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The Dark Knight Looks to Rise at the Open
By Joe McDonald
(August 27, 2012) -- This has been the summer of comebacks for the Dark Knight himself, Roger Federer.
Much like Bruce Wayne’s Batman, he was left for dead as rogue gallery of Bane (Juan Martin Del Potro), the Penguin (Rafa Nadal) and the Joker (Novak Djokovic) took the title from Gotham’s protector of the US Open Championship.
And now with even the Riddler (Andy Murray) also lurking, the Dark Knight of the Open is making a comeback. He’s again the World’s No. 1 and is looking to regain the US Open title for the first time since 2008.
But even as the crowds chant “Deshi basara! Deshi basara!” or “Rise!” Federer knows that he has a challenge ahead of him. In fact, he gives Djokovic the advantage at this year’s Open.
“Novak to me goes in as the favorite still here at the Open because he’s the defending champion,” Federer said after he defeated American Donald Young in straight sets, 6-3 6-2 6-4. “He probably won the most titles on the hard courts the last couple of years. It’s where he feels most comfortable. He’s beaten me the last couple of years as well. It’s strange to me to be the favorite just after beating him a couple of times.”
But tennis is what have you done for me lately and Federer won Wimbledon and seems to be poised to gain back the title. However, even if he does beat Djokovic, he still has competition.
“I’ve had a great summer,” he said. “So has Murray. Rafa won the French. It’s a pity he’s not here. It’s going to be an interesting US Open. I’m happy I’m through the first round. I am happy I’m the world No. 1, but it’s not what drives me during this year’s US Open. It’s actually trying to get the title or get closer title, because first the focus is completely elsewhere.”
Federer sees the Open as a challenge. It’s different that other tournaments because of all the distractions. At Wimbledon, he rents a house and has the full focus on tennis, but here in New York, he stays in Manhattan and has a number of things that takes his attention elsewhere.
“When you come here, you go out at night for dinners,” he said. “You go out at night with friends. You maybe watch things on TV from time to time. There are many more things you can follow and do, so that brings challenges automatically with it.”
But don’t think it bothers Federer. He’s undefeated at night in Flushing Meadows and never has failed to win at least three rounds.
“It’s helped me to feel real comfortable in New York and spend more time than just potentially the days here or five days here coming from another week’s tournament in Rhode Island, Hamlet or all those tournaments I used to play.”
And that’s why Federer is driven to win. He loves Gotham, the way Bruce Wayne, loves his fictional city. And much like Batman, the challenges are what make is so special.
“The distractions are a challenge, the wind, the humidity,” he said. “The early matches, the really late, late matches because it can get extremely late here, like in Australia too. That takes some time to get used to.”
That’s why no one is counting Federer out and some in the field marvel at 31 year-old’s force.
“The guy's a freak,” James Blake said. “He's so good. It's really incredible. I could spend another hour talking about the things I'm impressed with by him. His streak of quarterfinals, most people would have that an incredible streak just to play that many slams in a row, and he has to make it make quarterfinals or better.”
So maybe, after four years, the Dark Knight will rise again at the Open and take Gotham’s famed prize home with him in 2012.
Deshi basara! Deshi basara!
(Photo Credit: Andy Kentla)
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