US Open 2014: Will Roger Federer get another trophy for his kids?

By Gaurav Kalra

“I finally got a big trophy for kids. I’ve been bringing home some smaller ones. I keep telling them they are still trophies, but this one should satisfy them.”

It was his 80th career title. Only Jimmy Connors (109) and Ivan Lendl (94) have more. But in Roger Federer’s life, trophies aren’t merely for the mantelpiece anymore. Father to two sets of twins, he arrives on a tennis court these days with plenty to discourage him from the grind. However, the love for his sport still enlivens Federer. It jostles for space in his life and for the moment at least, is winning.

In New York starting Monday, Federer will be a leading contender to pocket an 18th major title. His primary rivals are either missing or battling patchy form. And on the evidence of the last two weeks, Federer has found the sublime touch that can only flow from his racquet.

At Cincinnati last week where he won for the sixth time, Federer produced a compelling sequence of matches. He dispatched eighth seed Andy Murray in the quarterfinal and the big serving fifth seed Mios Raonic in the semifinal, taming both in straight sets. Federer wound up with his 16th consecutive win over a hapless David Ferrer in the final who chuckled, “I can never beat Roger, he’s too much for me.”

The serenity of these performances makes legions of Federer fans around the world believe that he can mount a serious challenge for a first major title since Wimbledon 2012. “Last year I went out there and did three-hour practice sessions and went for extra practice sessions after matches sometimes,” he said of last year’s US Open experience where he was shocked in straight sets by Spain’s Tommy Robredo in the pre-quarterfinal. “That I don’t have to do. I know my game is where I want it to be. It’s about just keeping that level up right now.”

Returning to the level of play that defined him was one of Federer’s ambitions at the start of the year, and he has accomplished it with aplomb. Far from sliding down the rankings as many feared after he won just one title and ended 2013 with a win loss record of 45-17, Federer has bounced back to third spot.

In 2014, Federer has won three titles, lost an epic five set Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic and holds a 49-9 win loss record so far. No player on the circuit has won as many matches this year.

While most tennis professionals contemplate retirement from the brutal year-long circuit at 33, the Swiss ace is a polar opposite. “I need to be smart about how much I play, when I play and how I feel,” he says. In the week before winning in Cincinnati, Federer reached the final at Toronto, losing a closely fought encounter to Jo Wilfried Tsonga. Federer contemplated rest after that loss but decided against it. “I could have just not played here and gone into the Open feeling good about my chances; now I feel even better. I still believe matches are the best practice right now,” he said after winning in Cincinnati.