Sooner or later, the old stoop to the young

08 July 2016 - 10:26 By Andile Ndlovu

At a time when tennis has been crying out for fresh talent to dominate the grand slam, the old still hold dominion over Wimbledon. Yesterday's ladies semifinalists together averaged just under 32 years of age (Venus Williams the oldest at 36), and today's men's quartet stand at just under 30 (Roger Federer is 34). But, if one takes the past 11 years, the average age of the men's victor is 25.It is why on any other year, the John McEnroe-coached Canadian Milos Raonic, who is 25, would enjoy the lion's share of the fandom surrounding Sunday's final on centre court.Except, of course, it's also a year in which perpetual fan favourite Roger Federer stands his best chance of winning an 18th grand slam title - making it eight Wimbledon wins.In the shock absence of world No 1 Novak Djokovic (who was eliminated in the first week by Sam Querrey), Andy Murray, who has not won a grand slam trophy since winning Wimbledon in 2013, is and should still be the firm favourite - on paper.Watching Federer refuse to bow out of this year's championships at the quarterfinal stage to the oft brilliant Marin Cilic, and eventually sneak into the semis after five nerve-racking and thrilling sets, was akin to a miracle. It felt like the gods were working their magic one last time for one of their own.Should Federer manage to thwart the imposing - in height and not temperament - Raonic (1.96m tall), and then win the final, presumably against Murray, it would be a repeat of the 2012 final, where Federer won in four sets (also memorable for Murray's painful sobbing at the presentation ceremony).It would also mark 15 years since the coronation of Federer as the future king of tennis.On this day in 2001 , the then 19-year-old beat Pete Sampras 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 in the fourth round. Sampras was going for a fifth consecutive Wimbledon title then.Interestingly, it was also on this day that McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 at the All England Club's hallowed lawns.McEnroe, who commentated during the Federer and Cilic quarterfinal, will have tips for his man.As usual, Raonic's big serve and forehand have seen him reach another semi in London (they also met at this stage two years ago), but he will need to improve his volleying and his chasing.It would be a bonus if he would also stop shuffling around the court in a mute state like an extra in The Walking Dead.McEnroe himself said: "Milos is someone that has a big game. I think he understands he needs to be able to use that to his advantage, to be more aggressive, take it to the people."Raonic will find an imposing centre court today; one even home boy Murray has seldom enjoyed.The majority of fans will almost certainly want the Swiss master to reach an 11th Wimbledon final and so move ahead of the "7 club", which boasts Sampras and Boris Becker among its legends.Raonic will meet a man who has amassed 307 victories in grand slams (the most by any player in the Open era).The romantic in all of us wants Federer to win, but romance has been known to turn many a man into a fool...

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