junior74
Talk Tennis Guru
Thiem is so humble, so aware of those who have inspired him, so deliciously different from Zed.
I hope he wins RG19.
I hope Roger knows what he is doing. He needs points to get a good ranking. Fingers crossed. Plays great
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Thiem is so humble, so aware of those who have inspired him, so deliciously different from Zed.
I hope he wins RG19.
I hope Roger knows what he is doing. He needs points to get a good ranking. Fingers crossed. Plays great
ghostofMecir
Hall of Fame
I watched again some of the Monfils and Thiem matches. What’s truly amazing is that Federer’s movement, already lessened by age and wear and tear, was even poorer after the long layoff on clay. He was reaching for so many balls that it was hard to see a times.
But here’s what amazing: He ameliorated for that deficiency with some world class, all time ball striking at times, great serve, and powerful, no-chip stuff, returns. He smothered Monfils and Thiem in both the first sets even though Thiem served and hit wonderfully in that first set.
Both Monfils and Thiem adjusted and Federer lost steam in both matches as his opponents dug in and defended better and forced him to stretch out to FHs.
At nearly 38.
He’s just a once in a lifetime, incomparable talent.
But here’s what amazing: He ameliorated for that deficiency with some world class, all time ball striking at times, great serve, and powerful, no-chip stuff, returns. He smothered Monfils and Thiem in both the first sets even though Thiem served and hit wonderfully in that first set.
Both Monfils and Thiem adjusted and Federer lost steam in both matches as his opponents dug in and defended better and forced him to stretch out to FHs.
At nearly 38.
He’s just a once in a lifetime, incomparable talent.
Zebrev
Hall of Fame
Agree, but if he had knocked out Thiem it would have been a huge story. And he eould have had momentum heading into Djokovic, who is low on confidence and matches himself.
But I'm not too bothered by these close loses from Federer anymore. If anything it just proves how lethal he will be on grass later on...
Rogfan
Professional
I feel like I shouldn’t have an opinion on his schedule on clay as I didn’t watch any of his matches due to poor time for me. But I just couldn’t help myself but come here and say I’m really glad he’s in the draw for Rome which results in Nadal - Thiem lineup I hope he withdraws from Rome though as I don’t think he needs more match to know where he is for RG and he doesn’t need another tough loss. He should take a leaf from Nadal’s book - you don’t lose when you don’t play. Therefore winning % remains high and confidence remains high
mightyjeditribble
Hall of Fame
Actually, Fed has said that one reason he wanted to play clay again is to practice longer matches, longer rallies for conditioning, particularly after what happened at the USO with the heat.
I'm sure picking up some points is a bonus, but I don't think it's the only motivation.
(Sent from my mobile phone.)
Povl Carstensen
Legend
I have never heard that. Just that the lay off between hard and grass had been too long (and love for the game etc., I add at my own expence). To me the USO thing was more heat than conditioning (they apparantly fixed it afterwards, leaving some doors open or something). And I have a hard time seeing some clay form/conditioning spilling over to the USO.
Povl Carstensen
Legend
mightyjeditribble
Hall of Fame
He explicitly said this in one of the interviews at the beginning of Madrid about his decision to play clay. I can't remember exactly which, but someone else might.
(Sent from my mobile phone.)
D
Deleted member 77403
Guest
This is correct. He said he wanted to play longer rallies that could help him in situations like the USO, because he was so used to playing fast quick points, that when he needed to grind at USO, he simply wasn't up to the challenge.
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
underground
G.O.A.T.
Interesting to see Fed announcing his decision to play Rome so quickly. Means he's motivated/pissed off from the loss. I'm just hoping he doesn't overplay himself. I'm not worried about burning out from extra clay tournaments but I don't want him to injure himself (2017 Montreal is still clearly etched in the back of my mind).
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
this is me right now, like i just don't get it. does roger think he has an actual chance at winning rg? maybe he just wants to get far and thinks he can do so but not win, but I thought he was going to approach this whole thing like he did AO 2017, just play and see what happens, and this kind of seems like he's going in not quite with that attitude. i know people are like don't worry he iwll be fine for grass season, but will he be?
icedevil0289
G.O.A.T.
same, i'm hoping he still remembers that grass is where he will be more effective on and that should be his priority. like does he think he is going to win fo?
mike danny
Bionic Poster
I guess he is deep into the competitive environment again when you try to win every match you play.
But what I really think he wants is to sharpen his return and ground game.
mandy01
G.O.A.T.
It might help him a little bit with seeding at Wimbledon.
underground
G.O.A.T.
Playing the clay will help his groundstrokes. I think in an interview earlier on he said playing so much on grass and hard meant he was reacting at times and couldn't get full swings in his shots.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
A bit more, but not much more. Some speculate he's going to play Rome due to his Barilla pasta sponsor as well.
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
He could always take a half step back instead of gluing himself to the baseline.
Not sure he needed to enter clay court events just for that.
Povl Carstensen
Legend
Exactly, points and Barilla was what I was hinting at.A bit more, but not much more. Some speculate he's going to play Rome due to his Barilla pasta sponsor as well.
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Povl Carstensen
Legend
That is what got him AO 2017 etc etc. And Fognini more or less beat Nadal 50 cms behind the line...
Sartorius
Hall of Fame
The half a step back could mean a big step toward defeat.
He won AO by stepping inside the court, not out of it.
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
I don't want him to change tactics, and I think it would be suicide if he did.
But it's weird to complain about not getting a full swing on the ball when standing up close and taking time away from his opponents is a deliberate strategy.
oldmanfan
Legend
In his QF post-match presser, Fedr said he's not signed in for Stuttgart this year (so highly not playing it), and that last year's Stuttgart/Halle/WB combo was too much grass tennis for him.
At 2:43 in clip:
Fedr said it here, at 5:40s:
.........and ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, Fedr the dorkerer:
oldmanfan
Legend
Fedr. He's sorta loved by fans, sorta.
A fan's reaction to Fedr confirming to play Rome:
A fan's reaction to Fedr confirming to play Rome:
MeatTornado
Talk Tennis Guru
So are you guys still delusional about Fed's chances of winning RG because he nearly beat Thiem?
Novak just showed how far off Dominic truly is. He didn't even have to get the car out of 3rd gear to beat him in straights.
Novak just showed how far off Dominic truly is. He didn't even have to get the car out of 3rd gear to beat him in straights.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
I don't think I have any Fed fan on ignore here, and I've not yet seen one single Fed fan say they believe he will win RG. Maybe I missed these posts, but I don't think any of us here are that delusional. Thiem's not winning RG either, it will almost certainly be either Djokovic or Nadal, probably the former. I thought the general consensus among Fed fans was this:
Madrid: QF (which he did)
Rome: (skip or a QF result)
RG: 4R
Tennis_Hands
Banned
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NBP
Hall of Fame
I find it funny that before the clay season, people were acting as if Federer wasn't top 20 on the surface, and he'd get routed by Munar or Carballes Baena in a hypothetical match. I did not care that he hadn't played on it in 4 years (I don't count the farce that was 2016). He junkballed his way to Masters finals in 2014-15 with the 97 inch, beating the liked of Tsonga, Djokovic, Wawrinka, Berdych etc, reached a RG QF (losing to a GOATing Wawrinka who went on to also beat the #1), won Istanbul (for arguments sake) and such. He didn't forget how to play.
No one expects him to win Roland Garros. I'd be amazed if we even saw him in the SF, but next time maybe don't doubt his qualities so much.
) and such. He didn't forget how to play.No one expects him to win Roland Garros. I'd be amazed if we even saw him in the SF, but next time maybe don't doubt his qualities so much.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
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underground
G.O.A.T.
Tsitsipas in the final in Madrid might help Fed in Rome here since he might run out of gas, it'll be him playing 3 weeks in a row with the maximum number of matches.
I'm quite intrigued about the potential R3 matchup with FAA, if it's Coric instead that could be a huge banana peel as well.
Good good, he'll need more time to get used to the conditions. Just look at how atrociously he looked against Albot when he did the IW-Miami switch.
I'm quite intrigued about the potential R3 matchup with FAA, if it's Coric instead that could be a huge banana peel as well.
Good good, he'll need more time to get used to the conditions. Just look at how atrociously he looked against Albot when he did the IW-Miami switch.
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
I'm not interested or inclined to go after fellow Fed fans.Are you really surprised that Mr. Tornado attributes such (false) claims to the Federer fans only to arrive on his white horse and set them straight?
Tennis_Hands
Banned
..
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Povl Carstensen
Legend
That is what I meant, sorry if it was too unclear.
D
Deleted member 763024
Guest
It's nice to see how much Roger is loved everywhere and the crowds show up even for his practices...
But if I'm honest, on another level, it doesn't feel that great because it seems like a farewell tour without the winning results on clay.
Wondering also if the supposed 'bonus' of playing freely on clay, with losses like that in Madrid, turns into a confidence boost for the young guys when they face Roger on grass...
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
These are interesting points. I don't think it's a farewell tour, he's not retiring at the end of 2019, as he's said. It may likely be his farewell events on clay (he gave a very cagey answer about whether he'd play in Madrid next year). I doubt he'll play clay again after this year's FO. Nobody, even Fed himself, really expected to be winning any of these clay events. He's winning already just by playing clay at his age. Connors was throwing in the towel against Chang after 4 sets in the FO at age 38 and he was supposedly the "great warrior" and busted his butt on every point. Then afterwards said, "nobody past 33 or 34 can play on this surface!"
I don't think defeating Fed on clay translates into anything when it comes to grass. If Fed's in form, he beats anyone in grass except Djokovic. Tsitsipas beat him at the AO and a month later Roger beat him convincingly in Dubai.
I think Roger can make the semis in Rome and believe Thiem will beat Nadal. Maybe this time Roger can solve to Thiem puzzle if they meet. A semi in Rome is an awesome result for him at his age.
D
Deleted member 763024
Guest
I wasn’t the most enthusiastic supporter of Roger’s clay decision so I’m not expecting great results on clay. It’s Wimbledon and beyond that matters to me.
That said, these losses against the young guys in Masters and Slams will add up eventually (Theim in IW and now Madrid).
This whole sport is about matchups... when the dynamics of one change, they can be hard to reverse. And they’ll cast their longest shadows when the pressure is on.
Roger might be playing ‘free’ now, but come Wimbledon, the pressure will be on him and guys like Theim, Medyedev and Tsits will be ones playing ‘free’ because they got nothing to lose.
So clay or not, Roger has an aura to maintain otherwise he just makes it more difficult for himself when it matters most to him. Forget getting to Djokovic at that point (just like at the AO this year), it might be a slog just making week 2
oldmanfan
Legend
Fedr can make this work...
ghostofMecir
Hall of Fame
GOAT’s return to Rome has doubled ticket prices.
“For Wednesday, when Federer makes his debut, we have doubled the price of tickets that have not yet been sold," said the president of Italian tennis federation Angelo Binaghi to the AGI news agency. "It's a way to reward fans who have secured the place and have paid much less."
https://navva.org/switzerland/switzerland/tennis-rome-doubles-prizes-due-to-federer-return/
“For Wednesday, when Federer makes his debut, we have doubled the price of tickets that have not yet been sold," said the president of Italian tennis federation Angelo Binaghi to the AGI news agency. "It's a way to reward fans who have secured the place and have paid much less."
https://navva.org/switzerland/switzerland/tennis-rome-doubles-prizes-due-to-federer-return/
TheIntrovert
Hall of Fame
Damn what a c**t move
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Fed's next fashion statement will be a white Cat Girl suit at Halle.Fedr can make this work...
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Fedr can make this work...
No he can't. This is sinfully ugly. Nobody rocks this hideous brownish color.
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