2019 Halle open R32 :- R. Federer [1] v/s J. Milman

[Federer and Del Potro]

It would make or break him winning Wimbledon if he has to play Nadal and Djokovic back to back. He can win it if he only has to play one of them, IMO. Sorry for not being more optimistic, but he's 38.

If Fed can’t beat RAFA on grass he’s just done. Any other surface that’s a more valid concern but he should be able to beat RAFA at his pet slam. I’m not convinced he can beat Djokovic even on optimal rest making the 2 seed frivolous.

Fed hasn’t really played well enough this year to be befitting of a 2 seed anyways. He’d be beyond fortunate to nab it. Australian Open was a big disappointment and Fo semi was nice but he only really beat one player with a pulse.

Feds Wimbledon is gonna be more hoping someone takes out Djokovic for him more than the 2 or 3 seed

 

[Otacon]

is targeting Fed's forehand corner becoming a more widespread tactic on tour?

Safin used it back in AO'05

 

[BeatlesFan]

Fed blows a BP, what else is new?

 

[Red Rick]

Fed looks like murdering kittens after that dropshot fail

 

[Red Rick]

Fed looks like murdering kittens after that dropshot fail

DF now, puppies are next

 

[AndyM]

Grass Court tennis is so boring once you get a break a serve the set is over

 

[Nadal_Django]

Lol, Fedr slicing everything, where in hell is the Neo-Backhand!?

 

[Sysyphus]

Safin used it back in AO'05

Djokovic has arguably used it to his advantage for some time as well.

It's not that it's new, but it's arguably an increasing weakness (moving to his right), and it seems perhaps more players are trying to target it.

 

[Red Rick]

Millman has some really positive body language, always pumping himself up and engaged. Zverev and Coric could learn from this.

Would prefer if they didn't

 

[True Fanerer]

Lol, Fedr slicing everything, where in hell is the Neo-Backhand!?

It worked. This is grass.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Djokovic has arguably used it to his advantage for some time as well.

It's not that it's new, but it's arguably an increasing weakness (moving to his right), and it seems perhaps more players are trying to target it.

Murray wisely targeted Fed's FH corner in the 2012 Wimbledon corner, but went away from that strategy in the next 3 sets and Roger adjusted. But he was only 31 then.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Fed 14/16 at net today.

 

[Red Rick]

I love how when Millman misses a shot his grandma would miss it's still due to the genius of Fed

 

[True Fanerer]

If Fed can’t beat RAFA on grass he’s just done. Any other surface that’s a more valid concern but he should be able to beat RAFA at his pet slam. I’m not convinced he can beat Djokovic even on optimal rest making the 2 seed frivolous.

Fed hasn’t really played well enough this year to be befitting of a 2 seed anyways. He’d be beyond fortunate to nab it. Australian Open was a big disappointment and Fo semi was nice but he only really beat one player with a pulse.

Feds Wimbledon is gonna be more hoping someone takes out Djokovic for him more than the 2 or 3 seed

Raf has better chances on grass against Fed imo than HC. I say that because if he is still in the tournament by that time, it means he's playing well and the surface has been beaten down into dirt in his favor

 

[The Green Mile]

I wonder when was the last time Fed did not have his own match thread? Seems almost obligatory these days.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

But yes I see what you’re saying @BeatlesFan. The optimal scenario would be Nadal and Djokovic having to play each other and I don’t know about other Fed fans but I’d rather it be those 2 (fed and rafa) in the final with all the slam race stakes on the line again. After 2014 and 2015 finals I don’t trust Federer with Djokovic anymore. That was the one mental block left unexorcized in the 2017 renaissance.

 

[Red Rick]

Djokovic has arguably used it to his advantage for some time as well.

It's not that it's new, but it's arguably an increasing weakness (moving to his right), and it seems perhaps more players are trying to target it.

It's probably just that he naturally leans to his backhand. Big problem with targeting the forehand is it requires a really good backhand down the linee

 

[heninfan99]

For a top pro you train with a journeyman. Journeyman gets a feel for top pro's game. Journeyman is then a major threat to you.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Raf has better chances on grass against Fed imo than HC. I say that because if he is still in the tournament by that time, it means he's playing well and the surface has been beaten down into dirt in his favor

Yeah my analysis factored in the chances of Nadal losing before those matchups making the seeding not matter

 

[Otacon]

Djokovic has arguably used it to his advantage for some time as well.

It's not that it's new, but it's arguably an increasing weakness (moving to his right), and it seems perhaps more players are trying to target it.

Federer never had a great running FH except in 2017.

 

[romeo8880]

Roger

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

Fraud leads the h2h again

 

[Breakpointerer]

Federer wins 7-6,6-3
Revenge has been served
On to the next one

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Good start to the tournament somewhat avenging an abhorrent slam loss.

The Halle field is pretty good so Roger should get plenty of good prep in.

 

[Sysyphus]

It's probably just that he naturally leans to his backhand. Big problem with targeting the forehand is it requires a really good backhand down the linee

Yes, this is obviously a part of what makes the "problem" possible. However, as he has aged, his ability to defend that corner has diminished, and he errs more when forced to hit on the run.

Millman in this match has gone into that corner a fair bit with his forehand, drawing some errors through it.

Ruud's video analyst also revealed before the RG match that it's a potential weakness that they focused on.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Fed on court, still wearing the dismal brown FO kit.

On the other note,
Match was tight, unexpectedly..
The positives for fed were ballstriking quality & movement (both considerably better than 2018) & net play..
Surface transition played its part I guess

 

[Keystoner]

After 8/8/19, do we start saying Fed is 39 around here?

 

[Breakpointerer]

Tsonga next if I'm not mistaken

 

[3fees]

Congrats to Frederer blnt Milkman, Federer pressured Milkman into a loss

Cheers
3Fees

 

[abmk]

Well you should be , I am streaming from it.
Let me send you the link
Link

Find Federer vs Millman around 16:30 time. One of the 6 streams definitely work.

gave some error msg related to javascript.
Anyways, I finally got an unblocked stream and was able to watch last few mins of the match.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Tsonga next if I'm not mistaken

Yep. I wasn’t sure we’d ever get Fed Tsonga again. Glad we are

 

[3fees]

Tsonga next if I'm not mistaken

Your not.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[Sysyphus]

Federer never had a great running FH.

Certainly used to be better than now.

The most visible 'decline' sign for me.

 

[Edhead-Fedhead]

Whew!!! Rusty start, but another round should help!

 

[BeatlesFan]

But yes I see what you’re saying @BeatlesFan. The optimal scenario would be Nadal and Djokovic having to play each other and I don’t know about other Fed fans but I’d rather it be those 2 (fed and rafa) in the final with all the slam race stakes on the line again. After 2014 and 2015 finals I don’t trust Federer with Djokovic anymore. That was the one mental block left unexorcized in the 2017 renaissance.

I believe Fed can beat Nadal on grass, I have no such expectation if he faces Djokovic. A second seed at Wimbledon (as you know) guarantees Fed would not face Novak till the final and a big server might take Djokovic out in a presumed semi. That's why I say Halle this year is big.

 

[mike danny]

Yep. I wasn’t sure we’d ever get Fed Tsonga again. Glad we are

Fed has yet to beat Tsonga on grass. And he better find a way since he has lost his last 2 matches, one on HC and on clay. Losing on grass as well won't look good.

 

[Red Rick]

Yes, this is obviously a part of what makes the "problem" possible. However, as he has aged, his ability to defend that corner has diminished, and he errs more when forced to hit on the run.

Millman in this match has gone into that corner a fair bit with his forehand, drawing some errors through it.

Ruud's video analyst also revealed before the RG match that it's a potential weakness that they focused on.

I'm usually kinda surprised how the slow the Tour is with catching on to weaknesses of players. Pretty sure we've been talking about Fed's movement to his forehand for quite a while now. Some other examples of that too. Usually it's players with better backhands than forehands.

 

[Otacon]

Certainly used to be better than now.

The most visible 'decline' sign for me.

In 2017, he was defending exceptionally well from this wing in particular. IDK why.

 

[True Fanerer]

Look for Fed to come out a little better in his next match. First set was rust. He managed to win the tiebreak with some good serving and a little help from Milkman. 2nd set was better off the ground. Timing was a lot better. He's got the 1st match out of the way and should improve moving forward.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I believe Fed can beat Nadal on grass, I have no such expectation if he faces Djokovic. A second seed at Wimbledon (as you know) guarantees Fed would not face Novak till the final and a big serve might take Djokovic out in a presumed semi. That's why I say Halle this year is big.

It would help in the sense that it makes Djokovic have to win one extra match. Federer has the game to still beat Djokovic on a given day but he hasn’t had the mental fortitude required in a long time. But with how pathetic the tour is outside of the big three I don’t think making him play an extra match will matter. If fed wants to win he will have to beat one or both to do it.

I’d almost rather have fed play Novak in a semi not a final. Where he can go more for broke like he did when he destroyed Murray in 2015.

 

[Sysyphus]

I'm usually kinda surprised how the slow the Tour is with catching on to weaknesses of players. Pretty sure we've been talking about Fed's movement to his forehand for quite a while now. Some other examples of that too. Usually it's players with better backhands than forehands.

Yes, though I would certainly suspect that tour analysts have been aware of this for a long while. I think the more likely explanation is that I just haven't noticed players doing it as much before even though they may have. But these days Fed has some days where he errs so much while covering that corner that it's hard to miss it.

 

[Ann]

Fed on court, still wearing the dismal brown FO kit.

I LIKE THE BROWN OUTFIT.

 

[EloQuent]

Classic handwringerering in this thread. Fedr beats a solid top 50 opponent 76 (1) 63, facing only 1 bp.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Federer is old though. He might not even remember who Djokovic is at this point.

Mental block gone! Fred wins Wimby 2019!

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Classic handwringerering in this thread. Fedr beats a solid top 50 opponent 76 (1) 63, facing only 1 bp.

Classic Fed troll job where he makes the nervous fans nervouserer and then calmly wins.

 

[Sartorius]

I LIKE THE BROWN OUTFIT.

 

[3fees]

Fed has yet to beat Tsonga on grass. And he better find a way since he has lost his last 2 matches, one on HC and on clay. Losing on grass as well won't look good.

Tsonga is not the same Tsonga of old and unless he steps his game up to his A game, Federer will go to the 3rd round.

Cheers
3Fees

 

[Deleted member 763024]

In 2017, he was defending exceptionally well from this wing in particular. IDK why.

Well rested legs?

I think it's only a problem against players that can actually exploit it - players with weapons. Most still can't trouble Roger enough so the 'strategy' fails if not executed well enough. Roger gets a lot of those back with his semi-squash/FH slice on the stretch.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Fed has yet to beat Tsonga on grass. And he better find a way since he has lost his last 2 matches, one on HC and on clay. Losing on grass as well won't look good.

I am a bit worried about Tsonga too, but he's clearly overweight and not the threat he used to be. I think Roger can exploit his movement.

 

[BeatlesFan]

I LIKE THE BROWN OUTFIT.