New dad Federer eyes 16th Grand Slam crown

NEW YORK (AP) — As last year’s U.S. Open began, plenty of people were wondering what was wrong with Roger Federer. Feeling sorry for the guy, even.

Federer arrived at Flushing Meadows in 2008 ranked No. 2, not No. 1. He arrived with — gasp! — zero Grand Slam titles for the season, having lost to Rafael Nadal in finals at the French Open (a blowout) and Wimbledon (a heartbreaker). He arrived to a chorus of questions about whether Nadal had surpassed him for good.

U.S. Open spectators rallied to Federer’s side, cheering for him as if he were an underdog — rather than the man who would depart with the champion’s trophy for the fifth year in a row.

“I was really blown away. I thought that was so cool,” Federer said in an interview with The Associated Press. “It was like they said: ‘We have to support our man here, because he needs to come back to where he belongs.’ It was like they wanted to push me back to the top. Winning the U.S. Open was sort of the jump start.”

Yes, as this year’s last Grand Slam tournament starts Monday, Federer is back.

Starting with his victory in New York, Federer has won three of the past four major tournaments to raise his career total to 15 Grand Slam championships, breaking Pete Sampras’ record. He is ranked No. 1 again.

And there’s been more good news off the court: He’s now married and a father — of twins, no less.

“You change, all of a sudden,” Federer said, snapping his fingers, “from needing nine hours of sleep, to saying, ‘Five is plenty.”’

As Federer-the-father bids to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win three consecutive major championships in a single season, and the first since Bill Tilden in 1920-25 to win six straight titles at the American Grand Slam tournament, it’s his nemesis, Nadal, who looks to be in need of a boost.

It’s Nadal who recently relinquished the No. 1 ranking; he’s now at No. 3. It’s Nadal whose 31-match winning streak at the French Open ended. It’s Nadal who did not defend his Wimbledon title, citing sore knees.

Nadal returned to the tour this month, but he acknowledges he’s not in peak condition.

“You never know. You never know,” said Nadal, who needs a U.S. Open title to complete a career Grand Slam. “We will see how I am physically.”