Whats the view on Anacone now?

[cc0509]

So, hitting 99/100 shots to Fed's BH requires a brain? :lol:

Definitely not, but Nadal's single-minded focus gets the job done against Federer. It does not have to be "pretty" but it is effective, let's be honest.

 

[zagor]

Annacone definitely helped as much as it's possible at this stage of Fed's career. However no one can turn back the clock and in this extremely slow modern era you gotta wonder how longer will Fed be able to keep it competitive against the young lions.

People will realize how good Fed was for the game when they don't see a 1HBH player winning a slam for the next 10 year or so, of course that's assuming people care about variety.

 

[cc0509]

Annacone definitely helped as much as it's possible at this stage of Fed's career. However no one can turn back the clock and in this extremely slow modern era you gotta wonder how longer will Fed be able to keep it competitive against the young lions.

I agree.

People will realize how good Fed was for the game when they don't see a 1HBH player winning a slam for the next 10 year or so

 

[elpolaco84]

With a 1 handed backhand vs Nadal every player is at a disadvantage from the start.Look at his record vs Wawrinka(7-0),Gasquet(10-0) or Almagro(7-0).So that`s basically 24-0 vs those 3 players which aren`t near Federer`s level but still not losing even once says it all.
So starting with a disadavantage right from the start against a great player like Nadal is always tough to overcome.
Also for Nadal playing against a Federer or any other player is pretty much the same strategy unless he plays against another left hander.
But for Federer he might play 5 matches in the same rhythm and same way against any right hander and then he needs to change completely against Nadal.
With Annacone in his corner though he is winning the matches he is supposed to much easier and against a Nadal or Djokovic get himself into a tight situation and hope for the best.

I dont think the 1HBH its a disadvantage, a weaker BH is, aside for Gasquet, Youzhny always gave trouble to nadal(leaving aside stats of H2H), as for Nadal being leftie he struggles with players who have strong BH rather than FH, but the thing there aren't so many players (that are good enough) with strong BH, Nalbandian, Djokovic, Murray are some, among others

 

[sunny_cali]

I dont think the 1HBH its a disadvantage, a weaker BH is, aside for Gasquet, Youzhny always gave trouble to nadal(leaving aside stats of H2H), as for Nadal being leftie he struggles with players who have strong BH rather than FH, but the thing there aren't so many players (that are good enough) with strong BH, Nalbandian, Djokovic, Murray are some, among others

Federer has "troubled" Nadal in many of his matches. Problem is just like the other OHBH's he loses most of them. You may argue that Almagro, Wawrinka lose not because of the OHBH but because the rest of their games are not quite upto the mark.

Given Fed's preferred court position it's very difficult for him to get into an attacking position on the BH most of the time against Nadal's vicious top (Gasquet stays further back and doesn't have so many problems on the BH, but then he cedes too much court).

I generally agree with the premise that it's a very difficult match-up for any OHBH to consistently win against Nadal -- its a losing proposition from the get-go.

 

[sunny_cali]

Annacone definitely helped as much as it's possible at this stage of Fed's career. However no one can turn back the clock and in this extremely slow modern era you gotta wonder how longer will Fed be able to keep it competitive against the young lions.

People will realize how good Fed was for the game when they don't see a 1HBH player winning a slam for the next 10 year or so, of course that's assuming people care about variety.

Fed is going to end up with losing records to the 3 "lions" who are better than him today. It may not have been a bad idea to just call it a day, rather than having to answer pointed questions about whether "he played in a weak era".

More than the OHBH, i find it a tragedy that none of the attacking players can find a way against the defenders on these surfaces. On the Aussie court Delpo's CC FH bazooka's were all redirected by Fed without too much ado (that pretty much sealed it in my mind at least that Fed wasn't going to get past Nadal). Perhaps this is what this generation wants -- nearly all the 18-24 yr olds I talk to think Fed is an overrated creaking relic :evil:

 

[elpolaco84]

Federer has "troubled" Nadal in many of his matches. Problem is just like the other OHBH's he loses most of them. You may argue that Almagro, Wawrinka lose not because of the OHBH but because the rest of their games are not quite upto the mark.

Given Fed's preferred court position it's very difficult for him to get into an attacking position on the BH most of the time against Nadal's vicious top (Gasquet stays further back and doesn't have so many problems on the BH, but then he cedes too much court).

I generally agree with the premise that it's a very difficult match-up for any OHBH to consistently win against Nadal -- its a losing proposition from the get-go.

Yes, it very difficult but 1st because he is a leftie(people tend forget this) then cause of the top spin