Basel 2017 final: Roger Federer vs Juan Martin Del Potro

[Chanwan]

Honestly, you have nothing to be sad about. Federer has done more than anyone could have possibly imagined. After his incredible run to the number one ranking by winning his 7th Wimbledon, he really had nothing to prove to anyone anymore. This year, I read a lot of threads, when I was catching up from when I was away from the boards, that all they want is for Federer to win that 18th slam, and don't care what happens after that, whether he ever wins again or not. Not only did he win the AO with one the most difficult draws ever, a path of four top ten players, but he beat his greatest nemesis in probably the most dramatic way possible to claim it. It was something out of a Rocky Movie, just with tennis...then proceeds to win another three times against Nadal, without dropping a set, or even get broken, completely turning the H2H match up on its head, and emphatically answering the question...Can Federer figured out Nadal? Perfect record against Nadal this year, who himself was in form and had multi slam season.

He wins Wimbledon without dropping a set, for the first time ever, and breaks the tie for most Wimbledon titles, and has his first multi slam season at 35-36, pushes his slam tally to 19 slams, and now has two different surfaces where he won a slam without dropping a set. He is first player to win 10 slams on a particular surface, by having five AO titles added to his five USO titles. He won Halle and W without dropping a set for the first time. By winning W, he now has the longest gap between winning the first slam to his current last, an incredible 14 years...He does not have a negative H2H against anyone in the top ten this year, and won his 8th Basel title and vanquishing the man who had beaten him there in two previous finals, in the process became the first man to contest 13 finals at the same event.

All of this was done because he respected the age of his body, understanding when was the time to strike and when to stop. He doesn't need the year end number one, what he has done this year is simply unheard of, and the manner in which he did it truly solidified his status as the man who stands at the top of the mountain, and he did all this while Nadal himself was having the most consistent year of his life, which makes it extra special.

I understand that fans will always look for the next sweet dish, but you also know, Federer is human, even if he does superhuman things.



No problems.

Spot on - as always.

 

[mike danny]

Haha, yeah mate. I think that's your frustration from having read that GOATERER just gave up the chase for the world #1. Tbf, I think a lot of us Federer fans are a little sad as well.

Sad? I'm on cloud 9 as far as Federer's season is concerned. No regrets whatsoever about it so far.

 

[sbengte]

Nadal to scoop up Paris facing nobody and get a paper YE #1?

Has he ever navigated a tough draw off clay in his life?
Serious question. I literally can't think of a single example. Not one, at any level. Please enlighten me.

Didn't I tell you this before the Basel final itself ? Morons fighting and killing themselves for 500 points here while Nadal will cakewalk his way to a M1000 and show up fully confident for the WTF. I will not be too surprised if he goes on to win WTF too from the Paris momentum. He sure as heck is not losing before the final and if Fed fails to make the final with an injury or just has a tougher semi or whatever...well you know it....

 

[User123]

Sad? I'm on cloud 9 as far as Federer's season is concerned. No regrets whatsoever about it so far.

Federer will anyway have a chance to become number 1 soon enough. All he needs is Nadal to lose early in AO and not lose early himself.

 

[sbengte]

yeah, that's true. why didn't schedule the exho atleast a few days after the YEC ? *scratches head*

If this exho was scheduled sometime last year, then it is probably because Fed thought he may not even qualify for the WTF this year after, let alone have a chance to win it, after falling big time in the rankings last year.

Either that, or muryGOAT wanted to screw Fed's chances at YEC like he has done elsewhere .

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Didn't I tell you this before the Basel final itself ? Morons fighting and killing themselves for 500 points here while Nadal will cakewalk his way to a M1000 and show up fully confident for the WTF. I will not be too surprised if he goes on to win WTF too from the Paris momentum. He sure as heck is not losing before the final and if Fed fails to make the final with an injury or just has a tougher semi or whatever...well you know it....

Everything is just doom and gloom with you at the moment, isn't it?

 

[sbengte]

Everything is just doom and gloom with you at the moment, isn't it?

We will know in another 3 weeks whether it is realistic prediction or doom and gloom.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

We will know in another 3 weeks whether it is realistic prediction or doom and gloom.

Are you going to give me the - I told you so - telling off, if Nadal wins the WTF?

 

[sbengte]

Are you going to give me the - I told you so - telling off, if Nadal wins the WTF?

Of course yes

See how neatly Nadal escaped facing Federer before the big one. Of course it did help that you can count on Federer to do some really dumb things. Djoko wouldn't have done any of it.

 

[pame]

Yes, but he skipped the whole clay season this year, which helped him to recover physically and kept his winning % high. He played full seasons in 2004/2005/2006 and still had such high percentage, which is more impressive.

Thank goodness he had enough nous to recognize the need to compensate for being 10 years older than he was then

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Of course yes

I bruise easy, so don't be too hard on me if that happens.

 

[sbengte]

I bruise easy, so don't be too hard on me if that happens.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Maybe the coaches for the Nadal's opponents will give the following advise to their player at the coin toss.

Spoiler

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

Didn't I tell you this before the Basel final itself ? Morons fighting and killing themselves for 500 points here while Nadal will cakewalk his way to a M1000 and show up fully confident for the WTF. I will not be too surprised if he goes on to win WTF too from the Paris momentum. He sure as heck is not losing before the final and if Fed fails to make the final with an injury or just has a tougher semi or whatever...well you know it....

Fed isn't losing the WTF, don't worry.

 

[Charleneriva]

His twin sister is comparing me to those two all the time as well.
We are really awful people, arent we?

Hey there, where is your "peace and love" today?

I have every intention to at least "peace" with you now but you just don't follow your new motto "peace and love", do you?

If you have anything to say, say it straight to me - PUBLICLY.

For whatever you say about me or the "nasty, biggest Rafa hater" Fed fans, at least they and I never say things like we wish our guy would retire.

Those players are currently #1 and #2 in the world, after all the injuries and selfdoubt and people's doubt. You don't see how meaningful this year is to them, to all their fans and tennis?

Yet you say you're the fan of one of them (but cheered against him to win his La Decima just because he beat one of your princes; or voted for Schwaztman to beat him in 2 at Monte-Carlo just because, again, he demolished another prince of yours; while the other player you have always said you like him.

Please.

I respect your supporting the young players and I thought you were just lighthearted when you're saying that stuff. But then I realised you're mostly annoyed at my "Fedalism". So...

 

[sbengte]

Fed isn't losing the WTF, don't worry.

I bet you wouldn't have thought he'd win squat during the Canada-Cincy-USO stretch either.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Fed isn't losing the WTF, don't worry.

Yeah, WTF is another one of Federer's stomping grounds, and he is completely focused on winning it. Del Potro might be the only one who probably can upset him, but he might not even make it, and if he does, could be coming in overplayed. The big man has played a lot recently.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

delete

 

[sbengte]

Yeah, WTF is another one of Federer's stomping grounds, and he is completely focused on winning it. Del Potro might be the only one who probably can upset him, but he might not even make it, and if he does, could be coming in overplayed. The big man has played a lot recently.

It is probably a safe bet to make that Delpo has already overplayed and won't win more than a match or two in Paris.

 

[Doctor/Lawyer Red Devil]

I bet you wouldn't have thought he'd win squat during the Canada-Cincy-USO stretch either.

You got me there. Still I think he is in a better state now. Back then he skipped Cincy because back problems already appeared in Canada, now he is skipping Paris to make sure they don't reappear. Smaller chances of him being unfit at WTF than they were at the USO.

Yeah, WTF is another one of Federer's stomping grounds, and he is completely focused on winning it. Del Potro might be the only one who probably can upset him, but he might not even make it, and if he does, could be coming in overplayed. The big man has played a lot recently.

DelPossum is never overplayed. JK

Does he have a solid shot now at making to London with this Basel result?

 

[Deleted member 77403]

You got me there. Still I think he is in a better state now. Back then he skipped Cincy because back problems already appeared in Canada, now he is skipping Paris to make sure they don't reappear. Smaller chances of him being unfit at WTF than they were at the USO.

DelPossum is never overplayed. JK

Does he have a solid shot now at making to London with this Basel result?

I think he needs a semi final appearance and he will be in.

 

[Charleneriva]

Why do you think I was referring to you? Maybe I was not and you're overreacting?
I dont want to fight with you

Because you more or less said so in Nadal News thread the other day. And of course our private msgs.

I'm not overreacting. I know what you mean. But yes, I was annoyed because the atmosphere had been all good to me. I'm very happy for Roger and was all smiling. Until your comment.

But I agree I may sound harsh. I can edit that comment if you ask me to. (But don't mistake that with me having problems with what I said.)

 

[Deleted member 77403]

It is probably a safe bet to make that Delpo has already overplayed and won't win more than a match or two in Paris.

No Del Potro will benefit Federer the most, since he is the only who can hit him off that particular court imo.

 

[sbengte]

You got me there. Still I think he is in a better state now. Back then he skipped Cincy because back problems already appeared in Canada, now he is skipping Paris to make sure they don't reappear. Smaller chances of him being unfit at WTF than they were at the USO.

Well, I said earlier Basel seems like a mistake a la Montreal.

And as per the Paris thread , the official reason for Fed's withdrawal is 'back injury'. Make what you want out of it.

 

[sbengte]

No Del Potro will benefit Federer the most, since he is the only who can hit him off that particular court imo.

Sorry, what ? Hit whom off which court and benefit whom ?

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Sorry, what ? Hit whom off which court ?

Del Potro is the only one with the potential to hit Federer off that indoor court. If he is not there, then I don't think there is anyone else, including Nadal who can live with him on that surface atm. Del Potro is the only one who has put up any solid resistance, the Shanghai and Basel matches were full on battles.

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

But I agree I may sound harsh. I can edit that comment if you ask me to. (But don't mistake that with me having problems with what I said.)

You are saying things in this post and the other post that are not true.
Yes its of course uncomfortable. I will probably report them if you dont remove it yes

 

[mightyjeditribble]

So as has been reported elsewhere, the official reason for Fed nursing Paris is back injury.

Those who have seen the final - were there signs of this in his game? Reasons to be worried for WTF?

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

 

[BeatlesFan]

Fed isn't losing the WTF, don't worry.

Lots of folks here thought the Basel final scoreline would be a Goffin-like beat down. Fed's level drops inexplicably during matches since he became"old."
If he draws Del Po in his half, he can lose easily and then lose in the semis to the top guy in the other group. Never take a Fed victory for granted when he's 36.

 

[Charleneriva]

You are saying things in this post and the other post that are not true.
Yes its of course uncomfortable. I will probably report them if you dont remove it yes

Not true? What I've just said are all 100% true. You said you wished Fedal would retire. And the voting stuff. Disprove them if you can. And yes, now I'm on your "reporting list" - why am I not surprised.

Report all you want, like you've been doing to who knows how many Fed fans. I won't remove it, only if you ask me.

 

[chjtennis]

Ahh man, don't give up. He's still trying hard out there in front of his home crowd. Plus I still believe he will finally take this.

As expected, Fed wins in 3, but played for 2.5 hrs instead of 1.5 and in doing so, hurt his back. I'm glad I didn't watch it.

Still, well done Rogi. I hope you discard your arrogant self and be smart next time. Breaking Delpo's FH with your FH doesn't mean a bat s*it. It's better to outsmart him and straight set him. That will be a million times more impressive. Now that you hurt your back, just like you did before USO, you may have gifted not only YE no.1 ranking but also WTF title to Nadal. Silly boy.

 

[YellowFedBetter]

Delete. Thought the original post I responded to was talking about Fed.@mike danny

 

[VaporDude95]

So as has been reported elsewhere, the official reason for Fed nursing Paris is back injury.

Those who have seen the final - were there signs of this in his game? Reasons to be worried for WTF?

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

Where are there reports of a back injury? His movement looked fine to me. It’s probably just an excuse to get out of Paris.

 

[peakin11mugs]

Honestly, you have nothing to be sad about. Federer has done more than anyone could have possibly imagined. After his incredible run to the number one ranking by winning his 7th Wimbledon, he really had nothing to prove to anyone anymore. This year, I read a lot of threads, when I was catching up from when I was away from the boards, that all they want is for Federer to win that 18th slam, and don't care what happens after that, whether he ever wins again or not. Not only did he win the AO with one the most difficult draws ever, a path of four top ten players, but he beat his greatest nemesis in probably the most dramatic way possible to claim it. It was something out of a Rocky Movie, just with tennis...then proceeds to win another three times against Nadal, without dropping a set, or even get broken, completely turning the H2H match up on its head, and emphatically answering the question...Can Federer figured out Nadal? Perfect record against Nadal this year, who himself was in form and had multi slam season.

He wins Wimbledon without dropping a set, for the first time ever, and breaks the tie for most Wimbledon titles, and has his first multi slam season at 35-36, pushes his slam tally to 19 slams, and now has two different surfaces where he won a slam without dropping a set. He is first player to win 10 slams on a particular surface, by having five AO titles added to his five USO titles. He won Halle and W without dropping a set for the first time. By winning W, he now has the longest gap between winning the first slam to his current last, an incredible 14 years...He does not have a negative H2H against anyone in the top ten this year, and won his 8th Basel title and vanquishing the man who had beaten him there in two previous finals, in the process became the first man to contest 13 finals at the same event.

All of this was done because he respected the age of his body, understanding when was the time to strike and when to stop. He doesn't need the year end number one, what he has done this year is simply unheard of, and the manner in which he did it truly solidified his status as the man who stands at the top of the mountain, and he did all this while Nadal himself was having the most consistent year of his life, which makes it extra special.

I understand that fans will always look for the next sweet dish, but you also know, Federer is human, even if he does superhuman things.



No problems.

Epic post. Great evaluations and opinions. Tipped my opinion re: no 1 ranking also

 

[Tennis_Hands]

Sorry, what?

Your posts are a mess that I do not intend to read regularly any more.

 

[peakin11mugs]

Where are there reports of a back injury? His movement looked fine to me. It’s probably just an excuse to get out of Paris.

He doesn’t need an excuse. He is exempt from all ATP tournaments. His serve was way off and he was moody but he looked fine movement wise.

 

[coloskier]

So as has been reported elsewhere, the official reason for Fed nursing Paris is back injury.

Those who have seen the final - were there signs of this in his game? Reasons to be worried for WTF?

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

Only 52% 1st serve in against Delpo says a lot. Probably trying to lure Nadal into playing Paris so he will be out of gas for WTF.

 

[fedtennisphan]

Only 52% 1st serve in against Delpo says a lot. Probably trying to lure Nadal into playing Paris so he will be out of gas for WTF.

Nadal already decided to play Paris before Basel even started. When Nadal withdrew from Basel, his participation for Paris was not in doubt. Even as a Federer fan, the suggestion of Federer trying to lure Nadal is reaching.

 

[ForumMember]

Does showing amazement at the Federer's stamina and fitness at the age of 36 and few months amounts to raising PED allegations? One of my recent post where I had expressed feeling of getting amazed at his stamina in defeating Delpo got deleted with the explanation that I am raising unsubstantiated PED claims. Puzzles me.

 

[fedtennisphan]

Does showing amazement at the Federer's stamina and fitness at the age of 36 and few months amounts to raising PED allegations? One of my recent post where I had expressed feeling of getting amazed at his stamina in defeating Delpo got deleted with the explanation that I am raising unsubstantiated PED claims. Puzzles me.

Is that all you can come up with? I know you and your ilk are still shell-shocked but throwing unsubstantiated PED claims towards Federer won’t the change the fact Federer now has 95 career titles. Have a nice day.

 

[TearTheRoofOff]

Tidy up a couple of errors and this match is a fairly emphatic Fed victory. It took some amazingly annoying BP fails and timely mistakes, even by Federer standards, to make it a three setter and cause problems in the sets he won. It is of no surprise to me that Fed led on points won in all three sets. Credit to JMDP who left everything out there, charging around like a man possessed after Fed's missiles and delivering plenty of his own, but there was only one winner.

 

[ArcspacE]

Watched most of the match - can't believe how good Federer still is at 36 - FML

 

[TheGhostOfAgassi]

Not true? What I've just said are all 100% true. You said you wished Fedal would retire. And the voting stuff. Disprove them if you can. And yes, now I'm on your "reporting list" - why am I not surprised.

Report all you want, like you've been doing to who knows how many Fed fans. I won't remove it, only if you ask me.

I just dont want to get into a fangirl discussion. I dont want to go back and find "proofs" and stuff. I find this "discussion" unnessesary and extremely boring. On my "reporting list"? Do I have that? No I dont have any list regarding people in here. Life is too short to bother w that. How on earth can you believe sort of things like that. Please just stop quoting me and chill out.
I deleted a bunch of posts for you because you didnt like your own argumenting. You cant remove posts now?
Its so arrogant of you.
At the same time telling me to find proofs in something you accusing me for.
You are not a victim here. This is something you have produced out of thin air.

 

[Pagoo]

Does showing amazement at the Federer's stamina and fitness at the age of 36 and few months amounts to raising PED allegations? One of my recent post where I had expressed feeling of getting amazed at his stamina in defeating Delpo got deleted with the explanation that I am raising unsubstantiated PED claims. Puzzles me.

Don't play the innocent act. When your every post is about Federer's stamina, then yes your are making a false claim. Nadal looked dead between mid 2014-16, now he has unlimited stamina.Are you wondering why? Considering how physical his game is?

 

[kOaMaster]

As expected, Fed wins in 3, but played for 2.5 hrs instead of 1.5 and in doing so, hurt his back. I'm glad I didn't watch it.

Only 52% 1st serve in against Delpo says a lot. Probably trying to lure Nadal into playing Paris so he will be out of gas for WTF.

Federer didn't hurt his back in that match. There was absolutely no sign of that. He was running all of the court and hitting huge forehands towards the end of the match. Also, the later the match, the better his 1st serve. In the first set, Federer had a 1st serve percentage of less than 40% (losing the set and still made 3 more points than DelPo)! In the 3rd it was around 60% which isn't great but normal.

In fact, Federer was playing awesome for most of the match and DelPo stood his ground almost until the end. It was a highly entertaining and great match, certainly better than their previous two encounters in New York & Shanghai.

Federer is resting because he wants to win the WTF and because Basel was still some work for him. The matches against DelPo & Mannarino cost certainly some energy and could've gone the other way easily.

 

[Gazelle]

Does showing amazement at the Federer's stamina and fitness at the age of 36 and few months amounts to raising PED allegations? One of my recent post where I had expressed feeling of getting amazed at his stamina in defeating Delpo got deleted with the explanation that I am raising unsubstantiated PED claims. Puzzles me.

Not sure what's so amazing. Every time Fed wins a tournament he apparently has to take a month off to recover. Look's pretty natural old man's stuff to me. Meanwhile Nadal can play week in week out from first day of the season till the last for the first time in his career, and in doing so becomes oldest ye number one in history despite always having been an early bloomer. That looks fishy to me.

 

[VaporDude95]

He doesn’t need an excuse. He is exempt from all ATP tournaments. His serve was way off and he was moody but he looked fine movement wise.

I know he doesn’t need an excuse. “Excuse” was probably the wrong word. Maybe “justification” would suffice

 

[fedtennisphan]

I know he doesn’t need an excuse. “Excuse” was probably the wrong word. Maybe “justification” would suffice

Exemption doesn’t protect Federer from a late withdrawal hence “Back Injury”

 

[kabob]

Didn't I tell you this before the Basel final itself ? Morons fighting and killing themselves for 500 points here while Nadal will cakewalk his way to a M1000 and show up fully confident for the WTF. I will not be too surprised if he goes on to win WTF too from the Paris momentum. He sure as heck is not losing before the final and if Fed fails to make the final with an injury or just has a tougher semi or whatever...well you know it....

I think you’re neglecting the reason Nadal dropped out of Basel in the first place. Not only the overplaying/fatigue factor, but Nadal specifically cited that his knee couldn’t handle it. There’s diminished chance that Paris will be any kind of a cakewalk and an excellent one that he hampers his WTF prep by doing this.

 

[ForumMember]

Not sure what's so amazing. Every time Fed wins a tournament he apparently has to take a month off to recover. Look's pretty natural old man's stuff to me. Meanwhile Nadal can play week in week out from first day of the season till the last for the first time in his career, and in doing so becomes oldest ye number one in history despite always having been an early bloomer. That looks fishy to me.

Yeah Sanghai and Basel were a month apart. Also IW and Miami were also a month apart. You surely establishing your credentials very well for a serious poster.