Federer: the Story so far...

[bertrevert]

Roger Federer has just won his 17th straight tournament final, a new tour record.

Indian Wells, March 2005 - bt Lleyton Hewitt 6-2 6-4 6-4

Dubai, March 2005 - bt Ivan Ljubicic 6-1 6-7 (6-8.) 6-3

Rotterdam, February 2005 - bt Ljubicic 5-7 7-5 7-6 (7-5)

Doha, February 2005 - bt Ljubicic 6-3 6-1

Masters Cup, Houston, November 2004 - bt Hewitt 6-3 6-2

Bangkok, September 2004 - bt Andy Roddick 6-4 6-0

US Open, September 2004 - bt Hewitt 6-0 7-6 (7-3) 6-0

Toronto Masters, August 2004 - bt Roddick 7-5 6-3

Gstaad, July 2004 - bt Igor Andreev 6-2 6-3 5-7 6-3

Wimbledon, July 2004 - bt Roddick 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-4

Halle, June 2004 - bt Mardy Fish 6-0 6-3

Hamburg Masters, May 2004 - bt Guillermo Coria 4-6 6-4 6-2 6-3

Indian Wells Masters, March 2004 - bt Tim Henman 6-3 6-3

Dubai, March 2004 - bt Feliciano Lopez - 4-6 6-1 6-2

Australian Open, January 2004 - bt Marat Safin 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-2

Tennis Masters Cup, Houston, November 2003 - bt Andre Agassi 6-3 6-0 6-4

Vienna, October 2003 - bt Carlos Moya 6-3 6-3 6-3

 

[edberg505]

I'm pretty sure that Federer sold his soul to the devil! That's the only think I can come up with to explain his dominance.

 

[amadextor]

I'd say he gave his soul to God!.... (Selling to Devil - Safin!)

 

[|SLICER|]

Wimbledon, July 2004 - bt Roddick 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-4

Dayym that one hurt!

 

[Deuce]

SPOILER.

There - I wrote it for you.

Such a simple word.

Too late now, though...

 

[Noelle]

Wimbledon, July 2004 - bt Roddick 4-6 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-4

*sniffle* *sniffle* Boohooo!

Ahem, sorry for the outburst.

Anyway, is Federer's record for finals 17-0? If so, that's pretty impressive. Who else has got a comparable win-loss record for the finals he/she played?

 

[rhubarb]

His overall record in finals is 26-8; so before he started this streak he was only 9-8. You can see other players' win/loss record in the finals http://www.****************.com/archive/index.php/t-21930.html, although it hasn't been updated for a few weeks.

Oops, didn't realise links were replaced, when did that start happening? The site is mens tennis forums (remove spaces).

 

[Go Tennis]

Only Guga has a powerfull heavy ball in clay to beat Federer.

 

[FalconX]

nah I think a lot of players can beat him on clay. Especially in a fortnight. He doesn't have the ability of take time away from his opponent like he does on other surfaces and he faces a lot more shotmakers on clay so he'll be on defence a lot more. It's a whole different ball game on the dirt. I think Safin has a better chance of winning on clay.

 

[@wright]

Why would Safin have a better chance on clay? He moves well, but not as well as Federer. Safin has alot of power, which is moot on clay. Safin has a big serve - also somewhat moot on clay. Safin doesn't have as many options to win points - Federer can win points many different ways. Federer is also better at hitting angled groundies - helps alot on the dirt.

 

[FalconX]

Just on the virtue of better physical endurance. Safin is a horse. He can withstand the punishment on clay in a period of two weeks a lot better than Roger can. I don't think there is a lot that separates the two on the clay, although roger has beaten him 3 times on the clay, those were all best out of 3. I think in a best of out 5 sets Safin always has the upper hand on clay and slower surfaces just on the basis of his physic. In Australia you could clearly see roger running out of gas in that fifth set while safin looked as fresh as he's ever been.

 

[sliceroni]

If it weren't for Guga playing on form like he did when he won all those FO we wouldn't be having this conversation. Federer has beaten the best on clay to clinch titles, he's beaten Gaudio and Coria easily. If he's in the final I wouldn't bet against him. Fed/Nadal match would be interesting on clay. Safin's power, much like Sampras' problem, is neutralized not only against Fed but everybody else on clay. Needs more heavy spin on his shots on that surface.

 

[rhubarb]

Just on the virtue of better physical endurance. Safin is a horse. He can withstand the punishment on clay in a period of two weeks a lot better than Roger can. I don't think there is a lot that separates the two on the clay, although roger has beaten him 3 times on the clay, those were all best out of 3. I think in a best of out 5 sets Safin always has the upper hand on clay and slower surfaces just on the basis of his physic. In Australia you could clearly see roger running out of gas in that fifth set while safin looked as fresh as he's ever been.

The Hamburg final was actually best of 5, but it was a simple straight sets win for Federer (one of the best he'd ever played up to that point). As far as lasting the course goes, then certainly Safin has a superior 5 set record at Grand Slams, although Federer has won a couple of long ones at Roland Garros too. But yes, it sounds like Roger realises this is a problem though and will most likely be doing a lot of extra work on his fitness over the next few weeks - unusually he had his trainer Pierre with him in Indian Wells.

I doubt they'll actually get to play each other in Paris this year - it couldn't be earlier than the semis, which would require Federer to exceed his previous best there, and Safin to equal his.