After ruling the tennis world for almost five years, Roger Federer is adjusting to life at NO.2. But, like any king whose throne has been taken away, the Swiss star is already planning secretly his return to power, beginning at this week’s US Open.
The problem is, many experts think he will never do it. They blame everything from age and tough competition to his racket and psychology.
For years Federer, 27, had enjoyed the view from the top. Competitors saw him as undefeated, and for the most part he was. However, before the 2008 season began, Federer had an illness that stole his strength and clearly affected his play on the court. Ever since, he has struggled to return to form, winning just two of his last 14 tournaments.
“Twenty-seven is an age when your body starts talking back to you.” tennis great John McEnroe told the New York Times.
Pancho Sefura, another tennis great, noted that Federer is also facing a maturing crop of young talents. “There are too many great players now,” he said, naming Britain’s Andy Murray, 21, and Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, 20.
US magazine Sports Illustrated tennis columnist Jon Wertheim suggested that part of Federer’s problem could be his insistence on using a small racket. He says that the smaller head demands ball control. But we see time and again that racket makers try to get players to use a certain stick — one they would like to market to consumers and it has a negative effect the professional game.
Sports psychologist Jim Loehr told the Times that Federer is probably feeling “a sense of doubt” after being considered as undefeated for so long. If Federer is to recover his state of being undefeated, Loehr said he must overcome his doubt. “Federer doesn’t need fame and money. But he has to get better. He has to go to a whole new level. That’s the only way he stays in the game,” he said.
As for beginning his first Grand Slam in ages as the NO.2 seed, Federer said it might be for the best. “Five years almost, I was expected to win every tournament I entered,” he said, “so maybe Rafael Nadal now feels what I had to feel for a very long time. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.”
小题1:What does the underlined sentence “your body starts talking back to you” in Para.4 mean?
A．Your body often argues with you.
B．You can do whatever you want.
C．Your strength is beginning to decline.
D．You are more easily to have quite terrible diseases.小题2:From the passage, we know the main reason why Federer’s throne was taken away is that _____.
A．he is becoming older and older.
B．he insisted on using a small racket.
C．he is facing a maturing crop of young talents.
D．he had an illness that stole his strength.小题3:What can be inferred from the passage?
A．Now it is Nadal who has replaced Federer as the No.1tennis player.
B．the racket makers aim at the players’ better performance in games.
C．It is impossible for Federer to return to power.
D．Federer has never won a Grand Slam before.小题4:What’s the best title of the passage?
A．Nadal — The No.1 Tennis Player
B．Federer — Always Undefeated
C．State of Mind Plays a Important Role
D．Federer Hopes to Recover His Magic
小题1:C
小题2:D
小题3:A
小题4:D
题目分析：称霸网坛 5 年之后，瑞士名将罗杰.费德勒已沦为 网坛老二，尽管他放言要重返霸主地位，但人们对此心存疑虑。网坛代有人才出，他是否能如愿呢？
小题1:考查句意猜测。第三段说，27 岁的费德勒疾病缠身， 已经力不从心，由此判断画线部分的含义是 C 项，在 27 岁这个年龄， “你的体力开始衰退”。 选 C。
小题2:考查细节理解。第三段说，在 2008 赛季之前费德勒 生了一场病， 之后他一直努力重返霸主地位， 但只赢了最后 14 场锦标 赛中的两场。后文讲的都是他无法重返霸主地位的部分原因。选 D。
小题3:考查推理判断。文章开头说费德勒称霸网坛 5 年， 最后一段他说，“将近 5 年的时间里，大家都预料我逢赛必赢，现在 拉菲尔?纳达尔的感受和我那么长时间里的感受一样”，由此判断，拉 菲尔.纳达尔是当今网坛的头号选手。选 A。
小题4:考查标题归纳。全文围绕曾经称霸网坛的瑞士名将 罗杰.费德勒展开叙述，讨论他重返霸主地位的可能性，因此选 D。