What's changed with Federer?

[SQA333]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

Maybe Federer is thinking about retirement.

I think that you should retire.

[Jackuar]

Originally Posted by SLD76

i think the whole reason he played shanghai was so he could skip paris and try and retain WTF.

Agree there. Would have been too good if only he had won it and compensated for Paris let-go.

[The Bawss]

Originally Posted by Jackuar

Agree there. Would have been too good if only he had won it and compensated for Paris let-go.

I think had he won in Shanghai he would have played Paris but tanked in the QF to someone like Benneteau or Simon to give himself some rest for the WTF.

[Jackuar]

Originally Posted by The Bawss

I think had he won in Shanghai he would have played Paris but tanked in the QF to someone like Benneteau or Simon to give himself some rest for the WTF.

I think the other way; had he won Shanghai, he would have participated in Basel and skipped Paris altogether.
Last year he won Paris and skipped Shanghai. He chose Shanghai this year with the calculation that if he wins it, he gets the same 1000 points. That makes it like defending his points and also getting a much needed break before YEC. If he had won Shanghai, that plan would have been a great move. Unfortunately he lost in SF, which removed his liberty to take it easy in Basel.

Just my thoughts. You could be right again; we're not sure what Fed is planning. But I still think he should skip Paris now, nevermind the huge 1000 points there and go for the YEC.

[coloskier]

Originally Posted by 6-1 6-3 6-0

Maybe Federer is thinking about retirement.

Are you saying he wants to join Nadal in retirement?

[Def]

Originally Posted by SQA333

I think that you should retire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDFW-unhTVg

[TonyB]

If I were Fed, I wouldn't worry about year-end #1.... I'd personally try to take it easy after Basel and focus on AO 2013. If he could pick up another major quickly (time is running out), it would be worth losing the #1 ranking at the end of 2012.

If he doesn't win the AO next year, he very likely will not win the FO, either, so by the time Wimbledon/US Open rolls around, we're talking about a 32-year old Federer trying to win a major against a peaking Murray and a very strong Djokovic, if not Nadal in comeback-mode.

Like I said, I'd lay off the rest of 2012 and focus on AO 2013. That would be his best chance of ever winning another major.

[joeri888]

Originally Posted by TonyB

If I were Fed, I wouldn't worry about year-end #1.... I'd personally try to take it easy after Basel and focus on AO 2013. If he could pick up another major quickly (time is running out), it would be worth losing the #1 ranking at the end of 2012.

If he doesn't win the AO next year, he very likely will not win the FO, either, so by the time Wimbledon/US Open rolls around, we're talking about a 32-year old Federer trying to win a major against a peaking Murray and a very strong Djokovic, if not Nadal in comeback-mode.

Like I said, I'd lay off the rest of 2012 and focus on AO 2013. That would be his best chance of ever winning another major.

I see your point, but historically, YEC is almost as big as AO. Fed has a better chance at winning because of more suitable conditions, and it's 'only' 5 BO3 matches. Now I believe he can beat anyone at AO, but is the 'extra rest' that gives him not playing the WTF really worth it. I dont think it'll increase his chances for AO, in which - for me - he's only the joint third favourite with Nadal, behind Djokovic and Murray. Last year, conditions were chewing gum-like.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by joeri888

I see your point, but historically, YEC is almost as big as AO. Fed has a better chance at winning because of more suitable conditions, and it's 'only' 5 BO3 matches. Now I believe he can beat anyone at AO, but is the 'extra rest' that gives him not playing the WTF really worth it. I dont think it'll increase his chances for AO, in which - for me - he's only the joint third favourite with Nadal, behind Djokovic and Murray. Last year, conditions were chewing gum-like.

It's not the extra rest, it's the mental toll. Federer needs to clear his mind so he can focus on the majors. Nobody will remember that he won another YEC, but they most certainly will remember 18 majors vs. 17.

Granted, the conditions at the AO aren't the best, but it's still a better chance for him than FO or Wimbledon/US Open that are so much later in the year.

Time is running out. No doubt about it. He has to strike while the iron's hot. Even if it's not really all that hot right now. But he has to increase his odds one way or the other. And right now, that means laying off the Masters so he can rest his mind for the next upcoming major.

[ST_spitzertelescope]

Originally Posted by TonyB

It's not the extra rest, it's the mental toll. Federer needs to clear his mind so he can focus on the majors. Nobody will remember that he won another YEC, but they most certainly will remember 18 majors vs. 17.

Granted, the conditions at the AO aren't the best, but it's still a better chance for him than FO or Wimbledon/US Open that are so much later in the year.

Time is running out. No doubt about it. He has to strike while the iron's hot. Even if it's not really all that hot right now. But he has to increase his odds one way or the other. And right now, that means laying off the Masters so he can rest his mind for the next upcoming major.

It's not just about breaking records with majors. Fed himself said he wanted to be No. 1, and he would be remembered for being No. 1 for a record breaking number of weeks along side hominy grand slams he's won.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by ST_spitzertelescope

It's not just about breaking records with majors. Fed himself said he wanted to be No. 1, and he would be remembered for being No. 1 for a record breaking number of weeks along side hominy grand slams he's won.

And he's already done the #1 thing. He's got the record, he doesn't need to continue breaking his back trying to keep it. He beat Sampras, he's reached the 300 week level, that's enough.

He needs to focus on the majors, which is going to be the main feature of his legacy. Only die-hard tennis fans will remember how many weeks he was #1, or how many Paris or YEC titles he won, but EVERYONE will remember how many majors he won.

[3fees]

The grind of the atp tour wears the players down

[underground]

Originally Posted by Def

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDFW-unhTVg

LOL that was the first thing that got to my mind as well!

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by joeri888

Hmm good point. I think he'll skip Paris. He'll realize he's not gonna end the year at no. 1, so might as wel focus on a seventh(!!!) YEC

This. Fed will beat Del Potro in the final tomorrow, then withdraw from Paris citing "fatigue". Then he'll stomp the London field again.

[smoledman]

Originally Posted by TonyB

It's not the extra rest, it's the mental toll. Federer needs to clear his mind so he can focus on the majors. Nobody will remember that he won another YEC, but they most certainly will remember 18 majors vs. 17.

Granted, the conditions at the AO aren't the best, but it's still a better chance for him than FO or Wimbledon/US Open that are so much later in the year.

Time is running out. No doubt about it. He has to strike while the iron's hot. Even if it's not really all that hot right now. But he has to increase his odds one way or the other. And right now, that means laying off the Masters so he can rest his mind for the next upcoming major.

Imagine if Fed could win 10 YEC, people will remember that for sure. He certainly could win 4 more.

[Nathaniel_Near]

Good trolls never die.

[TheF1Bob]

He's old and wrinkly.

It's expected.

[Polvorin]

He's looked like he hasn't been training much since the US Open. Probably resting after a long season.

[CDNguy87]

Originally Posted by TonyB

It's not the extra rest, it's the mental toll. Federer needs to clear his mind so he can focus on the majors. Nobody will remember that he won another YEC, but they most certainly will remember 18 majors vs. 17.

Granted, the conditions at the AO aren't the best, but it's still a better chance for him than FO or Wimbledon/US Open that are so much later in the year.

Time is running out. No doubt about it. He has to strike while the iron's hot. Even if it's not really all that hot right now. But he has to increase his odds one way or the other. And right now, that means laying off the Masters so he can rest his mind for the next upcoming major.

I don't really agree that going for the WTF hinders his chances at the AO. He'll have roughly 2 months to rest and "clear his mind" before the AO regardless of what happens at the WTF...that should be enough. Realistically, I don't think he has a chance of winning the AO anyway as long as Djoker and Murray are healthy. They're clearly the 2 best hard-court players at the moment and given how slow the AO plays, Fed would have little chance of beating even one (let alone both) there if they're anywhere near their current forms.

The only Slams Fed realistically has a chance in are Wimbledon and, if it's playing relatively fast and he gets a favourable draw, the USO. But there are so many guys (at least half a dozen) who can seriously threaten him on HC now that he really does need a lot of things to go right at the USO and the window is closing rapidly. Wimbledon is much more likely for him just based on how few truly consistent grass-court players there are in the Top 10-20.

[3fees]

Originally Posted by joeri888

To me, since Basel last year, up until Cincy this year. Fed barely put a foot wrong. Rome, RG, Halle stretch was somewhat unimpressive, and the OG final rough, but he just won so many of the tournaments he played. Since then, Federer just seems 2 levels below that level again. His whole US OPen didn't impress me a whole lot, and he lost before the semis for the first time since 2003. Shanghai was a poor showing too. Not just the match against Murray, but also Cilic (who played poor himself) and Wawrinka (who shouldve won). Now we are two matches in in Basel, and it's again so-so.

Do you guys have a clue what the difference in his game is? Just overall execution or a particular aspect?

Federer is not his usual cool self,,in more and more tournaments he's getting upset with fans and himself, this impacts his play. He is also changing physcially,since he is getting older he's not as quick in his steps as in his earlier years,,he needs to play smarter not to just slug it out with younger players,,he needs to construct points by wit rather than just slug it out,,Sir Rodney Laver-the sheep shearer and Ken Rosewall was a master of this in there later years,so was Sampras-much better all around game with less run around, in other words get control of the rally earlier and put the ball away as soon as possible by what your opponent has given you little to nothing.