Does the current AO surcface still support people who use an eastern Forehand grip?

[2slik]

I thin one of the reasons Federer has not won an Australian Open recently is because his shots just do not seem to explode of the court as they use to. i watched the AO 2009 final re-run and saw how Federer kept shanking a lot of unforced errors as his ground strokes were not doing the sufficient damage needed to finish a point against Nadal at the net on a consistent basis.

I find it a nonsense when the AO organisers say that the new plexicushion surface supports any kind of tennis. As the two past winners have been players who mainly play slogger pusher tennis (Djokovic, Nadal). The footwork seems to be less important as well since the courts have slowed down. Watch Nalabdian vs Federer AO 2003 and you will see what I mean. You do not seem to get these types of rallies any more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VduH7KNppA

 

[bolo]

I thin one of the reasons Federer has not won an Australian Open recently is because his shots just do not seem to explode of the court as they use to. i watched the AO 2009 final re-run and saw how Federer kept shanking a lot of unforced errors as his ground strokes were not doing the sufficient damage needed to finish a point against Nadal at the net on a consistent basis.

I find it a nonsense when the AO organisers say that the new plexicushion surface supports any kind of tennis. As the two past winners have been players who mainly play slogger pusher tennis (Djokovic, Nadal). The footwork seems to be less important as well since the courts have slowed down. Watch Nalabdian vs Federer AO 2003 and you will see what I mean. You do not seem to get these types of rallies any more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VduH7KNppA

Not only do AO organisers say it, but Federer says it as well. Most recently in his Pre Ao interview.

 

[Cup8489]

I thin one of the reasons Federer has not won an Australian Open recently is because his shots just do not seem to explode of the court as they use to. i watched the AO 2009 final re-run and saw how Federer kept shanking a lot of unforced errors as his ground strokes were not doing the sufficient damage needed to finish a point against Nadal at the net on a consistent basis.

I find it a nonsense when the AO organisers say that the new plexicushion surface supports any kind of tennis. As the two past winners have been players who mainly play slogger pusher tennis (Djokovic, Nadal). The footwork seems to be less important as well since the courts have slowed down. Watch Nalabdian vs Federer AO 2003 and you will see what I mean. You do not seem to get these types of rallies any more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VduH7KNppA

LOL at Djokovic and Nadal playing pusher tennis. LOL

if you had actually watched the match you'd notice that Federer still dominated the rallies for the majority of the match, and had an enormous number of chances to win the final. he just didnt fight for it. those types of rallies from Nalbandian and Federer in 2003 were because of the types of shots both players hit. Nadal and Federer had plenty of big rallies themselves in that match, and so i disagree with you. besides, Federer can change his grip, he doesn't hit flat eastern all the time. so that's not an excuse. if he can win the French Open, he can win on Plexi-pave.

 

[2slik]

LOL at Djokovic and Nadal playing pusher tennis. LOL

if you had actually watched the match you'd notice that Federer still dominated the rallies for the majority of the match, and had an enormous number of chances to win the final. he just didnt fight for it. those types of rallies from Nalbandian and Federer in 2003 were because of the types of shots both players hit. Nadal and Federer had plenty of big rallies themselves in that match, and so i disagree with you. besides, Federer can change his grip, he doesn't hit flat eastern all the time. so that's not an excuse. if he can win the French Open, he can win on Plexi-pave.

no lol LOL

 

[Dream_On]

Anyone else noticed Nalbandians change of service action?

 

[joeri888]

I do agree the surface is also less supportive for Federer than it used to be. I do think Nadal started to perform better from 2008 onwards, and Federer performed worse. But, I disagree with your assessment of pushertennis winning here. A defensive player can win here, no doubt, but Federer, Del Potro, Davydenko do also stand a chance. Where maybe a few years ago it was all in favour of the attacking baseliner, it's now more in favour of really steady baseliners who have both a very good attacking game, but do not make too many mistakes. Like Djokovic for example.

 

[Turning Pro]

The only reason he hasn't won it on this surface yet is because he hasn't been good enough to defeat the opponents in front of him on that particular day.

 

[TMF]

The only reason he hasn't won it on this surface yet is because he hasn't been good enough to defeat the opponents in front of him on that particular day.

LOL....the "only reason" a mono Fed is not suppose to be the best player in 2008.

 

[LiveForever]

The only reason he hasn't won it on this surface yet is because he hasn't been good enough to defeat the opponents in front of him on that particular day.

This is true. Djokovic in 2008 and Nadal in 2009 were worthy winners.