Fed: Matches Like Today Are What Keep Me Coming Back

[MTF07]

Fed really frickin blew that match today. One of the worst chokes of his career.

[merlinpinpin]

Originally Posted by monfed

Practice more? He can't practice not blowing leads,can he?
Besides he's 31, he needs to start planning a grand retirement,samprasesque.

Hi Clarky, love your alternate account. Care to create others to "support" Djokovic and Murray, too?

[merlinpinpin]

Originally Posted by Steve0904

Not sure. I think he can play whatever he wants. He may have to play some 500's, but he'll probably do that anyway just for the appearance money, but I'm almost certain he doesn't have to play any 1000 tournaments.

No. 500's are not mandatory, they just cost you 0-pointers if you don't play enough. He's basically free as a bird, now.

[TheFifthSet]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

He should go easy on the practice or his back is gonna give. And given the season he had in 2012, I wouldn't change a thing if I were him. He won't do any better at his age, practice or not.

Never say never . I'd say he was better in 2012 than he was in 2011. Why not more improvement?

[merlinpinpin]

Originally Posted by MTF07

Fed really frickin blew that match today. One of the worst chokes of his career.

The TT weekend warriors really can't get around that word, it's like an obsession to you, isn't it, guys? Every point you don't score by a top 10 winner in the Guiness book is a choke...

[joeri888]

Who cares what Federer wins. As long as he plays. As long as he plays with fire in his eyes, and grit in his teeth. I think he's mentally strong and tactically amazing. Shame the rallies are not as much on his racquet anymore, but he's still amazing. Hope he plays for 5 more years. Go out like Agassi, rather than Sampras. The next generation of tennis fans should see Roger Federer too.

[joeri888]

Originally Posted by MTF07

Fed really frickin blew that match today. One of the worst chokes of his career.

You are totally clueless. Fed did not choke AT ALL. He played poor points throughout the match, and changed them up with some insane plays. At those moments Djokovic got just some extra balls back with interest and forced Rog into a mistake too many. But I guess if Djokovic nets that passing shot at 6-5 30-40 it's suddenly clutch Federer again?

[veroniquem]

I agree. I didn't see any choking today. Just #1 vs #2 and a damn close match.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by merlinpinpin

No. 500's are not mandatory, they just cost you 0-pointers if you don't play enough. He's basically free as a bird, now.

I am curious to see, what he is going to do with his schedule next season. Being a master of the scheduling and all.

Common sense says, that he should be playing slightly less than this year (maybe missing a couple of clay tourneys and slightly reduced summer HC season) and aiming at the big events. We will see.

Ontopic: That is what many of Federer's detractors do not understand about him. He gets motivated, when things do not go his way. Federer loves the challenge and never runs away from it.

[Bobby Jr]

Originally Posted by Sabratha

A light schedule isn't always the best option.

Most players seem to need to play themselves into the majors but Federer seems to be one guy who stands out as who can turn up and trounce people with magic from the first day of an event. I wonder if a well managed break with fewer lead-up tournaments than his peers could really be a shot in the arm for his peak potential. He may have some hiccups but even looking at this week's tournament he played pretty well yet was the only player who had the last week off (or did someone else as well??)

[joeri888]

Originally Posted by Tennis_Hands

I am curious to see, what he is going to do with his schedule next season. Being a master of the scheduling and all.

Common sense says, that he should be playing slightly less than this year (maybe missing a couple of clay tourneys and slightly reduced summer HC season) and aiming at the big events. We will see.

Ontopic: That is what many of Federer's detractors do not understand about him. He gets motivated, when things do not go his way. Federer loves the challenge and never runs away from it.

I expect:

Doha
AO
Rotterdam
Dubai
Indian Wells
(Miami)
Madrid
Roland Garros
(Halle)
Wimbledon
Cincinnati
US Open
Basel
WTF

[tennis_pro]

Originally Posted by Cup8489

I just hope for another major this coming year. Anything beyond that is absolute cake.

I just hope he keeps on playing for as long as possible. Reading such interviews makes it easier to swallow defeats like yesterday.

I'm also quite interested what goals Federer sets for 2013 I mean damn what is there more to achieve for him?

[tennis_pro]

Originally Posted by joeri888

I expect:

Doha
AO
Rotterdam
Dubai
Indian Wells
(Miami)
Madrid
Roland Garros
(Halle)
Wimbledon
Cincinnati
US Open
Basel
WTF

1) Federer won't play Rotterdam.
2) He's more likely to play Rome than Madrid which is closer in schedule and surface to the French Open.
3) I think he should take part in Miami since he'll most likely skip Monte Carlo (so he has a long break anyway)

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by joeri888

I expect:

Doha
AO
Rotterdam
Dubai
Indian Wells
(Miami)
Madrid
Roland Garros
(Halle)
Wimbledon
Cincinnati
US Open
Basel
WTF

Sounds about right.
Might substitute Basel for Paris, if they do not strike a deal with the organizers.
DC can also be included, if need be.

Originally Posted by tennis_pro

1) Federer won't play Rotterdam.

He can play there if there is an early exit at the AO. Or does he have other plans? Info?

[TheNatural]

Fed is going to have more practice with his bigger racket.

[tennis_pro]

Originally Posted by Tennis_Hands

He can play there if there is an early exit at the AO. Or does he have other plans? Info?

It says here that Fed's on the entry list for 2013:

http://www.abnamrowtt.com/news-and-m...nis-tournament

I'm quite surprised, actually but I would expect Federer to withdraw this time.

[PeteD]

Originally Posted by Sabratha

He's a lot more involved than Sampras was.

I think Sampras found his dream gal and pretty much checked out

[single_handed_champion]

Poor Roger. He should be saying 'Matches like today are what make me stay away from the game'. He was dominating Djokovic pretty much but the ball just would not die on him, bouncing up nice and high and allowing Djokovic to slide with ease to his biggest blasts and put them back on the baseline. Djokovic admitted he was only trying to hang in points and make Roger hit one more shot.

[underground]

Too much match play for Fed this year. The season with the Olympics made Fed impossible to practice, the only part where he had time to do so was the 6 week gap between Miami and Madrid, but of course then it's the clay season so we didn't see much significant results. He did win Madrid though.