Federer wants faster surfaces

[TheFifthSet]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

To tennis hands: Yes actually Fed is a "mug" on slow surfaces currently. That's why he didn't make a single final on red clay this year and why his favorite master is Cincy (fastest surface on the tour). I don't know about my expertise but yours doesn't seem all that great to be honest, no offense.

Reached the Semi's at the AO, and won Indian Wells.

[veroniquem]

Lost to Nadal at AO for the second time. (Never beat Nadal at AO) Lost to Djoko twice in straight sets before that. There is a reason why he has a better record at W and USO than AO.

[RF20Lennon]

Fed is right!! Bring back CARPET!! for gods sake! it used to be such a pleasure to watch! 40 something yr old sampras would still be owning grinders like djokovic and nadal and pushers like Murray on carpet. Bring it back! im sick and tired of watching the same long rallies over and over again

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

To tennis hands: Yes actually Fed is a "mug" on slow surfaces currently.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

We will see where will Nadal (or Djokovic or Murray for that matter)be, when they are Fed's current age.

You are embarassing yourself.

Originally Posted by veroniquem

That's why he didn't make a single final on red clay this year and why his favorite master is Cincy (fastest surface on the tour). I don't know about my expertise but yours doesn't seem all that great to be honest, no offense.

I cannot take offence from you, my dear.

[Gizo]

Yes carpet needs to be brought back. A more cushioned carpet surface is fast but not a 90s style ice rink or anything, and is safer for players than thinner carpet or hard courts.

There need to be 2 slams on slow surfaces, and 2 slams on fast ones, that reward aggressive baseline play and shotmaking. There is nothing wrong with baseline grinding but it shouldn't be the norm on every surface.

Really there is something wrong when two out of the 4 slams are played on slow hard courts. I would even prefer a few green clay tournaments instead of so many slow hard court ones.

[Gizo]

Also importantly, a fairer balance of faster surfaces with more winners, shorter points and less grinding and physical wars of attrition, is beneficial for the players' health in the long-run. That should be the main priority right, the health of the entertainers who are putting on the show for us all.

[veroniquem]

Surfaces are perfect the way they are. Funny how every time Fed loses, the surface is at fault. How about: the player is at fault? (Revolutionary concept, I know)
If Fed wants to be a top player, he has to be able to play on all surfaces. No excuses.

[joeri888]

Federer is 100% right, but the timing makes it look like he's just in it for himself. He's not. He's won and done it all. But for the game of tennis, it'll be important to KEEP REWARDING AN OFFENSIVE PLAY.

[joeri888]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Surfaces are perfect the way they are. Funny how every time Fed loses, the surface is at fault. How about: the player is at fault? (Revolutionary concept, I know)
If Fed wants to be a top player, he has to be able to play on all surfaces. No excuses.

You make that up. He nowhere blames the surface for the loss. However, just compare this surface to the one in 2006 and 07 in Shanghai and tell me that it's the same. The only reason you think the surfaces are fine is because it suits your buddy. Just imagine in 5 years when both are retired. Do we only want defensive tennis with zero reward for offensive plays? No we don't. And there's n historical argument to back up that the surfaces are fine. They've never been this way and never should be. I am already over Fed's loss and I can actually cope with slow surfaces as long as Roger plays. The problem lies AFTER Roger. When Roger's retired. Who'll come to the net? The guy chasing down a dropshot to get passed that's who, and nobody else.

[Gizo]

Nadal also doesn't think that the surfaces are perfect the way they are, considering how often he complains (rightly) about there being too many big tournaments on hard courts.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Surfaces are perfect the way they are. Funny how every time Fed loses, the surface is at fault. How about: the player is at fault? (Revolutionary concept, I know)
.

Blue clay. Nadal.

Nuff said.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by joeri888

You make that up. He nowhere blames the surface for the loss. However, just compare this surface to the one in 2006 and 07 in Shanghai and tell me that it's the same. The only reason you think the surfaces are fine is because it suits your buddy. Just imagine in 5 years when both are retired. Do we only want defensive tennis with zero reward for offensive plays? No we don't. And there's n historical argument to back up that the surfaces are fine. They've never been this way and never should be. I am already over Fed's loss and I can actually cope with slow surfaces as long as Roger plays. The problem lies AFTER Roger. When Roger's retired. Who'll come to the net? The guy chasing down a dropshot to get passed that's who, and nobody else.

I don't like big servers or fast surfaces so I'm probably the wrong person to ask for support about the issue. I feel like a lot of hard courts are currently medium paced which I like because it allows a balance of offense and defense. Clay and grass are natural surfaces with distinct characteristics and I wouldn't want to change them either. The only change I'm lobbying for is to keep European clay red. Other than that, I love the matches the way they are today and do I want to favor serve fest galore? Hell no. That is exactly the kind of tennis I don't like to see. Once or twice a year is more than enough for me. (I do not understand the net complaint either. I just watched a final where both players went to net regularly. I don't think net play is gonna get extinct. Serve and volley maybe but not net play in general)

[Tafmatch]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Surfaces are perfect the way they are. Funny how every time Fed loses, the surface is at fault. How about: the player is at fault? (Revolutionary concept, I know)
If Fed wants to be a top player, he has to be able to play on all surfaces. No excuses.

Fed is 100% right and you know it. He even said the surface at the WTF is fine as it is, no excuses. And you never heard him talking about speeding up claycourts. He just wants to see some more variety and some faster courts and I believe a lot of tennisfans agree with him.

I don't even think Fed would be the main beneficiary of faster courts. He dominated the medium/medium-fast courts for years and the surface homogeneity seemed to have helped him win 17 grand slams.

[Cup8489]

For once I agree with 90's clay.. bring back the nineties and variety.

[veroniquem]

Originally Posted by Tafmatch

Fed is 100% right and you know it. He even said the surface at the WTF is fine as it is, no excuses. And you never heard him talking about speeding up claycourts. He just wants to see some more variety and some faster courts and I believe a lot of tennisfans agree with him.

I don't even think Fed would be the main beneficiary of faster courts. He dominated the medium/medium-fast courts for years and the surface homogeneity seemed to have helped him win 17 grand slams.

Of course Fed would be the beneficiary. Reason given: variety. Real reason: to whip Djoko's *** like Cincy. Fed could play on all surfaces in the past, now it's becoming more and more difficult (age and all). Which is why he's asking for more fast ASAP. And it's funny because a few months ago, he was criticizing Rafa/Djoko for badmouthing Madrid's surface and was waxing lyrical about the importance for players to adjust to anything that was presented to them. So, here you go Fed: adjust to current surfaces and don't moan about the speed. Take your own advice. It can only be the wisest.

[Tafmatch]

Fed would benefit against Djoko and Nadal for sure. But against the likes of Delpo, Berdych? I don't think so. They will be the main beneficiaries imo.

[veroniquem]

Disagree. As I said Cincy has been his best master, especially in the last 5 years or so and it's the fastest surface.

[Gizo]

The problem with the current courts/surface is that very little adjusting is required, it's far easier for all of the top players to play the same way on every surface and still post strong results across all the big tournaments.

A better balance of slow/fast surfaces (I don't think anyone here is saying that all courts should be sped up, just some of them), would force the players to adjust their games more to differing surfaces, and that would be better, more equitable and more fun to see them getting tested more.

Federer to his credit has talked about he has benefited from the modern day surface homogenisation, along with Nadal:

''Anyway, every surface is very similar today, otherwise we couldn't have achieved all these things on all these different surfaces so quickly, like him and myself.''

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/...585747638.html

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Of course Fed would be the beneficiary. Reason given: variety. Real reason: to whip Djoko's *** like Cincy. Fed could play on all surfaces in the past, now it's becoming more and more difficult (age and all). Which is why he's asking for more fast ASAP. And it's funny because a few months ago, he was criticizing Rafa/Djoko for badmouthing Madrid's surface and was waxing lyrical about the importance for players to adjust to anything that was presented to them. So, here you go Fed: adjust to current surfaces and don't moan about the speed. Take your own advice. It can only be the wisest.

LOL. Hypocrisy X 1000

And there is a difference between his general preference how the game should develop and to threaten to boycott event, because someone cannot compete on it.

How old are you? You cannot seem to comprehend context properly. And I really mean it.

[veroniquem]

Players have to adjust their game constantly. Miami doesn't play like IW which doesn't play like Cincy which doesn't play like Paris indoor and plays even less like clay which doesn't play like grass at all. I'm sorry but the only time when the surfaces become similar all of a sudden is when Fed loses.