Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a backhand against Michael Llodra of France during their match at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament in Toronto August 12, 2010.MIKE CASSESE
As shots go in the shot-maker's legendary career, it was a fun one, but hardly one for the ages.
Roger Federer's body of work in tennis is too vast and significant to be even partially defined by one shot in the middle of a third-round match at Rogers Cup. In fact, Federer didn't even remember the gorgeous little twisting half-volley he hit seventh game of the first set of his straight-set (7-6, 6-3) win over Michael Llodra yesterday afternoon.
Launched from midcourt as the Frenchman made yet another charge to the net - a journey he made more than 50 times with decidedly mixed results - Federer's ball crept over the net and died at his opponent's feet and then, just as he readied to launch it back the heavily juiced ball jumped up and just about into Llodra's shirt, handcuffing him and seemingly unnerving him ever so slightly, as what was a 3-0 lead in the first set eventually dissolved completely in the 74-minute centre court contest.
But it was as good a way as any to describe the enjoyable afternoon in the sun for all concerned - the fans, Federer and even Llodra - who was playing Federer for the first time on Tour in more than a decade and welcomed him into a time machine filled with reckless charges to the net, crafty volleys and odd reflex shots on in-between bounces: a departure from the baseline pounding that is the lifeblood of the current game.
"There were some unusual shots, I enjoyed it, you know," said Federer. "There were lobs, little passing shots, flicks. That's the way I played the whole time coming up and then I had to improve so much on my baseline game because all the guys leading the rankings [then]were all playing from the baseline then, so I realized I had to become more patient and not just approach on anything."
Patience wasn't a factor yesterday as points came and went at lightening pace.
After leading 3-0 Llodra began to struggle with his toss on his serve in breezy conditions his miscues allowed Federer to pull himself into the match, which he pretty much put way in the tie-breaker which Federer won 7-2; a fist pump on definitive smash of a weak defensive lob midway through evidence the world's No. 3 was in complete control.
But it was still a pleasant afternoon. Federer prides himself on the fun he has on the tennis court: you don't go to his practice sessions and see a scowling self-loather, but someone putting in a nice day at the office. "I like tennis, you know," he explains of his ability to smile while pounding rocks.
He's more dour during match play, but admitted that playing against a long-time acquaintance in Llodra, his guard slipped a little bit, such as the moment when Llodra served under-handed at 15-40 down 4-1 in the second set; a spinning offering that caught Federer so off guard the Swiss master launched his return out of bounds.
"I was trying to do something special," said Llodra, who said it was the first time he'd ever tried an underhand serve in a match.
It will be back to business as usual for Federer today when he faces Tomas Berdych the 6-foot-5 Czech thumper who has been a long-time nemesis of Federer's, since he upset the Swiss star at the 2004 Olympics. Berdych's pace most recently disrupted Federer at Wimbledon (where Berdych lost in the final to Rafael Nadal) and Miami, though Federer did win their eight meetings in between.
The big hitter downed Alexander Dolgopolov of the Ukraine in their third-round match (6-3, 6-7, 6-4), setting up the quarter-final against Federer.
It is doubter Berdych will politely ask for Federer's shirt after the match, as Llodra did - "For me Roger is a legend, it's a good present for my kids".
Berdych, the No. 7-ranked player in the world, will simply be trying to take him down with one massive groundstroke after another. Less fun; but effective.