Federer's finest performance on clay ?

[abmk]

vs safin at hamburg 2002 finals ... a phenomenal all-court performance. IMHO, this is federer's best performance on clay ....

The way he was ripping his backhands and returns here ( forehand also of course ) was phenomenal as was his net play ... overall, complete domination of safin, who was by no means playing badly, but just couldn't do anything against a red-hot federer ...

I had downloaded these videos from youtube , but they disappeared. So I decided to reupload them ...

Enjoy !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L059zhaN2d0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7VwbboN6dI

 

[piece]

What about against Hewitt at hamburg 2004 (semi's, I think)? bagelled him in the first set didn't he? 2007 hamburg final was very good too, of course, but mostly because of the last set. First set there was pretty poor from fed. There was an early round match in monte carlo against alberto martin in 2006 that was absolutely ridiculous. Bagel and a breadstick. I know he wasn't playing a very high quality opponent but federer was pretty much perfect in that match.

 

[ashitaka2010]

Hey, thank you...I never saw the match before!
Always a pleasure to watch them both. It's a shame Germany hasn't a master anymore.

 

[Wilander Fan]

Ironically, watching this clay match, it occurs to me that the real difference between prime fed and 2010 fed is his net play. Fed still can move and hit ground strokes like he did before and probably serves even better but he was a much much better net player back then..not just technical volleys but in anticipation and approach. He seemed to set up players on half volleys to force them into limited passing options which he would then pick off. He now seems to go on these suicide approaches hoping to just win by pressure.

 

[obsessedtennisfandisorder]

Rome 2006

Rome 2006 I'd say....2002 hamburg lloks good..but what exactly did safin achieve on clay in his career..he liked playing on clay..but he also admitted opponents took advantage of his movement.

Safin vs Fed at hamburg everyone would pick fed..the slowness of the court would show up safins movement weaknesses..the same way guga did in 2000

my underst

 

[Cesc Fabregas]

Federer's best performances on clay were Rome 2006 and RG final 2007.

 

[TheFifthSet]

Federer's best performances on clay were Rome 2006 and RG final 2007.

2007 RG final? The one where he went 1/17 on breakpoints won? LOL.

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

what about the davis cup tie russia vs switzerland (indoor clay) in 2002 ?

he defeated both safin (75 61 62) and kafelnikov (76 61 61) in moscow, so i guess he didn't play bad ! did anybody see those matches ?

 

[Anaconda]

French Open 2008 Final. Sad, but true.

 

[Dutch-Guy]

Rome 2006 by far(even though he lost).

 

[abmk]

What about against Hewitt at hamburg 2004 (semi's, I think)? bagelled him in the first set didn't he? 2007 hamburg final was very good too, of course, but mostly because of the last set. First set there was pretty poor from fed. There was an early round match in monte carlo against alberto martin in 2006 that was absolutely ridiculous. Bagel and a breadstick. I know he wasn't playing a very high quality opponent but federer was pretty much perfect in that match.

I put the hamburg 2002 F over the 2004 SF one because safin was actually playing some decent tennis ... hewitt was not ...also that was more of a forehand blowout , this was more of genius and shotmaking on display

I haven't seen the alberto martin match ..

 

[abmk]

Hey, thank you...I never saw the match before!
Always a pleasure to watch them both. It's a shame Germany hasn't a master anymore.

you are welcome

 

[abmk]

Ironically, watching this clay match, it occurs to me that the real difference between prime fed and 2010 fed is his net play. Fed still can move and hit ground strokes like he did before and probably serves even better but he was a much much better net player back then..not just technical volleys but in anticipation and approach. He seemed to set up players on half volleys to force them into limited passing options which he would then pick off. He now seems to go on these suicide approaches hoping to just win by pressure.

I agree , his transition game has grown real sloppy . it was excellent during his early days and during his prime

 

[abmk]

Federer's best performances on clay were Rome 2006 and RG final 2007.

RG final 2007 ? LOL !!!!!!

 

[dincuss]

I think what Federer did exceptionally well there that he doesn't so much now is going for his shots. Nowadays theres a lot of junk balls and he doesn't always attack when he has the opportunity.

But in this match he made Safin play like a junior. Im a huge Safin fan, but never have I seen him have to play defence like this. For about 90% of the match Fed was in control. Safin just looked hopeless (but not due to him exploding, due to
Feds outrageous shots).

Federer played magnificent.

 

[Semi-Pro]

Although he lost a set, I'd say his 2004 Hamburg final vs Coria was pretty sweet. Here are some highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUnCOhMV-1U

 

[fed_rulz]

to me, Rome 2006 was the best clay court match he ever played. the hamburg match with safin was great too... but having match points against nadal in rome in a 5-setter tops it all

 

[Deleted member 22147]

This match had nothing to do with Safin having poor movement, he was a great mover for a big man in his day, at times incredible in terms of speed rather than agility.

Federer simply outplayed Marat here, Marat was definitely rather flat and lifeless throughout 90% of this match, similar to his RG semi that year but Federer was on fire.

You say what did Marat achieve on clay, well the fact of the matter is that he was a very good clay court player who was often beaten by very good players (whilst he was in his prime) and he was injured at times when he was playing his best tennis. (03 he had the wrist problem after beating Ferrero in Barcelona, 04 he had 13 blisters spread over both hands at RG, 2005 had the knee problem, shouldn't even have played RG)...

Safin was not a poor clay court player, Federer was just playing very well.

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Rome 2006 the best clay court match ever played hahahahaha...

So entertaining watching Nadal feed to the Federer BH constantly to receive a weak response.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

What about 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 against Nadal in Hamburg 2007?

 

[Mustard]

The 2006 Rome final is probably the best clay-court match Federer has ever played. He played a perfect match apart from being too defensive on the most important points. It speaks volumes that Nadal sucked all that up and still found a way to win.

Other gems include Federer's 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over Safin in the 2002 Hamburg final, and Federer's semi final and final wins in 2004, beating Hewitt 6-0, 6-4 and then beating Coria, then considered the best clay-courter, by the score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. And then there's Federer's 2-6, 6-2, 6-0 win over Nadal in the 2007 Hamburg final, ending Nadal's 81 match winning streak on clay.

 

[abmk]

The 2006 Rome final is probably the best clay-court match Federer has ever played. He played a perfect match apart from being too defensive on the most important points. It speaks volumes that Nadal sucked all that up and still found a way to win.

Other gems include Federer's 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 win over Safin in the 2002 Hamburg final, and Federer's semi final and final wins in 2004, beating Hewitt 6-0, 6-4 and then beating Coria, then considered the best clay-courter, by the score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.

actually no, he went for a bit too much and committed mistakes at the crucial moments - blown FH in the 2nd set tie-break ... blown FHs on matchpoints in the 5th set, trying to go for too much ..

 

[Mustard]

actually no, he went for a bit too much and committed mistakes at the crucial moments - blown FH in the 2nd set tie-break ... blown FHs on matchpoints in the 5th set, trying to go for too much ..

He made semi approaches to the net a few times and then backed off. Nadal dared at the crucial moments in the fifth set, Federer didn't. That's the only mistakes Federer made. Even his backhand was very strong that day.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

I thought last year's RG final was a pretty great performance all things considered.

 

[abmk]

He made semi approaches to the net a few times and then backed off. Nadal dared at the crucial moments in the fifth set, Federer didn't. That's the only mistakes Federer made. Even his backhand was very strong that day.

please watch the 2nd set tie-break and the two matchpoints that he blew again ....

 

[Mustard]

Rome 2006 the best clay court match ever played hahahahaha....

The 2005 Rome final between Nadal and Coria was even better.

 

[AM95]

yea i have to agree with Mustard. Hamburg 07.

 

[abmk]

I thought last year's RG final was a pretty great performance all things considered.

indeed was ...

I'd say these are his top 5 ( not in order ):

hamburg 2002 F ( safin )
hamburg 2004 SF ( hewitt )
rome 2006 F( rafa )
hamburg 2007 F ( rafa )
RG 2009 F (sod)

 

[namelessone]

LOL, how is Hamburg 07' not in most people's choices?

I don't care how he played in the first, he BAGELED NADAL ON CLAY !!! Nadal could be playing 20% and would still only lose 6-2,6-3 a set to most players. Sure, Nadal's fh didn't really have anything on it that day but Fed played a near perfect match from the second onwards.

After that it is Rome 06'.

I thought he played pretty well in RG 06' final as well, breadsticking Rafa in the first set.

 

[clayman2000]

Hamburg 07..... in the first set Rafa looked like he was going to roll over Federer as he had in Monte Carlo, then in the early 2nd Fed just turned on a whole new gear and won like the last 10 games.... one of the biggest turnarounds in sports I have seen.

 

[namelessone]

I thought last year's RG final was a pretty great performance all things considered.

RG 09'?

LOL, no way, as a individual match it's not even in the top five of Fed's best on clay. Soderling was as shaky as a leaf and even Fed had some pretty mediocre moments of his own, he was basically shaking with anticipation in the last games of the third. Not to mention that everything was in his favour. Match-up wise he owned soderling, soderling was in his first GS final and it showed and even the public was massively by his side.

His RG 09' run maybe, cause he survived a couple of tough situation. The RG 09' final no, not really.

 

[Mustard]

Federer's best French Open final against Nadal was 2007, where he had all those break point opportunities. Also, Federer's confidence against Nadal on clay would have been at its highest at that time.

 

[jamesblakefan#1]

RG 09'?

LOL, no way, as a individual match it's not even in the top five of Fed's best on clay. Soderling was as shaky as a leaf and even Fed had some pretty mediocre moments of his own, he was basically shaking with anticipation in the last games of the third. Not to mention that everything was in his favour. Match-up wise he owned soderling, soderling was in his first GS final and it showed and even the public was massively by his side.

His RG 09' run maybe, cause he survived a couple of tough situation. The RG 09' final no, not really.

FYI a match does not have to be against Nadal for it to be a great performance. I thought Fed played a pretty good match tactically last year against Sod, used the drop shot to near perfection, and had something to do with Sod looking 'shaky' but yeah agree to disagree I guess.

 

[tea]

Roland Garros 2009.

If Nadal hadn't had those knee issues he would have gotten destroyed by Fed in the final.

 

[Anaconda]

Roland Garros 2009.

If Nadal hadn't had those knee issues he would have gotten destroyed by Fed in the final.

Yeah, just like FO 2005/06/07 and 08 :roll:. Nadal would have still beaten Federer at FO last year. It's a tough matchup, even on grass and hard.

 

[SiriusTennis]

The 2005 Rome final between Nadal and Coria was even better.

This clearly is a thread about Federer's best clay performance. That match has nothing to do with the subject of the thread.