David Leggat: Federer loss stirs doubts over his future

Watching Roger Federer's 11th defeat of the year yesterday raised a depressing thought: are we seeing the start of the end for perhaps the greatest tennis artist of them all?

Now first off, in saying that, you immediately leave yourself open to receiving a big, fat raspberry.

Federer might win another couple of majors next year, and in 2012 for that matter, and in so doing would cock a giant snook at those who reckon he is a forehand or two away from the knackers' yard.

After all, he'll only be 30 at the time of next year's US Open, the last of the four Grand Slams, and so scarcely reaching for his veterans' tour card.

He's won 16 Grand Slams, more than any other player. He will be eyeing 20.

He might also be figuring that, assuming Rafael Nadal wins this morning's final against Novak Djokovic - who conquered Federer in the semifinals yesterday - to move to nine titles, it won't be long before the muscular Spaniard roars past Federer's final mark.

Federer lost his US Open semifinal in five sets to the Serbian Djokovic. On one level, when the world No 2 is beaten 7-5 in the final set by the world No 3, it's not exactly a reason for despair.

Djokovic, a noted impersonator of his fellow professionals, is a top player.

For Federer, however, it's more like a dripping tap. In 2006, he won 12 titles; another eight in 2007. This year he has won just two, a Masters title in Cincinnati last month and January's Australian Open.

This is not to say his feet have suddenly been dipped in slow-setting cement. He will still clean up all but a small handful of players with some comfort.

That said, he's been beaten by some players this year who, not long ago, he would have chewed up as easily as eating his breakfast.

The aura, which for most of the decade has made opponents happy to get away with a respectable defeat, is dissipating. Federer can be beaten more easily now than in the past six years, during which he's amassed the bulk of his 63 singles titles.

It's psychological. Players now know they have a chance, if they're at the top of their game.

You wonder, given that criteria, how the Wallabies are feeling today.

There they were, 13 points in front, with 13 minutes remaining in Sydney. What then followed was testimony to the mental resolve of these All Blacks.

Okay, they caught a break when Richie McCaw's try off the side of a scrum was not pulled back, but the strength of purpose was highly impressive.

They had played, by their standards, a pretty ordinary test. Some of the passing - by both teams it should be said - was awful.

But the All Blacks managed to get themselves over the line when, for all money, Robbie Deans should have been smiling.

As All Blacks clasped each other in relief/delight, the men in yellow scratched their heads and doubtless wondered when the nightmare will end. The relevant number here is 10 straight defeats to the All Blacks, and counting.

However, let's say the All Blacks win in Hong Kong, that almighty irrelevance on October 30, and both Bledisloe Cup games next year pre-World Cup. You'd still wager there will be a decent percentage of the New Zealand population who will remain distinctly twitchy should the teams meet at a late stage of the World Cup.

Everything would point to an All Black win. But this is a road well travelled for New Zealand supporters.

If events in the Cup go as expected, they are unlikely to meet before the final on October 23. Should that happen, forget everything since July 26, 2008, when Deans beat Graham Henry - as these occasions still regrettably get personalised - 34-19.

And this is why there are many who will remain uneasy until the day arrives next year.

And on that, is anyone remotely interested in this Hong Kong farce, other than those who earn their corn making money for the NZ union?

If this game must be played, having it in Britain at least makes sense on two counts: both teams will be over there playing their end-of-year matches anyway, and it will certainly attract more fans, both the partial and the impartial.

Weekend winners:

Kim Clijsters (pictured), tennis' top mum, defends her US Open, albeit in a canter; and the All Blacks trip the Wallabies up at the last.

What to watch:

NRL finals and a bit of cricket. Central Districts take on Victoria in the Champions League late Wednesday night, and check out England beating Pakistan in their third ODI at The Oval on Friday night. For some light relief, try a little game of "spot the fix".