Comparing Federer's Play in his 4 Epic Wimbledon finals

[McEnroeisanartist]

Comparing Federer's play in his 4 epic Wimbledon finals, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014.

1st Serve %
71%, 65%, 64%, 69%

Aces
24, 25, 50, 29

Winners
65, 89, 107, 75

Unforced Errors
34, 52, 38, 29

Winning % on 1st Serve
71%, 73%, 89%, 77%

Winning % on 2nd Serve
62%, 57%, 60%, 44%

Receiving Points Won
35%, 33%, 28%, 30%

Break Point Conversions
3/8 (37%), 1/13 (7%), 1/7 (14%), 3/7 (43%0

Net Approaches Won
30/51 (59%), 42/75 (56%), 38/59 (64%), 44/67 (67%)

 

[LanceStern]

Comparing Federer's play in his 4 epic Wimbledon finals, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014.

Winning % on 2nd Serve
62%, 57%, 60%, 44%

Facing a young, hungry previous champion who's also an AMAZING returner may have been the key

 

[Steve0904]

Facing a young, hungry previous champion who's also an AMAZING returner may have been the key

True, however look at what he did against Nadal in 07 and 08. To me, that stat shows clear evidence of a decline in his ground game after the second serve is hit because while Djokovic is a better returner than Nadal he is not that much better than Nadal was in 07 or 08 IMO. Nor is he obviously better than Nadal was off the ground in 07 or 08. Plus we all know the obvious troubles that Nadal causes for Federer. Much more so than Djokovic ever has.

 

[Backspin1183]

True, however look at what he did against Nadal in 07 and 08. To me, that stat shows clear evidence of a decline in his ground game after the second serve is hit because while Djokovic is a better returner than Nadal he is not that much better than Nadal was in 07 or 08 IMO. Nor is he obviously better than Nadal was off the ground in 07 or 08. Plus we all know the obvious troubles that Nadal causes for Federer. Much more so than Djokovic ever has.

Federer served extremely well in this year's final but his ground game was clearly inferior to Djokovic's. Imo Fed's ground game today is not better than a Gulbis or Berdych. The serve has kept him going but once the rallies start, players like Novak have the edge.

 

[Steve0904]

Federer served extremely well in this year's final but his ground game was clearly inferior to Djokovic's. Imo Fed's ground game today is not better than a Gulbis or Berdych. The serve has kept him going but once the rallies start, players like Novak have the edge.

I still think he's better off the ground on grass than Gulbis or Berdych. I don't think it's that close tbh. But Nadal, Novak, and Murray would all have a clear edge off the ground.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Comparing Federer's play in his 4 epic Wimbledon finals, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2014.

1st Serve %
71%, 65%, 64%, 69%

Aces
24, 25, 50, 29

Winners
65, 89, 107, 75

Unforced Errors
34, 52, 38, 29

Winning % on 1st Serve
71%, 73%, 89%, 77%

Winning % on 2nd Serve
62%, 57%, 60%, 44%

Receiving Points Won
35%, 33%, 28%, 30%

Break Point Conversions
3/8 (37%), 1/13 (7%), 1/7 (14%), 3/7 (43%0

Net Approaches Won
30/51 (59%), 42/75 (56%), 38/59 (64%), 44/67 (67%)

You are still desperate and scrambling to crown something on Federer's head. You need to accept his loss of another Wimbledon final.

 

[Maximagq]

My favorites were 2009, 2014, 2007, and 2008 in the order of most favorite to least favorite.

 

[Russeljones]

Facing a young, hungry previous champion who's also an AMAZING returner may have been the key

That helped Djokovic on 2nd serves only, pretty much. Added to that are Novak's amazing 1st serves in the first set and Federer's (uncharacteristic) hesitation on serve in some key situations and the perfect storm was in place. Awesome match.

 

[HoyaPride]

True, however look at what he did against Nadal in 07 and 08. To me, that stat shows clear evidence of a decline in his ground game after the second serve is hit because while Djokovic is a better returner than Nadal he is not that much better than Nadal was in 07 or 08 IMO. Nor is he obviously better than Nadal was off the ground in 07 or 08. Plus we all know the obvious troubles that Nadal causes for Federer. Much more so than Djokovic ever has.

They are two very different types of players.

Djokovic has the ability to apply pressure with his actual return. Without looking at stats, my guess would be that he hits more winners and unreturnable balls off returns than Rafa does. Rafa pressures his opponents' serve in a slightly different way. He's not a diesel returner in any way or form, but he's able to neutralize good serves by getting depth on his returns. He can't really use his ROS as offensively as Nole does though.

One thing Novak can do that Roger and Rafa can't do is hit consistently big off both wings. Novak's BH is a weapon. I wouldn't call either Rafa's or Roger's backhands "weapons." They are good shots, but they can't place opponents under constant duress with that single shot the way Novak can.

 

[LanceStern]

They are two very different types of players.

Djokovic has the ability to apply pressure with his actual return. Without looking at stats, my guess would be that he hits more winners and unreturnable balls off returns than Rafa does. Rafa pressures his opponents' serve in a slightly different way. He's not a diesel returner in any way or form, but he's able to neutralize good serves by getting depth on his returns. He can't really use his ROS as offensively as Nole does though.

One thing Novak can do that Roger and Rafa can't do is hit consistently big off both wings. Novak's BH is a weapon. I wouldn't call either Rafa's or Roger's backhands "weapons." They are good shots, but they can't place opponents under constant duress with that single shot the way Novak can.

The only time Rafa's backhand was a legitimate weapon was that heartbreaking AO2009 final.

Backhand BOMBS from every angle

 

[HoyaPride]

The only time Rafa's backhand was a legitimate weapon was that heartbreaking AO2009 final.

Backhand BOMBS from every angle

And even then it wasn't in the same league as Novak's. Novak will exchange BHs with Nadal's forehand and say "B****, please!"

On top of that, Djokovic is equally impenetrable as Nadal. Perhaps even more so when comparing peak to peak.

Djokovic's biggest weakness has always been between his ears. I don't see Nadal blowing all of those chances Nole had yesterday.

 

[junior74]

I saw the final against Roddick today. In my opinion, Federer played better against Djokovic yesterday - the overall quality of the match was on a different level. Federer looks pretty much the same to me, I think the others have developed while he is a bit stuck in his old ways.