Nadal has Federer figured-out, it is not the surface anymore.

[Golden Retriever]

It is the backhand.

Federer has two weapons, the best forehand, especially the inside-out forehand, in history and a top five serve. With the serve there is nothing much that Nadal can do except for waiting for it to break down and it will, especially in a five sets match. So Nadal will eventually get some good returns in and start doing what he does to Federer.

Now Nadal still has to deal with the best inside-out forehand in history before he can get to Federer's backhand. Well, thats where his lefthandedness comes in handy. His speed and the extra reach to the ad-side from being a lefty enable him to return Federer's less perfectly struck inside-out forehand with authority. With Federer's biggest weapon taken care of, Nadal can easily expose Federer's one and only one weakest, the backhand.

In short, Federer is Nadal's b****.

 

[downthewall]

lolz. i think ur right

 

[edberg505]

 

[Nadal_Monfils]

^^^ That seems to be your new favorite post.

 

[edberg505]

^^^ That seems to be your new favorite post.

Ah yes, it sure is. I'm so glad I found it. I can give my feeling about the post without actually putting it into words. I only wish I had found it earlier. I mean, that picture sums up everything that I want to say.

 

[fastdunn]

Federer's 2nd serve is being attacked too. Nadal won higher % on 2nd serve points than Federer did (meaning Nadal's 2nd serve was a bit more effective than Federer's).

And Federer's winning % on net approach is kinda average against Nadal and also other players.

(Laver, a lefty, a few years ago, said he would attack the 2nd serve and take it to the backhand, if he ever plays Federer.)

I think Federer might take more chances on his 2nd serve against Nadal from now. And he might try to increase winning % of his net play. But who knows what his next strategy will be.....

 

[counter_puncher]

No way. Federer doesn't have the best forehand in history. It's quite inconsistent at times, and I don't personally think an eastern grip is the best of all time.

 

[alienhamster]

Federer's 2nd serve is being attacked too. Nadal won higher % on 2nd serve points than Federer did (meaning Nadal's 2nd serve was a bit more effective than Federer's).

And Federer's winning % on net approach is kinda average against Nadal and also other players.

(Laver, a lefty, a few years ago, said he would attack the 2nd serve and take it to the backhand, if he ever plays Federer.)

I think Federer might take more chances on his 2nd serve against Nadal from now. And he might try to increase winning % of his net play. But who knows what his next strategy will be.....

I thought Fed made some discoveries yesterday that may pay off in the future. He made some good net approaches down the middle of the court, not allowing Nadal any angles to work with. He also did a better job of anticipating Nadal passing cross court from his backhand and cutting off the volley before it dipped. You almost have to guess on that pass, but Nadal seems to hit there about 90% of the time.

I don't think Fed will ever turn the tide against Nadal completely, but he ought to be able to own the head to head on faster surfaces.

 

[dh003i]

A really disgusting and classless post.

Almost losing after being up 2 sets to love, and Fed having clear chances to win those first two sets, but faltering on serve uncharicteristically, hardly shows that Nadal "owns" Federer.

It was a great match, both played great tennis; Nadal played ever so much better than last year, Federer ever so much worse, and hence the outcome.