Can Roger Federer win his 6th title at the Flushing Meadows?

I have been writing a lot of speculative articles off late. For a fan, the games involving speculation, analysing the odds, the what –if questions, provide a strange kind of an excitement to deal with. Continuing on the same trajectory, in this blog post I wonder if the great Roger Federer can lay his hands on the U.S Open trophy for the 6th time. For all Federer fans, the question is answered before a tournament even begins. I’m personally a Nadal fan though but Nadal has unfortunately been out of this year’s U.S Open and I hedge my bets on Roger Federer.

It’s been 10 months since Federer has reached the last 4 stage of a Grand Slam. It was Australian Open, in January this year that he reached the semi finals before losing to Rafael Nadal who was in supreme form.  And now, back into the U.S Open the groundswell for him has increased manifold. It gets tougher to play as you get older and older, but Federer seems to defy that logic. In the first 2 weeks, the second seeded Swiss man has sent Australians Marinko Matosevic and Sam Groth along with Marcel Granollers packing.  At the Arthur Ashe stadium there are more people watching him practice than people coming to watch the other players play. He is still very much the people’s hero in the United States and all across the world. At 32 he might feel a bit too old to win a grand slam but remember Andre Agassi won the Australian Open 2003 when he was 33, thus becoming the oldest player to win a Grand Slam. I am sure Federer doesn’t quite like not having that impressive point on his resume. He will continue to play and win matches.  Though it might not be that frequent. Comparing today’s Federer to the Federer at his peak is foolish and wrong.

The U.S Open 2014: How are the Odds stacked up?

Prior to the U.S Open Federer suffered from a minor back injury which forced him to take a 7 week sabbatical. The injury scare is still there. In his next round he faces Grigor Dmitrov, a known trouble maker for the top players. He is running a great form. Bypassing him, Federer could also face Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet.  In the quarter finals / Semi finals it will be a treat of a battle between Federer and Djokovic/ Andy Murray.  If Federer continues to play like he is doing right now, it wouldn’t be a surprise at all if he finishes right on top, a habit which he has inculcated in himself in his career. Remember, when Agassi when the Australian Open in 2003, he did not face any of the players in the top 10. But if Federer wins, he would have beaten at least 3 from that list. Roger Federer doesn’t quite like leaving records in other’s names. So let’s just hope he does it, for himself and all his fans world wide, especially those who are paying to watch him practice at the Arthur Ashe stadium.