problem but I hope he comes back to form at the US making the latter stages. Federer has done so much for tennis. He raised the level of tennis. He has lead an incredible era of tennis and driven the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray to produce some fantastic tennis. These three men have subsequently raised the level which has lead to a magnificent era of tennis. 

I do not think anyone should hope for the retirement of Federer as this will be a very sad day. His presence brings so much to a tournament with his style of play and aura. However it is always sad to see one once so great lose his edge. It happens for example with Muhammad Ali and ever Pete Sampras. To watch the decline of a sporting great is tough and why I have heard people say Federer should have retired for over a year now. It is almost that people want to remember him as a great and not an old man who went on too long. However for me he will always be a great no matter how long he plays for. 

There is no doubt Federer will have plenty of thinking to do over the next few months as to his future in the game. Bow out at the top or play on because you can? Honestly I think he will continue but only time will tell if he can recapture that vintage form.

There is no question for me that Federer will continue to have plenty of fans that will follow and support him until the end and I hope that such support coupled with his own desire to win will help to spur him on future successes. 

I for one hope that this is not quite the end of Federer’s marvellous career.  I, for one, believe he can recapture his best form and win tournaments and even again challenge for Grand Slam titles. 

He may be being perceived in the media as a fading light but never has a fading light shone so brightly as Roger Federer.

Darcis Stuns Nadal In First Round At Wimbledon

Nadal suffers early exit again (Ben Stansall / AFP Getty Images)

Two-time Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of Wimbledon in straight sets by Belgian Steve Darcis. World number 135 Darcis, who had never beaten a player in the top five,  beat Nadal 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8), 6-4. It was the first time in 34 Grand Slam appearances that Nadal has lost in the first round.

Last year Nadal suffered a shock second-round exit to Lukas Rosol, however afterwards claimed he 'was not ready to play'.  A knee injury then kept him out for 7 months missing both the US and the Australian Open. This year and only weeks after winning an historic eighth Roland Garros title he finds himself out in the first round. 

Nadal was 43-2 this year coming into this match, however the majority if those victories had been on clay. He had not played on grass since last year, having withdrawn from Halle, Germany citing fatigued after the French Open. 

Nadal never looked comfortable on the grass, seemingly not trusting the surface. Unlike the clay, grass is not forgiving on the body. On clay players are able to slide however on grass, movement is the key and this puts pressure of the knees. Also the surface is quicker with the ball bouncing lower allowing players less time to make the shot. 

There is no doubt that Nadal was not at 100% and his movement was not as smooth as he would have liked. He was unable to chase down many shots and looked uncomfortable especially in the third set. However take nothing away from Darcis. He played aggressive tennis and throughly deserved his victory. It was without doubt the best tennis and match Darcis has ever played. He was able to maintain a terrific level of performance and he will hope he can continue that in his second round match against world number 41 Lukasz Kubot. 

This is not the first shock Darcis has inflicted at Wimbledon. Last summer during the Olympics he beat Tomas Berdych.

Elsewhere, Roger Federer and Andy Murray progressed to the second round with ease. 

Federer only took 1 hour 8 minutes to see off world number 47 Victor Hanescu, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. A majestic performance from Federer which will have pleased the returning champion. He will meet Ukrainian and world number 98 Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round. 

Murray took a little longer by with relative ease to dispatch Benjamin Becker in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Murray was confident throughout and never really looked in any danger.  

Tough Draw For Federer as he seeks Eighth Wimbledon Crown

Federer lifted his seventh Wimbledon title in 2012

Seven-time Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer could potentially have to beat all three of his main rivals in order to retain his Wimbledon crown.

Federer has been placed on the same side of the draw as both Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Nadal, seeded number 5, after missing seven months of the last year through injury, could meet Federer in a blockbuster quarter-finals.

The two-men have meet three times at Wimbledon, all finals, but have not met at Wimbledon since the epic final of 2008. 

After a disappointing exit at Roland Garros last month Federer will be hoping to produce his Wimbledon magic and and win the event for a staggering 8th time. 

Federer begins against  Romania's Victor Hanescu in round one on Monday. 

Elsewhere, Nadal on the back of his historic eighth Roland Garros, begins his campaign against Belgian Steve Darcis. If results go in line with seedings, the two-time champion would have to beat Federer, Murray and Djokovic to win his third Wimbledon title.

Britain's Andy Murray will face Germany's world number 95 Benjamin Becker in the first round of Wimbledon. The beaten 2012 finalist is in line to meet Frenchman and sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter final, before meeting the winner of Nadal vs Federer. 

World number one Novak Djokovic will be happy to have avoided Murray, Federer and Nadal until the final. If the tournament goes to the seeding then Djokovic will face sixth-seed Tomas Berdych and fourth seed David Ferrer in the quarter-final and semi-fianl respectably. 

Top seed Djokovic, the 2011 champion, will play Germany's Florian Mayer in his opening match on Tuesday.