Federer's greatest claycourt moments

Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
With Federer about to make his first appearance on a claycourt since 2016 Rome (3rd round loss to Thiem) here's an Interesting ATP article with some interesting facts and stats about Federer's claycourt performances over the years:

10 most memorable clay moments:

1. 2009 Roland Garros final (d. Söderling)
2. 4 consecutive Roland Garros finals (2006-9)
3. 2011 Roland Garros semi-final (d. Djokovic)
4. 2007 Hamburg final (d. Nadal)
5. Best years on clay (2005-9)
6. 3rd best percentage win rate on clay amongst active players (76%)
7. 2009 Madrid final (d. Nadal)
8. 2006 Rome final (1. to Nadal)
9. 2002 Hamburg final (d. Safin)
10. 2015 Istanbul final (d. Cuevas)

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer-best-clay-court-moments-may-2019
 
Last edited:
vanioMan

vanioMan

Legend
Mainad said:
With Federer about to make his first appearance on a claycourt since 2016 Rome (3rd round loss to Thiem) here's an Interesting ATP article with some interesting facts and stats about Federer's claycourt performances over the years:

10 most memorable clay moments:

1. 2009 Roland Garros final (d. Söderling)
2. 4 consecutive Roland Garros finals (2006-9)
3. 2011 Roland Garros semi-final (d. Djokovic)
4. 2008 Hamburg final (d. Nadal)
5. Best years on clay (2005-9)
6. 3rd best percentage win rate on clay amongst active players (76%)
7. 2009 Madrid final (d. Nadal)
8. 2006 Rome final (1. to Nadal)
9. 2002 Hamburg final (d. Safin)
10. 2015 Istanbul final (d. Cuevas)

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer-best-clay-court-moments-may-2019
Click to expand...

That was in 2007. Well, he should've won in 2008 as well but he choked.

 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
MeatTornado said:
I'm not sure how 4 straight finals counts as a "memorable moment," let alone at #2 on the list.

It's one of his greatest clay accomplishments, but it's not a moment.
Click to expand...

Well, you can argue that his 4 straight finals were memorable moments in his claycourt career. The list also includes his 2006 Rome final loss to Nadal which was certainly memorable but can't really be described as an 'accomplishment'.
 
ghostofMecir

ghostofMecir

Legend
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smoledman

smoledman

G.O.A.T.
Comparing Rafa's Unadecima to Roger's solitary title is like having 11 acorns compared to 1 acorn. One squirrel is going to be a very happy camper in the spring and another hungry.
 
S

StrongRule

Talk Tennis Guru
I think Rome 2006 final should be ranked higher. Yes, he lost. But maybe it was the best match he ever played on clay.
 
NBP

NBP

Hall of Fame
Hamburg 2008:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D - how the hell are you 5-1 40-30 and serving and LOSE the set

Sums up his clay rivalry vs. Nadal, he was only thoroughly outplayed twice (RG 2008, Rome 2013). Just mental breakdown after breakdown.
 
Sport

Sport

G.O.A.T.
NBP said:
Hamburg 2008:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D:-D - how the hell are you 5-1 40-30 and serving and LOSE the set

Sums up his clay rivalry vs. Nadal, he was only thoroughly outplayed twice (RG 2008, Rome 2013). Just mental breakdown after breakdown.
Click to expand...
Well, he could have had some mental breakdowns in some matches, as he is human. But you can't seriously suggest that Federer is 2-13 against Nadal on clay because he had a mental breakdown in 13 of 15 matches. The most logical explanation is that Federer (an excellent clay court player) lost to Nadal because Nadal is the clay GOAT.

What "mental breakdown" did Federer have at RG 2005?
 
stringertom

stringertom

Bionic Poster
Im(moral) Winner said:
RG 2001 was a false dawn, just beat some mugs before got exposed by Corretja.
Winning Istanbul is one of his greatest achievements.
Click to expand...
LOL...false dawn before there were any. Can you imagine our forum loonies set loose on a new millennium tennis forum? Probably would have written stuff like “Sampras is a false GOAT bcoz of weak era slam finals opponents, i.e. Pioline (2x), Todd Martin, geriatric Becker and Goran Chokisevic (2x)!”
 
Im(moral) Winner

Im(moral) Winner

G.O.A.T.
stringertom said:
LOL...false dawn before there were any. Can you imagine our forum loonies set loose on a new millennium tennis forum? Probably would have written stuff like “Sampras is a false GOAT bcoz of weak era slam finals opponents, i.e. Pioline (2x), Todd Martin, geriatric Becker and Goran Chokisevic (2x)!”
Click to expand...
Unironically true.
 
B

Benjamin Rio

Professional
Sport said:
Well, he could have had some mental breakdowns in some matches, as he is human. But you can't seriously suggest that Federer is 2-13 against Nadal on clay because he had a mental breakdown in 13 of 15 matches. The most logical explanation is that Federer (an excellent clay court player) lost to Nadal because Nadal is the clay GOAT.

What "mental breakdown" did Federer have at RG 2005?
Click to expand...

I totally agree with that statement.

Loads of close matches between Nadal and Fed on clay

I think Fed made a mistake by not changing his racket earlier in his career. That would have helped.

He was unlucky to have played in the era of the clay GOAT.

 
Sport

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Benjamin Rio said:
And it did allow Nadal to win the FO that year.
Click to expand...
Keep dreaming. That's so ridiculous as saying "Djokovic won Wimbledon 2014 because Nadal lost to Kyrgios".

Nadal is a superior clay player than Djokovic. Nadal is 6-1 against Djokovic at RG. Plus, Nadal has 11 RG titles, Djokovic 1. Nadal would have won RG 2011 regardless of the semifinal result. If Djokovic was unable to defeat Federer let alone Nadal who defeated Federer in the final.
 
Last edited:
Phoenix1983

Phoenix1983

G.O.A.T.
Sport said:
Great thread.

Federer winning RG in 2009 is the most important moment, but his 2011 victory over Jokovic is my favorite one as it was completely unexpected.
Click to expand...

Completely agree with this.

We can’t objectively say anything other than RG 2009 was his greatest/most important clay court moment - but his 2011 SF win was surely his greatest clay court victory.
 
B

Benjamin Rio

Professional
Sport said:
Keep dreaming. That's so ridiculous as saying "Djokovic won Wimbledon 2014 because Nadal lost to Kyrgios".

Nadal is a superior clay player than Djokovic. Nadal is 6-1 against Djokovic at RG. Plus, Nadal has 11 RG titles, Djokovic 1. Nadal would have won RG 2011 regardless of the semifinal result. If Djokovic was unable to defeat Federer let alone Nadal who defeated Federer in the final.
Click to expand...

You've just proven yourself as incompetent in tennis. Sorry to tell you this mate.

The fact that Novak was no able to beat Fed doesn't not prove in any way that he would not have beaten Nadal. In 2011 Novak had won all his matches against Nadal on every surfaces and sometimes rather easily. (Madrid and Roma Wimbledon Us open). Australia Open 2012 proves it. Nadal defeated Fed in the semi final but he lost the final against Novak.

Since 2011 on clay Novak and Nadal have won 7 matches each.

I can't see your point ' "Djokovic won Wimbledon 2014 because Nadal lost to Kyrgios". 'Nadal lost to a wildcard that year at wimbledon. Do ou really think he would have stopped Fed and Novak playing the wimbledon final that year?
 
E36BMWM3

E36BMWM3

Hall of Fame
Mainad said:
With Federer about to make his first appearance on a claycourt since 2016 Rome (3rd round loss to Thiem) here's an Interesting ATP article with some interesting facts and stats about Federer's claycourt performances over the years:

10 most memorable clay moments:

1. 2009 Roland Garros final (d. Söderling)
2. 4 consecutive Roland Garros finals (2006-9)
3. 2011 Roland Garros semi-final (d. Djokovic)
4. 2007 Hamburg final (d. Nadal)
5. Best years on clay (2005-9)
6. 3rd best percentage win rate on clay amongst active players (76%)
7. 2009 Madrid final (d. Nadal)
8. 2006 Rome final (1. to Nadal)
9. 2002 Hamburg final (d. Safin)
10. 2015 Istanbul final (d. Cuevas)

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer-best-clay-court-moments-may-2019
Click to expand...
Only numbers 4 and 7 really
 
ForehandRF

ForehandRF

Legend
Benjamin Rio said:
I totally agree with that statement.

Loads of close matches between Nadal and Fed on clay

I think Fed made a mistake by not changing his racket earlier in his career. That would have helped.

He was unlucky to have played in the era of the clay GOAT.

Click to expand...

Fed was also unlucky because his best clay court tournament, Hamburg, became an ATP500.I bet he would have won more titles there and his overall clay resume would look better today :)
 
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