Federer adding a scissor-kick backhand to deal with Nadal's spin?

[thomasferrett]

Did anyone notice that Federer was doing scissor-kick backhands frequently when Nadal hit high topspin to his backhand.

He jumps off the back foot and scissors the legs to stop the torso rotating as he's airborne.

Interesting that even Federer's airborne backhand is different to Wawrinka's airborne backhand because Wawrinka tends not to scissor the legs and allows his torso to rotate when he's off the ground.

So, did you guys notice Federer was doing this move more than he used to (is it a new addition) - and was it effective?

 

[smoledman]

Federer still made a TON of errors off his backhand on his top 2 favorite surface. If this was clay, 6-2 6-3 for Nadal.

 

[jm1980]

Saw the whole match... BH still leaking a ton of errors and coughing up short balls when attacked. On a less favorable surface it would have been a straight sets beatdown

 

[smoledman]

Basically Fed won this with this serve/forehand combo + Nadal shakiness.

 

[thomasferrett]

Federer still made a TON of errors off his backhand on his top 2 favorite surface. If this was clay, 6-2 6-3 for Nadal.

OK, well this gives strength to my argument that Wawrinka/Gasquet/Almagro backhand doesn't break down more than the average solid 2-hander under Nadal's spin despite their terrible h2h records against him - because you can win or lose matches against Nadal due to other factors than your backhand breaking down.

 

[Nachiket Nolefam]

What's scissor kick backhand? Although I am quite sure, Fed won based on his serving prowess and netgame more than anything. His backhand although good, will not stay in rallies and returns on outdoor court.

 

[sureshs]

He needs to retool his backhand over the off-season. Get a leftie to keep on looping balls to his backhand, and practice them.

 

[BeatlesFan]

To repeat, what's scissor kick backhand? I've watched the match twice and never saw it. Can you post a link to this shot? Roger has never done this, to my knowledge, in any matches. I have seen video of him doing it as a joke, in practice, while in Dubai. But in an actual match? Please provide video.

 

[Luckydog]

Federer still made a TON of errors off his backhand on his top 2 favorite surface. If this was clay, 6-2 6-3 for Nadal.

Indeed.But he still had made a TON of winners going with errors.Don't mention clay, yesterday's meeting was just the 6th facing off between the two guys for the past 10 more years.Can you read something from that?