clayqueen
Bionic Poster
Last edited:
Proof that Federer is not playing clay tune ups in 2018
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yokied
Hall of Fame
^^^^ The files some of the ladies keep around here worry me. I just like watching some of these guys play but I'm not sure we're all not the same level.
I genuinely see your point, but two things.
1. Fed is old. I'm the same age as him give or take a month and things simply don't come back as fast as they used to, strength takes longer to recover and you feel like a real moron when you get injured. I'm four and a half months into rehab on a major injury and even though I'm on court and way ahead of schedule, it's a lot of quite painful work and a 30yo me would be weeks ahead of where I'm at and doing it wayyy easier.
2. Fed is experienced, talented and battle hardened. He can shut down for a while and reboot quite comfortably from a tennis skills and competitive perspective. A lot of his strength and conditioning would be highly coordinated to try to make it tennis-relevant and lock it into his mind so even when he's not playing he wouldn't be burgers, beers, blow and hookers-level detached. I doubt he's doing benders in the downtime with Bernie.
I genuinely see your point, but two things.
1. Fed is old. I'm the same age as him give or take a month and things simply don't come back as fast as they used to, strength takes longer to recover and you feel like a real moron when you get injured. I'm four and a half months into rehab on a major injury and even though I'm on court and way ahead of schedule, it's a lot of quite painful work and a 30yo me would be weeks ahead of where I'm at and doing it wayyy easier.
2. Fed is experienced, talented and battle hardened. He can shut down for a while and reboot quite comfortably from a tennis skills and competitive perspective. A lot of his strength and conditioning would be highly coordinated to try to make it tennis-relevant and lock it into his mind so even when he's not playing he wouldn't be burgers, beers, blow and hookers-level detached. I doubt he's doing benders in the downtime with Bernie.
clayqueen
Bionic Poster
No, we just know our way around the internet.
Tennis_Hands
Banned
chut
Professional
Federer clearly is aware of tennis history, he likes prestige revolving around #1 and around slams, and i guess that's the only reason why he would play RG, so as the #1 player is playing one of the 4 most important tournaments of the year. But in this unlikely case, for his own sake he should really semi-tank it.
The best bet is still Federer not playing clay at all.
The best bet is still Federer not playing clay at all.
Mr Feeny
Hall of Fame
Well done on the edit. Maybe a moment’s thought before posting next time.
Folks can enjoy your original effort in the quote. Toodles!
Like Wallace said, we can see what you wrote before the edit in your post. He's chewed you up and spat you out. Carry on embarrassing yourself because the rest of us are laughing.
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kevaninho
Hall of Fame
Hes the only player ever heard of who still plays tennis but skips a certain surface LOL
Pathetic. And this is the guy whos supposedly the greatest ever.
Pete Sampras competed in every slam his final years, then called it a day with class and dignity.
Federer is just an opportunist, vulturing tournaments after long breaks. Cowardly.
mightyjeditribble
Legend
Haha, winning the title in the Rafael Nadal Arena.
Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk
True Fanerer
G.O.A.T.
He has a great history of coming back and doing well with minimal match play. He also moves on from losses about as well as anyone I've ever seen. But, an undefeated shut down is going to stir a lot of talk along with being #1. How will that effect him? I recall him saying once that he didn't want to be a practice champion. Now he would be that plus much more. I wouldn't view him that way, but you know a lot of people would. He also has a mental edge on Rafa right now that is unparalleled in his career. IMO his presence during the clay season regardless of results shows courage and competetive spirit. Many think a loss to Rafa would effect his momentum and that could be true. I can't say for certain that I'm right or they're wrong. But, it's my opinion at this point. Let's see what happens at IW. It may change my mind.
Same here. He's two months older than me. It takes a lot longer to recover I agree. I know the clay is hell on the body, that's for sure. If he can get through IW with some ease, maybe he will have his health. Like I've said before, its fine with me if he skips it because of my loyalty as a fan. Just hate to see an opportunity slip by. Not many view this as an opportunity, but I believe it is.
Way too much logic in this post. However, it will be skimmed over and ignored as they have already decided in their minds that Fed is ruining tennis by skipping slams and that others will follow suit.
If Fed still plays tennis when he is 40 years old, they will expect him to show up to all the slams and masters as he is obligated to do so, apparently.
They had no problems when Roger took beat down after beat down at the hands of Nadal during the clay seasons of past but now that Roger is dishing it out to the tour once again, they want to see him humbled.
Dlabsiladan
New User
I don’t understand why anyone cares if Fed skips tournaments. Let the players decide what they want to play. I mean, I wouldn’t mind if Nadal skips every upcoming tournament for the remainder of his career.
Vanilla Slice
Professional
I’m not saying your wrong, and I know he will be in Africa in April, but what are the sources for why he couldn’t travel to Madrid (chocolate commercial) or Rome (wedding)??
Also is there any scheduling conflicts with Roland Garros?
Also is there any scheduling conflicts with Roland Garros?
Vanilla Slice
Professional
Fed cannot play Monte Carlo, Madrid or Rome because he has standing obligations which clearly prove he's unavailable to play any of those clay events.
1. He will be in Malawi for his Foundation from April 11-April 16, which is when Monte Carlo is played. So Monte Carlo is out.
2. He will be in Zurich on May 7-8 for a Lindt chocolate commercial shoot. This is when Madrid is played, so Madrid is out.
3. He will be attending Prince Harry's wedding in England on May 19 which is when the Rome semis are played. So Rome is out.
Fed also said in Rotterdam, "It wouldn't be prudent to play RG without a proper tune up, possibly two."
Those who fantasize, suggest or even demand Federer play clay should address these "scheduling conflicts."
^ post above
D
Deleted member 688153
Guest
I think it's understandable that Fed haters are keen to see him take some losses 
Nothing against the Fed fans who want him to play clay though. You guys clearly believe more than me - and I should have learned by now.
Nothing against the Fed fans who want him to play clay though. You guys clearly believe more than me - and I should have learned by now.
Mr Feeny
Hall of Fame
D
Deleted member 688153
Guest
Lolololololololololololololololol
abmk
Bionic Poster
D
Deleted member 688153
Guest
zagor
Bionic Poster
It's not about skipping tournaments, I guarantee you won't hear a peep out of Nadal fans (and other Fed detractors) if Fed skips Miami for example (because it helps Nadal get back to #1).
It's about Fed playing a surface that is unsuitable to his current game/tactics, going deep and either getting tired out for Wimbledon, losing to Nadal (so he can regain the mental edge) or getting injured (like it happened in 2016).They wouldn't care if Fed wasn't winning so much lately, it's just the fear and desperation of Fed pulling away in the slam race.
Of course some Fed fans want to see him play because of a CYGS pipe dream and because they miss watching Fed play on clay but they're very much in the minority. The most people that are screaming for Fed's participation during CC season are the ones in the possession of Fed shaped dartboard or voodoo dolls.
Personally I'd be fine with whatever Fed decides, I trust he knows what's best for his career.
I wouldn't care either, his schedule, his career.
I do think skipping IW/Miami was atleast in part strategic from him for example and that he'll go on another tear during CC season but do I begrudge him for it? No, he's just trying to maximise his chances.
zagor
Bionic Poster
It's a stretch to classify Pete's showings on clay post 1996 as "competing".
He definitely felt his deep run at 1996 FO played a part in his QF Wimbledon loss the same year, he didn't make the same mistake again.
chjtennis
G.O.A.T.
I remember Ivan Lendl, a great RG player, skipping FO to have a better chance at winning Wimbledon one year late in his career. People should use their brain and they'll see how closely FO and Wimbledon are scheduled and how deep FO run can affect Wimbledon and preparation for it, especially when the player is nearly 37.
zagor
Bionic Poster
I also think Nada's Wimbledon woes in the last 5-6 years are in part due to his body not being able to recover from CC grinding as well as it did before, it's why he looks so deflated in Wimbledon early rounds and usually skips a grass prep tourney.
However that isn't as a big of a deal for him because Wimbledon comes after FO which means he can more afford to try it out and see how it goes. For Fed on the other hand, CC season cuts into his grass prep so he has to be more careful.
Fed's age/mileage definitely plays a part, he played 65 straight slams until he was 35. Expecting him to carry on with playing a full calendar until the end of his career is just unrealistic.
chjtennis
G.O.A.T.
Nadal's year revolves around clay season and it is not surprising he cannot maintain high level after playing 5 clay tournaments with not much rest in between - MC-Barcelona-Madrid-Rome-RG, and he wins most of them which is just insane. That kind of schedule works and is necessary for him though. He can sacrifice other parts of the calendar for that, which is not the case for others.
yokied
Hall of Fame
Agreed on the unprecedented edge Vs Rafa, but the risk-reward is terrible. Another one or two whittled off the H2H and putting a small ding in Nadal's simply stellar clay resume? As satisfying as a win over Nadal at RG would be, it hardly means Rafa will just retire and go away or cease to be a competitive force, and it hardly lays the groundwork for many future wins over Nadal on clay. Roger only has a year or two of Nadal-level clay left in him. The risk is immense: missing his 9th Wimbledon. He has to know that is the equation after what happened at USO17, and that was without RG last year.
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
Its simple. Tennis fans want to see him play. Its interesting, exciting even.
Everyone is getting upset that he might get injured, or that 'Nadal fans' only want Fed to get hurt. WTF is that all about?
I personally think he has a reasonable chance to go far in it, as the rest of the competition is **** poor anyway.
I think he adds so much to any tournament and itll be a loss if he skips RG. The same as its a loss that Djokovic has been MIA on the tour for a while.
There is no motive for anyone to want Fed to play clay, other than the fact that hes the worlds best player, and if he played RG, and won it, well that would be simply unbelievable.Something id personally like to see him do again.
We all seen in 09 how much it meant to him winning it. Can you imagine the emotion if he done it again?
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
Sorry but if you play in a professional event, regardless of the result, you are in competition. = Competing.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Times were completely different back then due to polarized surfaces. Players picked and chose the events they wanted to excel in.
So you cannot apply your homogenized surface theory scenarios to the past.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, semi/tanking certainly is competing.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Hey, where were you when Nadal took all those Wimbledon and USO sabbaticals ? He could have manned up and taken a 3R or 4R loss even if he was not fully fit.
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
Hes missed 3 Wimbledons in 15 years and 2 US opens. You should probably research some facts before you shout random rubbish
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
What are you talking about? I mentioned Sampras competed at RG every year bar 1, even when he had no chance of winning.
I guess you missed that bit.
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Hes missed 3 Wimbledons in 15 years and 2 US opens. You should probably research some facts before you shout random rubbish
So was he in a state that he could not step on the court at these events ?
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Pete competed but you knew he was in it for a formality . And he didn't even pretend about that.
abmk
Bionic Poster
Sampras did not compete in RG at 2003, 2004, 2005 ....
the same age at which Federer was competing at RG. (2013, 2014, 2015)
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
True, but to me its different for Federer, as he has somewhat of a chance of winning it. Obviously its a question of whether he feels its worth the slog right before W.
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
He didn't compete in any slam those years....
tennisaddict
Bionic Poster
Exactly. He knows better he will be ruining his chance for Wimbledon by playing RG.
abmk
Bionic Poster
of course not >> he knew he had no or little chance of winning.
duaneeo
G.O.A.T.
Exactly. I think everyone agrees that Federer should limit his schedule. But for those who want a limited schedule that includes RG, there's an ulterior motive? Crazy.
La Vigésima
Rookie
It's reasonable for Federer fans to disagree on whether he should skip clay season, but you're willfully deluding yourself if you think the Nadal fans clamoring for him to play don't have ulterior motives.
duaneeo
G.O.A.T.
I suspect there are Nadal fans clamoring for Federer to play clay, and Federer fans clamoring for Federer not to play clay, all for the same ulterior motive--that Federer faces and loses to Nadal, and reverts back to being his pigeon.
Regardless, I simply read comments and like/respond to various ones. I'm not trying to determine the posters' motives.
vex
Legend
As usual Mr Failure shows u chasing after me and just spews nonsense instead of arguing any of the points made in the post. Make an actual argument worth responding to and I’ll debate with you. Otherwise ur weak era trolling bores me and going back and forth with u is beneath me.
D
Deleted member 688153
Guest
I'd rather Laver or Mac gave them.
Those other crusty weirdos can't play tennis, they're just there to look good so the taxpayer keeps being willing to pay for their lifestyles.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
Rosewall, Lendl and Roddick should give them.
zagor
Bionic Poster
And they did see him play, he played ~60 matches last year as a 35-36 year old. That number is likely going down this year and the year after that unti he finally retires. And yes, his worst suface (by a significant margin) might get the permament boot in the meantime unti his farewell tour.
Expectations and desires are one thing, reality is quite often different.
Nah, not for an ATG like Sampras. He very visibly half-assed it after '96 FO in order to save himself for Wimbledon. Without surface specific seedings for FO, those kind of stunts only serve to imbalance the draw.
I rather doubt Sampras would have even showed up at FO if he continued to play in his mid 30s, Agassi did but he skipped Wimbledon in 2004/2005.
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Was Pete Sampras 35-36 in his final years?
mike danny
Bionic Poster
Tennis_Hands
Banned
Federer is on a philanthropy spree.
After his match with Bill now he is focusing on putting bread on the table of the young up and coming clay specialists like (wait for it) > Zverev, and providing the Nadal with some competition, instead of taking out the competition 2011 style.
After his match with Bill now he is focusing on putting bread on the table of the young up and coming clay specialists like (wait for it) > Zverev, and providing the Nadal with some competition, instead of taking out the competition 2011 style.
