Roger Federer has become professional tennis' version of the current Tiger Woods. Only healthier and more likable.
Federer lost to countryman Stan Wawrinka in the finals of the Monte Carlo Rolex Open on Easter Sunday, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2. Despite the loss, the tournament was another statement that the 32-year-old Federer remains one of the best tennis players in the world.
But like Woods, the psychological edge he once held over opponents that made him far and away the best player in his profession is long gone.
Federer won the first set over Wawrinka, whom he had beaten 11 straight times before Sunday. As tennis.com reported, "In the past, the second set might have been academic between these two."
Clearly, Wawrinka, the defending Australian Open champion, is a different player than he was in those 11 previous matches. But so, too, is Federer.
The Associated Press reported that Federer lost his way in the second-set tiebreaker. ESPN.com stated that Federer "looked every bit his 32 years of age" in the third set. Tennis.com labeled Federer's breakdown as, "In his defeats in Indian Wells and Miami in March, Federer lost belief in the face of strong third-set play from his opponents. The same was true today."
The opposite was true when Federer was the No. 1 player from 2004-2008. Federer had an aura of invincibility, like Woods. Their victories were equal parts their greatness and their opponents playing in fear not to make a mistake against either.
Wawrinka had no such concerns on Sunday.
"I start to play more aggressive, trying to push him more," Wawrinka said, according to ESPN. "Yeah, when you win a match like this, it's only one or two points, especially in the tiebreak. But I think I did a great tiebreak. I was serving big and being really aggressive.
"Then I took the advantage at the beginning of the third set. I saw that he was a little bit tired. Me, I was playing better and better, especially moving better."
Both Federer and Woods are elder statesmen in their respective professions who still possess uncommon talent that makes them competitive and win tournaments here and there.
But both now are playing only on a level playing field with their competition, and as elder statesmen, now appear to have to have some good fortune come their way if they are to add to their respective major tournament victories.
Both have to prove themselves all over again -- to themselves as much as to their foes.
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