How did Haas cause so much difficulty for Federer at the FO and Wimbledon?

[2slik]

French Open: Federer defeats Haas 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2
Wimbledon: Federer defeats Haas 7-6 (7-3), 7-5, 6-3

In the FO, If it were not for an inside out forehand to save a break point, Federer could have lost in straight sets and people would still be talking about Federer need to win the FO to complete a career grand slam.

How did Haas give Federer difficulty on both occasions?

 

[djokovicgonzalez2010]

Haas is very, very talented but he's a mental midget

 

[Bottle Rocket]

As complicated as I think most things in tennis are, I don't think the guys that give Federer trouble have any special secrets or understanding that others do not. I think it's simply a matter of having a backhand that can do consistent damage.

The guys that Federer has the most trouble with are guys that can consistently hit aggressive, penetrating shots off of both wings. Federer is not a guy who appears to beat on a weakness just for the sake of breaking a stroke down, but he seems to be so comfortable and secure against guys that can only do real damage off of one wing.

I'm not talking about guys like Gozno that can hit a ridiculous backhand on every 5th try, but guys that can do so consistently. Guys like Djokovic, Haas, Del Potro, and Nadal. This would also include the streaky guys, like Berdych.

This is why Murray should be a threat to Federer, aside from his movement. Murray has the the potential to play the type of game that can really trouble Federer, so his play in the US Open dissapointed me.

The point is, if you can play consistent defense, and turn points around in your favor off both wings, you can trouble Federer. Haas has a fantastic game.

 

[dropshot winner]

Haas is a good allcourt player, he has taken Federer to 5 before (06 AO).

But Wimbledon wasnt as close as the score suggests, Federer was never really threatened.

In Paris Federer was a bit unlucky to lose the first set, if I remember correctly up to the tiebreak Federer won all points on his serve (24/24), but then he screwed up in the tiebreak.

Haas played very well in the first 3 sets and Federer played tentatively and made too many errors at the same time, thats why he almost lost the match.

 

[davey25]

Wimbledon was an easy win. Haas was struggling to hold the whole time, while Federer was never threatened. The French was probably only tough since it was the day after Nadal's loss. Any other time I see an even easier win for Federer (on clay) than the Wimbledon one.

 

[akv89]

The Wimbledon win was very straightforward. Haas couldn't get into Federer's service games and Federer seemed in control throughout the match.

Haas was playing top 10 tennis during that summer. After losing to Federer in the 5th at the French, he beat Djokovic to win Halle and then beat him again to make the SF's at the Wimbledon. So it wasn't as if it was just Federer who had a hard time with Haas during last summer.

 

[joeri888]

he only troubled Federer at the FO.

Federer troubled himself mostly, because he was tense, tight everything.. He was totally lost because of Nadal losing the day before. He also should have won the first set. He didn't lose a point on serve for six straight games, then lost three in the breaker.Was a weird match.

 

[AM95]

he only troubled Federer at the FO.

Federer troubled himself mostly, because he was tense, tight everything.. He was totally lost because of Nadal losing the day before. He also should have won the first set. He didn't lose a point on serve for six straight games, then lost three in the breaker.Was a weird match.

yea but the fourth set bagel made me happy

 

[cquandt]

Haas is one of the few smart players left on tour. the guy is crafty, but can also execute the big balls. fed is used to the guys who hit the same generic style, but Haas can out think him. the reason Fed won? he's the best player of all time. doesn't matter how smart you are when you go up against fed's game.

 

[joeri888]

yea but the fourth set bagel made me happy

The won match point in the fifth set, then I was happy, before that.. heartache, plain and simple. Same against Del potro. Best tournament ever.

 

[borg number one]

Haas is very strong, athletic, and has a very complete Game. Plus, though he perhaps "folded" a bit at the FO, the guy is very experienced. So, he doesn't walk out on the Court being necessarily very intimidated by Federer, because he has pulled off big wins in the past against the top players.

He has been comfortably in the top 5 before, so he understands that if he plays his best, he has a chance against anyone, including Federer. That belief from the first point on, serves him well when facing Federer, or other players that may be ranked higher than him now.

Yet, besides such belief in his abilities and in his chances of winning a given match, he has great form, very clean strokes, as well as impressive athleticism. So, when he's "on", he can be very dangerous and tough for anyone to prevail against.

 

[Matt H.]

in the 4 grand slam matches they've played, they've gone 5 sets in 3 of them.

While Fed is the clear favorite, he knows he's capable of making a competitive and entertaining match with Fed.

 

[raging]

Haas is very strong, athletic, and has a very complete Game. Plus, though he perhaps "folded" a bit at the FO, the guy is very experienced. So, he doesn't walk out on the Court being necessarily very intimidated by Federer, because he has pulled off big wins in the past against the top players. He has in fact, been comfortably in the top 5 before, so he understands that if he plays his best, he has a chance against anyone, including Federer. That belief from the first point on, serves him well when facing Federer, or other players that may be ranked higher than him now.

Yet, besides such belief in his abilities and in his chances of winning a given match, he has great form, and very clean strokes, as well as impressive athleticism, so when he's "on", he can be very dangerous and tough for anyone to prevail against.

Yes, Tommy has game and he is also taking his chances..after all his injuries, I am sure he knows he is running out of time - hope he can keep it going this year and win a few more big ones.Would be great to see him lift a big trophy this year!

 

[World Beater]

haas is a pretty good player...at one point #2 in the world.

on a given day, he can cause trouble for anyone.

 

[anointedone]

He hasnt beaten Federer in over 8 years now, despite that they have played with reasonable regularity. He is not that tough an opponent for Federer. His last win was January 2002 when Haas was at his absolute peak and Federer was clearly very pre-prime, and Federer had a match point and should have won that match. I remember P Mac at the time saying he felt Federer "choked" it away at the end a bit. So what chance would any Haas have vs prime Federer?

Anyone who thinks their Wimbledon match was tough didnt watch the match, and that scoreline isnt even too tough a match for mens tennis standards either. Only one tiebreak and not even a close tiebreak, remember this is the ATP where good players can hold serve.

The French Open match was strange. I think Federer didnt lose a point on serve the whole 1st set and had chances to break. He was just a bit casual on those, probably since he didnt feel any threat. Then he played his first 2 or 3 bad points on serve the whole set with unforced errors to lose each and the whole set is gone. He was still playing pretty well, more winners than errors, but Haas while having less winners than Federer had almost no errors. Federer even when behind still dictated more on how the match would go so once he started hitting even more winners and cutting out the errors altogether Haas had no chance.

 

[Markov]

Haas was just awesome last summer, but he doesn't exactly have all that is needed on the mental side to win slams. Probably during the FO match, when he knew if he could just win that one he would really have a chance to win the whole thing, he started to think the same thing the commentators were thinking.. That his "life would just completely change". And then he just lost his grip on that match and that was all Fed needed.

 

[davey25]

Haas was just awesome last summer, but he doesn't exactly have all that is needed on the mental side to win slams. Probably during the FO match, when he knew if he could just win that one he would really have a chance to win the whole thing, he started to think the same thing the commentators were thinking.. That his "life would just completely change". And then he just lost his grip on that match and that was all Fed needed.

Haas was NEVER going to win the French last year even had he beaten Federer. Even next round Monfils is a superior clay courter and should be favored over Haas on that surface. Even if he got past Monfils he would have almost zero shot vs Del Potro who would easily blow Haas away from the baseline.

Haas seems quite overrated in this thread. He has a nice game which is aestheticaly pleasing but he doesnt have the weapons to win slams. He doesnt that that one overpowering shot or strength you need. It is also funny to see people thinking a match between Federer and Haas is somehow on Haas's racquet, LOL!