What is Federer gonna do

[ak24alive]

In this post I am gonna ask all the Fed related questions I have been having for the last few days.
Now that Roger is on a break for at least 2 months(in case he plays Stuttgart) when is he going to start practicing for the Grass Court season and where??
I know his go-to place is Dubai but not sure he goes there for Grass court practice.
Also as we know that each tournament has different balls so does he ask Wimbledon for balls to practice?
Lastly do you think he needs to focus on some aspect of his game more or keep practicing in general and not go for anything specific?
I am asking this because his backhand looks off to me the last few tournaments.

 

[pame]

Which backhand? His topspin? Is that really a problem right now since it's his slice backhand that is likely to be far more effective on grass?

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[ak24alive]

Which backhand? His topspin? Is that really a problem right now since it's his slice backhand that is likely to be far more effective on grass?

Well mate his slice backhand is usually working. No?
Now it won't hurt to have the topspin one working too. Firstly it's a great put away shot which takes time away from the opponent too. Also it gives variation doesn't it? Moreover it helps Rog to boost his confidence and turn defence into offence more effectively. For instance last Wimbledon he used the shot very much to his advantage.

 

[EloQuent]

I think he's a bit tired from playing three tournaments almost back to back. So first relax, make sure the back is okay, etc. Then get ready for grass, and maybe try out different techniques and whatnot.

I don't know where he preps for grass. I think in previous years he didn't have this chunk of time so it was basically come to Stuttgart a week early and practice then.

 

[pame]

I think he's a bit tired from playing three tournaments almost back to back. So first relax, make sure the back is okay, etc. Then get ready for grass, and maybe try out different techniques and whatnot.

I don't know where he preps for grass. I think in previous years he didn't have this chunk of time so it was basically come to Stuttgart a week early and practice then.

Only in the last 2 years or so has he played Stuttgart. He'd usually play Halle after RG. Must have access to grass courts in Switzerland - even at his house

 

[EloQuent]

Only in the last 2 years or so has he played Stuttgart. He'd usually play Halle after RG. Must have access to grass courts in Switzerland - even at his house

He probably practices at Halle then. There's only so much time between French Open and Grass. It would make sense for him to have a private grass court somewhere, but if he does I haven't read about it.

 

[ak24alive]

He probably practices at Halle then. There's only so much time between French Open and Grass. It would make sense for him to have a private grass court somewhere, but if he does I haven't read about it.

In Switzerland he doesn't practice on private courts. He books them for practice. I read in an interview from this time last year.

 

[EloQuent]

In Switzerland he doesn't practice on private courts. He books them for practice. I read in an interview from this time last year.

GQ, was it? Those courts are most probably indoor HC.

 

[ak24alive]

GQ, was it? Those courts are most probably indoor HC.

https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.gq.com/story/roger-federer-cover-story-2017/amp

"Federer, a big laugher, who knew? Though it got to a point, by mid-meal, where I started to get suspicious—was it for show, to play the Everyman? Who likes melted cheese like the rest of us? (Maybe he was stoned?) This is a guy, I'd learn, who still makes reservations at a nearby public tennis facility rather than build his own private court. Think about that. Consider the fact that Federer has made over $100 million in career prize money, never mind endorsements. Now imagine being the local dude who has to kick Roger Federer off a tennis court because his practice session goes a little long."
This is from the article.
Yes it seems like they maybe indoor hcs.

 

[EloQuent]

https://www.google.co.in/amp/s/www.gq.com/story/roger-federer-cover-story-2017/amp

"Federer, a big laugher, who knew? Though it got to a point, by mid-meal, where I started to get suspicious—was it for show, to play the Everyman? Who likes melted cheese like the rest of us? (Maybe he was stoned?) This is a guy, I'd learn, who still makes reservations at a nearby public tennis facility rather than build his own private court. Think about that. Consider the fact that Federer has made over $100 million in career prize money, never mind endorsements. Now imagine being the local dude who has to kick Roger Federer off a tennis court because his practice session goes a little long."
This is from the article.
Yes it seems like they maybe indoor hcs.

It makes for a funny anecdote, but I have trouble believing that Federer uses public courts for his real training. Maybe for just a bit of play here and there, but his main training block is in Dubai, isn't it?

 

[Pagoo]

Break point conversion. His inability to break has cost him a lot of matches. That's a good place to start.

 

[ak24alive]

It makes for a funny anecdote, but I have trouble believing that Federer uses public courts for his real training. Maybe for just a bit of play here and there, but his main training block is in Dubai, isn't it?

Yup it is in Dubai.
I too had trouble believing that but then I thought of how comfortable he is in the public and also the nature of the most Swiss public is not to disturb someone. So maybe just maybe he really trains on a public court in Switzerland but it's true I can't see him training like that anywhere else in the world.

 

[EloQuent]

Yup it is in Dubai.
I too had trouble believing that but then I thought of how comfortable he is in the public and also the nature of the most Swiss public is not to disturb someone. So maybe just maybe he really trains on a public court in Switzerland but it's true I can't see him training like that anywhere else in the world.

If I had to guess I'd say he gets some match time in there and mingles with the locals etc but his real training is in Dubai. I wonder where one would go for extended grass training tho?

 

[MatsPhilander]

 

[ak24alive]

Break point conversion. His inability to break has cost him a lot of matches. That's a good place to start.

Yup that's right. Last year he capitalised on break points the best he ever did. The conversion rate was phenomenal and more importantly the game was there in the most significant of times unlike the 2010-2016 period but yes it has dropped significantly this year. He seemed off since the second match in Rotterdam. Also he didn't look quite the specimen he last year was in Australia. It shows how well he used his experience to see off Cilic in the final when he wasn't playing that well.

 

[Tennisgods]

Well mate his slice backhand is usually working. No?
Now it won't hurt to have the topspin one working too. Firstly it's a great put away shot which takes time away from the opponent too. Also it gives variation doesn't it? Moreover it helps Rog to boost his confidence and turn defence into offence more effectively. For instance last Wimbledon he used the shot very much to his advantage.

I actually agree with this. If he runs in to one of the few remaining really good players he’ll need more than the slice to get it done.

 

[Tennisgods]

Break point conversion. His inability to break has cost him a lot of matches. That's a good place to start.

Yep. He’s been especially careless at 0-40, 0-30 etc. I actually think he needs to let other guys beat themselves a bit more in that situation, he lets them back in to their service games too easily too often.

 

[ak24alive]

Yep. He’s been especially careless at 0-40, 0-30 etc. I actually think he needs to let other guys beat themselves a bit more in that situation, he lets them back in to their service games too easily too often.

The only major problem with his game tactics wise that I see is that he doesn't know when to stop playing the hard risk tennis and go to grinding as an option. Obviously the high risk tennis has its advantages but when you are down 2 break points you don't go for the lines/kill unless you see an open court. All you have to do is go Djokovic/Nadal/Murray at that time.
The same goes when you have break points. You play them with more responsibility.
I maybe wrong about these flaws in Fed's game but that's what I see.

 

[ak24alive]

I actually agree with this. If he runs in to one of the few remaining really good players he’ll need more than the slice to get it done.

Also with the age his forehand is off more often than before. With the forehand off when he is playing the slice tennis he turns into a very average player. But even if he isn't finding the range on the forehand and using that flat forehand he stays on top. A prime example of this is the AO final 2017. Although in patches his forehand was flowing but at times when his forehand faltered he was still in the game coz of that backhand which ironically held its ground for the whole length of the match i.e. 3 and a half hours.

 

[Tennisgods]

The only major problem with his game tactics wise that I see is that he doesn't know when to stop playing the hard risk tennis and go to grinding as an option. Obviously the high risk tennis has its advantages but when you are down 2 break points you don't go for the lines/kill unless you see an open court. All you have to do is go Djokovic/Nadal/Murray at that time.
The same goes when you have break points. You play them with more responsibility.
I maybe wrong about these flaws in Fed's game but that's what I see.

I agree, but I guess he finds it tough because he’s trying to commit fully to an attacking game. When it comes off, it’s the best tennis there is. When it goes wrong, it can be an error fest.

 

[MeatTornado]

IIRC last year he said he was practicing on hard courts with the Wimbledon balls during the clay season

 

[BeatlesFan]

Last year Fed practiced for grass season exclusively on HC's until he arrived in Stuttgart, as he said last year. He doesn't need a lot of practice on grass. Most of this was done in Switzerland, though he spent some of April in Dubai for his training block.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Also with the age his forehand is off more often than before.

I don't think it has anything to do with age, since his topspin BH hasn't degraded with age at all. It's much more the racket change in 2013-14. As Fed has said, the racket helped his BH and serve, but it did not help his FH or his slice. His FH is a shell of what it was in 2003-2007 when he hit insane winners at will.

 

[Deleted member 512391]

He's gonna win Wimbledon.

 

[ak24alive]

He's gonna win Wimbledon.

Yes