So Federer had a close match with Monaco... So what?

[Ripper]

He's had millions of close matches that's he's ended up winning. Relax! He's going to be ok.

[Sup2Dresq]

Star Wars Quote:

"Stay on target.. stay on target".

Though that quote maybe not be a good one cause the guy "staying on target" gets blasted.

But you get the jist.

[fastdunn]

Fed lost some speeds on footwork and lost some zip on his serves.
In fact, these have been relative weakness of Fed along with his backhand.

Players are attacking Fed's serves and he gets broken more often.
They are stretch Federer wide to his forehand which makes him commit
lots of UE's on his forehand.

He usually went thru these at early rounds and usually finds a good form
in later rounds. It's just that he sometimes does not go thru early rounds now.

[Sup2Dresq]

I think its his defense right now. He isn't hungry to get the points back. His attitude is like he is "bored" rather than "hungry".

I think he is having a little melt down. Stress may have built up a bit. He'll get his bearings soon enough.

[@wright]

He'll be fine. No one is talking about that close match he had against Bjorn Phau in the 1st round of the Australian this year...

[RedWeb]

No he's lost something (perhaps temporarily). Its hard to be intimidating while looking down at the ground with a frown on your face and dealing with 38 UEs.

[z-money]

he may be ok. but its pretty obvious he isnt radiating the confidence he has on other surfaces. Its not a good sign for him. and it is a HUGE factor in the mind of every dirtballer, knowing that fed is human on clay. For feds sake he really needs to find a way to win easier matches, cause he cant win a title if he is going the distance every time.
Maybe superman has a weakness in the clay!

[armand]

Federer had 5 aces in the match. And 3 of those aces were in the very first game of the match!! WTF??

I thought it was a sign of going towards a different style with the departure of Roche...maybe it will just take some time for Roger to break old habits.

Anyhow, the match was not bad. The main thing is that Juan Monte Carlo played without fear. I think the tour smells blood behind Roger. It's kinda like when during WWII, it seemed as though the German Army was invincible until they lost a crucial battle to the Soviets at Stalingrad. After that, the Germans stopped advancing not only there, but everywhere else too. The aire of invincibility was broken.

[tylerchadwick]

USE THE SLICE and do anything to get that first serve in. I totally disagree who said his footspeed and serve were weaknesses. Total bull. He's needs to stop thumping that backhand on everyshot, because he can't hit through people with it. He's not setting his strengths up. If he would keep using that slice along to the topspin backhand, he'd be doing better. All he does is run from corner to corner in barely enough time to have to run back to the other corner. That deep slice give him time to take back control of the center of the court. He just doesn't use it enough on clay. Albeit, the backhand is good. His defensive slice has been nowhere to be found. He gets stretched wide on the backhand side thumps that backhand, but it doens't have enough on most of the time to do any damage. The only time he used the slice was for lobs today. poor tactic. He's so stubborn.

Tell me this. When Fed broke in the ninth game, what shot did he use? That's right, the slice backhand.

[fastdunn]

Originally Posted by armand

I think the tour smells blood behind Roger. It's kinda like when during WWII, it seemed as though the German Army was invincible until they lost a crucial battle to the Soviets at Stalingrad. After that, the Germans stopped advancing not only there, but everywhere else too. The aire of invincibility was broken.

I think there was some blood spilled. Canas made a few first bites.

That blood might revive guys like Hewitt or Safin who are in sleeping mode like
vampires in graves.

Then again Roger hasn't exactly lost a key battle yet (Wimbledon or US Open).

[OrangeOne]

Originally Posted by tylerchadwick

USE THE SLICE and do anything to get that first serve in. I totally disagree who said his footspeed and serve were weaknesses. Total bull. He's needs to stop thumping that backhand on everyshot, because he can't hit through people with it. He's not setting his strengths up. If he would keep using that slice along to the topspin backhand, he'd be doing better. All he does is run from corner to corner in barely enough time to have to run back to the other corner. That deep slice give him time to take back control of the center of the court. He just doesn't use it enough on clay. Albeit, the backhand is good. His defensive slice has been nowhere to be found. He gets stretched wide on the backhand side thumps that backhand, but it doens't have enough on most of the time to do any damage. The only time he used the slice was for lobs today. poor tactic. He's so stubborn.

Tell me this. When Fed broke in the ninth game, what shot did he use? That's right, the slice backhand.

I didn't see the match. But all of the above, to me, rings of a player working on their game! Hitting a million drive-BHs when it's not the most appropriate shot? Changing to a winning strategy to get the job done... sounds exactly like a player working on their game...

Maybe he doesn't care if he wins or loses this tourney, but he just wants the practice? Who knows....

[tylerchadwick]

Ok so he's the second best player on clay for the past 2-3 years. And barely at that. A great match and he would be Nadal. BUT.........he's changing, and barely beating the other millions of players too. I know it's now that black and white, but kind of. I'm one of the biggest Fed fans too, so don't take me wrong. That slice gives him time to take back the center of the court, instead of getting the ball back to his opponent so quickly.....and then having to run for another ball.

[Ripper]

I don't believe Federer has lost anything. I do believe, though, that the other players are figuring him out and losing the fear. It had to happen. Still, he's going to break that GS record and many others, too. I, still, think he can win RG this year.

[zpeed7]

Originally Posted by armand

The main thing is that Juan Monte Carlo played without fear. I think the tour smells blood behind Roger. The aire of invincibility was broken.

I agree, you can see it in his opponents. Fed had been so dominant for so long that players pretty much gave up before coming out to play. Even Sampras at his best, when he stepped into a court Vs Agassi, or Courier, we knew, and they knew, that they had a chance against Sampras, which made for some great matches. Fed was different, almost total domination. I think that's whats made Nadal so successful against Fed, he always believes he can win, even if he's not the most complete of players. Now everyone believes they've got a shot. Plus, I think Fed is putting more pressure on himself to win RG this year. He knows Nadal is only 20, and he is improving, fast, look at all the doubles he's playing. Ditto, for the Joker. There's a whole crop of new fearless youngster out there chopping at his heels ready to make his life a lot harder in the near future.

[LeftyServe]

Originally Posted by armand

Federer had 5 aces in the match. And 3 of those aces were in the very first game of the match!! WTF??

I thought it was a sign of going towards a different style with the departure of Roche...maybe it will just take some time for Roger to break old habits.

Anyhow, the match was not bad. The main thing is that Juan Monte Carlo played without fear. I think the tour smells blood behind Roger. It's kinda like when during WWII, it seemed as though the German Army was invincible until they lost a crucial battle to the Soviets at Stalingrad. After that, the Germans stopped advancing not only there, but everywhere else too. The aire of invincibility was broken.

Spot on, but the pursuit needs to be relentless. The Volandri win made it clear he is not invincible, but there needs to be a second loss to confirm whether this is just a fluke or a real falling off.

[tennis_hand]

close matches make him tougher and sharper. Easy matches tend to be signs for the next defeat.

[Sup2Dresq]

Prediction. If Fed turns it around and wins Hamburg (a what if), the gates will really be open for the French Open. I hope that happens.

[jmverdugo]

Originally Posted by z-money

he may be ok. but its pretty obvious he isnt radiating the confidence he has on other surfaces. Its not a good sign for him. and it is a HUGE factor in the mind of every dirtballer, knowing that fed is human on clay. For feds sake he really needs to find a way to win easier matches, cause he cant win a title if he is going the distance every time.
Maybe superman has a weakness in the clay!

Yes he is not radiating confidence, but I actually think that it has nothing to do with the surface, remember that it all start in the PLO hard courts. He have won a lot of clay tournaments in the past and got to the finals of many others, and you can see he is confident sliding and everything. If he is in his normal state of mind the only player against he would have problems on clay would be, yes, Nadal ... but it is because of Nadal´s game not his. He is loosing because he is in a low moment, but that is, IMO it has nothing to do with the surface.

[rafan]

I'm not a Fed fan but even I can see the poor guy needs a break - if he does miss a few finals on the way - does in really matter? He is a human after all and not a machine. Feds few blips in the last few weeks has taught me not to expect all great wins from Nadal when he plays on hard courts. A performance which was not really that great - but boy look at him now!