Roger Federer by easing to the quarterfinals of the U S Open extended his record run of quarter finals to 26 in a row. Roger Federer's run of consecutive quarterfinal appearances started with victory in 2004 Wimbledon. Roger Federer has a tough task at hand as his opponent in the quarter finals in none other than the giant killer Robin Sodering who shut of Nadal and Federer in successive French Opens in 2009 and 2010. Roger Federer's loss to Robin Soderling would hurt him more than anything else as that put an end to Federer's extra ordinary streak of 23 consecutive semi final appearances at Grand Slams tournaments. The loss hurt Federer to such an extent that Federer lost in the quarter finals to a relatively unknown opponent and that too at his pet Grand Slam at Wimbledon. Federer however can console himself with the fact that he has won his first 12 encounters against Soderling before losing for the only time at the quarterfinals of the 2010 French Open.
There are so possibilities in store for Roger Federer at the U S Open and while there is a possibility of him reclaiming the U S Open crown there is a possibility that he may lose in the next round itself to Soderling but whatever may the end result, Federer has achieved a extra ordinary level of consistency which has never ever been achieved in the past and probably will never ever be achieved in the future. Let us look at some of Federer's historic achievements in Grand Slams.
Federer has made quarterfinals or more for 6 consecutive years:- Roger Federer has made it to the quarter finals or more for six full years from 2005 to 2010. While it may be argued that top players are expected to make the quarterfinals one cannot expect a player however great he may be to make to the quarterfinals of every single Grand Slam for Grand Slams are played at different surfaces and while one surface may be conducive for a particular type of player it may be the opposite for another type of player. A reasonable argument would be that great players are supposed to make it to the quarter finals in majority of the slams only and not every slam. Federer amazing run started with victory at 2004 Wimbledon Championships and has continued to U S Open which in 26 in a row.
Federer has an amazing conversion rate from quarter final stage:- While Federer has a perfect 100 when it comes to making quarter finals of Grand Slams in the last 6 years he has an amazing conversion rate in going beyond Grand Slams. Roger Federer has 23 Semi Final appearances during this period which works out to 92% success rate. Federer has made 20 finals which works out 80.00% and 14 Grand Slam wins which makes it 56% success ratio.
Federer has a excellent next step conversion rate:- Roger Federer gets even better when it comes to next stage conversion say for example from semi finals to finals. While Federer has a 92% conversion from quarters to semis, he has 86.96% success rate from semi final stage to final stage. Federer has won 14 finals out of 20 during this period which means he has 70% success rate in finals.
Federer's quarter final record in every single Grand Slam has been extra ordinary and here is look at the number of consecutive appearances he has made in quarter finals in each of the 4 Grand Slams.
7 in Australian Open from 2004 to 2010
6 in French Open from 2005 to 2010.
8 in Wimbledon from 2003 to 2010.
7 in U S Open from 2004 to 2010.
While there are many who would want Roger Federer to annex yet another Grand Slam there would be sympathies for Robin Soderling who came closed to winning a maiden Slam at 2009 and 2010 French Open when he shut out Nadal and Federer in successive years but then Soderling's problem is that he cannot he does not have the mental strength to beat both Federer and Nadal in the same Grand Slam and the fact that he lost tamely both to Federer and Nadal in the finals of the French Opens in 2009 and 2010 after having beaten one of them in the earlier rounds is a clear indication of his lack of mental strength.
Let us hope that Federer wins and makes history and if Soderling wins let us hope that he goes on to win his maiden Grand Slam. It would be really tragic if Soderling beats Federer but fails to win the U S Open.