This Man, This Marvel, This Moment

I'm sure there are a lot of journalists out there who are very pissed off. In the round of sixteen, Roger Federer looked down and out, having to come back from two sets to love down against an opponent he's beaten easily in the past. They had pens poised, waiting for Juan Martin del Potro, up and coming Argentine star who has blazed onto the scene like a meteor, to shake up, if not take down, the champion.

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And the scoreline? Federer wins, 6-3 6-0 6-0.

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That's right, folks - the Roger Federer Bagel Bakery is back in business, and it's working overtime.

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We talked about Rafa delivering 53/8 tennis the other day. Federer's stats today were 38/9 - and there would have been more winners, except for the fact he only gave up three lousy games the whole time. How's this for a stat: he won 83 points to del Potro's 36. And most of those del Potro points were in the first set. That set was Federer 33 to del Potro 22. The second set, 26 to 8. And the third, 24 to 6. That is just ridiculous.

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But the stats do not tell us the full story of the Federer domination in this match. Del Potro, who, you know, doesn't actively suck or anything, just got made to look ridiculous. Nadal made Christophe Rochus look ridiculous in his first round match, but even he gave up more games than this. Del Potro wasn't injured. He made too many errors, sure, and didn't adjust his game plan when he should have, but no top ten player would normally ever be demolished like this. Ever. EVER. Del Potro is #6 in the world and Federer made him look like a fourteen year old junior who'd shown some cheek and asked for a whipping.

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He played some shots that were just stupid. No one should be able to make those shots. Jim Courier actually made a really good observations in commentary: Rafa is a brute of a tennis player and the spin and the heaviness he puts on the ball is deeply unsettling to most players, but no one has more actual skill with the racquet than Roger. He had such control - and he just wasn't making mistakes. Everything was going in - ridiculous, lunatic passing shots. Whipping forehands. Down the line backhands. Chip and charge skipping shots off the line. Serve and volleys where the volleys were just crazy. It was an exhibition of pure talent. And man, was it good.

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Oh yeah... there was another match as well tonight, which I should probably talk about... Dokic/Safina. I was glad Dokic gave Safina such a good challenge, but though I, like Australia, was cheering for Dokic all the way, I'm secretly glad Dinara won. She has such a good chance to take her first Grand Slam - and you can see that she wants it, too. Her shout out to her coach at the end was utterly adorable. Considering Zeljko seems to do nothing but yell at her and she still seems to not just keep him round but actively like him, I'd love to see his reaction if she wins... (and yes, even though he is old, short and married, I maintain that they love each other. Not changing my mind on that one.)

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Then there was the Zvonareva/Bartoli whitewash - I mean, match. Seriously, what can you say about that one? Zvonareva took a few games to figure Bartoli out and then just owned her. She's going to be a dangerous opponent for Dinara in the semis. I think Dinara can take her, but it might go three again...

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And then the repulsive, ugh-you-did-not moment of the day. Novak Djokovic, if you can't take the heat, get out of Australia. IT'S HOT HERE. DEAL. Seriously, Roddick was fine. Zvonareva was fine. Bartoli was getting hammered, but not because of the heat. Who can call themselves a legitimate professional athlete with that obvious lack of conditioning? And seriously, who retires once you get this deep in a Slam? Remember when Henin retired against Mauresmo and pretty much earned the enmity of the entire tennis world? Djokovic has pulled this stunt three times - the semis of Roland Garros and Wimbledon, both times against Nadal, and now here in the quarters against Roddick, when he is supposed to be undertaking a title defence.

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Ridiculous. I was appalled - not only by the lack of conditioning which led to him getting heatstroke or whatever, but the fact that he didn't even give Roddick the victory properly. "Roger Federer doesn't retire - otherwise he doesn't step on court," Federer said once. Why don't more people have this attitude? I mean, if you actually break your leg or something, I get it, but to be this affected by the heat (and it was hot, but still a long way off the extreme heat policy needing to be brought into play) is just ridiculous. RIDICULOUS.

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All credit to Roddick though - he's looking good. Larry Stefanki has clearly been good for him, and I'm liking his new leaner physique. But if Federer brings to the court what he brought against del Potro... well, it's going to be 2007 all over again.

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Today's Results

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Australian Open

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Men's Draw

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Roger Federer def. Juan Martin del Potro, 6-3 6-0 6-0

Andy Roddick def. Novak Djokovic, 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 6-2 2-1 retired

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Women's Draw

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Dinara Safina def. Jelena Dokic, 6-4 4-6 6-4

Vera Zvonareva def. Marion Bartoli, 6-3 6-0