Federer-Nadal: Quite a racket

Marat Safin's body language revealed an inevitable conclusion at the hands of Roger Federer: a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 loss in the semifinals at Wimbledon. (Kirsty wigglesworth/Associated Press)

LONDON - Marat Safin may have lost his touch. He smashed and crumpled only one tennis racket yesterday during his audition with Roger Federer on Centre Court. His fans were disappointed. They expect more fireworks from the Russian of strong temper and physique, but the American Fourth of July custom means nothing to him.

He also lost the match, a Wimbledon semifinal, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, but Safin didn't need to destroy equipment to express himself. Body language was sufficient, translatable to any tongue. Upraised hands . . . weary shakes of the head . . . eyes rolling, scanning the heavens . . . shrugs . . . muffled screams. All of them adding up to anguish, frustration, despair.

That's what Federer injects into antagonists. Despair as deep as any ocean. None has taken a set from him this time around Wimbledon. Eighteen sets played, 18 won. Sixty-five times guys have ventured onto grass courts against him since 2002, and 65 times they have not escaped his paralyzing shots. The last to beat Federer here was the tall Croatian, Mario Ancic, in the opening round six years ago.

Tomorrow, when Federer and Rafael Nadal collide to determine the identity of the best player on the planet, the great god Borg will be seated in the Royal Box, looking over their shoulders.

Bjorn Borg, the Swede whose golden locks have silvered, is as curious as everybody else as Federer assaults his Wimbledon records: five consecutive titles and 41 match wins in a row.

"For sure, he caught me with his fifth last year," says Borg, 52, whose reign, 1976--80, was razed by John McEnroe in the 1981 final. "I was happy for [Federer]. Records are to break. Now will he get a sixth? I wish him well."

Nevertheless, Borg has picked Nadal to win.

It's about here that the descendants of Willie Renshaw should be heard from. After all, Renshaw won six successive titles (1881-86), and seven total, though he didn't play as many matches in those bygone days. And it shouldn't be forgotten that Pete Sampras ruled the Big W seven times between 1993 and 2000, or Martina Navratilova nine times, for that matter, between 1978 and 1990.

But not since the Borg-McEnroe masterpieces of 1980 and 1981 has a final been awaited with such rapt anticipation. It's the heavyweight championship of tennis, no doubt about that. I would say the same for today's women's bout - Venus and Serena - regardless of what Medusa, the WTA computer, has in its electronic mind, ranking them Nos. 7 and 6, respectively.

Nadal also is 18-0 in sets here, and is riding a 23-match winning streak, dating to the Italian Open, where blistered feet contributed to his loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero. After a monstrous spanking of the new British hope, Andy Murray, in the quarters, Nadal delivered a substandard semifinal performance yesterday in beating No. 90, German Rainer Schuettler, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

Nadal insists that "Federer is No. 1. He can do everything better on a court than anybody. Even if I win the title, he will be No. 1 and I No. 2."

Federer says that his horrific loss (6-1, 6-3, 6-0) to Nadal in the French final "is hardly remembered. It went so fast. It's important for me to bounce back, and that was clay. This is grass [Centre Court his backyard].

"I haven't had any problems throughout the championships. Pretty simple, so far quite unbelievable, actually. This is my favorite part of the season - Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the US Open.

"After last year people expect a lot of us, especially since Rafa has improved on all surfaces. But you don't always live up to expectations."

It was in that nerve-tingling 2007 final where Nadal found out he could really handle grass. Five sets they battled - 7-6 (9-7), 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 2-6, 6-2 - as Federer ducked four break points in the fifth that could have cost him the title.

Schuettler, who may have salvaged a career beset by illness and injuries, sums up the final pretty well: "They're both great champions. It's amazing how easy Roger makes it always look. I practiced with him here, and he just seems that he's not even trying.

"Rafa is the opposite. He's like so pumped and always there."

Magnificent contrast, that's what makes the fight. The Spanish tidal wave of topspin against the precise Swiss always on time.

Safin's usual tirades against Wimbledon and the sod underfoot were absent, his unprecedented semifinal finish as No. 75 reviving his tennis life, as well.

He says, "They've slowed down the grass, which gives advantage to Nadal. Federer will have to play his best to win. But when Roger starts pushing you around with his forehand, or saving break points with first serves on the lines, you can't do nothing about it."

Maybe just bust up a few rackets. I'm keeping my picks intact: Venus and Rafa.