Federer Loses; Fans Free to Start Asking Questions

By Dave "Large" Larzelere

The news just came over the wire that Andy Murray has beaten Roger Federer in three sets – 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4 – in the first round of the Dubai Championship.

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On Murray’s side of the equation this is a terrific result for a player who has been all-or-nothing so far this year – a dominant win in Qatar followed by a first-round out at the Aussie Open (though it was, to be fair, at the hands of eventual breakout finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga). Murray pulled the schizophrenic routine again in his next two tournaments, winning in Marseille and then suffering another first-round loss in Rotterdam, this time to Robin Haase, No. 94 in the world. Based on the pattern he’s establishing, one certainly might be inclined to bet heavy on Murray in Dubai, especially now that he’s dispatched the finest player in the world.

As for The Finest Player in the World, well, let the whispering begin. Federer has played only two tournaments this year, the Australian and Dubai, and he’s 0-2. After his straight-set loss to Djokovic in the Aussie semis, Sir Fed was admirably light with the press, talking about how ridiculous it is that he himself and everyone else now expect him to win every tournament.

That said, his play over the last four years or so has justified such expectations, and yet here in 2008 we have a loss at a Grand Slam followed by a first-round defeat not to Nadal or Djokovic, but to the world No. 11. A fine player, no doubt, a player that many have expected for a few years now to break through and win a Slam, but nevertheless, not a player that anyone was expecting to beat Roger Federer in the first round of any tournament.

Currently, Federer has 12 Grand Slam titles to his name, two behind the all-time record of 14, held by Pete Sampras. Given his recent history, many expected him to eclipse Sampras this year with his customary victories in Melbourne, Wimbledon, and Flushing.

Now, unless he finally overcomes his Achilles’ heel at Roland Garros, it appears highly unlikely that he will pass Sampras in 2008, and with the way things are going, one has to imagine that even a tie is in great jeopardy. The questions are soon to be on the lips of every tennis fan: Is this the year that time, or the world, or simply world-weariness catches up to Roger Federer? Is this going to be the year that he wins no Grand Slams at all?

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.