Can Federer beat Djokovic at the French Open?

[Service Ace]

Isn't this really his best chance at beating Djokovic in a Slam? I know he had had success against him at Wimbledon but he has since developed some scars facing him on that surface. The French however is where he has lasting memories of beating triumphing over Djokovic and the only surface in the match-up where Djokovic seems to be the one with the mental block. Federer is still also the 2nd best clay courter in the field. Could he manage to dictate the rallies and finish points down the line like Stan did and pull out the upset on that surface or is his game just not made for the high bouncing slow surface of clay?

 

[MichaelNadal]

Yes, what he needs is a court where he'd have to stay out there even LONGER and hit more balls to beat Ultron.

 

[abmk]

in what world is federer #2 on clay ? that boat sailed after 2010 ....
# 3 in 11 and 12 ...lesser after that ..

 

[Dolgopolov85]

Isn't this really his best chance at beating Djokovic in a Slam? I know he had had success against him at Wimbledon but he has since developed some scars facing him on that surface. The French however is where he has lasting memories of beating triumphing over Djokovic and the only surface in the match-up where Djokovic seems to be the one with the mental block. Federer is still also the 2nd best clay courter in the field. Could he manage to dictate the rallies and finish points down the line like Stan did and pull out the upset on that surface or is his game just not made for the high bouncing slow surface of clay?

Yeah, no scars from an embarrassing straight set loss to Nole in 2012 semis. Sure.

 

[RF6777]

If he play like he did in 3 rd set of AUS open..who knows?

 

[ledwix]

I don't think Federer can make it far enough to face Djokovic at the French. And I would put Nishikori/Nadal/Murray/Wawrinka/Djokovic above him on clay.

Plus he isn't even prioritizing that part of the season, unfortunately. He must know that Wimbledon is his main opportunity.

 

[dgold44]

No
His best chance is on grass and only grass or at cincy masters

 

[zep]

No he can't. But he still has the ability to beat Djokovic in Wimbledon.

 

[MichaelNadal]

No he can't. But he still has the ability to beat Djokovic in Wimbledon.

Fed ain't getting 3 sets from Ultron on Pluto at this point.

 

[OhYes]

Another 2011 ain't gonna happen. Novak has learned his lessons and payback time is already in the process.

 

[fednad]

Another 2011 ain't gonna happen. Novak has learned his lessons and payback time is already in the process.

Took only 6 years for payback time. Quick we are. Aren't we.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

No.

 

[OhYes]

Took only 6 years for payback time. Quick we are. Aren't we.

Last win Federer had on Djokovic at slam was in 2012. That's not 6 years. WTF, Wimbledon, UO and AO were all major events since then that are all won by Djokovic. So he who laugh last, laughs longest.

 

[SublimeTennis]

Isn't this really his best chance at beating Djokovic in a Slam? I know he had had success against him at Wimbledon but he has since developed some scars facing him on that surface. The French however is where he has lasting memories of beating triumphing over Djokovic and the only surface in the match-up where Djokovic seems to be the one with the mental block. Federer is still also the 2nd best clay courter in the field. Could he manage to dictate the rallies and finish points down the line like Stan did and pull out the upset on that surface or is his game just not made for the high bouncing slow surface of clay?

He can but he won't, IMO Fed loses it in finals and Djoko is playing his best. It's hard to pick Fed unless it's a fast court like Dubai or Cinci, if they made GS's as fast as those courts he'd surely be adding to his GS count.

 

[The_Order]

He can but he won't, IMO Fed loses it in finals and Djoko is playing his best. It's hard to pick Fed unless it's a fast court like Dubai or Cinci, if they made GS's as fast as those courts he'd surely be adding to his GS count.

Grass is faster than hard court.

 

[SublimeTennis]

Grass is faster than hard court.

Used to be, Wimbledon has slowed dramatically and is not as fast as Cincy or Dubai

 

[fednad]

Last win Federer had on Djokovic at slam was in 2012. That's not 6 years. WTF, Wimbledon, UO and AO were all major events since then that are all won by Djokovic. So he who laugh last, laughs longest.

My grandmother told me:
He who laughs last, thinks slowest

 

[TheFifthSet]

Fed ain't getting 3 sets from Ultron on Pluto at this point.

Stranger/unlikelier things have happened. If Federer serves his best he can beat anybody at Wimbledon.

 

[Deleted member 77403]

It would get really ugly if they play at RG this year.

 

[PinShot]

Maybe if Djokovic ties one of his Legs to his Buttocks ...

 

[Sir Percival Blakeney]

If there is one place Federer can no longer trouble him in any way it's the FO.

 

[SpinToWin]

Of course. Fed just has to play a zero shiki drop shot on every return and serve ever.

#SeriousForOnce #2arrogant4u

 

[Noelan]

LOL
No way this is 2016

 

[Krish872007]

Highly highly doubt it.
And he's no longer the 2nd best on clay - too old for that, others can grind him down on the surface.

Wawrinka has the best shot to blow Djokovic off the court.
Murray and Nadal also have outside chances

 

[Deleted member 716271]

Give Pete modern equipment and strings, and 2 weeks to train, he'd blowing these MUGS off Chatrier.

 

[PeterHo]

 

[Nostradamus]

Isn't this really his best chance at beating Djokovic in a Slam? I know he had had success against him at Wimbledon but he has since developed some scars facing him on that surface. The French however is where he has lasting memories of beating triumphing over Djokovic and the only surface in the match-up where Djokovic seems to be the one with the mental block. Federer is still also the 2nd best clay courter in the field. Could he manage to dictate the rallies and finish points down the line like Stan did and pull out the upset on that surface or is his game just not made for the high bouncing slow surface of clay?

NO, Roger won't even try to beat Novak at the French. he may just skip the French all together to avoid injury and preserve his body for wimbledon

 

[Alien]

No. Next?

 

[fednad]

Maybe if Djokovic ties one of his Legs to his Buttocks ...

Tie to his own buttock ?

 

[vanioMan]

Give Pete modern equipment and strings, and 2 weeks to train, he'd blowing these MUGS off Chatrier.

You mean 2 days, surely?

 

[Noelan]

Yeah, no scars from an embarrassing straight set loss to Nole in 2012 semis. Sure.

Was leading 3 0 in the second set, end up losing it 5 7 , wind blew his chanches from PC in that match.

 

[The_Order]

Used to be, Wimbledon has slowed dramatically and is not as fast as Cincy or Dubai

No, I'll say it one more time, grass is faster than hard court.

 

[haqq777]

No.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Hè has more chance at Wimbledeon and us open imo

 

[OhYes]

My grandmother told me:
He who laughs last, thinks slowest

Your grandma could actually tell you that, but it could hardly be taken into consideration for Federer-Djokovic case.

 

[roysid]

Nothing is impossible but its very very unlikely.
Djokovic is much more improved than 2011 and fed is much older.

 

[fednad]

Your grandma could actually tell you that, but it could hardly be taken into consideration for Federer-Djokovic case.

Talk to your grandma.
She will also tell the same.
Do not undermine Grandmas !

 

[haqq777]

Do not undermine Grandmas !

lol +1

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[Chicharito]

 

[kishnabe]

Don't think Gramps can do it......Novak is just beating up a washed up Federer.

A prime Federer would have 50 percent shot....not this one.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Lol it will be even more brutal than it was a couple of days ago.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

I seriously doubt fed is ever beating Novak in a slam again

 

[jm1980]

Used to be, Wimbledon has slowed dramatically and is not as fast as Cincy or Dubai

The last time they changed the composition of the grass at Wimbledon was in 2001... It was only after this slowdown that Federer was able to win his titles

That hasn't changed since. But with every Wimbledon title Djoker wins, the grass becomes slower and slower in the minds of Fedfans

 

[sbengte]

I seriously doubt fed is ever beating Novak in a slam again

I think so too, primarily because I don't think Novak will hang around till he is 34, waiting to be taken to the cleaners by a 39 year old Fed.

 

[Noelan]

The last time they changed the composition of the grass at Wimbledon was in 2001... It was only after this slowdown that Federer was able to win his titles

That hasn't changed since. But with every Wimbledon title Djoker wins, the grass becomes slower and slower in the minds of Fedfans

They even slowed down Shangai/damn you biased ATP /, so great fast hard court player Albert Ramos Vinolas could shine on it

 

[metsman]

The last time they changed the composition of the grass at Wimbledon was in 2001... It was only after this slowdown that Federer was able to win his titles

That hasn't changed since. But with every Wimbledon title Djoker wins, the grass becomes slower and slower in the minds of Fedfans

Oh so 18-19 year old Federer was struggling to win Wimbledon's because the court was too fast, and then on the slow court he lost in the first round the first year and then what had to change for him to win it in 2003? You're a funny funny guy.

The grass has clearly slowed over the years, watch matches from 03-04 and compare now. 03-04 wasn't 90's fast but still quite fast. It's not even debateable that the grass slowed further from 2001. Grass was fairly fast 03-04, slowed further in 05, then again around 08. Sped back up a little for 12-13 maybe to help Murray and maybe the roof helped too, I don't know, and has gotten back to 09-11 levels ever since. Two identical Federer 123 mph first serves

Court 1 today is still fairly quick but center court for some reason is super slow. It has nothing to do with Djokovic. When Federer played his 4R match against Agut on center and QF match against Simon on Court 1 the difference was striking. There are many ways to make a court play slower without them publicly acknowledging that they changed the composition

 

[metsman]

The head WImbledon groundskeeper said they used a firmer surface or something which got rid of bad bounces and made balls bounce higher. And many players/former players (including Djokovic) said the grass was slowed in 2010-2011 compared to even 2005-2006 much less earlier than that.

 

[xFedal]

Used to be, Wimbledon has slowed dramatically and is not as fast as Cincy or Dubai

Players break the least serve on Grass, Grass favours servers, and People are holding serve at a high percentage, Ppl like Fed are on 97% serve

 

[Noelan]

The head WImbledon groundskeeper said they used a firmer surface or something which got rid of bad bounces and made balls bounce higher. And many players/former players (including Djokovic) said the grass was slowed in 2010-2011 compared to even 2005-2006 much less earlier than that.

Damned the ITF, robbed federer from more Wimbledon titles