The respect gives Federer a big advantage...

[Pete.Sampras.]

Roger Federer won the US Open once again, but he wasn't as dominant as he used to be in my opinion.
One thing I mentioned is the respect that his opponents have. It gives them a huge disadvantage and, at the same time, it gives Federer an advantage of course.
In tough situations, Roger often just tried not to make a mistake and kept the ball in while his opponents became nervous, tried to go for a winner to early or just made some easy mistakes and double faults and so on. I guess you know what I'm talking about...
Of course Roger is the best out there and there's a reason why players have so much respect. But this mental weakness that the respect causes by some players like Dawydenko or Djokovic is probably the reason why Fed wins such close sets or even matches.
How else could it be that so many often fail to win sets against Federer even when they're a break or more ahead?! Sure, sometimes this guy plays some unbelieveable tennis in the hardest situations, but not always, especially not at the US Open this year. It often happens that the opponent just looses his nerves...
These are just my thoughts. I'm neither saying that I'm right nor that I'm wrong. I just want to know what your opinion is about this

 

[AAAA]

Kalfelnikov 'Thanks Pete for letting me win' (Aus Open)

Most lesser players feel pressure when playing great champions like Federer, Sampras, Agassi, and before them players like Lendl, Mac, Borg, Connors, etc.

 

[Ossric]

Kalfelnikov 'Thanks Pete for letting me win' (Aus Open)

Most lesser players feel pressure when playing great champions like Federer, Sampras, Agassi, and before them players like Lendl, Mac, Borg, Connors, etc.

It'd be like playing one on one with MJ, even your best probably isn't good enough. It's a deflating experience.

 

[AAAA]

It'd be like playing one on one with MJ, even your best probably isn't good enough. It's a deflating experience.

When I play players I know are better than me I put more pressure than normal upon myself to play my best tennis. Usually that mindset works against me because I get tense, don't move my feet, shot selection takes a hit and my strokes lose their smoothness.

 

[Mad iX]

Makes me think of Roddick. He came out guns blazing, seemed to have gotten over the mental aspect of losing so much to Fed, and still lost in straight sets. Losing 10 in a row can't help.