Federer News

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GhostOfNKDM

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
There is only one reason for Roger to retire right now.

Hear me out.

It’s not because of losing or not having a chance at Wimby. But if his knees are bothering him after all the best interventions possible - 2 surgeries, plenty time off, lots of rehab and practice - Roger should not risk their health further.

He’s a dad of young kids and I’m sure he wants to be able to do many things going forward in life.... no title is worth jeopardizing that.
 
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BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

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Old Gregg said:
The thing I noticed was his side to side movement. He's a step behind almost. Not sure if he's worried about the knee or it's just fitness related.
Click to expand...
In the match thread, several Fed fans mentioned him planting his leg before hitting a running BH, which we've not seen before. He seemed tentative in pushing off on his BH side when moved laterally, which seems to be knee fear rather than lack of fitness.

Cahill said after the match, “Roger looked healthy, fit, and moved fine for his first match on clay. He just looked very rusty against a guy who knows his way around a clay court really well.”

Annacone had some interesting observations too:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sports/tennis/roger-federer-geneva-open.html
 
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GhostOfNKDM

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
BeatlesFan said:
In the match thread, several Fed fans mentioned him planting his leg before hitting a running BH, which we've not seen before. He seemed tentative in pushing off on his BH side when moved laterally, which seems to be knee fear rather than lack of fitness.

Cahill said after the match, “Roger looked healthy, fit, and moved fine for his first match on clay. He just looked very rusty against a guy who knows his way around a clay court really well.”

Annacone had some interesting observations too:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/sports/tennis/roger-federer-geneva-open.html
Click to expand...

If you think about why there would be a lack of fitness after all these months, almost october really when he wanted to prep for the AO, it makes sense that there had to be an impeding factor....

It’s definitely not motivation, Roger is clearly motivated otherwise he wouldn’t put himself through all this.

It cannot be a lack of opportunity - he has the best team around him and access to all kinds of fitness equipment.

So by process of elimination it has to be the knees (or some other unspecified injury) which isn’t allowing him to go full tilt in the gym and on court.

The match rust etc are a separate and secondary issue; nothing that cant be righted if the confidence in his body is there.
 
A

Arvind Sridhar

Semi-Pro
Any observation at this point would just be conjecture in my opinion. The guy just hasn't played matches back to back to back for us to reach any conclusions on what his physical impediments are. The French Open should give us some answers. Even if he fails to reach R2, a best of 5 match should be a better indicator. Interesting times to be a Fed-fan. Taking it match by match and not thinking about the future is not something that I have done wrt Federer, haha. Should probably get used to it.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Roger's kit for the French Open:

189897154_3824079061035239_4534170795060123219_n.jpg


Entire kit shown here, including the navy blue shirt he already wore in the Geneva event:

https://www.perfect-tennis.com/roger-federers-outfit-for-the-french-open-2021/
 
GhostOfNKDM

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
BeatlesFan said:
Roger's kit for the French Open:

189897154_3824079061035239_4534170795060123219_n.jpg


Entire kit shown here, including the navy blue shirt he already wore in the Geneva event:

https://www.perfect-tennis.com/roger-federers-outfit-for-the-french-open-2021/
Click to expand...

I know everyone’s looking at the kit but what’s bothering me is how Roger has straightened his right knee and planted that foot way too early....


See these pics from the past in similar positions on the forehand stroke

federer-technique-forehand.jpg


roger-federer-forehand-grip.jpg


Is anybody else able to see the awkwardness of that right leg position in the latest photo, with the knee in extension that early? It's almost like he's dragging that leg.

Usually at that point in the stroke, as you can see in pics from the past, both his knees are bent, loading up to transfer power into the shot.

What it tells me (and I’m not pretending to be an expert btw) is that he’s trying to protect that knee

Maybe I’m just crazy but something is not right with that pic.
 
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TearTheRoofOff

TearTheRoofOff

G.O.A.T.
GhostOfNKDM said:
I know everyone’s looking at the kit but what’s bothering me is how Roger has straightened his right knee and planted that foot way too early....


See these pics from the past in similar positions on the forehand stroke

federer-technique-forehand.jpg


roger-federer-forehand-grip.jpg


Is anybody else able to see the awkwardness of that right leg position in the latest photo, with the knee in extension that early? It's almost like he's dragging that leg.

Usually at that point in the stroke, as you can see in pics from the past, both his knees are bent, loading up to transfer power into the shot.

What it tells me (and I’m not pretending to be an expert btw) is that he’s trying to protect that knee

Maybe I’m just crazy but something is not right with that pic.
Click to expand...
Might just be skimming backwards on the shot a little bit rather than being planted like in the others. Also, I miss the longer shorts.
 
oldmanfan

oldmanfan

Legend
BeatlesFan said:
Better pic of Roger's upcoming RG kit. I hope he sticks around for at least R3:

190849718_1693793137497360_8830155148205905156_n.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice color combo. Will look good on the old man.

Fedr will reach 4R minimum, imo. Slam-Fedr is a different beast. And he has always been top3-5 at RG whenever he's in the draw. Historically, it's very hard to take him out in any slam pre-4R, let alone RG, unless you're proven on said surface (see: Stakhovsky(WB)/Seppi(AO)). I know he hasn't played much, but I believe ;).

You can sort-of see the lack of interest/intensity against Andujar (non-slam intensity). His reactions after mistakes seemed to suggest that he's 'testing' tactics/shots to feel how he should get around on the court of competitive tennis again, resulting in many mishits/overhits. First match in 2+ months, and he still almost won against an in-form Andujar (who won another match afterwards before losing to eventual champ Ruud).

The main way I see Fedr losing before 4R is if he is unlucky enough to play a top-15-in-formed clay courter in the first 3 rounds (i.e. someone in-form like a Casper Ruud), imo. There are better in-form clay-courters (Tsits/Nadl/Djokr/etc.), but they tend to be ranked in the top-15, which Fedr can't face in the first 3 rounds.

Keep calm, and Fedr. 8-B
 
AceSalvo

AceSalvo

Legend
oldmanfan said:
Nice color combo. Will look good on the old man.

Fedr will reach 4R minimum, imo. Slam-Fedr is a different beast. And he has always been top3-5 at RG whenever he's in the draw. Historically, it's very hard to take him out in any slam pre-4R, let alone RG, unless you're proven on said surface (see: Stakhovsky(WB)/Seppi(AO)). I know he hasn't played much, but I believe ;).

You can sort-of see the lack of interest/intensity against Andujar (non-slam intensity). His reactions after mistakes seemed to suggest that he's 'testing' tactics/shots to feel how he should get around on the court of competitive tennis again, resulting in many mishits/overhits. First match in 2+ months, and he still almost won against an in-form Andujar (who won another match afterwards before losing to eventual champ Ruud).

The main way I see Fedr losing before 4R is if he is unlucky enough to play a top-15-in-formed clay courter in the first 3 rounds (i.e. someone in-form like a Casper Ruud), imo. There are better in-form clay-courters (Tsits/Nadl/Djokr/etc.), but they tend to be ranked in the top-15, which Fedr can't face in the first 3 rounds.

Keep calm, and Fedr. 8-B
Click to expand...

Agree. Its not that easy to beat Fedr in the best of 5, even on clay. Folks might get away with it in a best of 3.

However, I think Stuttgart is going to be important prep for Fedr which starts on 6/8.
 
oldmanfan

oldmanfan

Legend
AceSalvo said:
Agree. Its not that easy to beat Fedr in the best of 5, even on clay. Folks might get away with it in a best of 3.

However, I think Stuttgart is going to be important prep for Fedr which starts on 6/8.
Click to expand...

Exactly right in regards to Bo5 Fedr. He warms up fast (see AO17). In Geneva, Andujar was playing almost error-free tennis and suddenly, it's 1 set all with Fedr up a break in the 3rd. And that's with Fedr making wild misses still. It took a terrible Fedr service game, after he's been supreme on serve all set, for Andujar to get back on even terms.

So I'm optimistic for Fedr at RG. If he gets past 2 rounds taking no more than 4 sets each, watch out.
We then blink, and he'll be in the 2nd week ;).
 
GhostOfNKDM

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
Arvind Sridhar said:
Care to expand on your analysis...
Click to expand...

Roger expended a lot of energy in that Andujar match and ran out of juice towards the end. Now a big part of it was obviously a lack of match toughness and conditioning.

But there was something else that was strategically not helpful to the cause of being able to pace himself - if you watch the highlights, you can see Roger was coming over the BH virtually every time and putting a lot of energy into it.

You can see from this latest practice vid that practically all his BH shots are slices.

This is a great adjustment. It allows him to conserve energy, setup play and dictate with his FH.

Hitting harder on the BH does little on clay unless combined with opportune angles and court positioning because the surface itself does not help in taking time away from the opponent.

In other words, with Roger’s ability to slice with variation and surprise, the hard topspin BH shot can be used far more selectively than he was in that first round loss..

This is a smart adjustment to weather the typical week 1 opponent. Against the top guys it’s less effective and who knows how tired Roger feels after 3-5 rounds... hence thr prediction.
 
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A

Arvind Sridhar

Semi-Pro
GhostOfNKDM said:
Roger expended a lot of energy in that Andujar match and ran out of juice towards the end. Now a big part of it was obviously a lack of match toughness and conditioning.

But there was something else that was strategically not helpful to the cause of being able to pace himself - if you watch the highlights, you can see Roger was coming over the BH virtually every time and putting a lot of oomph into it.

You can see from this latest practice vid that practically all his BH shots were slices.

This is a great adjustment. It allows him to conserve energy, setup the play and dictate with his FH.

Hitting harder on the BH does little on clay unless combined with opportune angles and court positioning because the surface itself does not help with taking time away from the opponent.

In other words, with Roger’s ability to slice with variation and surprise, the hard topspin BH shot can be used far more selectively than he was in that first round loss..

This is a smart adjustment to weather the typical week 1 opponent. Against the top guys it’s less effective and who knows how tired Roger feels after 3-5 rounds... hence thr prediction.
Click to expand...

Thanks...Was actually quite surprised by your sudden burst of positivity after last week's gloom and doom, haha...Coming back to his game, the slices were pretty noticeable compared to his match with Andujar.....This is however just one point from the whole practice session though...Will be interesting to see if he keeps this up...Of course if he does and it doesn't work be it in week 1 or 2, he will have to change things up.....But it sure will be very interesting if Federer somehow gets to week 2. I am not counting on it...Just happy that the guy is back...
 
GhostOfNKDM

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
Arvind Sridhar said:
Thanks...Was actually quite surprised by your sudden burst of positivity after last week's gloom and doom, haha...Coming back to his game, the slices were pretty noticeable compared to his match with Andujar.....This is however just one point from the whole practice session though...Will be interesting to see if he keeps this up...Of course if he does and it doesn't work be it in week 1 or 2, he will have to change things up.....But it sure will be very interesting if Federer somehow gets to week 2. I am not counting on it...Just happy that the guy is back...
Click to expand...

It is of course just one point but the positivity is in what it implies....

It implies Roger and his team are making strategic changes in response to his loss. Which implies it wasn’t all merely a phyical issue. It also implies he is fit enough now for them to focus on adjustments to the game.

I have been a bit worried yes in the recent past because of the news coming out (or the lack of it).

But if Roger is practicing in earnest with a focus on tweaking his game, then that can only be positive news.

I’m confident if his knees aren’t an issue, then he can easily make week 2 even at RG. Now he may choose to tank at some point if he feels good enough about his match conditioning, but thats a different story.
 
A

Arvind Sridhar

Semi-Pro
GhostOfNKDM said:
It is of course just one point but the positivity is in what it implies....

It implies Roger and his team are making strategic changes in response to his loss. Which implies it wasn’t all merely a phyical issue. It also implies he is fit enough now for them to focus on adjustments to the game.

I have been a bit worried yes in the recent past because of the news coming out (or the lack of it).

But if Roger is practicing in earnest with a focus on tweaking his game, then that can only be positive news.

I’m confident if his knees aren’t an issue, then he can easily make week 2 even at RG. Now he may choose to tank at some point if he feels good enough about his match conditioning, but thats a different story.
Click to expand...

Only time will tell..speaking of which the draw is up in the 2.5 hours...
 
GhostOfNKDM

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
Zeref said:
Can't watch for some reason :confused:

Wanted to see how those balls are playing and what kind of sound it is giving off his racquet. Hated the superdamped heavy ball conditions of last year.
Click to expand...

High bouncing. Sound on contact is not heavy or damped but bright and clear. Taking a lot of spin and sitting up high.
 
Zeref

Zeref

Professional
GhostOfNKDM said:
High bouncing. Sound on contact is not heavy or damped but bright and clear. Taking a lot of spin and sitting up high.
Click to expand...
Yes able to see now. His forehand sounds good thankfully. I think Roger has made up his mind to not slice that easily in first few rounds. It's clear he wants to find full range on BH side.
 
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