My views on Federer at Wimbledon this year

[Terry Tibbs]

First and foremost, regardless what people may think about his fitness and level etc, I think we need to recognise what Roger has achieved. At almost 40 and having 2 knee surgeries, who realistically thought he would ever come back and be competitive? The fact that he has come back and now won 7 slam matches in a row and is in the QF's at Wimbledon really is incredible.

Now to balance this out, I don't believe he has played a top level player yet and I think all of his opponents at Wimbledon this year have been mediocre. I actually thought that Sonego was his worst opponent. My observations and assessment of Federer's performances are that I would agree with many others on here in that his overall level is still just not quite there and I have only really seen minor improvements from match to match. It has been quite baffling at times watching him as at times he appears to have settled into the match playing with some fluency with some beautiful shots like the old Federer but then he will follow this with a series of absolute horror shots and is still looking quite slow getting to some balls.

Maybe I am wrong and he is playing better than I'm giving him credit for but I know that in previous years watching him, he instils confidence that he is playing well enough to win the tournament. However this year, I am feeling that every match he wins is a match closer to playing a proper top player even of the likes of Shapavolov or Medvedev and getting comfortably beaten. I'm finding myself thinking imagine if he was playing Djokovic here. Although he came through, I actually found the Norrie match quite painful and frustrating to watch. He literally hasn't been tested at all yet. Both Norrie and Sonego where sub par and I expected more of a challenge from them.

Perhaps he is still keeping something in reserve and has more gears to go to so can raise his level if he needs to.

 

[SardinesForDinner]

Fed is extremely tough to beat at Wimbledon adn will be for any player except for perhaps Djokovic. Last time Federer either didn't win the tournament or lost in less than 5 sets was back in 2015 against peak Djokovic. Fed won't go away easily, he'll put up a fight (take note next gen losers).

He won't be favorite in a potential match vs Medvedev or even Berrettini but he can make it. There been signs of progress, especially in the first set tiebreak vs Gasquet. Step by step. Could very well reach a good level come Sunday.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

Fed is extremely tough to beat at Wimbledon adn will be for any player except for perhaps Djokovic. Last time Federer either didn't win the tournament or lost in less than 5 sets was back in 2015 against peak Djokovic. Fed won't go away easily, he'll put up a fight (take note next gen losers).

He won't be favorite in a potential match vs Medvedev or even Berrettini but he can make it. There been signs of progress, especially in the first set tiebreak vs Gasquet. Step by step. Could very well reach a good level come Sunday.

Yeah he shows signs but then plays like a mug for a few games. He wont get away with this level of inconsistency against top players.

 

[D.Nalby12]

I think Fed will get better with practice. It's hard to see him peaking in this Wimbledon. There is a lot of work to do. Realistically Federer' target should be next USO - AO - W. Try to win 2/3 which would keep him alive in the race..

 

[D.Nalby12]

His movement looks very slow. Otherwise he is showing flahses of old brilliance.

 

[Villain]

Realistically Federer' target should be next USO - AO - W. Try to win 2/3 which would keep him alive in the race..

 

[NoleIsBoat]

He looks decent enough to make the final, unless Berretini starts botting. Hurcacz style suits Fed perfectly.

 

[D.Nalby12]

Why surprised. Federer is not playing for love of game. He is playing for Slam record. He should target to win couple of more to stay relevant - there is no other option to him. Young gen sucks - and Djokovic won't be there to stop him at every Slam. Federer just needs to stay injury free and patiently wait for his opportunities.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Fed is extremely tough to beat at Wimbledon adn will be for any player except for perhaps Djokovic. Last time Federer either didn't win the tournament or lost in less than 5 sets was back in 2015 against peak Djokovic. Fed won't go away easily, he'll put up a fight (take note next gen losers).

He won't be favorite in a potential match vs Medvedev or even Berrettini but he can make it. There been signs of progress, especially in the first set tiebreak vs Gasquet. Step by step. Could very well reach a good level come Sunday.

Well he doesn’t need to worry about Meddy anyway. Mad lad was awful today.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Grass is a weird surface. Let's see how he does on HC where everyone can play.

 

[-NN-]

I keep hearing Fed had 2 knee surgeries.


Is it 2 or is it 3? I thought he had 1 on one knee and 2 on the other... no???

 

[bnjkn]

Federer comfortably beaten by Medvedev on grass. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

 

[SardinesForDinner]

Well he doesn’t need to worry about Meddy anyway. Mad lad was awful today.

Hurkacz will pose more trouble, way more suited to grass and perhaps centre court too.

 

[SardinesForDinner]

Yeah he shows signs but then plays like a mug for a few games. He wont get away with this level of inconsistency against top players.

He can against every top player left in the tournament except for Djokovic.

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Hurkacz will pose more trouble, way more suited to grass and perhaps centre court too.

Yeah I think you right to be honest. He’s a better grass player and moves better on it.

 

[Phoenix1983]

He looks decent enough to make the final, unless Berretini starts botting. Hurcacz style suits Fed perfectly.

I think Berrettini shall defeat Fed in the SF.

 

[Mivic]

I think Fed will get better with practice. It's hard to see him peaking in this Wimbledon. There is a lot of work to do. Realistically Federer' target should be next USO - AO - W. Try to win 2/3 which would keep him alive in the race..

You think it's a realistic target for a 40 year old Federer with severe physical limitations to win 2 out of the next 3 slams?

 

[D.Nalby12]

You think it's a realistic target for a 40 year old Federer with severe physical limitations to win 2 out of the next 3 slams?

You can call it unrealistic. But it's what Federer should aim for. I don't see him winning Wimbledon. He didn't get enough match practise. But I believe he will get back to Slam winning form at some point. When young gen sucks - there is nothing unrealistic for Big 3. What Djokovic is doing in his thirties was pretty much considered unrealistic before. Federer can have another strong run realistically given weak state of tour.

 

[Mivic]

You can call it unrealistic. But it's what Federer should aim for. I don't see him winning Wimbledon. He didn't get enough match practise. But I believe he will get back to Slam winning form at some point. When young gen sucks - there is nothing unrealistic for Big 3. What Djokovic is doing in his thirties was pretty much considered unrealistic before. Federer can have another strong run realistically given weak state of tour.

I think there's a lot of wishful thinking going on from Federer fans in regards to the extent that he can improve his form going forward. He's had multiple training blocks since his knee surgery, so his footspeed or physicality aren't going to improve a great deal from their current level (which is very poor). In fact they will only get worse moving forward (as they did after his Australian Open triumph coming off surgery in 2017). Sure, he might get a bit sharper and improve his match play, but outside of grass where he can servebot and beat opponents with variety and by taking time away as a means to compensate for the fact that he can't get himself in position to strike the ball cleanly in an extended rallying situation, I don't think that's going to allow him to make up for what is an ongoing physical decline. Comparing Federer to Djokovic is apples to oranges since the latter's movement and endurance (slightly less so) are still relatively close to a prime level, even if elements of Novak's game like shot tolerance and weight of shot have declined noticeably (as they have in Federer's case). And as weak as the tour might be, Federer isn't going to beat Djokovic on a HC in the best of 5 format at this stage of his career, so realistically, this tournament is Federer's last decent chance at winning a slam.

 

[T007]

I think there's a lot of wishful thinking going on from Federer fans in regards to the extent that he can improve his form going forward. He's had multiple training blocks since his knee surgery, so his footspeed or physicality aren't going to improve a great deal from their current level (which is very poor). In fact they will only get worse moving forward (as they did after his Australian Open triumph coming off surgery in 2017). Sure, he might get a bit sharper and improve his match play, but outside of grass where he can servebot and beat opponents with variety and by taking time away as a means to compensate for the fact that he can't get himself in position to strike the ball cleanly in an extended rallying situation, I don't think that's going to allow him to make up for what is an ongoing physical decline. Comparing Federer to Djokovic is apples to oranges since the latter's movement and endurance (slightly less so) are still relatively close to a prime level, even if elements of Novak's game like shot tolerance and weight of shot have declined noticeably (as they have in Federer's case). And as weak as the tour might be, Federer isn't going to beat Djokovic on a HC in the best of 5 format at this stage of his career, so realistically, this tournament is Federer's last decent chance at winning a slam.

Yes Comparing Djoker and Federer at 35 is apples and oranges. Federers competition on grass and Hard was a peak djokovic and after 5 years here we are talking about Fed is the best bet to take out djokovic in this tournament again out of all players left.

 

[T007]

I think there's a lot of wishful thinking going on from Federer fans in regards to the extent that he can improve his form going forward. He's had multiple training blocks since his knee surgery, so his footspeed or physicality aren't going to improve a great deal from their current level (which is very poor). In fact they will only get worse moving forward (as they did after his Australian Open triumph coming off surgery in 2017). Sure, he might get a bit sharper and improve his match play, but outside of grass where he can servebot and beat opponents with variety and by taking time away as a means to compensate for the fact that he can't get himself in position to strike the ball cleanly in an extended rallying situation, I don't think that's going to allow him to make up for what is an ongoing physical decline. Comparing Federer to Djokovic is apples to oranges since the latter's movement and endurance (slightly less so) are still relatively close to a prime level, even if elements of Novak's game like shot tolerance and weight of shot have declined noticeably (as they have in Federer's case). And as weak as the tour might be, Federer isn't going to beat Djokovic on a HC in the best of 5 format at this stage of his career, so realistically, this tournament is Federer's last decent chance at winning a slam.

Federers FH and Serve in his late 30s is still better than present djokovic. That was the main reason djoker struggled against a 38 year old Federer in 2019 Final.

 

[pj80]

You think it's a realistic target for a 40 year old Federer with severe physical limitations to win 2 out of the next 3 slams?

I didn't see any severe physical limitations, Fed is back to his 2019/ early 2020 level...

 

[ghostofMecir]

Fed is extremely tough to beat at Wimbledon adn will be for any player except for perhaps Djokovic. Last time Federer either didn't win the tournament or lost in less than 5 sets was back in 2015 against peak Djokovic. Fed won't go away easily, he'll put up a fight (take note next gen losers).

He won't be favorite in a potential match vs Medvedev or even Berrettini but he can make it. There been signs of progress, especially in the first set tiebreak vs Gasquet. Step by step. Could very well reach a good level come Sunday.

I think OP is right more or less, but youre correct thstnFederer is extremely difficult to defeat at Wimbledon. He hasn’t been outplayed in 5 years since Raonic beat him in 2016 and he should’ve won that one, too. He won more points and the dominance ratios vs. both Djokovic and Anderson. They both “beat” him but neither outplayed him.