d slice from Federer with a drop-shot or short sliced ball up the line. The volleys on the stretch, particularly the forehand volley are very suspicious and prone to mistakes, especially when the shot is hit up the line.

11- Seldom does anyone try to bring Roger unwillingly to the net and then pass or lob him!

12- Practically noone gets close or inside the baseline at rallies, with a large majority running 6, 8, 10 feet and more behind the baseline hitting impossible ground strokes on the run, while Roger instead, steps inside the court and dictates the point!

There is plenty more but, if ATP players did in their matches on a consistent basis, only half of what I just wrote, against Roger Federer, professional tennis would be one hundred percent more interesting; Roger would have a true challenge and we all would win! Instead we are all condemned to further drubbings of Rogers opponents (should I say friends?) and more boring one-sided matches with yet additional unintended hilarious thank you comments to the other players and their "teams" by Roger Federer at the trophy presentations!

Just a short note to end, do not take me wrong! I do not want Roger Federer beaten, I want him challenged to see his true best! I love his game and style of play like I did from; Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Bor

There are several elements to consider, Roger is indeed a very talented player, an excellent athlete and there is a list of things he does ultimately better then his present opponents;

1- All the necessary shots to attack and defend from any position on the tennis court. Even though he has some quirkiness about his movement, in general, he moves quite well.

2- With a service that many could consider "weak" in power and speed, he compensates by varying, with precision (great placement) and consistency by serving a very high percentage of 1st serves in.

3- He knows how to attack and when to attack.

4- In the middle of the court with short balls, he is unforgiving and merciless, he either puts those balls away or attacks and follows them to the net with the right shot.

5- Federer can trade shots from both wings at great pace and all of a sudden totally change from topspin to slice low, long or short, with or without pace.

6- Even though Roger does not use it often enough, he can serve and volley well.

8- The backhand is sometimes prone to mistakes but, often so varied that opponents with weak backhand slices or hard topspin shots can hardly bother him.

9- Can generate great angles and passing shots out of nowhere. Rarely uses the drop-shot, drop volley or lob but, has the ability to do it well if necessary.

10- Returns very well off both wings. Since opponents do not know how to press him, sometimes he limits himself to just pushing the ball back deep into play and gets into the rally from there.

11- Has an excellent inside out and inside in forehand, that can spray winners to any corner of the court.

12- Generally Roger seeks control of the center of the court and often tries to stay close to the baseline or inside of the court. Once inside of the court all hell breaks loose for his opponents and he rarely loses a point from that position, neither will he concede an inch gained inside the court.

Now why does he win most of his matches so easily? How do his opponents contribute to their own demise?

1- About 95% of his ATP opponents, have no idea how to handle a backhand slice of any nature especially the short slice to the backhand or forehand.

2- Most of the ATP players clearly do not know how to attack with percentage play, let alone have a plan of attack to speak of! Exceptions; Tim Henman , Greg Rudzesky , Jiri Novak, Tommy Haas, David Nalbanian (all handicapped by injuries or old age), Ancic, Murray, Gasquet, Bagdahtis, Dyokovic young lads developing.

3- A majority of Rogers adversaries (exception Nadal), take on too much of Rogers "nice guy image" and are not pugnacious enough against him, turning what should be a boxing match into a social tea party. This culminates with Roger being so gracious at the Trophy awards ceremony, as to thanking his opponent and his camp (coach, agent, physiotherapist, etc...) for the "Good work"! Oh boy, in Pancho Gonzales, Ion Tiriac, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe's days, would Roger dare to say anything like that and they would all have beaten him up with the umpire chair!

4- They often overlook the fact that Roger is not as strong and loose under pressure as it seems. A good observer of the game will notice that Roger does not like to have his "feathers" ruffled and once that happens, he is prone to very average mistakes. As was the case in the Australian open final against Francisco Gonzales at 4/3, 5/4 with Gonzales not being able to capitalize! Those shaky moments on Rogers part happen pretty often under pressure and I have seen them against Nalbandian, Novak, Nadal, Murray, Baghdatis, Davidenko, Henman and others.

5- Except Rafael Nadal and perhaps Davidenko or Nalbandian, no player on the ATP tour puts consistent pressure on Roger Federers second service, either by getting inside the court and attacking down the line or by hitting a deep heavy topspin high bouncing shot, especially to the backhand side and putting Roger immediately on the run or defense!

6- Barring Davidenko and perhaps Tommy Haas, no one hits down the line firm, fast ground strokes, that can take reaction time away from Roger consistently enough. Also when pulled wide out of the court by Federer everyone goes for impossible cross court passing shots right at Federer who is waiting in the middle of the court, when to go for broke with a screaming down the line passing is the shot to play!

7- Zero players on the ATP tour can hit technically sound enough slice backhands and stay in on a battle with Roger to the point of forcing him to be the first one to change to a topspin shot and therefore be challenged to get under a low ball resulting very likely on a weaker, slower, waist high punishable short ball!

8- With so many pushed and floating returns from Federer no one serves and volleys, not even as a surprise!

9- Very few are able to or know how to go to the net on a short ball, with most either over hitting with fast topspin shots cross court right into Rogers favorite waist level target zone and leaving themselves in no-mans land, open to easy passing shots to either side. Instead of attacking 95% of the times up the alley with a sharp low slice that would enable them to get in closer to the net either for a put away volley or a placement volley for the kill on the next!

10- Rarely do they try to counter the short backhand slice from Federer with a drop-shot or short sliced ball up the line. The volleys on the stretch, particularly the forehand volley are very suspicious and prone to mistakes, especially when the shot is hit up the line.

11- Seldom does anyone try to bring Roger unwillingly to the net and then pass or lob him!

12- Practically noone gets close or inside the baseline at rallies, with a large majority running 6, 8, 10 feet and more behind the baseline hitting impossible ground strokes on the run, while Roger instead, steps inside the court and dictates the point!

There is plenty more but, if ATP players did in their matches on a consistent basis, only half of what I just wrote, against Roger Federer, professional tennis would be one hundred percent more interesting; Roger would have a true challenge and we all would win! Instead we are all condemned to further drubbings of Rogers opponents (should I say friends?) and more boring one-sided matches with yet additional unintended hilarious thank you comments to the other players and their "teams" by Roger Federer at the trophy presentations!

Just a short note to end, do not take me wrong! I do not want Roger Federer beaten, I want him challenged to see his true best! I love his game and style of play like I did from; Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Bori

sary.

10- Returns very well off both wings. Since opponents do not know how to press him, sometimes he limits himself to just pushing the ball back deep into play and gets into the rally from there.

11- Has an excellent inside out and inside in forehand, that can spray winners to any corner of the court.

12- Generally Roger seeks control of the center of the court and often tries to stay close to the baseline or inside of the court. Once inside of the court all hell breaks loose for his opponents and he rarely loses a point from that position, neither will he concede an inch gained inside the court.

Now why does he win most of his matches so easily? How do his opponents contribute to their own demise?

1- About 95% of his ATP opponents, have no idea how to handle a backhand slice of any nature especially the short slice to the backhand or forehand.

2- Most of the ATP players clearly do not know how to attack with percentage play, let alone have a plan of attack to speak of! Exceptions; Tim Henman , Greg Rudzesky , Jiri Novak, Tommy Haas, David Nalbanian (all handicapped by injuries or old age), Ancic, Murray, Gasquet, Bagdahtis, Dyokovic young lads developing.

3- A majority of Rogers adversaries (exception Nadal), take on too much of Rogers "nice guy image" and are not pugnacious enough against him, turning what should be a boxing match into a social tea party. This culminates with Roger being so gracious at the Trophy awards ceremony, as to thanking his opponent and his camp (coach, agent, physiotherapist, etc...) for the "Good work"! Oh boy, in Pancho Gonzales, Ion Tiriac, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe's days, would Roger dare to say anything like that and they would all have beaten him up with the umpire chair!

4- They often overlook the fact that Roger is not as strong and loose under pressure as it seems. A good observer of the game will notice that Roger does not like to have his "feathers" ruffled and once that happens, he is prone to very average mistakes. As was the case in the Australian open final against Francisco Gonzales at 4/3, 5/4 with Gonzales not being able to capitalize! Those shaky moments on Rogers part happen pretty often under pressure and I have seen them against Nalbandian, Novak, Nadal, Murray, Baghdatis, Davidenko, Henman and others.

5- Except Rafael Nadal and perhaps Davidenko or Nalbandian, no player on the ATP tour puts consistent pressure on Roger Federers second service, either by getting inside the court and attacking down the line or by hitting a deep heavy topspin high bouncing shot, especially to the backhand side and putting Roger immediately on the run or defense!

6- Barring Davidenko and perhaps Tommy Haas, no one hits down the line firm, fast ground strokes, that can take reaction time away from Roger consistently enough. Also when pulled wide out of the court by Federer everyone goes for impossible cross court passing shots right at Federer who is waiting in the middle of the court, when to go for broke with a screaming down the line passing is the shot to play!

7- Zero players on the ATP tour can hit technically sound enough slice backhands and stay in on a battle with Roger to the point of forcing him to be the first one to change to a topspin shot and therefore be challenged to get under a low ball resulting very likely on a weaker, slower, waist high punishable short ball!

8- With so many pushed and floating returns from Federer no one serves and volleys, not even as a surprise!

9- Very few are able to or know how to go to the net on a short ball, with most either over hitting with fast topspin shots cross court right into Rogers favorite waist level target zone and leaving themselves in no-mans land, open to easy passing shots to either side. Instead of attacking 95% of the times up the alley with a sharp low slice that would enable them to get in closer to the net either for a put away volley or a placement volley for the kill on the next!

10- Rarely do they try to counter the short backhand slice from Federer with a drop-shot or short sliced ball up the line. The volleys on the stretch, particularly the forehand volley are very suspicious and prone to mistakes, especially when the shot is hit up the line.

11- Seldom does anyone try to bring Roger unwillingly to the net and then pass or lob him!

12- Practically noone gets close or inside the baseline at rallies, with a large majority running 6, 8, 10 feet and more behind the baseline hitting impossible ground strokes on the run, while Roger instead, steps inside the court and dictates the point!

There is plenty more but, if ATP players did in their matches on a consistent basis, only half of what I just wrote, against Roger Federer, professional tennis would be one hundred percent more interesting; Roger would have a true challenge and we all would win! Instead we are all condemned to further drubbings of Rogers opponents (should I say friends?) and more boring one-sided matches with yet additional unintended hilarious thank you comments to the other players and their "teams" by Roger Federer at the trophy presentations!

Just a short note to end, do not take me wrong! I do not want Roger Federer beaten, I want him challenged to see his true best! I love his game and style of play like I did from; Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Bor

what should be a boxing match into a social tea party. This culminates with Roger being so gracious at the Trophy awards ceremony, as to thanking his opponent and his camp (coach, agent, physiotherapist, etc...) for the "Good work"! Oh boy, in Pancho Gonzales, Ion Tiriac, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe's days, would Roger dare to say anything like that and they would all have beaten him up with the umpire chair!

4- They often overlook the fact that Roger is not as strong and loose under pressure as it seems. A good observer of the game will notice that Roger does not like to have his "feathers" ruffled and once that happens, he is prone to very average mistakes. As was the case in the Australian open final against Francisco Gonzales at 4/3, 5/4 with Gonzales not being able to capitalize! Those shaky moments on Rogers part happen pretty often under pressure and I have seen them against Nalbandian, Novak, Nadal, Murray, Baghdatis, Davidenko, Henman and others.

5- Except Rafael Nadal and perhaps Davidenko or Nalbandian, no player on the ATP tour puts consistent pressure on Roger Federers second service, either by getting inside the court and attacking down the line or by hitting a deep heavy topspin high bouncing shot, especially to the backhand side and putting Roger immediately on the run or defense!

6- Barring Davidenko and perhaps Tommy Haas, no one hits down the line firm, fast ground strokes, that can take reaction time away from Roger consistently enough. Also when pulled wide out of the court by Federer everyone goes for impossible cross court passing shots right at Federer who is waiting in the middle of the court, when to go for broke with a screaming down the line passing is the shot to play!

7- Zero players on the ATP tour can hit technically sound enough slice backhands and stay in on a battle with Roger to the point of forcing him to be the first one to change to a topspin shot and therefore be challenged to get under a low ball resulting very likely on a weaker, slower, waist high punishable short ball!

8- With so many pushed and floating returns from Federer no one serves and volleys, not even as a surprise!

9- Very few are able to or know how to go to the net on a short ball, with most either over hitting with fast topspin shots cross court right into Rogers favorite waist level target zone and leaving themselves in no-mans land, open to easy passing shots to either side. Instead of attacking 95% of the times up the alley with a sharp low slice that would enable them to get in closer to the net either for a put away volley or a placement volley for the kill on the next!

10- Rarely do they try to counter the short backhand slice from Federer with a drop-shot or short sliced ball up the line. The volleys on the stretch, particularly the forehand volley are very suspicious and prone to mistakes, especially when the shot is hit up the line.

11- Seldom does anyone try to bring Roger unwillingly to the net and then pass or lob him!

12- Practically noone gets close or inside the baseline at rallies, with a large majority running 6, 8, 10 feet and more behind the baseline hitting impossible ground strokes on the run, while Roger instead, steps inside the court and dictates the point!

There is plenty more but, if ATP players did in their matches on a consistent basis, only half of what I just wrote, against Roger Federer, professional tennis would be one hundred percent more interesting; Roger would have a true challenge and we all would win! Instead we are all condemned to further drubbings of Rogers opponents (should I say friends?) and more boring one-sided matches with yet additional unintended hilarious thank you comments to the other players and their "teams" by Roger Federer at the trophy presentations!

Just a short note to end, do not take me wrong! I do not want Roger Federer beaten, I want him challenged to see his true best! I love his game and style of play like I did from; Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Bor

enko and perhaps Tommy Haas, no one hits down the line firm, fast ground strokes, that can take reaction time away from Roger consistently enough. Also when pulled wide out of the court by Federer everyone goes for impossible cross court passing shots right at Federer who is waiting in the middle of the court, when to go for broke with a screaming down the line passing is the shot to play!

7- Zero players on the ATP tour can hit technically sound enough slice backhands and stay in on a battle with Roger to the point of forcing him to be the first one to change to a topspin shot and therefore be challenged to get under a low ball resulting very likely on a weaker, slower, waist high punishable short ball!

8- With so many pushed and floating returns from Federer no one serves and volleys, not even as a surprise!

9- Very few are able to or know how to go to the net on a short ball, with most either over hitting with fast topspin shots cross court right into Rogers favorite waist level target zone and leaving themselves in no-mans land, open to easy passing shots to either side. Instead of attacking 95% of the times up the alley with a sharp low slice that would enable them to get in closer to the net either for a put away volley or a placement volley for the kill on the next!

10- Rarely do they try to counter the short backhand slice from Federer with a drop-shot or short sliced ball up the line. The volleys on the stretch, particularly the forehand volley are very suspicious and prone to mistakes, especially when the shot is hit up the line.

11- Seldom does anyone try to bring Roger unwillingly to the net and then pass or lob him!

12- Practically noone gets close or inside the baseline at rallies, with a large majority running 6, 8, 10 feet and more behind the baseline hitting impossible ground strokes on the run, while Roger instead, steps inside the court and dictates the point!

There is plenty more but, if ATP players did in their matches on a consistent basis, only half of what I just wrote, against Roger Federer, professional tennis would be one hundred percent more interesting; Roger would have a true challenge and we all would win! Instead we are all condemned to further drubbings of Rogers opponents (should I say friends?) and more boring one-sided matches with yet additional unintended hilarious thank you comments to the other players and their "teams" by Roger Federer at the trophy presentations!

Just a short note to end, do not take me wrong! I do not want Roger Federer beaten, I want him challenged to see his true best! I love his game and style of play like I did from; Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Bor

d slice from Federer with a drop-shot or short sliced ball up the line. The volleys on the stretch, particularly the forehand volley are very suspicious and prone to mistakes, especially when the shot is hit up the line.

11- Seldom does anyone try to bring Roger unwillingly to the net and then pass or lob him!

12- Practically noone gets close or inside the baseline at rallies, with a large majority running 6, 8, 10 feet and more behind the baseline hitting impossible ground strokes on the run, while Roger instead, steps inside the court and dictates the point!

There is plenty more but, if ATP players did in their matches on a consistent basis, only half of what I just wrote, against Roger Federer, professional tennis would be one hundred percent more interesting; Roger would have a true challenge and we all would win! Instead we are all condemned to further drubbings of Rogers opponents (should I say friends?) and more boring one-sided matches with yet additional unintended hilarious thank you comments to the other players and their "teams" by Roger Federer at the trophy presentations!

Just a short note to end, do not take me wrong! I do not want Roger Federer beaten, I want him challenged to see his true best! I love his game and style of play like I did from; Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Michael Stich, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras and others. Roger Federer is the last player that is playing the all round game so called "old fashion tennis" and proving everyone how effective this style of play can be, instead of the hard-hitting at all times mindless baseline game of many pros of today.

In all honesty I hope that Federer will continue to dominate for at least another 3 to 6 years. That will help tennis as a whole because it will force teachers to teach the one handed backhand, topspin and the slice. On the other hand as Roger gets older the greater will be his need to go to the net to finish points quicker, this once again will force myopic teachers to teach the volley better and the serve and volley combination, which will lead to the all round game having future successors!

So, long live King Roger! :)))

S?rgio Cruz