A Stroke of Genius

I hadn't intended to blog today until after the women's final, but whatevs, I'll talk about Kimmie and Caro tomorrow. No matter what happens, it can't possibly be as dramatic as Serena incident.

And I need to talk about THE SHOT.

Roger didn't play the greatest match today - though he still managed to beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets, so he didn't play sucky either. His serve wasn't in the zone, but he still managed to come through, so well done.

But the match won't be remembered for any of that. It probably won't even be remembered for the fact that Federer won en route to (hopefully) his sixth US Open title.

It'll be remembered for THE SHOT.

Federer is up two sets to love, 6-5 in the third. Djokovic is serving. 0-30.

Federer rushes the net. Djokovic lobs him.

Federer scrambles backwards and, on the dead run, hits a crosscourt pass between his legs for the winner.

He then follows it up with a screaming forehand winner off the return to win the match, but it's THE SHOT that's going to be remembered. There is no one else alive who could make that shot. Hell, even Federer admitted he couldn't make it most of the time. But when it mattered, he came with the goods. He came up with... wow. This is why he is the greatest player of all time. No one else has ever displayed such genius.

Wow.

And we have to give a few words to Juan Martin del Potro, who is into his first ever Slam final - nice work, Juan! You have to feel sorry for poor Rafa Nadal, though... pummelled again in the one Slam he has never won, and he's now going to be out for a month with an abdominal tear. He's won the Aussie Open this year, but it just hasn't been his year on the whole, poor dude. Here's hoping he'll come back better than ever next year... if nothing else, I think he gets his #2 ranking back from Andy Murray. And let's face it - Roger and Rafa belong in slots #1 and #128. It's just the way it is.

Sorry if I've been a little incoherent, but wow. WOW. You don't see shots like that every day. Or, you know, ever. Roger Federer, you amaze me.


Today's Results

US Open (Flushing Meadows)

Men's Draw

Roger Federer def. Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 7-5
Juan Martin del Potro def. Rafael Nadal, 6-2 6-2 6-2


PS. Vale Jack Kramer. You will be missed.