What the hell was Federer doing in 2nd round MT????????????

[isbisthebest]

Federer performed totally rubbish when he faced seppi. Although I have to admit that Seppi did well, his play was not at the level to form any threat towards Federer. But Federer was behaving so poorly and gave him so many chances Seppi took the match into two tie breaks. Federer, broken 3 times through out (each time directly after he broke Seppi) and made tons of unforced errors, hit balls way out of the baseline, seemed to be struggling with his shot makings. If this continues, even Ferrero or another guy could finish him off before he meets Nadal in the Final. What the hell happened to him, the guy that took Nadal to 5 sets in Rome and performed spectacular shot makings?????

 

[SoBad]

As many knowledgeable posters have already mentioned in other threads, Federer did exceptionally well to take Seppi into tiebreaks in both sets and benefit from Seppi's poor form yesterday. He played his best tennis against an Italian who was struggling with his game, and therefore finds himself through to the second round. He will certainly need this luck to continue in order to make it any further into the MC draw.

 

[FarFed]

..and therefore finds himself through to the second round.

Third round. The first round was a bye.

 

[caulcano]

Federer performed totally rubbish when he faced seppi. Although I have to admit that Seppi did well, his play was not at the level to form any threat towards Federer. But Federer was behaving so poorly and gave him so many chances Seppi took the match into two tie breaks. Federer, broken 3 times through out (each time directly after he broke Seppi) and made tons of unforced errors, hit balls way out of the baseline, seemed to be struggling with his shot makings. If this continues, even Ferrero or another guy could finish him off before he meets Nadal in the Final. What the hell happened to him, the guy that took Nadal to 5 sets in Rome and performed spectacular shot makings?????

I saw it yesterday aswell. It's fairly typical of Federer to be sloppy in the early rounds. I feel he'll lose more regularly, like he has done, in the earlier rounds.

Plus, he kinda looks overweight.

 

[Fedfan4life]

Federer performed totally rubbish when he faced seppi. Although I have to admit that Seppi did well, his play was not at the level to form any threat towards Federer. But Federer was behaving so poorly and gave him so many chances Seppi took the match into two tie breaks. Federer, broken 3 times through out (each time directly after he broke Seppi) and made tons of unforced errors, hit balls way out of the baseline, seemed to be struggling with his shot makings. If this continues, even Ferrero or another guy could finish him off before he meets Nadal in the Final. What the hell happened to him, the guy that took Nadal to 5 sets in Rome and performed spectacular shot makings?????

Seppi took him to 2 tie-breaks, that was a huge threat because that can go either way. Its so ridiculous to see that. Federer breaks then Seppi breaks back. That match was a comedy of errors.

 

[FarFed]

Plus, he kinda looks overweight.

As a big Fed fan it saddens me, but I think that if he cannot cannot shape up then he deserves to get out of the game.

 

[isbisthebest]

As a big Fed fan it saddens me, but I think that if he cannot cannot shape up then he deserves to get out of the game.

I also saw Federer was a bit "large" compared to him at the Australian Open. At first I thought it was the streaming I got on the internet Tennis Channel that distorted Federer's weight, but then I saw Seppi was still quite slim. Wonder if he is taking too much holidays off court and not training enough physically.

 

[caulcano]

As a big Fed fan it saddens me, but I think that if he cannot cannot shape up then he deserves to get out of the game.

The sooner he realises that matches are going to be as easy as 2004-2006 matches, the better.

 

[Morrissey]

As many knowledgeable posters have already mentioned in other threads, Federer did exceptionally well to take Seppi into tiebreaks in both sets and benefit from Seppi's poor form yesterday. He played his best tennis against an Italian who was struggling with his game, and therefore finds himself through to the second round. He will certainly need this luck to continue in order to make it any further into the MC draw.

Very well said.

 

[Lambsscroll]

Nah, sometimes the top guys don't want to blow away a guy in the first round. They want to get a feel for things early in the tournament. If things get tight they just step it up.

 

[edmondsm]

Getting used to the clay. And shouldn't it be MC????????

 

[catspaw]

.......Plus, he kinda looks overweight.

As I understand it Fed does special abdominal breathing in a match to keep his mind and body relaxed - that makes his tummy soft and blobby because he relaxes his abdo muscles. If you look at him on the practice court or wandering around in his ordinary clothes, he's still as thin as a stick. He's as fit as they come - have you ever seen him out of breath after a long rally? I certainly haven't. If he gets beaten, it's not because of lack of fitness.

 

[Ripper]

Seppi took him to 2 tie-breaks, that was a huge threat because that can go either way.

Not with Federer.

 

[Bjorn99]

As I understand it Fed does special abdominal breathing in a match to keep his mind and body relaxed - that makes his tummy soft and blobby because he relaxes his abdo muscles. If you look at him on the practice court or wandering around in his ordinary clothes, he's still as thin as a stick. He's as fit as they come - have you ever seen him out of breath after a long rally? I certainly haven't. If he gets beaten, it's not because of lack of fitness.

This is true by the way. A salient post here, are you related to Backhand slice?

 

[catspaw]

This is true by the way. A salient post here, are you related to Backhand slice?

No, Bjorn, I'm not. Are you paying me a compliment? If so, thank you. If not, well, hey ho......

 

[Baghdatis72]

Maybe Mirka is thinking of dumping him and he's not focused anymore.
With the way he's playing Hyung-Taik Lee will squash him like a cockroach tomorrow and if he doesn't then Djokovic will surely do.

 

[theRadical]

cmon guys, evn Fed has to have some off days/matches, its human nature. Its way to early to evn think of questioning if hes still gonna be on top for a while

 

[Baghdatis72]

cmon guys, evn Fed has to have some off days/matches, its human nature. Its way to early to evn think of questioning if hes still gonna be on top for a while

Yeah but truth is that he doesn't show the ultimate confidence that he used to and that's clear from his body language in matches and what he says in interviews.

 

[tricky]

I agree with Baghdatis. Never mind his losses to Canas -- Federer just hasn't played that crisply in the past month a half now. Even his much vaunted footwork and movement have slipped. If he's been shooting for the French this year, he hasn't shown it yet.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Federer is not as good on slow courts if you haven't noticed. Did you expect him to keep up his level that he had on the faster courts.

 

[tricky]

Federer is not as good on slow courts if you haven't noticed. Did you expect him to keep up his level that he had on the faster courts.

Federer hasn't played that great for awhile now. His BH seems to have regressed since AO, and again even on slow courts, his movement just isn't as clean as it should be.

I imagine much of it is rust, but so far I just don't see any signs that he'll seriously challenge Nadal this year on clay.

 

[fastdunn]

I think Federer is taking somewhat different approach to this year's FO.

Actually since the beginning of 2006, this "rusty" period is slowly
increasing although he continues to peak at the 2nd week of slams....

But anyway, the big factor now is this quickening of new generation
players' maturing. I think some domino effects will happen.
Wonder when the 2nd leap of improvement will come to Gasquet and
Baghdatis after their initial success about 2 years ago...

 

[Heavy Metal Tennis Star]

I think Federer is taking somewhat different approach to this year's FO.

Actually since the beginning of 2006, this "rusty" period is slowly
increasing although he continues to peak at the 2nd week of slams....

But anyway, the big factor now is this quickening of new generation
players' maturing. I think some domino effects will happen.
Wonder when the 2nd leap of improvement will come to Gasquet and
Baghdatis after their initial success about 2 years ago...

yeha but federer isnt bothered by a junior, hes bothered by a guy pushing 30

 

[nickarnold2000]

As Fed said in the post match interview, Seppi had already played 2 qualies and the 1st round whereas it was only his first match on clay. The guy needs a little time to get up to speed.

 

[caulcano]

As Fed said in the post match interview, Seppi had already played 2 qualies and the 1st round whereas it was only his first match on clay. The guy needs a little time to get up to speed.

I hope he gets up to speed sooner otherwise he'll have another long break before the tourney.