I admit I picked up my copy of Jon Wertheim’s new book, Strokes of Genius: Federer, Nadal and the Greatest Match Ever Played after Sunday’s Roland Garros final. Watching Federer celebrate his historic victory gave me the courage to face one of his most brutal losses: the 2008 Wimbledon final against Rafael Nadal.
I read half the book in one sitting. The match is as suspenseful and thrilling in print as it was live on TV. It’s the details that rekindle the shivers, like the odd observations of chair umpire Pascal Maria or the players’ uncanny shot selections at key points. Wertheim relieves the Centre Court tension by periodically delving into the players’ personal histories and quirks. The book’s crammed with telling minutiae and inside tennis factoids that you’ll want to share at every opportunity. (Topics for your next church potluck: Uncle Toni’s atheism and John Isner’s Facebook group called ‘If tennis were a religion then Federer would be God.”)
Jon Wertheim chatted with me before Roland Garros (via email) about what makes the story of the 2008 Wimbledon final and the Federer vs. Nadal rivalry such a page-turner.
GOTOTENNIS: You watched the Wimbledon final live and also multiple times on tape. You’re the expert! Tell us something we don’t know about this match.
WERTHEIM: One thing I tried to do in the book was discuss the entire tableau, what was going on everywhere from in the “players box” to the tv compound to the locker room. As far as little details, Federer chugged a Pepsi and ate a Kit-Kat before the match. For some reason that stuck with me. During the first rain delay, Nadal tried to confer with his uncle Toni in the locker room, only to look over and see his uncle taking a siesta. But I think one of the real themes of the book is that this epic match didn’t happen in a vacuum. It was informed by so much context and backstory.
GTT: You described the Wimbledon final as “probably the worst day of (Federer’s) life.” It was a tough loss for Federer’s fans, too. What will die hard Fed fans gain from reading your book?
WERTHEIM: Federer’s critics nail him for this, but I consider it such an endearing trait: Federer is, at heart, a realist. He doesn’t exist in the jock cocoon, impregnable against “negative thoughts,” divorced from reality. He knew as well as anyone what the result meant. He hadn’t just lost; he’d been dethroned. To me there was something incredibly poignant about his reaction afterwards. There was none of the classic athlete fallbacks when defeated: “Win some, lose some; we’ll get ‘em next time.” Everything about his reactions indicated that he was really shattered. People ask me “What is Federer like?” and my standard response is: “He’s one of us. Only he has an unbelievable ability to hit a tennis ball.” This was one example. He couldn’t trick himself into “shaking it off” and banishing the loss from his thoughts a few hours later.
GTT: Obviously it’s hard to predict the future – but how do you think this match will fit into the narrative of the great Federer vs. Nadal rivalry?
Wertheim: As of today, that match seems to represent a real turning point in the rivalry. Nadal beat Federer on grass; he upended the King of Wimbledon; he inherited the number one ranking; he embedded himself further in Federer’s head. True, Federer won the U.S. Open (without having to face Nadal) But Federer has obviously not been the same player—or, you could argue, person— since. (See: trophy presentation, Australian Open.)
But, you know, the plots change quickly in tennis. Pete Sampras is mulling retirement and getting mocked by Boris Becker in the summer of 2002; two months later he’s winning the U.S. Open. Serena Williams is barely in the top 100; wait, she’s winning Majors again, playing as well as ever. A few breaks and few untimely injuries to the opposition and Federer could easily win another few Majors. Obviously Nadal, catalyzed by Wimbledon 2008, is The King right now. But who knows if that analysis will still hold a year from now.
GTT: Bonus question: I suspect that Rafa is one of the biggest Federer fans ever, did you get any hint of latent Fedophilia in your encounters with the Spaniard?
Wertheim: Absolutely. Nadal is almost pathologically modest and humble to begin with. But you get the feeling there is genuine affinity for Federer. This goes beyond respect and bleeds into admiration. Part of this is Federer’s disposition: Nadal saw the way Federer conducted himself while No.1. (For all their differences, I think Federer and Nadal’s values are quite common.) I also think Nadal appreciates just how gifted a tennis player Federer is. Toni Nadal once told me that Rafa might be mentally superior, but Federer is the one player capably of beating his nephew on talent alone.
With Roger’s win in Paris and Nadal’s knee problems threatening his Wimbledon defense, the plot’s thickened from milkshake to concrete consistency. Let’s hope this year’s Wimbledon final merits a Strokes of Genius II.
Pick up your copy of Strokes of Genius at Amazon
Thumbnail: The writing was on the wall (and in the book.) Photo by REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico (BRITAIN) via Daylife
Tags: 2008 Wimbledon final, ATP, Federer, Federer vs. Nadal, Jon Wertheim, Nadal, Strokes of Genius, tennis, Wimbledon
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Wow that was a great interview with Wertheim. Thank you for sharing with us.
Now any Rafatards or Fedtards should read your interview and get the book. I hope I can get mine here at the local Borders store.
Hi hcfoo! Thanks for reading! I hope you can find the book – I’d like to hear what a Rafa fan thinks of it. The parts with Uncle Toni and Rafa are really interesting. Do you know that last year The Queens Club offered to fly Rafa by helicopter from Roland Garros to London, and that Uncle Toni made Rafa turn the offer down? He told Rafa “We already bought our train tickets” and that was that.
I’m so obsessed with Uncle Toni – he’s a fascinating character!
nice interview,ff! i’ll get a copy of that book ASAP!
Awesome interview, Freakyfrites! I’ll definitely give the book a gander!
thank you, very interesting interview. no wonder you read the book so fast
I’m almost convinced to buy this book. I like Wertheim’s writing style and you’ve described the book in terms that certainly interest me. BUT, I was one of those who was shattered for Federer after that match and I completely understand the significance of it, but I don’t know if I’m ready to go to that therapy session. Remember, I’m the person who deleted the match from my DVR the moment the last ball was struck. I could not bear to see Federer do all that hard work to get himself back into the match only to lose. I know it happens and goodness he was gracious about it, but it was painful to see.
I’m on the fence now though because part of being a fan is taking the good with the bad, so we’ll see. Thanks for the excellent interview and review.
Hehe!It’s so comforting to know that I’m not the only crazy one. (I think I remember your comment about deleting the match at the time – because I felt the same way!) It’s hard when the “greatest match ever played” does not end how it’s “supposed” to.
The result of the Wimbledon match seems less brutal now that Roger’s won Roland Garros. His demise isn’t imminent – Wimbledon wasn’t his last shot at greatness – which makes the book more exciting for Fed Fans than depressing.
I reread Jon’s interview after Roland Garros and the phrase, “plots change quickly in tennis” really struck me.
Great interview , and the book sounds like it’s packed with more great insights!
I particularly like the bit about Federer being a realist – that’s always the way I’ve pictured him.
Also Federer’s pre match snacking on Pepsi and KitKat. Umm…I’m thinking sugar rush of the highest order. Is he a coffee drinker too!?
I vote that the book be made compulsory reading for anyone wanting to attend a Nadal or Federer match at Wimbledon this year.
A very limited set could also be handed out for free to anyone forced to sit through our great British tradition of rain delays…
Hi TopSpin!
It would be fine rain delay reading – you might even want the storm to last longer so you could finish.
Will you be at Wimbledon this year?
Unfortunately not.
Though the Tennis Masters Cup is to be played here for the next five years I think. I need to see Federer play in person before he retires – and will be trying to get to one of those…
Oh, yes! You must get yourself to the O2 arena. I hear the capacity in there is huge, and that it’s almost sold out for this year. I wonder if it will be a good place to watch a tennis match?
Great interview! It was a treat with my morning coffee (I should make that a Pepsi and a KitKat bar, I guess). The book sounds fascinating — I might wait until Roger wins Wimbledon this year to read it. (Fingers crossed, no jinx!) Like Pamela, I deleted the final last year and I know it was a match for the ages, but it was painful.
Mmm. . .Pepsi and Kit-Kats, literally the breakfast of Champions!
I read this book in one sitting. Compelling. The contest is described nicely, together with our tennis info, to make the book interesting. For me, the energy and excitement of that match comes back through the pages of that book. If you love either Roger or Rafa, it is a good read. I still have the second half of the match on my DVR. Can’t let it go. I am more of a Rafa fan – but appreciate Roger.
Hey patzin! Thanks for your review. What was your favorite “Rafa factoid” in the book? I just couldn’t get over how strict Uncle Toni is – I wonder if Rafa will ever stop listening to him? It’s kind of hard to tell a man in his twenties how to put his shoes on
The cool thing about this book is that it makes you appreciate what both players birng to the court. Even hardcore Fed/Rafa fans will find it hard to resist the charms of the other player!
Superb interview, freakyfrites. I just saw that you posted this link on the Roger Federer forum! Jon Wertheim seems like such a nice guy, I’ve got to get a copy of this book.
HI jfk! Yes, I usually don’t “toot my own horn” but I honestly thought the forum folks would like to read this. I think Wertheim has a really balanced take on the rivalry and an appreciation for both players which is nice to see.
You’ll love the book!
I read the book in two days flat, I thought it was fantastic. Thanks for the interview with Wertheim
Am I ready to read this book? Will I ever be? *trauma*
Pre-Roland Garros: “But, you know, the plots change quickly in tennis.”
Eerie.
Great interview, I liked how Wertheim called Federer a “realist” too. I appreciate Federer’s genuine reaction to the match (and also after the Aus Open). If the loss hurts, he lets it be known, no brave smiles or pseudo optimism for him. It’s what makes him human and goatly at the same time.
I know, I thought Wertheim revealed a Dementieva-like psychic sense with that comment, too.
The book is great – definitely worth the read. I confess that I’m stuck on the last chapter, though, which covers the last set! I’m kind of skimming it so as not to have to relieve the agony again
As a native of Quebec I know the benefits of a fully loaded Pepsi and a KitKat — it’s almost the provincial breakfast. Pour on that sugar and caffeine, Baby! I’m glad that Roger in all his perfection understands that an energy drink and a granola bar just doesn’t cut it.
The uber Uncle Toni thing is interesting — it will be interesting to see how it plays out.
But, seriously great interview! I’ll check out the library for the book.
Hi everyone, thank you all for reading – I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed the interview and that many of you liked the book as much as I did.
I got a question on what exactly Boris Becker did/said to Pete Sampras way back in 2002, since Becker wasn’t playing tennis at the time. I asked Jon, and here’s what he was referencing:
Boris Becker watched the way Pete Sampras sat and stared at his racket strings after Wednesday’s shocking second-round loss to George Bastl. Becker, writing in a column in Saturday’s Times here, said that he was so unnerved he had to stop in the middle of an interview.
“To me, his Wimbledon life stopped at that moment,” Becker wrote. ” ‘That’s it,’ I said, ‘He will not come back. That is the end of Pete.’
“We had a seven-time champion who had spent much of a second-round match reading a letter of inspiration from his wife–out in the open, on a show court at Wimbledon, not at the dinner table in the candlelight. I could not believe the whole thing. He had sunk into himself at the end of the match. Maybe he was shedding a tear, not in public but inside.”
Sampras, who has not won a tournament since Wimbledon 2000, said immediately after the match he would return to Wimbledon.
“It was a natural reaction,” Becker said. “He had not time to consider all the consequences, it had been so unexpected.”
Great interview, GTT! I am new to this site, and haven’t had a chance to go through all of the archives, but this interview recalled to my mind the (sadly late) David Foster Wallace’s article about the sublimity of Roger Federer. Do give it a read, if you haven’t already. Again, thanks. I love this site!
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/20/sports/playmagazine/20federer.html?_r=2&pagewanted=5
HI souldecirce!
Oh yes, I am very familiar with that article! Everyone should read it – thanks for posting the link
I call it the Sacred Text of the Fedophiles: http://tinyurl.com/pqh5u5
Great Interview!
I bought the book last Tuesday, started reading it, and finished it Wednesday morning! lol, it was amazing, and i loved all the extra insight jon wertheim gave to what happened in the locker room. Plus, all the Fed chapters and stories were great! AMAZING BOOK that i simply could not put down!
who knew The Mighty Fed likes to eat (not exactly what i would call “healthy” pre-match food..especially considering it was Wimby) I dont mean the Pasta Primavara, but the 20 oz. bottle of Pepsi and the kit kats? LOL that was great..so was the part about Fed being so calm he “seemed stoned”
Oh yeah, the locker room sections were fascinating. Just the way that the two players had to go and sit in there together during rain delays – talk about intense. I also thought it was really nice the way Rafa handled the situation afterwards – refusing the champagne and well-wishers so it wouldn’t be all in Roger’s face.
Tennis is THE game of sportsmanship I think. It’s almost forced upon them.
how many pages in the book?
btw freaky frites. are you sure its not hurtful to read this if you are a fedophile? and do you know about any other good books on fed?
HI Imran! It’s not a very long book – maybe about 200 pages. And no, it’s a FABULOUS book to read – whether you’re a Fed Fan, Rafanatic or neutral. (I do admit to skimming over the very last pages, describing the end of the match – that was still painful!)
I’ve also read his biography: “The Roger Federer Story” which is a really great primer on his career (pre 2008 Wimbledon) if you’re interested.
ohh ok thanks! i didnt want to get the book at first because i was sick of peaple saying stuff about federer just because he lost that final and ao semifinal (because he had mono) and thank god that time is over, i just didnt want to hear it anymore. but now ill get the book