What the hell is Federer doing out there?

[Defcon]

As a Fed fan, its hard to see him playing like this. I'm glad and very relieved he won, but Fed looked like he was out there playing without a game plan. Feeble returns, not making use of his angles, wasting breakpoints yet again, and relying on his fitness more than anything else.

As long as Del Potro was executing, he was controlling the match and Fed was helpless. This is not a good thing, seeing as this was basically a hard court match. Feds game and mental focus has noticeably declined, and he's just not going for his shots anymore, instead he's waiting for mistakes and for the other guy's level to drop. This is not how he won 13 slams and became Fed! I miss the old Fed forehand that would end points at will.

Fed needs to start strong and keep the pressure on, even if that means more UE's. He knows he's more than fit enough to last 5 sets but he should not count on that to save him.

I know he is under immense pressure and that probably is the reason for his poor play, but really its too close for comfort!

 

[joeri888]

As a Fed fan, its hard to see him playing like this. I'm glad and very relieved he won, but Fed looked like he was out there playing without a game plan. Feeble returns, not making use of his angles, wasting breakpoints yet again, and relying on his fitness more than anything else.

As long as Del Potro was executing, he was controlling the match and Fed was helpless. This is not a good thing, seeing as this was basically a hard court match. Feds game and mental focus has noticeably declined, and he's just not going for his shots anymore, instead he's waiting for mistakes and for the other guy's level to drop. This is not how he won 13 slams and became Fed! I miss the old Fed forehand that would end points at will.

Fed needs to start strong and keep the pressure on, even if that means more UE's. He knows he's more than fit enough to last 5 sets but he should not count on that to save him.

I know he is under immense pressure and that probably is the reason for his poor play, but really its too close for comfort!

he had a game plan which was block the return, use low sliceballs, bring Del Potro in a lot and not trying to outhit him from the baseline. It just did not work at all.

 

[fps]

As a Fed fan, its hard to see him playing like this. I'm glad and very relieved he won, but Fed looked like he was out there playing without a game plan. Feeble returns, not making use of his angles, wasting breakpoints yet again, and relying on his fitness more than anything else.

As long as Del Potro was executing, he was controlling the match and Fed was helpless. This is not a good thing, seeing as this was basically a hard court match. Feds game and mental focus has noticeably declined, and he's just not going for his shots anymore, instead he's waiting for mistakes and for the other guy's level to drop. This is not how he won 13 slams and became Fed! I miss the old Fed forehand that would end points at will.

Fed needs to start strong and keep the pressure on, even if that means more UE's. He knows he's more than fit enough to last 5 sets but he should not count on that to save him.

I know he is under immense pressure and that probably is the reason for his poor play, but really its too close for comfort!

i disagree. he just got through a tough, tough match. del potro looked ready to get to his first slam final today, he was totally on. federer played amazing defensive tennis, seriously his movement was outstanding, and he did what he could faced with a barrage of attacking shots.

it's more like a hardcourt match but these aren't hardcourts. the movement is different and the ball doesn't move through the court the same way. sweet timing doesn't have the same effect, the ball has to be RAMMED through the court, hence soderling, gonzalez and delpot's success this tourny. mentally he was huge today. his serve return wasn't great, then again del potro was serving brilliantly. federer kept the UEs down, didn't implode, didn't give away cheap points, kept it tight, kept fighting. his stamina was a vital component in the match today, he kept rallying and rallying del potro when he could and eventually it took its toll. it was an exceptional display. he was getting overpowered from the back of the court, trying to hit bigger and bigger would have been crazy. the way his opponent was playing i am still amazed and relieved that he won today. i think he won the only way he could.

 

[bdawg]

I still think Federer can stand a few meters behind the baseline and give himself more time to return and avoid chip returns. If he did this every now and then , Del Petro would be confused and change his serve to a more angled, spin serve. Then Federer can stand on the baseline.

 

[Defcon]

he had a game plan which was block the return, use low sliceballs, bring Del Potro in a lot and not trying to outhit him from the baseline. It just did not work at all.

The Fed we know has more variety than any another player in history, he has plans B, C and D and he's been the best at recognizing what works and then changing his strategy. I didn't see him do that in this match, he basically outlasted JMDP.

 

[Defcon]

i disagree. he just got through a tough, tough match. del potro looked ready to get to his first slam final today, he was totally on. federer played amazing defensive tennis, seriously his movement was outstanding, and he did what he could faced with a barrage of attacking shots.

it's more like a hardcourt match but these aren't hardcourts. the movement is different and the ball doesn't move through the court the same way. sweet timing doesn't have the same effect, the ball has to be RAMMED through the court, hence soderling, gonzalez and delpot's success this tourny. mentally he was huge today. his serve return wasn't great, then again del potro was serving brilliantly. federer kept the UEs down, didn't implode, didn't give away cheap points, kept it tight, kept fighting. his stamina was a vital component in the match today, he kept rallying and rallying del potro when he could and eventually it took its toll. it was an exceptional display. he was getting overpowered from the back of the court, trying to hit bigger and bigger would have been crazy. the way his opponent was playing i am still amazed and relieved that he won today. i think he won the only way he could.

I don't disagree with any of that, it was an amazing match, just not the brilliance from Fed I expect. Fed and 'getting overpowered' don't belong in the same sentence

 

[samster]

I am surprised Fed was able to come back down 2 sets to 1.

I was only able to see parts of the 3rd set today and DP was beating Fed from all over the place. Fed's slice backhand was pretty bad, sitting up in the middle of the court waiting to be smacked, which DP kindly obliged.

 

[fps]

I don't disagree with any of that, it was an amazing match, just not the brilliance from Fed I expect. Fed and 'getting overpowered' don't belong in the same sentence

yeah it's a strange one, bigger balls, new breed of power. guys like del potro have been using poly since they can remember, game's changing.

i can't remember him blasting guys off a clay court is all. ultimately he played del potro off chatrier today, but what a battle.

 

[chaz_233]

Federer just isn't the same he used to be. It's that simple. His days are gone. He might win this FO because Buttpicker is gone and those left aren't all that dangerous or consistent.

 

[fps]

Federer just isn't the same he used to be. It's that simple. His days are gone. He might win this FO because Buttpicker is gone and those left aren't all that dangerous or consistent.

this tourny, del potro and soderling have been the most dangerous and consistent, and most dangerously consistent and consistently dangerous, guys in the draw.

 

[joeri888]

The Fed we know has more variety than any another player in history, he has plans B, C and D and he's been the best at recognizing what works and then changing his strategy. I didn't see him do that in this match, he basically outlasted JMDP.

True, and therefore I didn't think he played a great match, but still he was able to outgun Del Potro in the end. He's not as fast as he used to be. He's still got great touch and feel for the ball but he's not as good a mover as he used to be and he doesn't hit through his forehand enough. He started to employ a lot better tactics though near the end and I'm sure he knows best what makes him comfortable. If one thing was sure today it was that Federer was prepared to fight till death.