Federer Fans: Is now the official beginning of the end?

[tennisaddict]

5th loss of the year.

Loss to Djoker no big deal. It was expected and anyone expecting Fed to definitely beat him is insane .

Losses to Coric and Kokkinakis was painful, but he was close to winning both. Loss to Delpo and Anderson was after having MP

He is still serving Great but return game has deteriorated big time after Rotterdam .IW was the first tournament that we saw the crapola returns . He is not even able to put simple Slice returns into the court on second serves for most of the time .

I think this is more because of his infrequent match play. No rhythm at all.

 

[Jaitock1991]

Has nothing to do with age.
I am 46 and can run circles around most 40 year olds...

Yeah. I guess that's very comparable to having to face world class athletes that are still pretty much in their physical prime...

These guys operate at the limit of human capability. Losing 1/10 of a step(which is very normal for a 37-year-old with the milage of Fed's) is the difference between victory and defeat.

 

[Deon Sanders]

Yeah. I guess that's very comparable to having to face world class athletes that are still pretty much in their physical prime...

These guys operate at the limit of human capability. Losing 1/10 of a step(which a 37-year-old with the milage of Fed's clearly has) is the difference between victory and defeat.

Yeah

There is a 60 year old out there that can run faster than a fat 25 year old. Why cant Usain Bolt win the next 8 Olympics?!?! HE SUCKS

 

[Shaolin]

Relax he just had a bad day.

Pete had a bad year and then won a slam. No need to give up because of one match.

 

[dr325i]

Classic Nole fans taking dig at Roger now that Novak is playing well again, while nowhere to be seen while Novak was playing bad.

Oh...I was here...

 

[dr325i]

Yeah. I guess that's very comparable to having to face world class athletes that are still pretty much in their physical prime...

These guys operate at the limit of human capability. Losing 1/10 of a step(which is very normal for a 37-year-old with the milage of Fed's) is the difference between victory and defeat.

Ah, thanks for educating me. Now read everything I wrote before replying...

 

[OhYes]

Nice of you to talk as it's only dependent on Djokovic. Where was he when Fed was clobbering everyone in 2017-early 2018?

Recovering and finding his old game ?

 

[mike danny]

Recovering and finding his old game ?

Good for him. You weren't here posting during that period and now you are on your high horses again.

Fed is still struggling to find his game and still showed up to face Novak in Cincy, while Novak was nowhere to be seen in 2017-early 2018.

 

[OhYes]

Good for him. You weren't here posting during that period and now you are on your high horses again.

Fed is still struggling to find his game and still showed up to face Novak in Cincy, while Novak was nowhere to be seen in 2017-early 2018.

So what ?
I should post in that period so you guys could treat me better ? So I would prove myself as true tennis fan ? So I would deserve some imaginary respect from keyboard warriors?

Yeah you are truly hard core and I bow to your stubborness of staying with most decorated player ever, it was so hard for you cheering for a guy that surpassed Samprass 8 or 10 years ago. I know, you noticed him while he had pimples on his face and you are discussing tennis from 2001.

 

[jklos]

As crap as he was today with a hold of serve at 2-0 he likely wins the 2nd and who knows where the 3rd goes. Even a garbage Federer beats most guys. A mediocre one can even keep up with the best. It does seem as though the legs are getting heavier. Which is weird because his movement was great a year ago.

 

[KINGROGER]

I still have faith. It’s only been a few months since Rotterdam where he was excellent.

With a favourable draw the old man might come into some inspired form at the Open. Or have a great indoor season, treating us to some nice tennis again and culminating in a 7th YEC.

 

[oldmanfan]

Today’s final was nothing short of a fantastic Djokovic display. Scintillatingly dispatching Roger in straight sets, was never in doubt in my opinion.

As for Roger, hard to take any positives out of today other than his serve. Poor on groundstrokes and most of the time wasn’t clinical enough on volleys.

I ask you, Federer fans, is he finished? Is this the beginning of the end for Roger Federer? It’s been said numerous times over and over, and he proved everyone wrong. But this was his pet masters, as Wimbledon was also his pet slam. He’s now lost both of them, to Djokovic (well, he lost to Anderson at Wimbledon but still).

At the age of 37, is this finally going to be it for Roger Federer?

Nope. Like you said, it's been said over and over again in the past.

Fed had a terrible tournament, yet reached the finals. He played a terrible finals, yet lost 4 and 4 against a GOAT candidate and likely the 2nd greatest HC player in history.

Look at today's lost this way: Djokovic, undeniably top2 greatest HC player ever, is 2-5 in finals at USO (most of them in is peak years). We're supposed to worry about an old man having a bad day/tournament?

Perspectives my friend.

 

[tennisaddict]

So what ?
I should post in that period so you guys could treat me better ? So I would prove myself as true tennis fan ? So I would deserve some imaginary respect from keyboard warriors?

Yeah you are truly hard core and I bow to your stubborness of staying with most decorated player ever, it was so hard for you cheering for a guy that surpassed Samprass 8 or 10 years ago. I know, you noticed him while he had pimples on his face and you are discussing tennis from 2001.

LOL, you are a fair weather fan.. no guts, no spine .. vanished from forum for 2 years .. I wish some of the Serbian fans have at least an iota of gusto that Novak has.

 

[oldmanfan]

I still have faith. It’s only been a few months since Rotterdam where he was excellent.

With a favourable draw the old man might come into some inspired form at the Open. Or have a great indoor season, treating us to some nice tennis again and culminating in a 7th YEC.

Agreed. He was worse in 2013, but look at how 2014 and 2015 turned out. Yes, he's getting older at 37, but it's not like Nadalovicray isn't. But let's not forget, he's also Roger Federer. The first to reach 15 slams, and the oldest #1 a few weeks ago. He's set the standard, and way too often. I'll worry the moment he announces retirement in 3-5 years.

 

[justasport]

He is going to win a 6th US Open in three weeks

 

[OhYes]

LOL, you are a fair weather fan.. no guts, no spine .. vanished from forum for 2 years .. I wish some of the Serbian fans have at least an iota of gusto that Novak has.

Some of us have, for things that actually matter. For dwelling on imagionary places talking about same story over and over again, you just need a lot of free time not "gusto".

 

[dgold44]

Today’s final was nothing short of a fantastic Djokovic display. Scintillatingly dispatching Roger in straight sets, was never in doubt in my opinion.

As for Roger, hard to take any positives out of today other than his serve. Poor on groundstrokes and most of the time wasn’t clinical enough on volleys.

I ask you, Federer fans, is he finished? Is this the beginning of the end for Roger Federer? It’s been said numerous times over and over, and he proved everyone wrong. But this was his pet masters, as Wimbledon was also his pet slam. He’s now lost both of them, to Djokovic (well, he lost to Anderson at Wimbledon but still).

At the age of 37, is this finally going to be it for Roger Federer?

Fed is a serve bot and his groundies are top 20 with so many errors

 

[chrisb]

He seems to have finally lost a little of his ability to fine tune his feet. Which leads to making more errors in his ground game. He is trying to shorten points and it backfired yesterday. Joker played great defense as well as taking control of the neutral situations and transformed better to offense then Fed did. I think the 2 matches in one day hurt Fed more then Jok. I also think that performing at the highest level mike be slipping away from him. Question might be will he recognize and retire or accept and become merely a top 10 player

 

[junior74]

5th loss of the year.

Loss to Djoker no big deal. It was expected and anyone expecting Fed to definitely beat him is insane .

Losses to Coric and Kokkinakis was painful, but he was close to winning both. Loss to Delpo and Anderson was after having MP

He is still serving Great but return game has deteriorated big time after Rotterdam .IW was the first tournament that we saw the crapola returns . He is not even able to put simple Slice returns into the court on second serves for most of the time .

I think this is more because of his infrequent match play. No rhythm at all.

I agree. Resting is good, but he has probably played too few matches.

There's nothing wrong with losing to Djokovic, but the way he lost was awful. Djokovic didn't have to play at his best level at any stage of this match. Federer served Djokovic the title on the richest bed of unforced errors I think I have ever encountered on this level

And I thought he moved like an elephant. Which he did against Goffin, too (a match he would have lost had Goffin been ok)

I will never say never, but AO19 is his last chance, I think.

 

[GabeT]

Fed is 37, so truly anything he can win is gravy at this point. But there is also something about the matchup with Nole that makes it look worse. I suspect that against anyone else Fed would have won and, if so, plenty here would be talking about Fed being the USO favorite.

Although the Fedovik rivalry has been a pretty close one Nole has clearly dominated the rivalry in recent years. Fed hasn’t beaten Nole at a Slam for more than 6 years. Wimbledon 2012 was the last time. And even though Fed beat Nole 7 times since Wimby 2012 four of those were at Cincy or Dubai, where conditions have historically favored Fed.

 

[Sentinel]

Yup, he's done. Done and dusted. Over the hill and dale.

 

[RS]

Good for him. You weren't here posting during that period and now you are on your high horses again.

Fed is still struggling to find his game and still showed up to face Novak in Cincy, while Novak was nowhere to be seen in 2017-early 2018.

Djokovic was injured for a lot of that time frame. From July 2017 to March 2018. So it’s not fair to hold that against him. Just like it wouldn’t be fair to hold Federer not playing Djokovic in 2013 and 2016 while injuried.

 

[RS]

Agreed. He was worse in 2013, but look at how 2014 and 2015 turned out. Yes, he's getting older at 37, but it's not like Nadalovicray isn't. But let's not forget, he's also Roger Federer. The first to reach 15 slams, and the oldest #1 a few weeks ago. He's set the standard, and way too often. I'll worry the moment he announces retirement in 3-5 years.

Do you think he will play that long?

 

[Eren]

Djokovic was injured for a lot of that time frame. From July 2017 to March 2018. So it’s not fair to hold that against him. Just like it wouldn’t be fair to hold Federer not playing Djokovic in 2013 and 2016 while injuried.

Not a fair comparison. Federer played Djokovic at AO SF 2016 en Paris Masters in 2013. Still one match per year. Djokovic went missing indefinitely.

Federer has made it much more often to Djokovic when not playing good and not so much the other way around.

 

[RS]

Not a fair comparison. Federer played Djokovic at AO SF 2016 en Paris Masters in 2013. Still one match per year. Djokovic went missing indefinitely.

Federer has made it much more often to Djokovic when not playing good and not so much the other way around.

Djokovic made it to Federer 19 times before his 2011-16 domination. Even when he was not a ATG yet.
Federer was fully fit in those two matches.
He didn’t play Djokovic while he was not fit like Mike Danny expected of Djokovic.

 

[Rafa the King]

I'd be worried that he just hasn't reached an amazing level since Shanghai 2017. Still good enough to win a slam with some luck

 

[Deleted member 77403]

Never ever count out an ATG the caliber of the big three. He is still very much a contender.

 

[Eren]

Djokovic made it to Federer 19 times before his 2011-16 domination. Even when he was not a ATG yet.
Federer was fully fit in those two matches.
He didn’t play Djokovic while he was not fit like Mike Danny expected of Djokovic.

Federer full fit in 2013? Nah. Djokovic was fully fit in 2017 AO and beat Murray convincingly in the final of Doha(?) before AO 2017. Still didn't reach Federer there. Federer reached Djokovic 27 times when playing not at his best. A little more than 19 don't you think?

 

[tennisaddict]

Some of us have, for things that actually matter. For dwelling on imagionary places talking about same story over and over again, you just need a lot of free time not "gusto".

You are a 4 year old girl with a Novak doll in her hand as far as I am concerned .

 

[FiReFTW]

I think his biggest problem is missing long stretches of tennis for 1-2 months constantly... you can't expect to be in good form and have the rhytm and timing like this...

It just happened to work last year by some chance and miracle when he skipped the clay season, but this season he took it to an even bigger extreme, you just can't skip such huge chunks of the season constantly and expect to play at 100%, not even if you are Federer.

Every single player who gets injured or whatever and is out for a month or 2 or 3, when they come back they need ALOT of time and tourneys to get back to their best.

Its a miracle that it somehow kind of worked for Fed last year.

 

[Bartelby]

You lose badly when your Federer's age and everyone wants you to retire. It's just silly. He lost the final so he made the final.

The dogs bark and the caravan moves on.

 

[Tennisisfascinating]

 

[mike danny]

So what ?
I should post in that period so you guys could treat me better ? So I would prove myself as true tennis fan ? So I would deserve some imaginary respect from keyboard warriors?

Yeah you are truly hard core and I bow to your stubborness of staying with most decorated player ever, it was so hard for you cheering for a guy that surpassed Samprass 8 or 10 years ago. I know, you noticed him while he had pimples on his face and you are discussing tennis from 2001.

You're no different yourself. Only showing up when Djokovic wins.

I was actually very active in 2013-2016 when Fed wasn't winning slams. You disappeared completely on the other hand and finally showed up when Djokovic is winning. And you took a dig at Fed too since you are on your high horses again.

It's easy to be a fan when your player is winning. You're just a glory hunter.

 

[mike danny]

Djokovic made it to Federer 19 times before his 2011-16 domination. Even when he was not a ATG yet.
Federer was fully fit in those two matches.
He didn’t play Djokovic while he was not fit like Mike Danny expected of Djokovic.

Djokovic was fit until Wimb 2017 and he still didn't play Fed.

 

[Roddick85]

Must I remind everyone that even with rather subpar form and at 37 years of age, Fed still made the final of a MS-1000 tournament even though he hadn't played since Wimbledon? He lost to Djokovic, an ATG who definitely had his number when it mattered the most in recent years and who's also 6 years younger. When you take all this into account, the situation isn't so bad. I think there's still upside for Federer from here if he's not injured, with more match play, his form could improve at the USO. Roger might not be the favorite anymore, but until he retires, he will always be a contender no matter what.

I don't think yesterday really marked "the beginning of the end" for Federer, it started years ago. The on/off back issues that were more present since the beginning of the decade, the knee injury, the reduced play schedule, all of this shows he's sort of retiring progressively as the years go by, and when he feels he won't have a realistic chance of winning the big titles anymore, he will retire completely. 2017 created huge expectations for Federer because he won so many big titles in the first half of that year, beating Nadal convincingly a few times along the way (something he's never done before). There's simply no way you could realistically expect Federer to defend all these points and keep going at 37 years of age with a reduced schedule.

 

[Sport]

Fed is 37, so truly anything he can win is gravy at this point. But there is also something about the matchup with Nole that makes it look worse. I suspect that against anyone else Fed would have won and

Federer would not have won against Nadal at Cincy IMO. Nadal defeated Wawrinka in just 2 sets with no tie-breaks, and Federer survived Wawrinka in 3 sets, including 2 tie-breaks. It illustrates Nadal is in better form now.

Agreed. He was worse in 2013, but look at how 2014 and 2015 turned out. Yes, he's getting older at 37, but it's not like Nadalovicray isn't. But let's not forget, he's also Roger Federer. The first to reach 15 slams, and the oldest #1 a few weeks ago. He's set the standard, and way too often. I'll worry the moment he announces retirement in 3-5 years.

I do not think Federer will retire in 3-5 years as you are suggesting. It is even doubtful that he will play 3 more years. He will likely retire in 2020-2021 after having participated in his last Olympic Games. 5 years from now Federer will be 42. Why would Fed play until he is 42? He is not winning Majors aged 42. Plus, virtually no professional tennis player keeps playing at age 42. That would be like a dinosaur on the tour.

 

[OhYes]

You are a 4 year old girl with a Novak doll in her hand as far as I am concerned .

You are insane Fed fan with no life. Happy ?

 

[Steve0904]

What does "the beginning of the end" even mean anyway? When does the end even start. Beginning of the end is only a figure of speech, nothing more.

Now do I think he needs to play 100 percent better to even have a shot at winning the USO? Yes. Do I think he'll win the USO? No, or at least not until I see the draw or he makes it to the final weekend or something.

But if this is the beginning of the end then the beginning was nothing short of absolutely incredible. 20 years of making jaws hit the floor all over the world. Well done I say.

 

[Rabin]

Roger has had an "off day at the office" in every match he's played in 2018. He's not approached his 2004-2007 level since the Shanghai final in 2017. No confidence, no aggression, no SABR, no #99. It'll come... but he's reverted back to 2015 tentativeness. Sad for this.

He had seven pretty good days at the office when he won AO.

 

[OhYes]

You're no different yourself. Only showing up when Djokovic wins.

I was actually very active in 2013-2016 when Fed wasn't winning slams. You disappeared completely on the other hand and finally showed up when Djokovic is winning. And you took a dig at Fed too since you are on your high horses again.

It's easy to be a fan when your player is winning. You're just a glory hunter.

If you aren't so different from me, why bringing that trash in the first place ??
"I was active when Fed wasn't winning slams..." You hook on to a guy with most slams without real chance of someone surpassing him, and suddenly Fed not winning is a mitigating circumstance ?

 

[Rabin]

Too many this year. It's a clear pattern. He hasn't had one good day at the office in a big tournament since the AO this year.

Sure, he IS getting older after all. The balance between time off and playing to maintain his level is becoming more delicate. But I still maintain he isn't done, one favorable draw and boom, one more Slam for Fed. And he will do better at the Slams, Masters are getting more difficult with no day of recuperation in between match days. Still think he'll have his chances at AO19 and Wimbledon as long as he doesn't run into Rafa and Djokovic back to back or something.

 

[Steve0904]

Slightly off topic, but this USO is the last one with the 32 seeds is it not?

 

[RS]

Djokovic was fit until Wimb 2017 and he still didn't play Fed.

Ok he was fit from AO to Wimbeldon 2017.
Djokovic avoided Federer
AO 17
IW/Miami 2017
IW 2018
That’s 4 times while fully fit.
AO 2018 and Wimbeldon 2017 were Injuries so they are justifiable. Okay even if Djokovic was fit he loses both.

 

[RS]

Federer full fit in 2013? Nah. Djokovic was fully fit in 2017 AO and beat Murray convincingly in the final of Doha(?) before AO 2017. Still didn't reach Federer there. Federer reached Djokovic 27 times when playing not at his best. A little more than 19 don't you think?

1. Federer was fit in Paris and WTF he said so himself.
2. Remember Federer and Djokovic were near equal in 2012. Their records were near even. I wouldn’t say that year suited Djokovic.
3. I wouldn’t count 2018 as favouring Djokovic. Look how many tough matches he had and Federer is number 2.
So of those 27 you should take away some.
Yes. Djokovic missed Federer at AO 17. Federer would have won had they played them.

 

[Eren]

1. Federer was fit in Paris and WTF he said so himself.
2. Remember Federer and Djokovic were near equal in 2012. Their records were near even. I wouldn’t say that year suited Djokovic.
3. I wouldn’t count 2018 as favouring Djokovic. Look how many tough matches he had and Federer is number 2.
So of those 27 you should take away some.
Yes. Djokovic missed Federer at AO 17. Federer would have won had they played them.

1. There is a difference between being fit (i.e. physically good enough to play) and being able to perform well according to expected standards of the player. In 2013, Federer lost to Stachovsky at Wimbledon, lost to Robredo(?) at the USO and was subpar at RG as well. I think that year suited Djokovic much more than Federer.

2. About 2012, I agree to an extent. The Wimbledon and WTF matches were 50/50 and both won one of those (Djokovic won their RG SF encounter).

3. The first half of 2018 was not in favour of Djokovic. The second half definitely is and that's when they met (as happens so often). Djokovic has the momentum whereas Federer had the momentum at the AO.

 

[mike danny]

If you aren't so different from me, why bringing that trash in the first place ??
"I was active when Fed wasn't winning slams..." You hook on to a guy with most slams without real chance of someone surpassing him, and suddenly Fed not winning is a mitigating circumstance ?

What? So you're saying the onlybreason I support Fed is because he has the most slams?

 

[OhYes]

What? So you're saying the onlybreason I support Fed is because he has the most slams?

Just shook your world didn't I ?
No, you guys are dying for the style not for achievments. Bel18ve, just one more, someone stop Nadal...

 

[mike danny]

Just shook your world didn't I ?
No, you guys are dying for the style not for achievments. Bel18ve, just one more, someone stop Nadal...

Yeah, I want Fed to still have the slam record, won't lie about that. But that's not the main reason why I support him.

 

[RS]

1. There is a difference between being fit (i.e. physically good enough to play) and being able to perform well according to expected standards of the player. In 2013, Federer lost to Stachovsky at Wimbledon, lost to Robredo(?) at the USO and was subpar at RG as well. I think that year suited Djokovic much more than Federer.
Yeah it wasn’t Federer at his best. But he was not in bad form in Paris/WTF 2013. He actually had a decent Indoor season. Before that yes he was poor for his standards. But post US he gained some confidence and took it in to 2014.

2. About 2012, I agree to an extent. The Wimbledon and WTF matches were 50/50 and both won one of those (Djokovic won their RG SF encounter).
Yes. And their results that year. Both won 6 titles and the same amount of M1000s and GS titles. 75-12 and 71-12 are so similar as well.

3. The first half of 2018 was not in favour of Djokovic. The second half definitely is and that's when they met (as happens so often). Djokovic has the momentum whereas Federer had the momentum at the AO.

Djokovic had a really tough draw with long matches. Federer could have been more fresh coming in the final. Both players were not at their best. It may not have favoured Federer outright but not clearly favouring any of them.
Also the court speed favours Federer at Cincy.

 

[Maestroesque]

Yeah, I want Fed to still have the slam record, won't lie about that. But that's not the main reason why I support him.

Honestly no point arguing with the dude, they’re not worth the time.