Hamburg results real shot in the arm for mens game

[navratilovafan]

By defeating Rafael Nadal in the Hamburg final, and by Hewitt coming very close to doing so in the semis, mens tennis received a much needed shot in the arm. Nadal's excessive dominance on clay was killing the clay court season, and the results of Hamburg are an enormous boost to the mens game.

 

[Zaragoza]

By defeating Rafael Nadal in the Hamburg final, and by Hewitt coming very close to doing so in the semis, mens tennis received a much needed shot in the arm. Nadal's excessive dominance on clay was killing the clay court season, and the results of Hamburg are an enormous boost to the mens game.

So you think that Federer´s dominance on hardcourts was killing the hardcourt season and Cañas made it more interesting?

 

[navratilovafan]

So you think that Federer´s dominance on hardcourts was killing the hardcourt season and Cañas made it more interesting?

I do not believe Federer's dominance on hard courts was ever as excessive and monopolizing as Nadal's on clay. He has lost multiple matches on hard courts every single year. He has alot of very tough matches on hard courts every single year. This is very different from Nadal on clay.

 

[skip1969]

when you say "Nadal's excessive dominance on clay was killing the clay court season" do you really mean is was killing the tv RATINGS . . . in america?? cos i might agree with that. though the streak got a look-in on espn's sportscenter, and so did sunday's loss. and they usually can't be bothered with tennis.

 

[federerfanatic]

Feds win was good for the game, I agree.

 

[Baghdatis72]

Feds win was interesting and good for Federer :lol:

 

[circusmouse]

How could it possibly affect american tv ratings? American tv doens't even broadcast any European clay events except the French, unless you have the tennis channel. I think Fed's win was good for tennis in general, though, because it makes a good story: the recently struggling giant parts with famous coach then ends his nemesis' historic clay winning streak, which completely changes the outlook of the upcoming French Open. This sets up the French to be very dramatic if both Fed and Nadal make the final. I'm excited.

 

[FitzRoy]

In one sense, I see this result as a possible negative for men's tennis. I see it like that because I have a small objection to the idea of Federer winning as soon as he fired his coach. It doesn't really have anything to do with Federer, though, because I'm sure he had his reasons and they were probably good. I trust his judgment on whether his coaching situation was bad or good for his game. He's only had two coaches for a long period of time, so it isn't like he's changing them left and right.

But in general, I think ATP players tend to fire their coaches when things are going bad, and to me it seems like a panic move: "I'm playing poorly, so I'll blame the coach instead of blaming myself." So I usually don't like to see players rewarded positively for it. Federer's win after firing Roche might inadvertently cause players to be more likely to push the Eject button, which is what they already do too often instead of looking to improve themselves first and foremost.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

It's bad for tennis as the rest of the year Federer will dominate if he is in that kind of form. Good for the French Open and bad for the rest of the year.

 

[ilovecarlos]

I'm just glad to see that so many players seem to be coming into prime condition for RG...AND also that Carlos will be seeded...think his ranking is up to 26 now......yipee!!! Think the French will be great to watch this year

 

[navratilovafan]

It's bad for tennis as the rest of the year Federer will dominate if he is in that kind of form. Good for the French Open and bad for the rest of the year.

Federer has lost multiple matches on hard courts every single year. Not once has this not happened. There is only 1 significant grass court event-Wimbledon, unlike clay court season where there are 4. Under any means it would be impossible for Federer to dominate on any other surface to the extent of monopolizing and complete boredom the way Nadal has done on clay.

 

[navratilovafan]

I'm just glad to see that so many players seem to be coming into prime condition for RG...AND also that Carlos will be seeded...think his ranking is up to 26 now......yipee!!! Think the French will be great to watch this year

Moya has played well lately. He has had some good results. Maybe he is a dark horse for the French. I still dont think he can beat Nadal or Federer in a grand slam, in a best 3-of-5. He will need to avoid those two.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Federer has lost multiple matches on hard courts every single year. Not once has this not happened. There is only 1 significant grass court event-Wimbledon, unlike clay court season where there are 4. Under any means it would be impossible for Federer to dominate on any other surface to the extent of monopolizing and complete boredom the way Nadal has done on clay.

Fed didn't lose a single set at the Australian Open. Fed only loses in small tournaments on hard courts.

 

[navratilovafan]

Fed didn't lose a single set at the Australian Open. Fed only loses in small tournaments on hard courts.

Fed has lost multiple times on hard courts every single season like I said. Let me show you:

2004 Fed losses on hard courts

Rotterdam quarters-Henman defeats Federer 3-6 6-7(11)
Cincinnati 1st round-Hrbaty defeats Federer 6-1 6-7(7) 4-6
Olympics 2nd round-Berdych defeats Federer 6-4 5-7 5-7

2005 Fed losses on hard courts

Australian Open semis-Safin defeats Federer 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-7(6) 7-9
Year end Masters finals-Nalbandian defeats Federer 7-6(4) 7-6(11) 2-6 1-6 6-7(3)

2006 Fed losses on hard courts

Dubai finals-Nadal defeats Federer 6-2 4-6 4-6
Cincinnati 2nd round-Murray defeats Federer 5-7 4-6

2007 Fed losses on hard courts

Pacific Life 2nd round-Canas defeats Federer 5-7 2-6
Nasdaq round of 16-Canas defeats Federer 6-7(2) 6-2 6-7(5)


Fed losses in Masters events are in significant hard court events too, not just "smaller" tournaments. If you consider a Masters events a "small tournament" then the tournaments that are not small are just the Grand Slams and the year end Masters. That would mean the clay court season is basically just 1 event, the summer hard court season just 1 event, which would be a silly way to look at it. Even at that Federer loses in those events sometimes too on hard courts, as his 2005 Australian Open semis and 2005 year end Masters finals show.

You say Federer did not lose a single set at the Australian Open. That is not at all indicative of what he usually faces in a slam final on hard courts. In the 3 slam finals he played on hard courts before that he looked halfway through the match as if he would probably lose in fact. The 2006 U.S Open final with Roddick he was 1 set all, and looked about to go down a break. The 2006 Australian Open final he looked like he was about to go down 2 sets to 0 to Baghdatis.
Then even vs an old Agassi in the 2005 U.S Open final he was 1 set all, down a break at 4-2 in the second. You certainly never had even slight doubts Nadal would win any of his French Open finals halfway through the match.

Fed's dominance on hard courts does not even approach the monopolizing and tedious dominance Nadal has had on clay which ruins any competitive value or interest in the clay court season and makes it all but unwatchable. There is a reason 2 Masters events are being demoted to lesser status next year.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

So you are saying Nadal on clay is greater than Federer on hard court? Too bad there aren't 2 clay court slams than. lol

 

[navratilovafan]

I dont know if he is greater, or the competition on clay is weaker then hard courts. Personally I think it is more of the latter since there are maybe 2 guys in the top 15 who would say their favorite surface is clay, and I couldnt even name the 3rd best clay courter today if I tried since nobody is even half worthy of that title at the moment. However regardless what it is, Nadal on clay is by far more dominant then Federer on hard courts.

Federer's dominance is still competitive dominance. Nadal's is not, and the clay court season has become pretty much worthless and a waste. Results like this might help save it and bring it to life again.