Roger needs to change his clay court schedule next year he should skip Rome

[BlackgirlX]

Roger only plays three clay court events prior to the French Open and that's only the Masters series events. Even Nadal plays more. Nadal always plays Barcelona but in the past he's also played a few smaller clay court events. I think Roger needs to try to play one or two clay court events prior to the French Open. Why not play Estoril or Barcelona? I also think Roger needs to win a clay court Masters outside of Hamburg. Roger has won Hamburg four times. However, if you look at the history of the previous French Open champions they have all won either Monte Carlo or Rome. And Roger has failed to win either. I feel like this now if Roger cannot win Monte Carlo or Rome he's not winning the French Open? Hamburg is a much slower clay court and the weather in Germany in May is colder and damper. Roger has always done well there. However, the clay courts in Rome and Monte Carlo are similar to the French Open. Even though Roger claimed he had confidence after breaking Nadal's clay streak in Hamburg I think the real confidence for Roger was that he always does well in Germany. The way I see it I think Roger has to try a little bit harder. I think Roger's only got a 1 or two year window before its too late for him. The key for Roger is to try to win a smaller clay court event. Why not go to Barcelona and try to compete against Nadal there? Or go to Estoril? Or play the event in St. Polten Austria? The key for Roger is he has to win clay court events outside of the Hamburg event prior to the French Open. I just don't think three Masters clay events are enough.

 

[rightytopspin79]

Roger won't gain anything from doing what you proposed. Those tournaments are on a best of 3 set format. Though Rome and Monte Carlo finals use to be best out 5. Lets face it, its going to take 5 sets to beat Nadal at RG. Just like its going to take 5 sets to beat Roger at Wimby. IMO what Fed needs to do is stop playing from the baseline against Rafa and come to the net. He needs to end the point sooner because he can't play with rafa from the baseline on clay. He gets noticably frustrated when he's stuck on the BH side that he tries to go for winner of the forehand that he sprays! Just like Rafa went to wimby with a plan this year, Fed will have to change his approach to RG. He keeps on talking about how close he is to beating Rafa, for 3yrs he's been saying that!

 

[Fee]

Roger is the number one player in the world because he knows how to manage his schedule. If he thinks that 3 high point Masters tournaments on clay are enough for him, more power to him. He's made the last two RG finals, so perhaps his plan works.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

Federer would be just fine, if anything he just needs a coach but what do I know.

 

[drakulie]

Roger is the number one player in the world because he knows how to manage his schedule. If he thinks that 3 high point Masters tournaments on clay are enough for him, more power to him. He's made the last two RG finals, so perhaps his plan works.

Ditto! He is doing just fine on clay, and better than every other male tennis player in the world except 1.

 

[bluetrain4]

The issue can't be scheduling. Fed has made the last 2 FO finals, another FO semi, the finals of multiple clay masters series (in 2006), and won a clay master series.

There is no question that his preparation is fine, and that he knows how to play on clay.

His problem is execution against Nadal, and Nadal himself.

The only reason to skip Rome would be to avoid Nadal and avoid the loss of confidence from a potential loss.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

THe problem for Federer is he can't handle Nadal's monster topspin on his 1 hand backhand side. It won't matter how he trains. His flaw is unhideable on high bouncing courts against Nadal.

 

[drakulie]

THe problem for Federer is he can't handle Nadal's monster topspin on his 1 hand backhand side. It won't matter how he trains. His flaw is unhideable on high bouncing courts.

He handled it just fine each time he played Nadal this year on clay. His FH is what let him down at the French.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

He handled it just fine each time he played Nadal this year on clay. His FH is what let him down at the French.

Too many sitters for Nadal to pounce on. He didn't make as many errors as in the past but his shots don't have much on it allowing Nadal to rip a forehand down the line.

 

[drakulie]

Too many sitters for Nadal to pounce on. He didn't make as many errors as in the past but his shots don't have much on it allowing Nadal to rip a forehand down the line.

Once again wrong. I did stats for this match, and it is obvious you didn't watch the match. The stats show he hit more "sitters" off his FH than his BH, and Nadal hit more winners from replies off of Feds FH than his BH. Go buy a clue, I hear they are selling them at Toys R US.

 

[tennispro11]

Roger is the number one player in the world because he knows how to manage his schedule. If he thinks that 3 high point Masters tournaments on clay are enough for him, more power to him. He's made the last two RG finals, so perhaps his plan works.

Right with you on this one Fee. Fed knows his business, hence the reason him being the #1 player for four years straight.

 

[tennispro11]

Once again wrong. I did stats for this match, and it is obvious you didn't watch the match. The stats show he hit more "sitters" off his FH than his BH, and Nadal hit more winners from replies off of Feds FH than his BH. Go buy a clue, I hear they are selling them at Toys R US.

I am heading that way.

 

[Zets147]

Roger should just use grass court shoes :lol:

 

[drakulie]

Too many sitters for Nadal to pounce on. He didn't make as many errors as in the past but his shots don't have much on it allowing Nadal to rip a forehand down the line.

Here you go:

As usual, your posts are filled with "opinion" rather than fact.

Fed had more misses (unforced errors, forced errors, whatever) on his forehand than on his backhand>> 52 -46. And this, with WAY more shots directed to his BH. So, he had a way higher percentage of missed FH's than BH's.

Here ar the facts:

351 backhands and missed 52 (14.8%).
229 forehands and missed 46 (20.1%).

His first two sets were clearly his best tennis, with a ton of breakpoint opportunities lost in the first, and winning the second.

In the first set he hit 113 backhands to 70 forehands.
In the second set he hit 106 backhands to 60 forehands.

In the first two sets he clearly played his best tennis, and received most of his break chances >>> They were provided by way of his backhand, and were lost by way of his forehand. He had 17 break opportunities, and broke once. This leaves 16. Of those 16, 3 were erased by way of an ace, and 2 clean backhand winners by Nadal. Of those 13, 7 were erased by missed forehands, and 6 by missed backhands. Additionally, his only "break of serve" came by way of a backhand.

In the third set he hit more forehands than backhands >>>54 to 52.

Furthermore, Nadal only hit 11 clean winners from short replies that came by way of backhand, vs 9 off the forehand. So again, the facts go against your argument. 3.13% (bh) vs. 3.93 (fh). So, in actuality >> Nadal hit more winners off of short replies from Fed's forehand.


We could clearly conclude that his forehand was the shot that let him down>>> not his backhand.

Of course, this is not subjective dribble or rhetoric.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

I watched the match so many times. There were many shots that Federer hit off his backhand that put him in a defensive position. Those things don't show up on the stat sheet. Not enough for clean winners but enough for Nadal to take control.

 

[drakulie]

^^^^ Try again. His backhand was the only thing workiing for him.

 

[isuk@tennis]

^^^^ Try again. His backhand was the only thing workiing for him.

*error* does not compute must ignore facts and statistical analysis....

 

[pow]

Federer is human and sometimes the best is not enough.

 

[aznobct]

^^^^ Try again. His backhand was the only thing workiing for him.

agreed. there were many times where he would hit a backhand short crosscourt that pulled nadal off the court which gave him control of the point. and then he would pull the trigger on a easy forehand and spray it.

 

[drakulie]

agreed. there were many times where he would hit a backhand short crosscourt that pulled nadal off the court which gave him control of the point. and then he would pull the trigger on a easy forehand and spray it.

Exactly! This happened time and time again.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

This is for you Drakulie.
Games that Nadal breaks
3-3 Federer backhand error
0-15 Federer backhand error
0-30 Federer forehand error off a short ball
0-40 Federer backhand error.

5-3 Federer forehand error
0-15 Short backhand resulting in Nadal forehand winner
0-30 Federer ace
15-30 Big serve resulting in Nadal error
30-30 Federer forehand error
30-40 Federer weak forehand off a great return. Nadal hits a forehand winner.

6-3 4-6 1-0 Federer forehand error
0-15 Fed goes to net and gets past.
0-30 Big serve forcing an error
15-30 Weak backhand from Federer allowing Nadal to hit a forehand winner.
15-40 Federer comes to net again and misses the volley.

6-3 4-6 6-3 1-1 Weak backhand by Federer. Nadal hits a big forehand and Federer makes a forehand error.
0-15 Nadal unforced error on forehand
15-15 Federer forehand error off a high forehand
15-30 Nadal hits a winner off a backhand drop shot
15-40 Federer big forehand forcing forehand error from Nadal.
30-40 Federer forehand error.

 

[drakulie]

^^^ seems like he had a lot of FH errors.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

^^^ seems like he had a lot of FH errors.

Along with a lot of weak backhands and backhand errors. They both let him down at crucial times.

 

[drakulie]

^^I don't think so. Look at what you posted. It supports what I have been saying.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

0 backhand winners 0 backhand forcing an error from Nadal 3 backhand errors 4 weak backhands 1 forehand winner 1 forehand forcing an error from Nadal. 7 forehand errors. They both are weak. Federer's forehand was definitely more aggressive which made him do more errors and his backhand was weaker but more consistent.

 

[djsiva]

Roger won't gain anything from doing what you proposed. Those tournaments are on a best of 3 set format. Though Rome and Monte Carlo finals use to be best out 5. Lets face it, its going to take 5 sets to beat Nadal at RG. Just like its going to take 5 sets to beat Roger at Wimby. IMO what Fed needs to do is stop playing from the baseline against Rafa and come to the net. He needs to end the point sooner because he can't play with rafa from the baseline on clay. He gets noticably frustrated when he's stuck on the BH side that he tries to go for winner of the forehand that he sprays! Just like Rafa went to wimby with a plan this year, Fed will have to change his approach to RG. He keeps on talking about how close he is to beating Rafa, for 3yrs he's been saying that!

Only a moron would do that. What works at the YMCA isn't going to work in the pros. These guys can pass each other in their sleep.

Roger is doing just fine. Just let him control the pace. Just like Lendl did. Lendl definitely could hit just about everyone off the court. But he didn't. Most of the time he'd keep it in the middle and wait.

Roger is doing this. He has studied Lendl and Wilander and Agassi very well. Control the pace. Don't go full throttle. And don't rush the net. That's almost as good as: i think Roger should hit two hand backhands every so often to through off Nadal.

 

[brc444]

While Fed seems to play enough clay events in the the spring, would it be a good idea for him to play one or two clay events in the summer or winter? As it stands now, he plays no clay events between the FO and Monte Carlo.

 

[daddy]

Roger is the number one player in the world because he knows how to manage his schedule. If he thinks that 3 high point Masters tournaments on clay are enough for him, more power to him. He's made the last two RG finals, so perhaps his plan works.

100%

he got to all those finals and did not lok tiread at french just outplayed.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

100%

he got to all those finals and did not lok tiread at french just outplayed.

Your addicted aren't you?..lol

 

[daddy]

Your addicted aren't you?..lol

To what ? He did get ouplayed although he wsan hamburg .. He wss tactiacally wring.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

To what ? He did get ouplayed although he wsan hamburg .. He wss tactiacally wring.

Oh, I am talking about to this message board, I just noticed your averaging 43 posts per day.

Not hating, but impressed and have to admit I have been there.

 

[daddy]

Oh, I am talking about to this message board, I just noticed your averaging 43 posts per day.

Not hating, but impressed and have to admit I have been there.

I have a broken ankle and Im addicted to tennis. Serbia lost all three matches at european chanmps and we did not even qualify fothe china 2008. ANd we are like 3 times world champs 7 times europeans and 2 times olympic chams .. SO Im back to tennis.

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

I perfectly understand, hope you get better and keep up the posting.

 

[daddy]

I got you man, hope you get better and keep up the posting.

Hey

You at 12, thats about how many I wouuld have had if I was nto home 16 hours a day !

Ill be here, dont worry !

 

[@wright]

I can attest to the fact that Federer played a much better tactical match in the '07 RG final vs. last year. He did exactly what I was hoping he would do strategically, he just failed to execute. He ripped many crosscourt backhands, and he didn't let Rafa get on top of his backhand. His BH really impressed me in that match, but his FH was very inconsistent compared to usual. That is what dissappointed me, but I was glad he didn't get into futile baseline rallies from 10 feet back line in the last final.

 

[ninman]

I can attest to the fact that Federer played a much better tactical match in the '07 RG final vs. last year. He did exactly what I was hoping he would do strategically, he just failed to execute. He ripped many crosscourt backhands, and he didn't let Rafa get on top of his backhand. His BH really impressed me in that match, but his FH was very inconsistent compared to usual. That is what dissappointed me, but I was glad he didn't get into futile baseline rallies from 10 feet back line in the last final.

I think generally when Federer loses, it's because his forehand let him down, not his backhand, e.g. two match points in Rome '06 and 2 missed forehands. I think he even missed a forehand when Nadal had match point. I think Federer can defeat Nadal at RG he just needs to cut down on the errors, especially on big points.

 

[ninman]

I was watching his tactics when he played Nadal in Hamburg, and he didn't play the same in RG. In Hamburg he would hit his backhand into Nadals backhand, as close to the corner as possible, then come into net and finish the point. I don't think he tried that at all in RG. He wasn't shortening the points at all, for some reason. No idea why.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

*deleted* i don't know whati 'm saying.

 

[harpooner]

scheduling ? he got to the 2 last finals of RG with rather ease , not that much tired

the problem isnt the scheduling , just Nadal .

 

[rightytopspin79]

Only a moron would do that. What works at the YMCA isn't going to work in the pros. These guys can pass each other in their sleep.

Roger is doing just fine. Just let him control the pace. Just like Lendl did. Lendl definitely could hit just about everyone off the court. But he didn't. Most of the time he'd keep it in the middle and wait.

Roger is doing this. He has studied Lendl and Wilander and Agassi very well. Control the pace. Don't go full throttle. And don't rush the net. That's almost as good as: i think Roger should hit two hand backhands every so often to through off Nadal.

I don't know what to say to that, you're saying he's been studying 3 guys he plays nothing like, so by your accounts he'll probably win by just hitting the ball back and wait for Nadal to spin his shot out?? ok, we'll see how that works.

 

[ninman]

Federer is a genius, a bloody genius. He'll win RG, Rome and Monte Carlo next year, mark my words, he's a two time finalist at all three of those events, and has been bloody close to winning all three as well.

 

[drakulie]

3 backhand errors ..... 7 forehand errors.

Here you go, Like I said, your own stats prove his FH let him down. Plus, he hit way more backhands than forehands.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Here you go, Like I said, your own stats prove his FH let him down. Plus, he hit way more backhands than forehands.

That was not my point. My point was his backhand was weak. Almost pushing style allowing Nadal to control the points. His forehand was going for his shots.

 

[drakulie]

That was not my point. My point was his backhand was weak. Almost pushing style allowing Nadal to control the points. His forehand was going for his shots.

I don't think so. Again, his BH was keeping him in the match, and the stats prove it.

 

[ninman]

I'm beginning to wonder if Nadal_Freak has an impartial view on tennis, or if his eyes can only see one man on the court.

 

[plain jane]

I'm beginning to wonder if ninman has an impartial view on tennis, or if his eyes can only see one man on court (Federer)!