This is Federer's 9th straight tournament without a win. Last title was 2012 Cincy. And 5th straight this season. Of the five, two were semis (AO and Dubai), two quarters and one third round.
This last one was particularly intriguing as it seemed the break of 7 weeks was sufficient for a non-urgent back problem to resolve itself to allow Federer at least a semifinal berth against Nadal considering he still is the second (third?) best clay court player. Landing @ Madrid after the lay off wasn't a bad move either given the success there that has been greater than at any other clay tournament. Besides, Federer is never known to need extended match play to return to near-top form after a break.
Add all of above and a loss to Nishikori who has done Jack on clay ever may expose more than what meets the brain. Was Nadal's devastating form a factor (too) - consciously or sub-consciously? It's possible. You see, when you lose in such an uncharacteristic way, all options and reasons for your showing are on the table - justified or unjustified.
Could it be then that the 'R' word may now be passing the trolley - for real? Federer has been there before but a convergence of factors headed by Annaconne averted the take over last time. Can it happen again? Doesn't seem likely given the expected impact of reasons both within and out of his control - from age to Djokovic to Nadal to even Murray to family to monotony of Annaconne's message to Dimitrov, Nishikori etc. to...................
But Federer will not give up no matter what happens on surfaces not called grass. Just as Nadal is anchored @ clay, Federer is @ grass - albeit with far less dependence. However, if the miniature grass season fails to produce sparks to allow sufficient traction, what follows after Wimbledon may seem like a foregone conclusion or what some call the self-fulfilling prophecy. Free fall?
Not matter what happens, Federer HAS to mentally and physically reconcile himself to a majorly modified role on the tour moving forward. He seems far from that mindset when you read the following which reeks of denial subsequently evoking pain and desperation:
"I'm going to go back to the practice court, train hard, and make sure I don't have these kinds of days anymore," Really?
I'm not sure how well Kei thought he played. I didn't think he had to play his very best either, which is even more disappointing." Really?
"At least I'll come out with some ideas of what I need to work on," said the 31-year-old Federer, who was playing his first clay-court tournament of the season. "Clearly the ball flies here and it's faster, so that makes it sometimes trickier to find your rhythm. We're so accustomed to always finding that rhythm eventually, so it's even more disappointing if you never really find it, which was the case today."
You HAVE to admit the problem FIRST before you can reach a solution. Overlooking it with stuff like "and make sure I don't have these kinds of days anymore," cannot help. How about "I am far more prepared to deal with such days which are naturally going to occur with far more frequency now"?
Translation: Be prepared to watch EVERY match of his from now on - win or lose - as the treat may be nearing an end - realistically.
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