"baby Rafa"

[robthai]

For those that say Rafa was still a baby during 05-06 and therefore it was a weak era for Federer. Watch this video. I think Rafa 2005-2009 was better on clay than post 2010 because he was better at defense. Clay rewards this style of play more so than his aggressive post 2010 clay version.
He doesn't play with the same intensity and speed anymore like in this video. Yes, he was mainly a defensive player but his athleticism set him apart from the rest of the tour at the time. Imagine this version of Rafa playing on tour today

 

[robthai]

peak version 2010 Rafa loses to washed up ivan ljubicic at Indian Wells in 2010, yet "baby Rafa" comes back from 2 sets down to beat a peak ljubicic (who was a top 10 player at the time) on a fast indoor hard court. Things are not as black and white as they seem.

 

[Im(moral) Winner]

peak version 2010 Rafa loses to washed up ivan ljubicic at Indian Wells in 2010, yet "baby Rafa" comes back from 2 sets down to beat a peak ljubicic (who was a top 10 player at the time) on a fast indoor hard court. Things are not as black and white as they seem.

2010 RAFA lost to many mugs that year. Davydenko, baby Murray x2, Ljubicic, Roddick, Lopez, Baghdatis, Garcia Lopez, Melzer, the list could go on...

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Never seen that before, great footage.