2018 Rotterdam - ATP 500; Federer's quest for #1

[The Green Mile]

Is his 2nd serve usually like this? Looks to be a quality delivery and is quite willing to go for the big one. Shank forehand wide though, 2 BPs for Filip.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Shocking. That is reserved mainly for geriatric pigeons!

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Shocking. That is reserved mainly for geriatric pigeons!

Sadly Wawrinka may become one

 

[Red Rick]

Just saw 209 miss so probably yes. Call me crazy, but I don't see why @metsman is gaga over FAA's forehand.

Me neither.

Swing is pretty stiff and accelation starts low, it's swing is really from under the ball over the ball rather than through.

I think Shapovalov has better technique

 

[zagor]

Quite a few FH errors from FAA already. Krajinovic being very solid.

 

[The Green Mile]

Forehand spraying them forehand errors long, comfortable hold for 3-1.

 

[zagor]

Love Filip's BH, so compact.

 

[The Green Mile]

Filip backhand delight, gets the double break with the 2nd serve return winner. FAA's head must be racing right now.

 

[Soul_Evisceration]

Don't care much about Fed in this instance, it's sad to see Stan (one of the best big match players of recent times) reduced to this state.

Oh trust me I like Stan just as much as I do and it's sad that he's losing to like Challengers/Future Players level of that specific caliber and I really hope he gets back to his very best soon.

 

[Meles]

Love Filip's BH, so compact.

Believe it or not he was cleaning up on clay court challengers before his little run at the end of last year so may be a force on clay.

 

[Red Rick]

Oh trust me I like Stan just as much as I do and it's sad that he's losing to like Challengers/Future Players level of that specific caliber and I really hope he gets back to his very best soon.

Griekspoor won like 9 matches at challenger level last year....

 

[Meles]

Some nice exchanges despite the lopsided score.

 

[Sambuccashake]

FAA sure can strike the ball but seems to lose the plot at the last shot.
Up until then he is firmly in charge of the point. Constructs well but seems to really dislike tight defense.

But with a little confidence and experience, that firepower will prove brutal.

 

[Soul_Evisceration]

Griekspoor won like 9 matches at challenger level last year....

Yeah and?

I won 9 matches at a Divisional B level but I should never beat a consistent Divisional A level and it's like a scenario of this nature would happen.

Griekspoor should not beat a GrandSlam or Top 5 ATP Level player under normal circumstances.

 

[zagor]

Yeah and?

I won 9 matches at a Divisional B level but I should never beat a consistent Divisional A level and it's like a scenario of this nature would happen.

Griekspoor should not beat a GrandSlam or Top 5 ATP Level player under normal circumstances.

Think that was his point, lol.

Stan's in terrible shape right now.

 

[Silence]

Set turnaround initiated, hype soon confirmed!

 

[Red Rick]

Yeah and?

I won 9 matches at a Divisional B level but I should never beat a consistent Divisional A level and it's like a scenario of this nature would happen.

Griekspoor should not beat a GrandSlam or Top 5 ATP Level player under normal circumstances.

Oh, I wasn't implying that it was impressive. I was implying he's a dude who's level is closer to the bottom end of challenger players rather than the top.

This is an exceptionally poor loss for Wawrinka.

 

[Meles]

FAA sure can strike the ball but seems to lose the plot at the last shot.
Up until then he is firmly in charge of the point. Constructs well but seems to really dislike tight defense.

But with a little confidence and experience, that firepower will prove brutal.

The serve speed and movement alone are most impressive.

 

[Soul_Evisceration]

Oh, I wasn't implying that it was impressive. I was implying he's a dude who's level is closer to the bottom end of challenger players rather than the top.

This is an exceptionally poor loss for Wawrinka.

Ah my bad. I misread the context of your post.

 

[Meles]

Think that was his point, lol.

Stan's in terrible shape right now.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I like Stan just as much as I do and it's sad that he's losing to like Challengers/Future Players level of that specific caliber and I really hope he gets back to his very best soon.

I think Stan is very eager to improve and get back on the tour, his remarks are really specific and positive about this. I'm just hoping he's back to 95% of his good level by clay season. Stan is fun to watch on clay with his beautiful BH. What Stanimal fans should be worried about is that his fitness has really declined. He admits it himself.

 

[Meles]

Like this female commentator, grimacing at the over-rotating of the FAA forehand; does not look good.

 

[zagor]

Don't think he's playing possum, not this time. He desperately needs matches.

 

[The Green Mile]

Like this female commentator, grimacing at the over-rotating of the FAA forehand; does not look good.

She is better than the Male commentator. What's her name?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

A certain hard serving American might just wanna have a word in there..

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

When the Pigeon gets the upperhand on his owner

 

[zagor]

Great touch from Filip.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Come on Filip

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Ugh, yet more of that ugly-ass pink and black copy-pasted bullsh!t.

 

[Silence]

I miss him! Just realized that. Are any of the current US players as fun?

 

[zagor]

When the Pigeon gets the upperhand on his owner

Would say it reminds me of Fedal in 2017 but they didn't play on grass.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Great point.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Would say it reminds me of Fedal in 2017 but they didn't play on grass.

Soderling Nadal FO 2009

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Nadal and his Spaniard pigeons:

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Ugh, yet more of that ugly-ass pink and black copy-pasted bullsh!t.

Agreed, saw enough of it in 2017 lol

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Well held Felix

 

[Meles]

Don't think he's playing possum, not this time. He desperately needs matches.

The honey badger is seemingly dead after the sting of a cobra....

This FAA Krajinovic match getting good.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

@Meles rooting on his Next Gen:

 

[zagor]

This kid has some serious firepower off both wings, I have to admit.

 

[Roddick85]

Poor loss for Wawrinka. One has to wonder where he goes from here.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Poor loss for Wawrinka. One has to wonder where he goes from here.

I honestly was half expecting him to pull out of Rotterdam but maybe he's just trying to get match play under his belt. Sofia+Rotterdam seemed like a tough b2b for him considering he just came back.

 

[Meles]

@Meles rooting on his Next Gen:

This will hurt your eyes if you keep starting at it

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

This will hurt your eyes if you keep starting at it

Live footage of Fred trying to get #1...

 

[metsman]

Man pops the first serve at 209 there. Impressive. Why does every young player's 2nd serve besides Shapo suck though?

 

[Meles]

This kid has some serious firepower off both wings, I have to admit.

And some serious moxie with all these BP saves.

 

[metsman]

Just saw 209 miss so probably yes. Call me crazy, but I don't see why @metsman is gaga over FAA's forehand.

his FH has been great in the 2nd set.

 

[zagor]

And some serious moxie with all these BP saves.

Definitely, Filip made things easier for him by dropping the ball short but yeah, nice composure from FAA.

 

[EloQuent]

Wait why are we cheering on Krajinović? It's cool when young players do well.

 

[Meles]

Man pops the first serve at 209 there. Impressive. Why does every young player's 2nd serve besides Shapo suck though?

Shaps just unbelievably talented for his age.

 

[metsman]

Shaps just unbelievably talented for his age.

Shaps is extremely talented period, but Felix has just as much potential because of that exceptionally solid ball striking and the frame. My comp is still Safin with FH/BH reversed.