Fed greatest frontrunner ever

[beltsman]

We know that Federer is the greatest frontrunner of all time. That's not an insult. His freeflowing game works best when the pressure is off and he can really swing out with confidence.

So, what happened in USO 2009? Does Fed only feel the pressure go away when he's up two sets in BO5?

 

[tennisaddict]

He was way too casual that day and paid the price. Was over confident and not serious at all with several clownish shots

 

[Tenez!]

As this Wiki page shows (only in French though, puzzling), since breaking through in 2003 Federer losing after being up 2 sets had only occured twice, both way back in 2005 (everyone here knows which matches...).

2009 was over 300 matches later, which may have led him believe that against anyone else that Nadal he was effectively invincible while 2 sets up. Juanito showed him how the game was played that day.

Interestingly, Nadal has NEVER lost after being 2-sets-to-1 up. And only twice while two sets to nil up (everyone here also knows which matches...).

 

[xFedal]

As this Wiki page shows (only in French though, puzzling), since breaking through in 2003 Federer losing after being up 2 sets had only occured twice, both way back in 2005 (everyone here knows which matches...).

2009 was over 300 matches later, which may have led him believe that against anyone else that Nadal he was effectively invincible while 2 sets up. Juanito showed him how the game was played that day.

Interestingly, Nadal has NEVER lost after being 2-sets-to-1 up. And only twice while two sets to nil up (everyone here also knows which matches...).

Novak has only lost once while 2 sets up. Novak is best when taking the 1st set lead, he loses the least and has the highest percentage, it's a travesty to call Fed the best front runner, Nadal is better and so is Borg.

 

[La Grande]

We know that Federer is the greatest frontrunner of all time. That's not an insult. His freeflowing game works best when the pressure is off and he can really swing out with confidence.

So, what happened in USO 2009? Does Fed only feel the pressure go away when he's up two sets in BO5?

He's blown a few leads... but the majority of players couldn't dream of getting them, let alone following through.

But to answer your question... a terrific Juan Martin Del Potro happened. That was a fantastic match. Federer had his chances but Delpo held on. No shame in losing.

 

[metsman]

Got casual and unfocused and gave Delpo the opening which to his credit he took. Forehand dropshoterer on easy putaway ball struck again up 6-3 5-4 30-0.

 

[beltsman]

Novak has only lost once while 2 sets up. Novak is best when taking the 1st set lead, he loses the least and has the highest percentage, it's a travesty to call Fed the best front runner, Nadal is better and so is Borg.

Anyone who watches tennis knows that Federer is the biggest frontrunner in terms of level of play. He plays immensely better when he's not under pressure. If he gets up a set and a break it was off to the races.

Look at USO 2005 when he took a 2-1 set lead on Agassi.

 

[xFedal]

Anyone who watches tennis knows that Federer is the biggest frontrunner in terms of level of play. He plays immensely better when he's not under pressure. If he gets up a set and a break it was off to the races.

Look at USO 2005 when he took a 2-1 set lead on Agassi.

Look dude Fed has lost 60 times when he has taken the first set, Novak hasn't hit 30 yet.

 

[beltsman]

Look dude Fed has lost 60 times when he has taken the first set, Novak hasn't hit 30 yet.

Once again, stats don't tell the whole story. You have to actually watch tennis.

 

[edmondsm]

I think you've got a solid point. Funny that he became close friends with Tiger Woods, because Tiger was the greatest front-runner in the history of golf. I believe he didn't once come from behind on Sunday to win a major.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

As this Wiki page shows (only in French though, puzzling), since breaking through in 2003 Federer losing after being up 2 sets had only occured twice, both way back in 2005 (everyone here knows which matches...).

2009 was over 300 matches later, which may have led him believe that against anyone else that Nadal he was effectively invincible while 2 sets up. Juanito showed him how the game was played that day.

Fed didn't win the first two sets. They split them.

So frustrating that he didn't win that though. Had gone through Soderling in QF (feeding him a bagel in the process), straight-setted Djok in SF, then came up short against Delpo. I'd have to watch it again to get a better sense of what went wrong, but I think Delpo does just get a lot of credit there.

 

[President]

We know that Federer is the greatest frontrunner of all time. That's not an insult. His freeflowing game works best when the pressure is off and he can really swing out with confidence.

So, what happened in USO 2009? Does Fed only feel the pressure go away when he's up two sets in BO5?

From what I can remember from highlights I watched a few weeks ago (which correlate pretty well with my vague impressions of a match that was more than 6 years ago now), it seems as though he started to get into too many extended baseline rallies against Del Potro, really allowing JMDP to get into a great groove with his groundstrokes and start to consistently hit huge on his forehand. He had done a good job of denying Del Potro rhythm in the first few sets, but he let his foot off the gas a little bit and Del Potro raised his level while Federer started to play a bit more tentatively on the big points.

 

[dh003i]

I remember the match clearly and it was on Fed's racket until the 5th, he could have and should have won it with his game...a few poor decisions and letting that awful call by the umpire get in his head.

Del Potro did step up his game and play fantastic, so it was entirely earned -- by the end of the 5 sets, he was the guy who had played better. I was indeed happy for him.

 

[I am the Greatest!]

Federer just thought easy of Del Potro and paid the price. He destroyed him in Australia and came back in the French so he thought that JMDP was a cakewalk. Lol.

 

[ultradr]

He is a simpleton. The safer situation is, the more risk he takes. The riskier the situation is, the safer he goes. Completely linear strategy. And never ever makes an exception in his strategy. Never.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

He isn't necessarily the best at winning after taking the first set (could be though), but he's the best frontrunner in the traditional sense.

He's an expert at quickly racing to a 4-1 lead or such - he does this much, much more than Nadalovic.
He also plays extremely well when in front in general, when not under pressure he is scarily good.

 

[LinePainter]

Look dude Fed has lost 60 times when he has taken the first set, Novak hasn't hit 30 yet.

He's also six years older and has played 463 more matches, but forget all that, Fedr is trash, weak era, arrogant, blah blah blah.