What went wrong for Federer today?

[Fugazi]

Damn! I had not realized this. Almost 3 winners to every UE by both players.

Wimbledon stats are very generous in the winners to errors ratio...

 

[Fugazi]

The match stats just blow me away.
http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/scores/stats/day21/1701ms.html
I really think this is the highest level of tennis I've seen. Hard to find fault with either player. The winners vs. unforced for both players is amazing!

Really?!! Didn't you see either the 2011-2012 Nadal-Djokovic epics or basically any match by Federer in his prime? Federer could barely keep 3 grounstrokes in play in a row on Sunday... I'm pretty sure that he did way more than 29 UEs in the match (there was at least 3 in the last game alone). Wimby stats tend to classify a lot of UEs as forced errors, which makes the players look good on paper. Edit: just rewatched the final set, and Fed made 13 UEs (9 if you remove an easy volley, a pretty easy overhead, an easy passing shot and an average second serve return). Four UEs in the final game alone, perhaps one of which is debatable. So there's no way 29 UEs is a realistic number.

 

[Chico]

Djokovic played a great match and clearly deserved the victory.

BUT, I feel that Federer could have played more aggressively. I feel that he did not hit his forehand aggressively enough. It was as if he is still getting used to his new frame.

I feel that his power and spin is better with the new frame but he lacks the precision of former days and because of this he also is less willing to unleash. Did Federer hit an inside-out forehand all day? He was just chipping backhand slices to disrupt Novak's rhythm.

Perhaps this was part of a tactical scheme. Perhaps he is simply not quick enough to get in position to hit the inside-out with authority. Perhaps Novak was taking it away.

What could/should Fed have done better today?

Nothing wrong with Federer. Djokovic is just the better player in this stage of their career.

 

[andrewski]

I feel that Federer came to net way too often off mediocre approach shots.

I get the idea of avoiding baseline rallies but Novak passed him all day!

Novak is not Raonic! You can't get away with crappy approach shots!

Yes, this did not help, plus poor shot selection in 3rd set tiebreak (DTLFH instead of going into open court).

Fact is that Novak did not hand out his gifts (i.e. set or more) to Roger early in the match like he did against Cilic and Dimi.

He was focussed and was catching Roger quite often late on FH side.

 

[Noleberic123]

djokovic went wrong for Federer that's what. Why cant people accept the fact djokovic is a better player now. (due to federers advanced age)

 

[Gonzo_style]

Djokovic was too good, that's what went wrong.

Clownavic from last year would lost in straight sets.

 

[newpball]

Nothing wrong with Federer. Djokovic is just the better player in this stage of their career.

Yes, that is the simple explanation.

F has proven himself to be one of the best players ever a long time ago.

It is only some of his fans who are never satisfied and expect more. It does not seem an option for them to have him decline with grace. A shame really, all they do in my opinion is embarrass the player they like so much.

 

[Omega_7000]

Yes, that is the simple explanation.

F has proven himself to be one of the best players ever a long time ago.

It is only some of his fans who are never satisfied and expect more. It does not seem an option for them to have him decline with grace. A shame really, all they do in my opinion is embarrass the player the like so much.

Were you about to wet your pants when Fed took the final to fifth?

Must be embarrassing after your posts on how Fed doesn't have a chance to go in to the second week...

 

[JackB1]

What went wrong? Poor approaches, stubborn chip'n'charge, insufficient slicing, no backhand DTL, not going for winners, no short angles, no short slices, no disguised dropshots.

Basically - no variety in his gameplan whatsoever. The plan apparently was:

- serve like a madman
- try to out-hit Djokovic from the baseline with conservatively-placed topspin shots
- net-rush on poor approaches (even CC ones)

He kept it close, though (as close as a few other guys who had taken Djokovic to 5 sets).

^^^^^^^^^

You got it! Exactly right.

Federer, when he wins, wins on pure talent and shotmaking ability...not on strategy. It's frustrating to watch Federer make poor shot selction choices and then lose the point because of it. For example, he will often get a ball to his left...step around his backhand and hit an inside-in forehand. Now his opponent can hit a crosscourt forehand and Federer is out of position and either loses the point there or loses the upper hand in the rally.

 

[junior74]

I don't think Federer ever serves like "a madman" - he serves with incredible variety and accuracy.
As a matter of fact, Djokovic served in average 1 mph FASTER than Federer in the final...