2018 Indian Wells F: [1] Roger Federer vs. [6] Juan Martin Del Potro

Who wins the title?


  • Total voters
    98
  • Poll closed .

Harry_Wild

G.O.A.T.
Delpo:

"I'm really enjoying playing tennis again," he said. "I'm still surprising myself, and I want to keep surprising the tennis tour."

Everyone enjoying playing tennis when you win....period. And when you continue to win.. and a big title follows, you enjoy it even more when it is a $1 million prize money!
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
Fed had this in the bag LOL. Unreal that he threw it away but del Po did well for believing aswell.
The one drop shot just screamed choke when serving for the match. Thought Fed had righted the ship with that nice last hold to make the breaker, but 2 DFs in TB.:rolleyes:
giphy.gif

Fed was playing a really smart match tearing Delpo up with the dropshots and was cruising until 5-4 in the 3rd, but then he got nervous serving for the match and just poor shot selection on one of those droppers. Fed looked like a lock until God Potro got a whiff of hope in that game. His problem solving in the last two matches really something, but then screws it up here with quite the chokefest.:D
 

Nostradamus

Bionic Poster
ATP:

Juan Martin del Potro has earned the missing prize in his trophy case.

In one of the best matches of the season, the Argentine erased three match points against five-time champion Roger Federer to win his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(2) on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The odds were against the Argentine: Del Potro had lost 18 of 24 FedEx ATP Head2Head matchups against Federer heading into Sunday's final, their first meeting in a Masters 1000 title match. Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovichad won 13 of the past 14 Indian Wells titles, dating back to 2004, and Del Potro had lost his three previous Masters 1000 finals: 2009 Montreal (l. to Murray), 2013 Indian Wells (l. to Nadal), and 2013 Shanghai (l. to Djokovic).

But the Argentine had come through more often than not against Federer in tour-level title matches (now 4-2), and he never went away against Federer on a court where the Swiss has enjoyed so much success.

“It's so big,” Del Potro said of winning his first Masters 1000 title. “I cannot believe I won this tournament, beating Roger in a great final and level of tennis. We played great tennis today.

“I'm No. 6 in the world, I think? Which is so good to me. And I'm excited to keep working... I just want to keep winning titles like this if I can.”

Federer, the No. 1 player in the ATP Rankings, has won five Indian Wells titles and was trying to break away from Djokovic and stand alone with his sixth title in the Coachella Valley. Federer was also looking to close the Masters 1000 title gap between himself (27) and Djokovic and Nadal (30).

Instead, Del Potro hoisted his first Masters 1000 title and his 22nd tour-level crown, and he won it with force and finesse. Federer targeted Del Potro's backhand in the opener, but the Argentine replied every time, and often with power, passing Federer on one surprise trip to the net.

“It's day-by-day work. I'm confident with my two-handed backhand but not confident enough to play what I like to play,” Del Potro said. “But the most important improvement to what I'm doing is in my returns. I always return with my two-handed backhand. After that, I can take the control of the point. And that is a big change to me because I'm not running too much. That's the big difference between my game at this moment to a few years ago.”

Del Potro had Federer on the run, pounding his forehand and stringing Federer from side to side as the Swiss struggled to find his own forehand. Federer finished the opener with 11 winners but also 11 unforced errors, including eight from his forehand wing.

But in the first game of the second set, the 27-time Masters 1000 champion pumped himself up and saved two break points. Federer tried to drag Del Potro away from his comfort zone and closer to the net, but the 6'6” right-hander looked as comfortable there as he did behind the baseline.

The Argentine earned match point on Federer's racquet in the second-set tie-break, at 7/8, but he netted a forehand. And after Federer evened the match, Del Potro was visibly frustrated.

“It was horrible moment for me. I was still thinking about my forehand miss and my forehand error, mistake in the match point. And, I mean, it's my shot, you know, my forehand from that side of the court. I never miss that forehand,” Del Potro said, smiling.

Yet he didn't let it show on the scoreboard as he held serve and stayed even with the five-time champion. At 4-4, however, Federer broke for a chance to serve for the match, and it looked as if his comeback would be complete in minutes.

But this time it was Del Potro's turn to save match points. He erased three during Federer's 5-4 service game, including two consecutively from 15/40 down. He and Federer then both held, and they headed to a tie-break, where Federer lost his way. The Swiss hit two double faults, and Del Potro sprinted to the title, lifting his arms when Federer struck another forehand long.

“I lost my serve a little bit, and then he was clean and I wasn't. And then it goes very quickly in the breaker,” Federer said. “As close as it can be sometimes when you're not feeling it or momentum has shifted, it's just crazy how it can go the other way. But I had already missed my opportunities then, but I still, standing at the trophy ceremony, I think I would like to play that tie-break again, because I don't know what the hell happened. But it's OK. It happens sometimes.”

Federer's unbeaten streak to start 2018 is over, but the Swiss, at 36, still accomplished his longest win streak to start a season (17). His previous best had been 16 wins in 2006, when he was 24 years old. Federer will also stay No. 1 in the ATP Rankings through the Miami Open presented by Itau, which starts Thursday. For finishing runner-up, he will receive 600 ATP Rankings points and $654,380 in prize money.

Del Potro, meanwhile, pushes his own winning streak to 11 matches, dating back to his Abierto Mexican Telcel presentado por HSBC title in Acapulco earlier this month. Del Potro, No. 6 in the ATP Rankings, will receive 1,000 ATP Rankings points and $1,340,860 in prize money.

“It was an unbelievable match in all the ways. I mean, we played a great level of tennis. The people were excited on every single point,” Del Potro said. “Roger and me were nervous during the whole match, and we felt that on court... Unfortunately I couldn't stay calm in the tie-break of the second set, but then the calms come again in the end of the match and I played good in the tie-break.”

DID YOU KNOW?
Del Potro is the first Argentine to win the BNP Paribas Open in tournament history (since 1976). He's also the first South American titlist in Indian Wells since Chile's Marcelo Rios in 1998.
highly disturbing........ Roger didnt' know what the hell happened in that 3rd set tiebreaker. was it choke or was it old age ? that is the question roger is asking himself
 

Meles

Bionic Poster
not really,, it kind of predictable sucky. he can only hit it cross court.
0.0 errors and hard for opponent to gain the upper hand off of the shot. Didn't notice Fed win a lot of the crosscourt backhand exchanges which was predictably sucky.:rolleyes: Del Potro's backhand gag still taking in a few suckers even now.
 

gn

G.O.A.T.
The one drop shot just screamed choke when serving for the match. Thought Fed had righted the ship with that nice last hold to make the breaker, but 2 DFs in TB.:rolleyes:
giphy.gif

Fed was playing a really smart match tearing Delpo up with the dropshots and was cruising until 5-4 in the 3rd, but then he got nervous serving for the match and just poor shot selection on one of those droppers. Fed looked like a lock until God Potro got a whiff of hope in that game. His problem solving in the last two matches really something, but then screws it up here with quite the chokefest.:D

You can accept the 1st dropshot. But he had options with the 2nd one, still decided to repeat the same. The good thing is that this may fire him up for Miami. :D
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Still, this has more of a 2014/15 feel to it.

I wouldn't worry too much about that. Federer would have won Wimbledon both of those yrs if not for a godlike Djokovic. Nobody really on tour can do that to Federer on grass. Not at his top form at least, unless Djokovic returns to Peakovic. And maybe Cilic maybbbbbbbbbe playing out of his skull good (but not top form Fed)
 
Last edited:

Mainad

Bionic Poster
highly disturbing........ Roger didnt' know what the hell happened in that 3rd set tiebreaker. was it choke or was it old age ? that is the question roger is asking himself

Choked largely because of the pressure he was under from his opponent.
 

BVSlam

Professional
He has been seeing a sport psychologist since splitting with his gf and his dog of almost 10 years died last month. (I remember he was very emotional around this time last year as well because of his grandfather's dead.)

I think it's really helping. He has the heart and mentality of a champion already. And now it seems he's more peaceful in his mind and has a wider perspective, which can only help. Fed was also talking about perspective a lot during his ~7 months off and that was one of the reasons I really thought he would make a great come back, as long as his body allowed him to.

Del Potro:

"They know how much effort I did to survive on this sport to make surgeries, for never give up. And I think it's a good story for the kids to learn about the effort of the life, you know. Everybody has to do efforts to get what you want, and I wanted to keep playing tennis. I paid very high price to do it, but I did it and I'm so happy to solve the problem.

I'm staying here with this level. I think all my injuries are in the past, completely in the past, and I am not thinking anymore about my old problems. That's the way what I take the life. And now I'm here just thinking in my present, looking forward for the future, and hopefully stay healthy to play the whole year, all tournaments what I like to play.

I'm not thinking anymore about bad moments to my tennis life. It was enough with all my wrist problem, and I'm so happy just to be here."

Okay, my excuse to poast a photo of his adorable dog (another case of pet - owner lookalikes :D):
28152196_431394260626362_8913368590283964416_n.jpg


He was also signing "Cesar" onto the camera lense today, which actually made me swelled up a bit...
DYnKkPvXkAEhDLE


"I will miss you a lot, faithful mate. You were next to me for almost ten years, you waited for me with happiness after every trip, you made an entire family happy and today you go resting in peace leaving your mark in my heart. Goodbye, Cesar."

So yes, such a great tribute for Cesar with his 1st Masters win against the goaterer no less.
Okay, I was already happy for Delpo even though Fed had matchpoints. This loss didn't really hurt, because Delpo deserved a M1000.

But now also to find out he had a Newfoundland Dog that passed away...those are the best dogs of all, my father has a 7-year old one now and we used to have another one years ago with the family. Whenever I visit my dad, our dog is so sweet and enthusiastic, as if a part of his home finally returns. So that news about Delpo's Newf tugs at my heart, and now I'm even happier for Delpo that he won.

Stupid onions!
 

cc0509

Talk Tennis Guru
You like choking?:confused::D

Federer did choke but Del Potro was the smarter/better player throughout most of this match and I had a feeling Del Potro would win in three as soon as I knew it was a Del Potro-Federer final.

It's all good. It could have gone either way in the end. You can't win them all and this ain't a slam. IMO, Federer should sit it out until grass season.
 

Poisoned Slice

Bionic Poster
The one drop shot just screamed choke when serving for the match. Thought Fed had righted the ship with that nice last hold to make the breaker, but 2 DFs in TB.:rolleyes:
giphy.gif

Fed was playing a really smart match tearing Delpo up with the dropshots and was cruising until 5-4 in the 3rd, but then he got nervous serving for the match and just poor shot selection on one of those droppers. Fed looked like a lock until God Potro got a whiff of hope in that game. His problem solving in the last two matches really something, but then screws it up here with quite the chokefest.:D

lol
 

junior74

Bionic Poster
Choked largely because of the pressure he was under from his opponent.

He was under no pressure from his opponent when he was serving for the match. He took himself out, quite efficiently.

Fed's big mistake was to be careless in the first game of the third. He should have broken Delpo there, he was not in balance at all and Federer got sloppy when he should have been sharp. He let Delpo back in.

A wizard should know better!
 

Charleneriva

Hall of Fame
Okay, I was already happy for Delpo even though Fed had matchpoints. This loss didn't really hurt, because Delpo deserved a M1000.

But now also to find out he had a Newfoundland Dog that passed away...those are the best dogs of all, my father has a 7-year old one now and we used to have another one years ago with the family. Whenever I visit my dad, our dog is so sweet and enthusiastic, as if a part of his home finally returns. So that news about Delpo's Newf tugs at my heart, and now I'm even happier for Delpo that he won.

Stupid onions!

That's touching I indeed. Thanks for the comment. Onions are amazing and yes I can see your lovely dog in your avatar. :)

My dogs weren't just family members but also my teachers growing up. I'm forever grateful. Such fascinating and loving creatures we don't always deserve.
 
D

Deleted member 77403

Guest
for me, I can't be unhappy about this loss, or at the very least it would be crazy for me to dwell too much given all that fed has accomplished and the kind of year fed has been having especially to follow up after 2017. I am kind of bummed that fed was not able to defend IW because I think Miami is even tougher and of course for him to lose after 3 championship points is not fun. I think for me, its one of those things where each loss you wonder...how close is he to the end and also when will the aura completely disappear? It's obvious the last 6 months or maybe more, fed regained a bit of that aura he had back in 2004-2007 that allowed him to maybe capitalize on a few matches even when he was not at his best. today was kind of frustrating to watch because while he had some decent tennis in him, he also played subpar (in part of course to del potro) and it took me back to the days where it was always oh so close but no cigar.

Federer even during the height of his powers was losing tight matches he could have won.

AO 05 semi had MP
MC 05 quarters had MP
TMC 05 served for the title
Rome 06 had MP

It show that it is taking an exceptional performance to stop, even now.
 
D

Deleted member 756486

Guest
Congrats to Delpo but if Fed wasn’t so braindead during this match then the result probably would’ve been different.
 
Federer even during the height of his powers was losing tight matches he could have won.

AO 05 semi had MP
MC 05 quarters had MP
TMC 05 served for the title
Rome 06 had MP

It show that it is taking an exceptional performance to stop, even now.
TMC loss wasn't so bad in terms of context knowing that Fed just had an injury and was sporting an ankle brace.
 

Badabing888

Hall of Fame
Frustrating loss mainly because he had 3 match points and Championship points, but on reflecting on the match Fed didn’t play that well and he was getting frustrated with himself. Anyway, full credit to JMDP he was the better player overall and deserved his win. Us Fed fans need to recognise that Tennis is not all about Federer and good to see JMDP win after all the surgeries he’s had. He is also too good a player to finish his career without a masters 1000 title.

A silver lining is that Fed has more points at this stage in the rankings compared to this time last year and will be number 1 for another 2 weeks at least. If he gets to at least QFs of Miami then I see him being no.1 until Wimbledon, assuming Rafa doesn’t completely sweep the Clay season.
 
Last edited:

eliars

Hall of Fame
Nah. My guy is out there fighting for titles while the others have ruined their bodies and minds trying to win half as much and are now nowhere to be found. ;)

I'm quite happy for Delpo. And the thing with Fed is he can lose finals like this (and he has done it plenty in the past) and you know that next year he'll be right back in the final again. He's not Nadal. He doesn't rely on every opportunity he gets because next time he'll probably be AWOL or "injured" (except on clay, never injured there) or randomly lose.

Fed can afford to lose big matches. He's lost plenty of them and has still far and away been the best player of the Open Era.

So the jabs at Federer from salty fans of his rivals who are happy he lost a match ring very hollow.
Watch as he keeps spamming finals while his haters' favourites keep falling apart at the seams playing catch-up. :)

Ihavetodefendeverythinginclayseasonjusttonotfallbehind, no?

If you're not mad then why do you feel the need to retort the way you are doing? Puffing your chest with Federer's accolades and feeling the need to point out what Nadal is/isn't achieving these days.

You're being so sensitive that you don't see my intentions. I like Fed. I just don't like to see him unchallenged. I like Del Po, I've often cheered for him and I'm really glad he beat Federer to win his first M1000, which was long overdue. I didn't care for Fed's behaviour last night, which was really childish and petulant, but that is hardly taking 'jabs' at him, it's just stating the obvious.

So take a chill pill mate and get ready for the clay season. I hope to see Federer play it this year to add to the competition.
 

reaper

Legend
If you're not mad then why do you feel the need to retort the way you are doing? Puffing your chest with Federer's accolades and feeling the need to point out what Nadal is/isn't achieving these days.

You're being so sensitive that you don't see my intentions. I like Fed. I just don't like to see him unchallenged. I like Del Po, I've often cheered for him and I'm really glad he beat Federer to win his first M1000, which was long overdue. I didn't care for Fed's behaviour last night, which was really childish and petulant, but that is hardly taking 'jabs' at him, it's just stating the obvious
So take a chill pill mate and get ready for the clay season. I hope to see Federer play it this year to add to the competition.

Federer's mood probably cost him the match. Just watched a replay and he was very impatient on big points (esp the match points, but also a couple of others) when serving at 5-4. He just wanted to finish it and didn't go to the trouble of playing what should have been the last game out in a disciplined way.
 

acintya

Legend
The only tournament that matters to Federer is Wimbledon. Anything else is just a bonus which he probably won't be losing much sleep over. He has to be happy about his overall form as he's still out there fighting against the young guys, pushing them to their very limits and competing for just about every title. He'll be looking to peak for the grass season no doubt.

that is so NOT TRUE. Federer is greedy as greedy a man can be. He wants it all. Why would he play if not to win? For money? I think he has enough bucks.
 

hoodjem

G.O.A.T.
Yes! Tennis worth watching again!

Finally, someone was able to stop the weak-era-old-grandpa juggernaut.


GO DELPO!! MAKING TENNIS INTERESTING AGAIN!
 

Badabing888

Hall of Fame
Federer's mood probably cost him the match. Just watched a replay and he was very impatient on big points (esp the match points, but also a couple of others) when serving at 5-4. He just wanted to finish it and didn't go to the trouble of playing what should have been the last game out in a disciplined way.

Yip agree haven’t seen him that grouchy in a match in a long time. It was frustration with himself and the level of how well JMDP was playing. DP really is one of only a handful of players who can really take the racquet out of RF’s hands.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
The only tournament that matters to Federer is Wimbledon. Anything else is just a bonus which he probably won't be losing much sleep over. He has to be happy about his overall form as he's still out there fighting against the young guys, pushing them to their very limits and competing for just about every title. He'll be looking to peak for the grass season no doubt.
Don't agree. Federer WANTED to win why else was he getting irate about little things, picking an argument with the umpire. Even Mirka was looking really desperate every time Fed dropped his serve. I would hate to think it's for the money; I think it's all to do with his legacy. He is lagging behind Nadal and Djokovic in M1000 titles and he must have been dreaming of winning the Sunshine Double 2 years in a row.
 

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
How things have changed. Delpo was considered to be the guardian angel of Federer's fans once because they thought he was the only one who could save Federer's legacy from Rafa. Now Delpo is halting Fed's advance whilst Rafa is recovering from injury.
 

zagor

Bionic Poster
If you're not mad then why do you feel the need to retort the way you are doing? Puffing your chest with Federer's accolades and feeling the need to point out what Nadal is/isn't achieving these days.

You're being so sensitive that you don't see my intentions. I like Fed. I just don't like to see him unchallenged. I like Del Po, I've often cheered for him and I'm really glad he beat Federer to win his first M1000, which was long overdue. I didn't care for Fed's behaviour last night, which was really childish and petulant, but that is hardly taking 'jabs' at him, it's just stating the obvious.

So take a chill pill mate and get ready for the clay season. I hope to see Federer play it this year to add to the competition.

Fed hasn't added to CC competition since 2011. I rather doubt he's gonna play it again unti his farewell tour so Nadal fans' fantasy of seeing a 36 year old Fed grind it out on clay is likely gonna remain unfulfilled.

Heck, it's quite possible Delpo's gonna skip it as well. It will be a Nadal show again with an occasional guest appereance by Thiem the tactician extraordinaire.
 
D

Deleted member 756486

Guest
How things have changed. Delpo was considered to be the guardian angel of Federer's fans once because they thought he was the only one who could save Federer's legacy from Rafa. Now Delpo is halting Fed's advance whilst Rafa is recovering from injury.
Delpo is more talented than Rafa and would probably be Fed’s greatest rival if he didn’t have those horrible wrists.
 
D

Deleted member 756486

Guest
Don't agree. Federer WANTED to win why else was he getting irate about little things, picking an argument with the umpire. Even Mirka was looking really desperate every time Fed dropped his serve. I would hate to think it's for the money; I think it's all to do with his legacy. He is lagging behind Nadal and Djokovic in M1000 titles and he must have been dreaming of winning the Sunshine Double 2 years in a row.
Lol M1000 titles mean nothing when it comes to legacy.

Only slams and weeks at no.1 matter.
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
Federer's mood probably cost him the match. Just watched a replay and he was very impatient on big points (esp the match points, but also a couple of others) when serving at 5-4. He just wanted to finish it and didn't go to the trouble of playing what should have been the last game out in a disciplined way.
I'll be the first to admit that Fed was arrogant today and not in a good way.
 

zagor

Bionic Poster
It's amazing to see how Delpo fanbase grew up in a short span of a few days.

He definitely seems to be on the rise, this is his best form in years. Would be fun to see him face off against Nadal this year to see how they match-up on HC when they're both fresh, I hope it happens.
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
That's an outrageous suggestion.

VBers are huge Delpo fans, they just happen to never post about him unless he's playing (and more importantly beating) Fedr.
I think a fair few VB are actually Latin American anyway so it wouldn't surprise me if there is some genuine overlap.
But yeah, it's so transparent much of the time.
 
D

Deleted member 688153

Guest
You forget that Rafa actually bageled Delpo in the USO 2017 SF after Delpo had beaten Fed in the QF.
Potro was totally gassed in that match.

Also Nadal doesn't mug it up mentally against Delpo like Fed does. Fed's matches against Juan are unnecessarily difficult much of the time. :mad:
 
Top