How much did the Nadal win take out of Federer?

[terribleIVAN]

3 out of 4 sets played at a hard pace, at almost 38.

Nole isn't the Nole of 2015.

But he still serves and returns better than Rafa, which on grass is key.

Can the old man summon one last Hurrah ?

 

[MeatTornado]

A lot. But Novak would beat a fresh Federer anyway.

 

[JimJones]

Seemed like a lot in the interview afterwards. Fed expended a lot of energy at the end there.

 

[Deon Sanders]

Wasnt really any point in the match where Roger looked the least bit tired

Also Novak covered 3860m to Rogers 3040m today

I dont think that is much of a factor

 

[wang07]

Fed himself said he was "exhausted" right after the match. There's a day off, so we will see! I hope he has enough left in the tank. It's a Wimbledon final, he is going to fight for sure.

 

[Tennisgods]

3 out of 4 sets played at a hard pace, at almost 38.

Nole isn't the Nole of 2015.

But he still serves and returns better than Rafa, which on grass is key.

Can the old man summon one last Hurrah ?

Enough, I think, to make it an easier match for Novak.

 

[Edhead-Fedhead]

I think Fed will be fine energy-wise. I think the match was good for him. He was challenged, but never actually behind. He's confident and playing well. And, he really wants the win, for sure! It will be interesting to see how it plays out on Sunday. I believe he can win, but I'm a happy Fed fan regardless! He just continues to exceed all reasonable expectations!

 

[El Principe]

This is Goderer we're talking about... remember, Djokovic will always have the physical edge - movement, endurance etc - but Fed can outhit anybody when he wants to.

That's what he did today in the long rallies against Rafa. Long rallies - against RAFA! And aged just shy of 38 no less. Fed isn't human.

I'm thinking of FO'11. Somehow I feel RF21 is written in the stars.

 

[Badabing888]

Recovery is harder after such a tough match especially at 37 and 1 month shy of 38. It’s the emotional energy as much as the physical energy expended though. It was a special win today and now Roger needs to lift himself again, dig deeper and find another level to match and beat Novak. Logically, and based on the two previous finals, especially 2015 when he played a blinder to bear Murray in the semi but lost to Novak in 4 sets he won’t; for me it’s how Novak hurts Roger’s second serve to take control of the rallies and protects his own serve (Roger guilty of being passive on Novak’s serve). Not unless Novak has a let down and doesn’t play well or Roger changes it up significantly compared to 2014 and 2015 can I see Roger triumph. Of course I hope I am wrong.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Don't care, Fed is in the final with a chance. Can you ask for more?

 

[HowsItGoin]

Wasnt really any point in the match where Roger looked the least bit tired

Also Novak covered 3860m to Rogers 3040m today

I dont think that is much of a factor

Federer will always cover less ground. But the added emotional energy today will have taken more out of him I think. This was like a final before a final.

And as 4 set wins with only 1 tiebreak go, this was about as close and tough as it gets.

 

[Newballs]

Don't care, Fed is in the final with a chance. Can you ask for more?

Prunes?

 

[NatF]

He has enough left.

 

[Lleytonstation]

Prunes?

I like watermelon better.

 

[TMF]

Against Nadal, he takes a lot of energy out you because plays hard and makes you earn every point.

Let's hope Federer can fully recover in time for Sunday.

 

[Milehigh5280]

I wouldn't be surprised if Fed came out flat on Sunday, but I expect him to be ready to go.

 

[van_Loederen]

Wasnt really any point in the match where Roger looked the least bit tired

why am i not surprised?

 

[duaneeo]

Federer will be fine. He's been very efficient this tournament, so a day off is more than enough time to recover from today's physical and mental match.

 

[Edhead-Fedhead]

I wouldn't be surprised if Fed came out flat on Sunday, but I expect him to be ready to go.

Starting flat is something that he does more often, as he's gotten older. But, I'm hopeful that he'll rise to the occasion and come out firing on all cylinders. He managed some quick starts during clay court season, for which I was pleasantly surprised!

 

[JackGates]

3 out of 4 sets played at a hard pace, at almost 38.

Nole isn't the Nole of 2015.

But he still serves and returns better than Rafa, which on grass is key.

Can the old man summon one last Hurrah ?

I think it actually helped Federer, made him match tough. Fed having a close match versus Wawrinka seemed to help him in AO 2017. I think Fed improved his fitness a lot since 2015, so I don't think it will matter. Usually Fed wasn't tested till the final and Nole had close matches, this time it was the other way around. Fed isn't peaking too early like in the past years.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Fed himself said he was "exhausted" right after the match.

That probably was gamesmanship, which is should have been employing 15 years ago. He told the Swiss press, "geistig anstrengend, sicher, aber körperlich geht's mir gut." ("mentally exhausting, sure, but I'm fine physically.") Even if Fed played 6 hours and was run ragged, he'd never admit he was "exhausted" until the tournament is over. He's totally focused for Sunday, you can see that in his face and demeanor.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Somehow I feel RF21 is written in the stars.

Sure hope you're right.

 

[HowsItGoin]

That probably was gamesmanship, which is should have been employing 15 years ago. He told the Swiss press, "geistig anstrengend, sicher, aber körperlich geht's mir gut." ("mentally exhausting, sure, but I'm fine physically.") Even if Fed played 6 hours and was run ragged, he'd never admit he was "exhausted" until the tournament is over. He's totally focused for Sunday, you can see that in his face and demeanor.

Interesting. Perhaps the mental exhaustion and and overall exhaustion was literally down to the last 10-15 mins of the match. As in “****ing hell he just wouldn’t go away”... but overall not as exhausted in terms of being spent physically.

I still think it’ll have taken a bit out of him. It’s always an emotional match. If they somehow met in the 2nd round next year I think it would feel like a final to them.

 

[ibbi]

He did a lot of running, more than Nadal did. That's not a great thing. Though if he couldn't beat Novak over 5 sets 4 or 5 years ago I don't know why anybody thinks he will now regardless? I know Djokovic himself is older and probably not the player he was then, but... The same applies to Roger.

 

[van_Loederen]

Fed having a close match versus Wawrinka seemed to help him in AO 2017. I think Fed improved his fitness a lot since 2015, so I don't think it will matter.

yeah he improved his fitness while being away from the tour for a year ...and marched through several 5-setters after basically no matchplay.

 

[van_Loederen]

He did a lot of running, more than Nadal did. That's not a great thing. Though if he couldn't beat Novak over 5 sets 4 or 5 years ago I don't know why anybody thinks he will now regardless? I know Djokovic himself is older and probably not the player he was then, but... The same applies to Roger.

he greatly improved his fitness in 2016.

 

[Mr Feeny]

yeah he improved his fitness while being away from the tour for a year ...and marched through several 5-setters after basically no matchplay.

Federer is indeed epic Glad you know that!

 

[van_Loederen]

Federer is indeed epic Glad you know that!

you sound like a fool

 

[van_Loederen]

even more epic, he didn't even have the whole 2016 for fitness training as he had to recover from a knee injury he sustained ...right after losing at the AO + in a situation with no witnesses.

can't make that up, do you?

 

[ghostofMecir]

He did a lot of running, more than Nadal did. That's not a great thing. Though if he couldn't beat Novak over 5 sets 4 or 5 years ago I don't know why anybody thinks he will now regardless? I know Djokovic himself is older and probably not the player he was then, but... The same applies to Roger.

Not really. 9996 ft for Federer, 9823 ft for Nadal.

But the mental strain/emotional strain was undeniably great on both players. Federer looked drained afterwards. It’s going to take a unprecedented Herculean effort for Federer to win the title.

 

[Mark Asher]

If Federer has an extra gear, he'll find it. He knows he doesn't have too many more chances like this.

 

[BeatlesFan]

He did a lot of running, more than Nadal did.

The graphic ESPN put on after the match said it was basically even how many meters each ran. Was that wrong?

Edit: Just saw Ghost's post, sorry.

 

[ibbi]

The graphic ESPN put on after the match said it was basically even how many meters each ran. Was that wrong?

Edit: Just saw Ghost's post, sorry.

No, I don't think he did MUCH more running than Nadal, but he still did more though looking at the other match it seems they did a lot more, so I guess it'll even itself out overall.

 

[HowsItGoin]

If Federer has an extra gear, he'll find it. He knows he doesn't have too many more chances like this.

My exact thoughts.

If Federer was ever going to go for broke and give every fiber of his soul in a match, it’s a Wimbledon final against Novak.

Earlier in his career if he wasn’t quite feeling it or was getting (relatively) blown off the court early he may have subconsciously saved his energy and his best for another day to preserve himself. Not Sunday.

 

[sbengte]

3 out of 4 sets played at a hard pace, at almost 38.

Nole isn't the Nole of 2015.

But he still serves and returns better than Rafa, which on grass is key.

Can the old man summon one last Hurrah ?

On the contrary , I think it buoyed him...

 

[jga111]

Energy wise no issue. Nadal couldn’t handle Federer taking it early on the baseline. Novak will do a better job but I suspect Federer will come to the net more and mix it up. Great game to watch - and I’ll be there!!

 

[mightyrick]

In the press conference, when asked how he would be able to take that level into the finals match... Federer immediately said, "That is where age gets you." And "I can't be overlay happy right now, I have to stay focused." Federer is well aware that he could totally lay a mental egg in the final. It really is a challenge for these older guys to bring a consistently high level of mental energy.

I hope both bring high energy, but after Federer's performance in the semifinal... I wouldn't be surprised if he's just simply mentally exhausted.

 

[BeatlesFan]

If Federer was ever going to go for broke and give every fiber of his soul in a match, it’s a Wimbledon final against Novak.

Earlier in his career if he wasn’t quite feeling it or was getting (relatively) blown off the court early he may have subconsciously saved his energy and his best for another day to preserve himself. Not Sunday.

Fed told the Swiss press yesterday he was mentally fatigued but fine physically. And he added, "I train to play seven 5 set matches in slams. I know vacation and rest will come after Sunday, so I can play hard and for many hours with that mindset."

 

[Feather]

Fed told the Swiss press yesterday he was mentally fatigued but fine physically. And he added, "I train to play seven 5 set matches in slams. I know vacation and rest will come after Sunday, so I can play hard and for many hours with that mindset."

Ignore what players say. Of course, Roger Federer is not going to say I am exhausted.

PS: I am not saying Roger Federer is exhausted. I just mean to say that what they say may not be true

 

[Harry_Wild]

One days rest should charge RF up to 3/4 physical but mentally it unknown!

 

[Fairhit]

Mentally he is the strongest player, I'm pretty sure he will be strong, fast and focused mentally, he knows this is a chance for him to take, he will fight for it and rest on Monday, but Sunday he'll give everything.

 

[crocon]

Fed told the Swiss press yesterday he was mentally fatigued but fine physically. And he added, "I train to play seven 5 set matches in slams. I know vacation and rest will come after Sunday, so I can play hard and for many hours with that mindset."

That's good to hear. I was hoping him being exhausted at the end had more to do with the intensity and emotions of the last couple games. I think he will be fine.

 

[Devilito]

 

[Jonas78]

If he loses to Novak it isnt because of the Nadal match.

 

[veroniquem]

Wasnt really any point in the match where Roger looked the least bit tired

Also Novak covered 3860m to Rogers 3040m today

I dont think that is much of a factor

Well, if Fed himself said he was exhausted, I trust he'd know how he feels better than you...

 

[Sentinel]

Fed himself said he was "exhausted" right after the match. There's a day off, so we will see! I hope he has enough left in the tank. It's a Wimbledon final, he is going to fight for sure.

Maybe there was a lot of emotional energy since it was a match with Rafa. You can see the way he jumped up at the end, and the way his entire team was huggin each other. It was like he had won the title.

The last two games must have been quite draining emotionally too.

That said, IMO Nole would beat a fresh Fed, so I don't think this matters.

 

[Sentinel]

Yeah, sometimes players do pushups/pressups while waiting for Nadal to serve

 

[stringertom]

Recovery is harder after such a tough match especially at 37 and 1 month shy of 38. It’s the emotional energy as much as the physical energy expended though. It was a special win today and now Roger needs to lift himself again, dig deeper and find another level to match and beat Novak. Logically, and based on the two previous finals, especially 2015 when he played a blinder to bear Murray in the semi but lost to Novak in 4 sets he won’t; for me it’s how Novak hurts Roger’s second serve to take control of the rallies and protects his own serve (Roger guilty of being passive on Novak’s serve). Not unless Novak has a let down and doesn’t play well or Roger changes it up significantly compared to 2014 and 2015 can I see Roger triumph. Of course I hope I am wrong.

I wouldn’t lump ‘14 together with ‘15. The first final stings more because fedr could have won it but didn’t use the energy of his fourth set comeback. I still rank that loss up near the disappointment of the AO’09 fifth set collapse and how he mishandled the USO’09 final. The 2015 final was NiD, even with fedr scraping out a set.

 

[LETitBE]

it will give him a fantastic boost