Federer: Best Of Five Sets Should Return To Finals

[Semi-Pro]

Roger Federer was able to accomplish a huge feat by collecting a record number of six titles at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals to add to his own mark on history, which he had already done with 16 Grand Slam crowns. He was overjoyed at his success.

“I've been trying to sort of block it out for the entire tournament, the entire time I've been here in London. I just tried to recuperate from Basel and Paris and hopefully get through the round robin stages. So now it's finally sort of reality that I've been able to win six World Tour Finals. It's an amazing feeling. I know it's one of my greatest accomplishments,” said the Swiss. “For me, it was the strongest finish I've ever had in my career, which I'm very proud of. I'm looking forward to next year. So I'm really excited.”

Despite going into a tough three-set match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Federer expressed that he would like to return to a best-of-five sets style at the ATP Finals to give the audience more. He said, “I think it makes for a great year end”

“We had the whole scenario today in today's match. But if I would have served it out, it would have been over in a hurry. I think I almost felt the spectators weren't quite ready for it to end quite yet, although many would have been happy for me, they would have loved to see more tennis,” recalled the former World No. 1, “I remember sitting in a room in Shanghai where players were asked, Would you like it to be five sets or three sets, the year end final? Kind of went in a circle. Everyone said best of three sets. I was the only guy that said, I think we should have best of five sets. “

When asked about when he plans on slowing down, the World No. 4 said he still loves the game and looks forwa.rd to continue playing in the future

“I love this game more than anybody, so I'm not all of a sudden going to wake up in the morning and say I don't like it anymore. It's a lot of sacrifice. It's a lot of effort I have to put in every day. I know that. But I do enjoy that because what I get in return is moments like I got today, with my team, with my family. It's priceless really. So for this reason I'm very excited for next year. I am happy that the season is over because it has been long, it has been grueling. But, yeah, I'm very happy and upbeat about what's to come. “

What’s next asked the media, referring to the upcoming Olympics.

He answered, “Be unfair to the other tournaments to pick London Olympic Games as my number one priority because I have priorities first before that. But I clearly don't want to miss it and I hope to be healthy when the Olympics do come around. “

Federer looks forward to his month long break in December and wants to refresh his mental toughness.

“I think I'm mentally good right now. That was also one of the reasons why I did take some time off, to actually think it through, you know, get into the right mental mindset because we do I don't want to say underestimate or overestimate the mental part of the game




http://www.tennisnow.com/News/Federer--Best-Of-Five-Sets-Should-Return-To-Finals.aspx

Do you agree?

 

[DragonBlaze]

100% agreed. Would be far more exciting then. Imagine having another potential 2 sets of tennis today, way better for the crowd as well. Funny that Roger was the only one who wanted best of 5 sets :lol:

Also, how arrogant of Federer to say that he loves this game more than anybody

 

[Semi-Pro]

100% agreed. Would be far more exciting then. Imagine having another potential 2 sets of tennis today, way better for the crowd as well. Funny that Roger was the only one who wanted best of 5 sets :lol:

Also, how arrogant of Federer to say that he loves this game more than anybody

yep,,,arrogance at its finest once again produced by sir roger

 

[Babblelot]

Yeah, best of 3 set titles are nice, but they aren't the standard I measure a season or career by. I don't think my POV is exceptional, either.

 

[Netspirit]

We've had a thread on this recently.

Everybody agreed that the final should be a 5-setter.

I personally think that it is enough for the semis to be best-of-3, and there should be a day of rest before the final.

 

[Bobby Jr]

The article should have referred to him as "world number 3"....

 

[rommil]

Upon reading Fed's statement, Novak started rubbing his back, Murray wincing in groin pain, and Rafa turns and looks to Toni for what to say.

 

[Zildite]

“We had the whole scenario today in today's match. But if I would have served it out, it would have been over in a hurry. I think I almost felt the spectators weren't quite ready for it to end quite yet, although many would have been happy for me, they would have loved to see more tennis,”

Dare I say a tank?

Didn't Fed say he was exhausted after the final too? It might be nice, if the players weren't too burnt out.
They might need more rest for the WTF, which may be to the detriment of the tournaments leading up to it.

 

[Sentinel]

Upon reading Fed's statement, Novak started rubbing his back, Murray wincing in groin pain, and Rafa turns and looks to Toni for what to say.

LMAO.

Ack, Rommil, you can't rub your own back !

 

[rommil]

LMAO.

Ack, Rommil, you can't rub your own back !

Don't underestimate Novak's gumbyliciousness

Ack Senti, you must have really short arms.

 

[Evan77]

I agree with Federer but I think it would work against him atm.

 

[purge]

Didn't Fed say he was exhausted after the final too? .

mentally rather than physically id say. the thing that can make a best of 3 final very challenging mentally is that in some scenarios (like the one yesterday) it can happen that youre virtually just a few points away from making the deciding play for about half the match. that is mentally taxing.
fed was already close to winning at 5-3 in the 2nd and remained so until the breaker was decided. and throughout the entire deciding set both players obviously know that the next break of serve will most likely be cruicial.

in a best of 5 when its 1-0 or 1 set all you can still be alot more relaxed since even if you have 2-3 bad minutes now it doesnt nescessarily cost you the entire match just yet.

 

[namelessone]

100% agreed. Would be far more exciting then. Imagine having another potential 2 sets of tennis today, way better for the crowd as well. Funny that Roger was the only one who wanted best of 5 sets :lol:

Also, how arrogant of Federer to say that he loves this game more than anybody

Of course, he's achieved his goals, it's all gravy for him since 2009. Could just as well be 9 sets as far as he is concerned since he only peaks for the big ones nowadays and plays a very easy on the body type of tennis. The others with a more physical style care about ranking and have to treat each event accordingly.

Didn't the ATP scrap 5 set finals after that Rome 06' when both he and Nadal stayed on court for a gazzilion hours and both of them withdrew from Hamburg masters right after? Did Fed say anything about it back then?

I actually agree wholeheartedly with Fed that five setters should come back but only if masters events are spaced out more so that players can recover.

 

[purge]

i agree with fed that i enjoyed the times when masters finals were best of 5 matches and you could see some epic fedal matches even outside the slams. even tho maybe in retrospective it wouldve helped fed to win a couple more of these encounters had they been best of 3 already back then.. but anyway

of course in todays conditions and with todays playing styles it might be a bit too much. i have a feeling it might make winning back to back masters titles in IW and miami near impossible for instance. i guess the schedule would have to be adapted to that

one other reason for fed to say this may also be to play a little mind game with the others as in 'whats wrong with you guys? injured? spent at the end of the season? look at me, im 30 years old and i can do it without trouble.. hell lets bring back best of 5 masters finals like in my best days, i can still take it no problem '
haha

 

[rommil]

Five setter is a no no, a Nadal-Djokovic match would end just before the Aussie Open begins.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Fed is such a good ambassador for tennis.

 

[Ralph]

Upon reading Fed's statement, Novak started rubbing his back, Murray wincing in groin pain, and Rafa turns and looks to Toni for what to say.

Can I have this as my signature ?

 

[DragonBlaze]

Of course, he's achieved his goals, it's all gravy for him since 2009. Could just as well be 9 sets as far as he is concerned since he only peaks for the big ones nowadays and plays a very easy on the body type of tennis. The others with a more physical style care about ranking and have to treat each event accordingly.

Didn't the ATP scrap 5 set finals after that Rome 06' when both he and Nadal stayed on court for a gazzilion hours and both of them withdrew from Hamburg masters right after? Did Fed say anything about it back then?

I actually agree wholeheartedly with Fed that five setters should come back but only if masters events are spaced out more so that players can recover.

Fed is such a good ambassador for tennis.

He really is.

While namelessone may have a point, that the best of 5 format isn't detrimental to Roger anymore since he doesn't need to win anything more and that is why he can advocate it, I still think that it's more about Roger realising what is better for the viewers and the game as a whole. He is not all about making changes that will benefit him and other top players. He tries to look at it from both point of views.

Another reason I say this is because Roger flat out rejected the idea of a 2 year ranking system. I'm pretty sure Roger is going to be playing for another 2-4 years and as he declines further a 2 year ranking would help him immensely in terms of seeding for the majors which would ofcourse make the path to the semis/final much easier. However he knows its a dumb idea and really would make things more boring.

This guy thinks a lot about the game as well and is indeed a great ambassador for this sport. Which is why I can't help but laugh when I remember reading some guy on this forum claiming Federer was a BAD ambassador for this sport :lol:.

 

[TennisLovaLova]

They should skip the wtf semis imo

 

[Sentinel]

Five setter is a no no, a Nadal-Djokovic match would end just before the Aussie Open begins.

I'd like that. Really.
I get sort of babetteish (irritable and depressed) in Dec-early Jan with no tennis to watch. What's more, then Ralph can carry his momentum into the AO, and not complain about rustiness/restiness.

 

[Ralph]

I'd like that. Really.
I get sort of babetteish (irritable and depressed) in Dec-early Jan with no tennis to watch. What's more, then Ralph can carry his momentum into the AO, and not complain about rustiness/restiness.

What? Hey? I never complain abou- AH, you mean the other Ralph.

Speaking of Babette (where is she these days, I kinda miss her - and that isn't sarcasm.)

Speaking of people missing, where does one find the likes of BUD and Veroniquem these days? Is it me, or are they nowhere to be found?

 

[Li Ching Yuen]

You can't play quarters, semies and then potentially a 5 setter in slow-medium conditions in consecutive days.

 

[Colin]

He really is.

While namelessone may have a point, that the best of 5 format isn't detrimental to Roger anymore since he doesn't need to win anything more and that is why he can advocate it, I still think that it's more about Roger realising what is better for the viewers and the game as a whole. He is not all about making changes that will benefit him and other top players. He tries to look at it from both point of views.

Another reason I say this is because Roger flat out rejected the idea of a 2 year ranking system. I'm pretty sure Roger is going to be playing for another 2-4 years and as he declines further a 2 year ranking would help him immensely in terms of seeding for the majors which would ofcourse make the path to the semis/final much easier. However he knows its a dumb idea and really would make things more boring.

This guy thinks a lot about the game as well and is indeed a great ambassador for this sport. Which is why I can't help but laugh when I remember reading some guy on this forum claiming Federer was a BAD ambassador for this sport :lol:.

Agreed. Regardless of his skill with a racket, he's a great spokesman for the sport, and it makes me happy he's the head of the players council. Think about the four-month schedule, expanded serve times and multi-year ranking systems we could be facing under other regimes.

The motivating factor is that Fed is a tennis fan above all. Even on his day off, he'd rather be watching tennis than football. He was a tennis fan before playing professionally and he'll be a fan afterward, and I think that's why he brings a respect for the game's history and a deep concern for its future.

He knows people want long matches, but they want long, action-packed matches — not long pauses between play, multiple MTOs and endless pushing that turns best-of-three matches into four-hour affairs.

It was quite gracious of him to lose that tiebreak Sunday to ensure the crowd got what it paid for.

 

[namelessone]

Agreed. Regardless of his skill with a racket, he's a great spokesman for the sport, and it makes me happy he's the head of the players council. Think about the four-month schedule, expanded serve times and multi-year ranking systems we could be facing under other regimes.

The motivating factor is that Fed is a tennis fan above all. Even on his day off, he'd rather be watching tennis than football. He was a tennis fan before playing professionally and he'll be a fan afterward, and I think that's why he brings a respect for the game's history and a deep concern for its future.

He knows people want long matches, but they want long, action-packed matches — not long pauses between play, multiple MTOs and endless pushing that turns best-of-three matches into four-hour affairs.

It was quite gracious of him to lose that tiebreak Sunday to ensure the crowd got what it paid for.

You do realize that if Nadal were the head of the council, since I assume that's who you are alluding to, and proposed such measures he would still need the vote of the other guys as well, right? This is not a dictatorship people, these players advise one another and they reach the best solution for their common goal.

 

[Colin]

You do realize that if Nadal were the head of the council, since I assume that's who you are alluding to, and proposed such measures he would still need the vote of the other guys as well, right? This is not a dictatorship people, these players advise one another and they reach the best solution for their common goal.

Indeed, hence my usage of the word "facing," which can intimate the threat of something and not necessarily its grim reality. In this case, I imagine these kinds of ideas would be proposed by players such as Nadal or Murray from some of their recent agitprop, but I'd hope the players at large would possess the requisite sense to roundly reject them — especially since they showed the recent good taste to choose Roger for the Edberg award, a symbolic rejection of the Nadal era, circa 2010.

 

[namelessone]

Indeed, hence my usage of the word "facing," which can intimate the threat of something and not necessarily its grim reality. In this case, I imagine these kinds of ideas would be proposed by players such as Nadal or Murray from some of their recent agitprop, but I'd hope the players at large would possess the requisite sense to roundly reject them — especially since they showed the recent good taste to choose Roger for the Edberg award, a symbolic rejection of the Nadal era, circa 2010.

I get it, it's only good taste if they pick Fed.

Wonder what happened last year when they picked Nadal(you know who has been abusing them with fistpumps,mean stares across the net, time wasting etc).

Did good Fed do something to upset them?

 

[Sentinel]

What? Hey? I never complain abou- AH, you mean the other Ralph.

Speaking of Babette (where is she these days, I kinda miss her - and that isn't sarcasm.)

Speaking of people missing, where does one find the likes of BUD and Veroniquem these days? Is it me, or are they nowhere to be found?

Haha, i missed that 2 times, then got it. LOL. Yes, the OTHER Ralph.

I think Babbette got the banhammer once. Dunno what happened after that. And you DON"T want to know where the Buds;, Veros etc are to be found at this time of the year.

Hey, wait, you might find Vero in my sig, for a few hours. I found another nice one I want to honor by sigging.

 

[Sentinel]

It was quite gracious of him to lose that tiebreak Sunday to ensure the crowd got what it paid for.

Yeah, i was telling that to my Mother even when he failed to serve it out. Then at 2-5 in the TB he had a chance to make it 6-2 but darned hit it out. It was freakin deliberate man. When he had to, at 5-3 in the 3rd, see how easily he held.

No wonder he wants a 5 setter in the end, so he can win in straights and not drop a middle set

 

[rommil]

Can I have this as my signature ?

Go ahead...........

 

[devila]

no difference, the media and federina opponents didn't mind the stolen matches which had bad officiating in indian wells vs. agassi and miami vs. nadal. fed the phoney had the nerve to reject the computer line calls.

 

[helloworld]

If the finals were 5 sets, 30 year-old Federer would have trouble against Tsonga. The result would have turned out similar to Wimbledon this year. Fed should stick with the 3 setters.

 

[Magnetite]

All I read was that he allowed Tsonga into the 2nd set so the fans could have a better show.

 

[Shangri La]

What Fed was trying to say is that more credit should be given to WTF titles which I totally agree.

 

[Bobby Jr]

People should consider this topic when comparing Djokovic's Masters 1000 wins this year compared to Federer's best years. Federer was playing 5 set matches while Djokovic only 3 set matches.

One of these things is not like the other

 

[man_untd11]

The article should have referred to him as "world number 3"....

he is world number 3? He has more points than Murray since he won the final. He had more points just for reaching the final lol

 

[SirGounder]

Upon reading Fed's statement, Novak started rubbing his back, Murray wincing in groin pain, and Rafa turns and looks to Toni for what to say.

One of the greatest quotes I've read on this forum. Doesn't matter which player you like, this was just funny.

 

[Bobby Jr]

he is world number 3? He has more points than Murray since he won the final. He had more points just for reaching the final lol

Yes. The article referred to him as still being #4 after he'd won the tournament.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

Despite going into a tough three-set match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Federer expressed that he would like to return to a best-of-five sets style at the ATP Finals to give the audience more. He said, “I think it makes for a great year end”

“We had the whole scenario today in today's match. But if I would have served it out, it would have been over in a hurry. I think I almost felt the spectators weren't quite ready for it to end quite yet, although many would have been happy for me, they would have loved to see more tennis,” recalled the former World No. 1, “I remember sitting in a room in Shanghai where players were asked, Would you like it to be five sets or three sets, the year end final? Kind of went in a circle. Everyone said best of three sets. I was the only guy that said, I think we should have best of five sets. “

Do you agree?

great to see roger wanting back the 5 sets for the final of the year-end masters !

 

[sonicare]

What do you guys think?

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=404806

 

[abmk]

Upon reading Fed's statement, Novak started rubbing his back, Murray wincing in groin pain, and Rafa turns and looks to Toni for what to say.

LOL, ha ha , brilliant !

 

[Colin]

I get it, it's only good taste if they pick Fed.

Wonder what happened last year when they picked Nadal(you know who has been abusing them with fistpumps,mean stares across the net, time wasting etc).

Did good Fed do something to upset them?

In 2010, the ATP players were like otherwise good teens who go through a rebellious phase, sneaking off to hang around with a bad crowd that partied hard, stayed up all night and took copious amounts of time between first and second serves. They showed poor judgment — and perhaps picked up a bad butt-picking habit along the way — but they have returned to their senses and come running back to their ever-sagacious father, who's welcomed them home in his loving GOAT arms in hopes they shall stray nevermore.

 

[namelessone]

In 2010, the ATP players were like otherwise good teens who go through a rebellious phase, sneaking off to hang around with a bad crowd that partied hard, stayed up all night and took copious amounts of time between first and second serves. They showed poor judgment — and perhaps picked up a bad butt-picking habit along the way — but they have returned to their senses and come running back to their ever-sagacious father, who's welcomed them home in his loving GOAT arms in hopes they shall stray nevermore.

Questionable humor but full marks for effort.

 

[Sentinel]

great to see roger wanting back the 5 sets for the final of the year-end masters !

How nasty of Roger. Rubbing salt into the wounds of certain players who start complaining in June itself that season is too long.

Just because His Rogerness can play day and night, 11 months a year, at 30, and can come back from a vacation and not be rusty, doesn't mean he should expect the plodder and workman-like brethren to do so.

btw, nice post, Colin. The fact that you riled up some people shows it must be good.

 

[aphex]

In that case, Ralph will become the injury of the rust
or the injury of the (right) shoulder
or the injury of the abdomen 2 mile tear
or the injury of the high altitude
or the injury of the divorce
or the injury of the rest
or the injury of the tiredness
or the injury of the hot plate
or the injury of the toenail
or the injury of the plantano choke...

Mean Fed is mean!

 

[Biscuitmcgriddleson]

Of course, he's achieved his goals, it's all gravy for him since 2009. Could just as well be 9 sets as far as he is concerned since he only peaks for the big ones nowadays and plays a very easy on the body type of tennis. The others with a more physical style care about ranking and have to treat each event accordingly.

Didn't the ATP scrap 5 set finals after that Rome 06' when both he and Nadal stayed on court for a gazzilion hours and both of them withdrew from Hamburg masters right after? Did Fed say anything about it back then?

I actually agree wholeheartedly with Fed that five setters should come back but only if masters events are spaced out more so that players can recover.

I think that Federer wants them to come back to the ATP WTF only.

 

[IvanAndreevich]

I love it when they were best of 5. IMO make the final worth more points, and best of 5. Make the best of 3 matches worth something less.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

I agree: 5 sets

 

[dudeski]

Upon reading Fed's statement, Novak started rubbing his back, Murray wincing in groin pain, and Rafa turns and looks to Toni for what to say.

LOL I don't think Nadal can handle best of 5. He is already too tired from too much rest.

 

[dudeski]

You can't play quarters, semies and then potentially a 5 setter in slow-medium conditions in consecutive days.

Oh yes you can. Lets see what Fed was up to in 2006 when he was about the same age as Nadal, Djokovic and Murray:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Roger-Federer.aspx?t=pa&y=2006&m=s&e=0#

For example lets take a look at 20006 Rome where he had to play 6 matches in a week, including 5 set final (5+ hours vs Nadal), 3 set semi and 3 set quarter:

R64 Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 30 W 6-2, 6-1
R32 Potito Starace (ITA) 81 W 6-3, 7-6(2)
R16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 18 W 6-1, 6-4 Stats
Q Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 54 W 6-3, 6-7(2), 7-5
S David Nalbandian (ARG) 3 W 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)
F Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2 L 7-6(0), 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-2, 6-7(5)

After that he played Nadal in FO final, won Wimbledon, USO, TMC, Madrid and bunch of other tournaments and played in DC. So I don't see why can't Nadal or Djokovic or Murray do that.

 

[Biscuitmcgriddleson]

Oh yes you can. Lets see what Fed was up to in 2006 when he was about the same age as Nadal, Djokovic and Murray:

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Tennis/Players/Top-Players/Roger-Federer.aspx?t=pa&y=2006&m=s&e=0#

For example lets take a look at 20006 Rome where he had to play 6 matches in a week, including 5 set final (5+ hours vs Nadal), 3 set semi and 3 set quarter:

R64 Juan Ignacio Chela (ARG) 30 W 6-2, 6-1
R32 Potito Starace (ITA) 81 W 6-3, 7-6(2)
R16 Radek Stepanek (CZE) 18 W 6-1, 6-4 Stats
Q Nicolas Almagro (ESP) 54 W 6-3, 6-7(2), 7-5
S David Nalbandian (ARG) 3 W 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5)
F Rafael Nadal (ESP) 2 L 7-6(0), 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-2, 6-7(5)

After that he played Nadal in FO final, won Wimbledon, USO, TMC, Madrid and bunch of other tournaments and played in DC. So I don't see why can't Nadal or Djokovic or Murray do that.

Because Federer chose to play a style which isn't hard on the body. How dare he try to choose something that will allow him to play without stressing his body as much. THE ARRRRRRRRRRROGANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!