A possible scenario which federer can face what do you reckon he would do?

[Nadal_King]

Federer could be in a dilemma at atp finals regarding what to do if he faces rafa in semi if rafa is unbeaten in group stage and federer finishes 2nd, then if he wins he may stop rafa from year end no 1 and djokovic will be heavy favourite to win it by clinching the title then weeks at no 1 record will be in serious jeopardy come next year.So what do you think will he prefer, tanking to give away rafa year end no 1 and also a win off clay after 2014 or beat rafa and try beating djokovic in final or hope a Medvedev beats him in the semi.
Ok a straight poll if djokovic us in the final then what will be federer thinking in fedal semi?

 

[Deleted member 744633]

Omala koodi nakkaravane ... regardless of what happens at the ATP finals, Djokovic will break Federer's weeks at No. 1 record next year! Federer already has 3 Wimbledon runner-up titles to Djokovic so might as well add some ATP runner-up titles.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Fed will want to beat Rafa and then Djoker and get the best of both worlds. Not hard. Obvious. Whether he does it or not is different, but I do believe he thinks he can.

 

[Deleted member 744633]

Fed will want to beat Rafa and then Djoker and get the best of both worlds. Not hard. Obvious. Whether he does it or not is different, but I do believe he thinks he can.

Lleyton ... obviously he stands a better chance in BO3 but I think he'll come up short again. When was the last time he beat Djokovic in the ATP finals?

 

[RaulRamirez]

I think that Roger is a great player - usually brimming with confidence - who will try to win the freakin' match to get to the finals, and if he wins, try like heck to win the tournament.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Federer is aiming to win the event, that is obviously the foremost priority. He would not tank a match in order to assure Nadal keeping Djokovic from the YE #1 record. Winning the event is more important to his legacy than preventing another YE #1 for Novak.

 

[StrongRule]

Federer will beat Nadal, then lose to Djokovic after another 40-15.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Lleyton ... obviously he stands a better chance in BO3 but I think he'll come up short again. When was the last time he beat Djokovic in the ATP finals?

2019?

 

[Red Rick]

I think Federer will try to win the damn thing.

Fed tanking to Rafa to save his own record would be the first time Fed showed some 3rd wheel syndrome.

 

[Pheasant]

Players like the Big 3 and all other ATG players don't tank matches because they are afraid of the next opponent. That's complete insanity.

I'll never forget the 1987 USO QF. McEnroe was interviewed before his match with Lendl. McEnroe felt like he had a great chance of winning, despite the Lendl's massive improvement, due to his diet. McEnroe could have "tanked" this scenario. And at this stage of their rivalry, Lendl was at his very best and was slaughtering McEnroe in matches. But Mac wasn't afraid at all and even stated that he was in better shape than he ever was.

Things are still the same today. Greats still believe that they can win, even if recent history shows the opposite. A great champion will almost always believe that he hasn't lost a step and can win. That's what makes them all-time greats.

If Fed were to ever tank, it would have been at the 2017 AO. Fed was extremely rusty entering this tourney, due to missing 8 months of the 2016 season. But I don't think that Fed tanked, if I remember correctly.

This tanking business is complete nonsense.

 

[weakera]

Federer obviously wouldn't tank but tanking would be better for his legacy than Djoko coasting to the weeks at 1 record, YE1 record and potentially another loss to Djoko in a final.

 

[Fedforever]

Am I missing the fact that the last two matches between Fed and Djoko have been very close? Why would Fed assume he has no chance?

Not saying he would win - who knows but I'm struggling to see why he would think he had no chance.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Federer obviously wouldn't tank but tanking would be better for his legacy than Djoko coasting to the weeks at 1 record, YE1 record and potentially another loss to Djoko in a final.

He's 38 years old. Nobody close to that age has ever even made the final of the YEC (or the Nabisco Masters as it was previously called). There's no shame losing "another final" to Djokovic, when he's 6 years younger. It would be amazing if anyone 38 makes the final. His legacy is secure even if he loses every match in the RR.

 

[Sport]

It is immoral to tank a match. Federer is a PROFESSIONAL and so he will try to defeat Nadal like he always does.

 

[beard]

He's 38 years old. Nobody close to that age has ever even made the final of the YEC (or the Nabisco Masters as it was previously called). There's no shame losing "another final" to Djokovic, when he's 6 years younger. It would be amazing if anyone 38 makes the final. His legacy is secure even if he loses every match in the RR.

Should be true story, but all painful loses Fed suffers now long time against Novak start to make big scars in his legacy, imo... Its not as Novak is no1 in the world and Fed is no11 or no22.... It would be no2 against no3 in the world... And about age difference, its been same whole time, Novak isn't youngster anymore himself...

Fed had very painful and most important memorable loses against Novak... Many, many, many hard, painful loses... Novak had only rg11 at almost, but not totally same, level of epicness loss...

 

[Deleted member 744633]

Federer obviously wouldn't tank but tanking would be better for his legacy than Djoko coasting to the weeks at 1 record, YE1 record and potentially another loss to Djoko in a final.

Fully agreed except the tanking part. How many tournaments is he going to take the drop because DJokovic will be waiting for him in final any place he plays?

 

[Deleted member 744633]

Should be true story, but all painful loses Fed suffers now long time against Novak start to make big scars in his legacy, imo... Its not as Novak is no1 in the world and Fed is no11 or no22.... It would be no2 against no3 in the world... And about age difference, its been same whole time, Novak isn't youngster anymore himself...

Fed had very painful and most important memorable loses against Novak... Many, many, many hard, painful loses... Novak had only rg11 at almost, but not totally same, level of epicness loss...

Exactly my thoughts as well. Beyond a certain point, and I think we're at that point, age won't mask the losses and it will start working against Federer's legacy.

 

[Deleted member 763691]

Omala koodi nakkaravane ... regardless of what happens at the ATP finals, Djokovic will break Federer's weeks at No. 1 record next year! Federer already has 3 Wimbledon runner-up titles to Djokovic so might as well add some ATP runner-up titles.

Rafa can gain huge points in the clay season, so it will be hard for Djokovic to get the #1 ranking back next year
Also, Medvedev has beaten Djokovic twice this year, so is there any indication that Djokovic will beat Medvedev next year?
Medvedev will supposedly only get better.....

 

[weakera]

He's 38 years old. Nobody close to that age has ever even made the final of the YEC (or the Nabisco Masters as it was previously called). There's no shame losing "another final" to Djokovic, when he's 6 years younger. It would be amazing if anyone 38 makes the final. His legacy is secure even if he loses every match in the RR.

His GOAT legacy is very far from secure. It's teetering on the edge of the abyss, in fact. And I've been watching maestronians tap dance and pretend that anything maestro does needs to be qualified by his age for about a decade, so please spare me next time. No matter how loudly you stomp your feet, the worse maestro's h2h is vs. Nole, the worst it is for his legacy. And Nole claiming weeks at 1/YE1 records would be a disaster for his legacy.

 

[Fedforever]

He's 38 years old. Nobody close to that age has ever even made the final of the YEC (or the Nabisco Masters as it was previously called). There's no shame losing "another final" to Djokovic, when he's 6 years younger. It would be amazing if anyone 38 makes the final. His legacy is secure even if he loses every match in the RR.

Some of the comments on this thread make me feel like I'm just missing something in my brain.

I mean, Djoko fans keep telling us how he's basically superman and the greatest player that ever lived. Yet it's also supposed to be some terrible stain on Federer's legacy that he loses to this superman who is also six years younger than him???

I'm sure Federer gets very annoyed at losing to him but I don't see why he'd regard it as this terrible humiliation.

 

[boredone3456]

I highly doubt Rafa will be unbeaten in the group stage of the WTF. I wonder if he will even SURVIVE the group stage of the WTF given his past endeavors there.

 

[Deleted member 763691]

I highly doubt Rafa will be unbeaten in the group stage of the WTF. I wonder if he will even SURVIVE the group stage of the WTF given his past endeavors there.

Rafa is 11-1 vs the players in his group, and his only loss came on clay
Also, Rafa is a 2-time Finalist at London, and not many players can say that.
Rafa is the most underrated player in the history of the World Tour Finals.

Rafa beat Djokovic and Federer at the World Tour Finals, in fact Rafa beat Federer in straight sets at 2013 World Tour Finals,
and Rafa beat Djokovic in straight sets at 2010 World Tour Finals.
Rafa also beat Djokovic in straight sets at the 2007 Masters Cup, if that counts.
And Rafa beat Murray in straight sets at 2015 World Tour Finals, and Rafa beat Murray in 3 sets at 2010 World Tour Finals.

And let's face it, Rafa's game suits London more this year than any other year, because of the changes Moya has made.

 

[Deleted member 744633]

Rafa can gain huge points in the clay season, so it will be hard for Djokovic to get the #1 ranking back next year
Also, Medvedev has beaten Djokovic twice this year, so is there any indication that Djokovic will beat Medvedev next year?
Medvedev will supposedly only get better.....

RN ... all I care is the weeks at No 1 at this point. That record must fall!

 

[Fedforever]

Exactly my thoughts as well. Beyond a certain point, and I think we're at that point, age won't mask the losses and it will start working against Federer's legacy.

No rational person will think that.

 

[Deleted member 733170]

What an utterly daft question.

Only someone who seriously equates tennis statistics to trading Panini stickers could come up with such an absurd notion.

 

[guitarra]

I don't think top pro athletes think this way. Everyone of them wants to win and that's what matters the most, nothing else.

 

[Fedforever]

What an utterly daft question.

Only someone who seriously equates tennis statistics to trading Panini stickers could come up with such an absurd notion.

We got this same garbage about the 2014 Final.

Fed fought Stan to the point of exhaustion, potentially doing serious damage to their Davis Cup hopes, then apparently thought "Oh b*gger this, I don't want to play Novak after all." If he didn't fancy playing Novak why not just tank against Stan and save his energies for the Davis Cup?

 

[jm1980]

Fed is too proud to tank against Nadal

His ego literally wouldn't allow it

 

[PeoplesChamp]

Federer wants the title.

Plain and simple.

 

[junior74]

It is immoral to tank a match. Federer is a PROFESSIONAL and so he will try to defeat Nadal like he always does.

True.

And he has been trying to defeat Nadal with success on HC since AO14. 100%, actually.

 

[PeoplesChamp]

Federer obviously wouldn't tank but tanking would be better for his legacy than Djoko coasting to the weeks at 1 record, YE1 record and potentially another loss to Djoko in a final.

Tanking better for his legacy? No. Just no.

 

[Rogfan]

My God, there is only one goal in a match for these pros, that is to beat the opponent before him and win the tournament. I don’t think their mind runs like a politician!

 

[TripleATeam]

If Nadal-Federer semi is happening, we can only assume a Djokovic-Medvedev semi just happened, and we can assume that would be a tough one.

Federer would never think his chances of winning would be too low to give it a shot. Hell, even with a 10% chance of winning, he'd go all out for the chance to win it all.

 

[ForehandRF]

@weakera People put too much value on the H2H.I would ask you, it was a disaster for Agassi's legacy to lose consistently against Fed ? It was a disaster for Connors to lose against Lendl ? If Fed will continue to lose against Djokovic well so be it, that won't take anything away from what he has achieved.The most important is who will finish with the slam record and if Djokovic won't be the one, then history will not give a damn about his H2H with Federer.ATGs will be remembered by how much they achieved and the H2H will remain only in the fanboys's land.

 

[SaintPetros]

Should be true story, but all painful loses Fed suffers now long time against Novak start to make big scars in his legacy, imo... Its not as Novak is no1 in the world and Fed is no11 or no22.... It would be no2 against no3 in the world... And about age difference, its been same whole time, Novak isn't youngster anymore himself...

Fed had very painful and most important memorable loses against Novak... Many, many, many hard, painful loses... Novak had only rg11 at almost, but not totally same, level of epicness loss...

Novak was never in a position to win RG Semi against Fed. Fed had multiple chances to put him away in other memorable losses but just couldn't pull the trigger

 

[beard]

Novak was never in a position to win RG Semi against Fed. Fed had multiple chance to put him away in other memorable losses but just couldn't pull the trigger

That's one of the reasons those wins were so epic and memorable... Wouldn't change those wins for 61-61-61, never, ever...
Hostile, crazy audience, beat them all... never, ever.... THAT IS EPIC, BUT REALLY EPIC... not some MN s.h.e.e.t...

 

[weakera]

@weakera People put too much value on the H2H.I would ask you, it was a disaster for Agassi's legacy to lose consistently against Fed ? It was a disaster for Connors to lose against Lendl ? If Fed will continue to lose against Djokovic well so be it, that won't take anything away from what he has achieved.The most important is who will finish with the slam record and if Djokovic won't be the one, then history will not give a damn about his H2H with Federer.ATGs will be remembered by how much they achieved and the H2H will remain only in the fanboys's land.

Even disregarding h2h (lol) there are massive implications here for the weeks at 1 and YE1 records which devotees have always placed on a very high pedestal.

 

[hoodjem]

So what do you think will he prefer, tanking to give away rafa year end no 1 and also a win off clay after 2014 or beat rafa and try beating djokovic in final

Fed has nothing to fear from Nadal. Off clay, he has beaten Nadal seven times in a row since 2015.

So he will not tank at all.

 

[KINGROGER]

Nah. If Djokovic takes over the weeks at number 1 stat by padding stats in 30s then so be it. His longevity and timing paid off.

I want Fed to win anything he plays.

 

[oldmanfan]

So Fedr gets to 1235 wins by tanking?

Nosirree.

Fedr plays to win. Full stop.

 

[HetTheGreaterer]

Federer will beat the sheet out of Nadal

Ftfy

Federer is aiming to win the event, that is obviously the foremost priority. He would not tank a match in order to assure Nadal keeping Djokovic from the YE #1 record. Winning the event is more important to his legacy than preventing another YE #1 for Novak.

Let's go Roger let's go

Let's go Roger let's go.

Let's go Roger let's go

Let's go Roger let's go

 

[ForumMember]

Winning the event is more important to his legacy than preventing another YE #1 for Novak.

Winning the event would not be in his hand while preventing Djokovic from gaining more weeks would be in his hand. He should choose wisely.

 

[youngpolyhater]

Federer is playing to win the tournament not spending time with a calculator trying to figure out YE #1 probabilities.

Lame thread

 

[OldschoolKIaus]

Fedr doesn't tank. That's the Nadal's favoirite move.

 

[ForehandRF]

Even disregarding h2h (lol) there are massive implications here for the weeks at 1 and YE1 records which devotees have always placed on a very high pedestal.

Disregarding in not a good word, but I would say that the H2H should not be overvalued in such a fashion.
Well, of course that weeks at no1 are important and Djokovic has a very good chance to surpass that.When it comes to YE1, Pete is the record holder anyway.
Fed has led the slam race for more than a decade now, but the problem is that one of the Djokodal will never lead the slam race, will never have this privilege.

 

[GrassCourtFan]

Federer would prefer to win.

Come on. Dumb question. OF COURSE he would try to win. He's out there to make and break records by WINNING TOURNAMENTS, not by strategically tanking to play kingmaker between other players.

 

[weakera]

Disregarding in not a good word, but I would say that the H2H should not be overvalued in such a fashion.
Well, of course that weeks at no1 are important and Djokovic has a very good chance to surpass that.When it comes to YE1, Pete is the record holder anyway.
Fed has led the slam race for more than a decade now, but the problem is that one of the Djokodal will never lead the slam race, will never have this privilege.

Never say never my friend

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Should be true story, but all painful loses Fed suffers now long time against Novak start to make big scars in his legacy, imo... Its not as Novak is no1 in the world and Fed is no11 or no22.... It would be no2 against no3 in the world... And about age difference, its been same whole time, Novak isn't youngster anymore himself...

Fed had very painful and most important memorable loses against Novak... Many, many, many hard, painful loses... Novak had only rg11 at almost, but not totally same, level of epicness loss...

If Djoker isn't a youngster anymore himself, what does that make Fed? Age differences are stubborn little devils.

 

[Fedforever]

You have to wonder, given that Djokovic fans are so convinced he's going to sweep to 25 Slams, why they're so obsessed with the Head to Head anyway.

If Novak does get to 25 slams of course he's going to be regarded as the greatest, it wouldn't matter a damn about the HtoH. It only became an issue because Nadal and Djoker fans wanted to proclaim their player the GOAT before either of them had rightfully earned it.

Fed fans don't like him losing to Djokovic because that means he hasn't won a title. We are not dying of embarrassment because our hero is losing to a phenomenal player who is six years younger.

If you want to call us arrogant and entitled then go ahead but please stop treating us as if we're stupid.

 

[metsman]

Fed can't even remember the score most of the time these days, hits a 2nd serve instead of a first half the time (see Wimbledon final for evidence of both of these things, multiple times in one game even) because he thinks he already hit the first, and you think he's scheming and calculating his every move based on Djokovic's #1 stats, position of sun and moon, etc. Come on...