THE Grand Slam wins of Roger Federer has been stopped at 20 by Kevin Anderson this week in the Wimbledon quarters. That’s because Federer was obviously slowed down, if not weakened, by Father Time.
Their match lasting five sets was just too much to take for Federer, who turns 37 on Aug. 1. When it went to sudden-death, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Anderson would prevail. At 32, the big-serving South African was very unforgiving in punishing Federer during the nearly five-hour saga.
But, somehow, Federer didn’t just fold up like a totally outclassed, retirement-bound fogey. To his credit, he still showed flashes of his brilliant old self; but that was all there is to it.
Gallantly, from 6-all in the fifth and deciding set, Federer forged ahead five times, needing just one more game win each time to clinch another spot in the semifinals.
But Anderson wouldn’t flinch and, in the fateful lung-busting 23rd game, Federer’s overused knees cracked.
Down 11-12, Federer was clearly spent, giving his lanky foe the opening to deliver the fatal blows en route to Anderson’s 13-11 win and five-set victory.
I cite Federer’s case as it could parallel Manny Pacquiao’s position in the senator’s fight with Lucas Matthysse on Sunday.
As I keep saying here, Pacquiao, close to 40, has also become Father Time’s celebrity ward like Federer.
You don’t retire, refuse to retire, and you might pay the price before you know it. Father Time has a way with the stubborn.
Even as Oscar de La Hoya was “only” 35 in 2008, Pacquiao sent him to retirement after the PacMan gave the Golden Boy the beating of his life.
Pacquiao was just 29 then. At the prime of his career. His mind preoccupied with nothing but boxing.
But today at age 39, Pacquiao’s body is battered and the senator has a mind also bafflingly bewildered by lawmaking duties, a singing career and investment deals. Mercifully, Pacquiao, PAL-flown to Kuala Lumpur where President Duterte will be at ringside, has also to tackle promotion kinks of his own fight before he climbs the ring on Sunday and try to wrest Matthysse’s world welterweight crown.
Can one have it all?
Can one win them all?
Federer had just had the answer.