Bleacher Report: Djokovic vs. Federer Wimbledon Final Highlighting the Big 4's True Greatness

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

LONDON — The French had their era and their group. “Les Quatre Mousquetaires” (The Four Musketeers) were tennis champions in the late 1920s and ‘30s. The most famous was Rene LaCoste, nicknamed “The Crocodile,” a logo that went on his clothing line.

Australia took over in the 1950s and ’60s with Frank Sedgman, John Newcombe, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, Lew Hoad and the man who may have been the finest ever, Rod Laver. That’s four plus two, but a justifiable exception.

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Copyright © 2014 Bleacher Report, Inc.

Newsday (N.Y.): Roger Federer will face Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon final

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — Old guys rule. In tennis, of course, that means men in their late 20s, like Novak Djokovic, or early 30s, like Roger Federer.

The talk the last few days at Wimbledon was of the new generation, of the kids taking over. It won't happen this year.

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Copyright © 2014 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Bleacher Report: Ageless Roger Federer Silencing Doubters with Dream Run to 2014 Wimbledon Final

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

LONDON — It was March, the time tennis players look in the future — bright or bleak — and try to accept where they might go compared to where they had been. In the California desert, Roger Federer sounded like a man of acceptance.

“If I can’t play for No. 1,” he told the media at the BNB Paribas tournament in Indian Wells, “I’ll play for winning titles.”

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Copyright © 2014 Bleacher Report, Inc.

Newsday (N.Y.): Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova reach second round

By Art Spander
Special to Newsday

WIMBLEDON, England — The big names held serve and their places at the top on Tuesday at Wimbledon, meaning those who prefer their tennis played by the rich and famous never had to hold their breaths. Unlike a year ago.

Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal, both ranked No. 1, scored straight-sets victories in opening matches. So did Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, who, as the other two, are former Wimbledon champions.

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Copyright © 2014 Newsday. All rights reserved.

Los Angeles Times: BNP Paribas Open: Time is relative to Roger Federer

By Art Spander
Special to the Times

The old guy, Father Time, will triumph in the end. He always does. But for the moment Roger Federer is holding serve against him, which in a sport primarily of the young is no small achievement.

Federer has come to terms with reality. "If I can't play for No. 1," he said three days ago, "I'll play for winning titles."

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Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times