Now refocused, clearly stimulated by the presence of Jimmy Connors in his coaching corner, and in a more conducive environment where he is guaranteed the wholehearted support of 24,000 New Yorkers, Roddick will again face up to his dilemma. Across the net the Swiss will calmly and confidently set about his task of prompting yet another rewrite of the sport’s history books.
The odds are on Federer’s side. Not only does the top seed and defending champion possess an emphatic 10-1 winning record in their previous contests, but he will march onto Arthur Ashe stadium today feeling much fresher than his American rival.
To beat Federer on the cement, on which he has been so imperious apart from his Cincinnati defeat to Andy Murray, will not just require the finest performance of Roddick’s career. He must also banish an inferiority complex, come up with some tactical genius and perhaps work a couple of miracles. However, in his time, Connors was quite good at that sort of thing in this part of New York.
Connors and Roddick are too battle-hardened to divulge what their tactics will be, but Roddick looked back to his previous encounters with Federer and said: “This time I am going to appreciate it a lot more because there were some low points in my career not too long ago. I am going to go out there and give it my all. I am not going to lay down and the sense of self belief he (Connors)brings to my game is a very nice change.”
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Roddick insisted he and Connors have yet to formulate tactics, saying: “I have not spoken to the boss about that sort yet. What separates Roger from the rest of us is that he wins a lot more and I know I must have a good day. I’m pretty confident in knowing what we are going to see and what I am going to do.”
While Roddick was tested for two hours 46 minutes in last night’s second semi-final before finally overcoming Mikhail Youzhny 6-7 6-0 7-6 6-3 defending champion and top seed Federer was back in his Manhattan hotel, lounging back in the sofa and contemplating the possibilities of a ninth major title after dispensing of Nikolay Davydenko several hours earlier and in quicker time.
Federer has now stepped ahead of Fred Perry and drawn level with Don Budge and Rod Laver by reaching a sixth consecutive major final. Victory today will also make him the only player in the Open era to register a hat-trick of successive Wimbledon and US Open titles. With his 25th birthday barely a month ago, he will also be just five short of Pete Sampras’ all-time best collection of 14.
Federer’s 6-1 7-5 6-4 win was efficient rather than brimful of brilliance. However, he never once seemed in any danger against Davydenko. He will not allow his potential accomplishment to blind him from the task in hand. “You don’t think of making history,” insisted the winner of this year’s Australian and Wimbledon titles. “You don’t think, ‘This could be my third US Open’. You just hope to win this US Open. After that it sinks in.”
Federer will find Roddick a more feisty opponent than when the pair last met in Cincinnati, just a matter of weeks after his Wimbledon 2005 triumph. Not only has the influence of Connors galvanised the American into being a far more attacking player, but he is also a more steely opponent these days.
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The fact Roddick was contending with far greater fatigue overnight might not be so much of a factor — he trailed by two sets to David Nalbandian in the 2003 US Open semi-final and had to save match points before registering a marathon win. Less than a day later he returned to court and won his only Grand Slam title, beating Juan Carlos Ferrero with ease.
Against Youzhny, Roddick also experienced his problems. He was beset with nerves during a sub-standard opening set and it looked as though the Muscovite conqueror of Nadal was en route for another upset.
But a glare from Connors in the coaching box, followed by a clap of support, was sufficient to unburden the 24 year-old of his anxieties.
Suddenly there were Connors-like shots streaming from the Roddick racket and he blazed his way level in a set that lasted barely 22 minutes. And firing up his determination, Roddick took a leaf of his mentor’s book by making things personal, continually complaining to umpire Pascal Maria about the way the Russian was stalling as he prepared to return serve.
Youzhny is a clever player with exquisite touch but he falters in sight of victory while his fitness levels are dubious. As the match wore on it became clear that a stiffening back was affecting his mobility and Roddick just kept on firing.
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An indecisive half-volley proved Youzhny’s undoing in the third set tie-break and from then on it was one way traffic although late resistance saw three match points saved before a Roddick volley — so often the weakest shot in his repertoire — sent him to his long overdue second major final.