A rarely talked about performance/match: Federer vs Ferrero AO 2004 semi

abmk

Bionic Poster

The ballstriking and rallies in the match are pretty good.

Ferrero had won Madrid on indoor HC in 2003, made the final of USO in 2003 (beating Hewitt and Agassi back to back). He was becoming a potent HCer.
In this match, Ferrero played pretty well in the 1st and 3rd sets, only dip was in the 2nd set where he was slightly below par.

Till 4 all in the 1st set, Ferrero was a tad better, then Federer raised his level and edged it out 6-4. Ferrero had a dip in the 2nd set and Federer continuing his excellent form took it 6-1. Third set, Ferrero played well, but Federer was just clearly better and took it 6-4.
One of Federer's best performances at the AO. Definitely in the top5 for him.

Federer hit 34 winners, forced 35 errors from Ferrero and had 22 UEs (that's +47)
Ferrero hit 21 winners, forced 23 errors from Federer and had 19 UEs (that's +25)

The other stats for the match:

xOUn23W.jpg


Link to stats page: https://web.archive.org/web/2004020...n.com:80/en_AU/scores/stats/day17/0125ms.html
 
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metsman

Talk Tennis Guru
this is what ballstriking looks like kids. Note the court positioning, quick and clean stroke production, and fast aggressive footwork enabling early and offensive ballstriking with minimal time required. Haven't seen this in years and years on the tour. Fed's variety here is a nice plus as well.
 

The_Order

G.O.A.T.
Rarely talked about because it isn't memorable...

OP just frothing over another routine Fed victory to try and pump up his weak AO04 title run.
 

AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
Highlights are supposed to look good duh.
Obviously Federer in his pomp was formidable, Ferrero pushed him well in set 1 but not the last two despite the third set ending with the same scoreline. A good reminder of Federer being both an excellent mover and aggressive ballstriker in prime form. Ferrero struck the ball fairly well but didn't move as well on HC, Federer looks so much nimbler visually.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
This was a great match to watch, the world number one was on the line here after Roddick fell the round before to Safin. It added that unexpected extra edge, since it was a straight shootout to decide which of the two would walk out world number one.

Federer had quite the run that year, beating Hewitt, Nalbandian, Ferrero and Safin. Safin himself was really impressive, his epics against Roddick and Agassi. Was a good event.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
Highlights are supposed to look good duh.
Obviously Federer in his pomp was formidable, Ferrero pushed him well in set 1 but not the last two despite the third set ending with the same scoreline. A good reminder of Federer being both an excellent mover and aggressive ballstriker in prime form. Ferrero struck the ball fairly well but didn't move as well on HC, Federer looks so much nimbler visually.

How many are going to watch the full match if I post a link? Very few, if any. Obviously am going to post the highlights.
Yes, 1st set was closer than 3rd set. I already indicated that when I said Ferrero was slightly than Federer at in the 1st set till 4 all.
But Ferrero played well in the 3rd set as well. Just that Federer was clearly better in the 3rd set than in the 1st.
 

AnOctorokForDinner

Talk Tennis Guru
I wonder if Hewitt, Nalbandian, Ferrero and Safin all played better than 2019 WB F Djokovic considering they were able to play close sets with a much better Federer than the one mugovic could only vulture tiebreaks against while sucking for two sets.
 

NoleIsBoat

Hall of Fame
Federer looks so much worse here compare to 2015/2016.. see how loopy his topspin bh is and he is very defensive, just slicing a lot. 2016 AO Federer would destroy Ferrero with bakery products thrown in. The game has advanced so much in last 10/15 years.
 

Cabeza del Demonio

Professional
This was a great match to watch, the world number one was on the line here after Roddick fell the round before to Safin. It added that unexpected extra edge, since it was a straight shootout to decide which of the two would walk out world number one.

Federer had quite the run that year, beating Hewitt, Nalbandian, Ferrero and Safin. Safin himself was really impressive, his epics against Roddick and Agassi. Was a good event.
Attacking all-court tennis at its best. 2004-05 Federer was the most explosive, fluid, entertaining player I've ever seen on a tennis court. He was as close to technical perfection as I've ever seen.
 

NoleIsBoat

Hall of Fame
Attacking all-court tennis at its best. 2004-05 Federer was the most explosive, fluid, entertaining player I've ever seen on a tennis court. He was as close to technical perfection as I've ever seen.
Federer in 2015:

“I think I'm a better player now than when I was at 24 because I've practised for another 10 years and I've got 10 years more experience,” Federer said. “Maybe I don't have the confidence level that I had at 24 when I was winning 40 matches in a row, but I feel like I hit a bigger serve, my backhand is better, my forehand is still as good as it's ever been, I volley better than I have in the past. I think I've had to adapt to a new generation of players again.”
 

Cabeza del Demonio

Professional
Federer in 2015:

“I think I'm a better player now than when I was at 24 because I've practised for another 10 years and I've got 10 years more experience,” Federer said. “Maybe I don't have the confidence level that I had at 24 when I was winning 40 matches in a row, but I feel like I hit a bigger serve, my backhand is better, my forehand is still as good as it's ever been, I volley better than I have in the past. I think I've had to adapt to a new generation of players again.”
Username checks out ;)
 

MeatTornado

Talk Tennis Guru
There's some predictable weak era slander in this thread, but this was an amazing tournament, and also a real unique point in time for the era (before we knew that Fed was going to boringly dominate for years). Seems like such an exciting time. Imagine entering a new season where the seeds are

1) 21 year old USO champ Roddick
2) 22 year old Wim champ Federer
3) 23 year old RG champ Ferrero
4) 33 year old AO champ Agassi (and 4x overall)

Three young defending first time champions and an old vet still very much in the mix. And then you've got unseeded but former world #1 Safin lurking in the draw to mess up everyone's plans.
 
D

Deleted member 771911

Guest
It was an interesting time in tennis. Federer did not win the USO after 03 SW19 and lost to Nalbandian, who I thought might beat Federer here at the AO. I remember the Federer-Nalby match was another tight four setter. This one versus Ferrero, I didn't watch, but I was surprised at the very straightforward scoreline. Federer went on to win the title convincingly vs Safin and it started to dawn on people this Federer guy might be the real deal.
 

D.Nalby12

G.O.A.T.
Ferrero' backhand is underrated shot

Federer' generation is arguably most talented one. Federer, Safin, Nalby, Gonzo, Ljubicic, Blake, Ferrero, Davy, Roddick, Hewitt - every player was special one. I don't see anyone like them today in youngsters.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
I wonder if Hewitt, Nalbandian, Ferrero and Safin all played better than 2019 WB F Djokovic considering they were able to play close sets with a much better Federer than the one mugovic could only vulture tiebreaks against while sucking for two sets.
I still think 2019 Wimb Djokovic was slightly better, but yeah, he played a far weaker version of Fed, so maybe 2004 Fed would apply the Hewitt/Nalbandian treatment to him.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Ferrero wasn't a bad HC player and he was going to impeove even more if not for his health issues. He was 24 when he had his last prime run in early 2004.

Thiem wasn't a good HC player at 24 and he was worse than Ferrero. He improved in the last 2 years just like Ferrero would have.

And even though it was not in the Big 3 era, 2003 USO was a difficult draw for Ferrero having to beat Hewitt and Agassi and also having to follow those up with a win over an on fire Roddick. This would have been unmanageable even by Thiem without any Big 3 in his path.

Ferrero had to beat 2 very good players and a great one all in a row. Thiem at 2020 USO only had to beat 2 good players, that's it.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Ferrero wasn't a bad HC player and he was going to impeove even more if not for his health issues. He was 24 when he had his last prime run in early 2004.

Thiem wasn't a good HC player at 24 and he was worse than Ferrero. He improved in the last 2 years just like Ferrero would have.

And even though it was not in the Big 3 era, 2003 USO was a difficult draw for Ferrero having to beat Hewitt and Agassi and also having to follow those up with a win over an on fire Roddick. This would have been unmanageable even by Thiem without any Big 3 in his path.

Ferrero had to beat 2 very good players and a great one all in a row. Thiem at 2020 USO only had to beat 2 good players, that's it.

I was big fan of Ferrero, prefered him to Federer in those days.
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
Ferrero wasn't just a clay courter, just a few weeks earlier, he had made the USO final, beating Hewitt and Agassi back to back along the way. The guy could play ball on all surfaces, made the 4th round of Wimbledon that year also.

Went five with Hewitt on grass in the Davis Cup final too.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Yes, a pretty good match. Last 3 sets were excellent from both Roddick&Safin.
Only 1st set was below par from Safin and 2nd from Roddick. (with the other playing excellent)

I remember watching that match at the hotel, when I landed in Mumbai India. I was expecting Roddick to win, was shocked by the level Safin brought. Caught the last half live.
 

abmk

Bionic Poster
I remember watching that match at the hotel, when I landed in Mumbai India. I was expecting Roddick to win, was shocked by the level Safin brought. Caught the last half live.

Considering Safin was coming back after almost an year off due to injury; lost a set each vs Vahaly, Niemenen and went 5 vs old Todd Martin, yeah, Safin really woke up after the below par 1st set vs Roddick.
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Roddick v Safin wasn't too shabby too. Heavy hitting.
In this country it was one of the few times I was glad to be forced to watch a Henman match when he played Canas. Whew!

Safin's whole run was really very good. Guga, Ancic, Todd Martin's last good slam run, Karlovic. Hewitt-Nadal was good stuff for 2 sets.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
In this country it was one of the few times I was glad to be forced to watch a Henman match when he played Canas. Whew!

Safin's whole run was really very good. Guga, Ancic, Todd Martin's last good slam run, Karlovic. Hewitt-Nadal was good stuff for 2 sets.

Yes. It was a heck of a slam.
 
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