Nothing in sports sounds quite like Roger Federer playing the night session in Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open. Oh, man, the relentless squeak-squeak of those Nikes on the DecoTurf along the baseline and on the way to net, the thunderous percussion and echo of that Wilson racquet striking those Wilson balls with Swiss precision, the awed murmurs that start to drift around the big house when Federer begins to hit his rhythm and move through the gears. There's the primal roars let loose from 20,000, plus, after some ridiculous winner to end a monster rally, and then about 30 seconds, maybe more, of those same fans laughing, clapping, high-fiving, whatever, because they can't believe what they are seeing.
But there are also distinct, deafening stretches of silence because the spectators, in fact, know
exactly what they are seeing...a once-in-a-lifetime artist at work in his studio. Eyes remain completely focused, and mouths completely shut, while the brain tries to absorb all the flair, class, majesty, and - yes - ego, that help make Roger, Roger.
Steve Darcis steps up against Fed, tonight, and Ashe Stadium will once again fill, and begin to rock and roll. The Belgian has made noise of his own, before, taking down Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon in 2013, but he's never heard what he's about to hear.
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