How I Learned to Stop Hating and Love the Federer

One of these days, I'm sure, we're going to learn. We keep lining them up, and they keep getting knocked down. Maybe we're trying to manufacture drama, or maybe we're just hoping for it. But we keep saying that someone is going to challenge Federer, that someone is going to touch him, and all Roger does is go out and destroy his opposition.

It's incredible, really. Gasquet performed at an incredibly high level yesterday. And you'd think that would be cause for concern. Nope, not for the Swiss master. Once again, he comes out of the gate cocked and locked, blowing his opponent away. I thought yesterday that Gasquet stood a fighting chance... well, that was just like my idea that Safin could give him a run.

Tomorrow is Federer-Nadal in the finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the fourth time in two years. And this time, I've learned my lesson. I won't think that Nadal can challenge Federer. Not now, not on this court. It could be a very short affair for Breakfast at Wimbledon tomorrow.

But Rafa deserves all the credit in the world for getting this far, beating quality competition in the process. He may have lucked out a bit, though, as Djokovic clearly had nothing left in the tank after some marathon matches this fortnight. The Serb has had a breakthrough year, but he's had to retire a handful of times the last two years. His conditioning needs to get better if he wants to be reach Nadal and Federer's level. I have no doubts he can do it, though, considering the improvement he's shown in his game and his fitness in the last year alone.