Would Federer have beaten Verdasco?
- Thread starter Rickson
- Start date
federerdomination
Semi-Pro
Yes I think so
YouCantBeSerious
Banned
Verdasco pushed Nadal much closer to the edge than Fed, and Fed had 3 days to rest. But Verdasco must have also been tired after the semi, and I don't think his stamina reaches the level of Nadal's. I think it's a tossup, with a slight edge for Verdasco, which was in fire during this AO. I voted no.
flightlessbird
New User
I think yes but it would be very close. Verdasco was playing amazing and if he had take Nadal out he would've had the confidence, but so would Fed because he's not playing Nadal. I'd say Fed in 5 or 4 close ones.
helloworld
Hall of Fame
I doubt Verdasco in his first grand slam final ever would have handled the situation well enough to even play properly against Federer. Nadal knows it. That's why he did everything in his power to win in order to prevent Federer from getting the 14th slam.
oscar_2424
Legend
yes, just like he trashed murray in the USO.
MomentumGT
Semi-Pro
Verdasco isn't in Fed's head. . . . . . . . . yet.
-Jon
-Jon
kimbahpnam
Hall of Fame
Fed's up on him 2-0 H2H.
I think it would have been a good match to see especially with V's improved playing. I still think Roger would have won because V's game is not as extreme as Nadal's and he is better suited against his style.
I think it would have been a good match to see especially with V's improved playing. I still think Roger would have won because V's game is not as extreme as Nadal's and he is better suited against his style.
montx
Professional
I think Yes but Im not sure. It looks like the guy who really knows Federers game more than anyone else is Nadal and he is now really past Federer. Federer is realising he is no longer number 1. Nadal is bringing his own strengths to the game now and I think his physical and consistent game is now the one to watch.
Verdasco, I haven't honestly seen him play enough but he certainly does sound like he is on fire.
Verdasco, I haven't honestly seen him play enough but he certainly does sound like he is on fire.
Kobble
Hall of Fame
I think Federer would have beat him in 4 sets. Verdasco's forehand is great, but his backhand couldn't handle Federer's forehand the whole match. Nadal is a master at taking the backhand up the line to Federer's backhand, giving Fed one choice, to the Nadal forehand. When I see guys try to hit through Federer, I usually think Roger will win. Nadal breaks him down, moves him around, and finishes the point.
Tennisguy777
Professional
if Verdasco plays the way he played Nadal I don't think anyone can touch him! Like the poster above said soon enough we'll see. Also his stamina was fine the reason he lost to Nadal was mental tougness when it got to 4-4 5th set he choked otherwise it could have gone longer. 95 winners are you kidding me, only Nadal can survive that kind of barrage? After all he's a dirt baller, so lets hope he's not on Nadal's side of draw at Roland Garros.
D
Deleted member 3771
Guest
I guess it would have been a toss up, Mabe an epic 5 setter. The kooyong match just before the AO was a very close win to Fed: 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5)
Verdascos winners travel 20km/hr faster than Feds. Feds fast forehand winners travel at 150k Verdasco's travel at 170k. After playing Verdasco, Fed's pace of shot must have seemed very very comfortable to Nadal.
Verdascos winners travel 20km/hr faster than Feds. Feds fast forehand winners travel at 150k Verdasco's travel at 170k. After playing Verdasco, Fed's pace of shot must have seemed very very comfortable to Nadal.
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orangettecoleman
Professional
Fed would have killed verdasco. it's fed's mental complex with nadal specifically that did him in. look at the drop in his first serve percentage compared to his other matches. he was just freaked out by the occasion. against anyone else it's your normal 70 percent first serve percentage and another day at the office.
You don't think this has anything to do with Nadal's amazing return game?
Mick
Legend
verdasco is a great player but he does not have the legs/speed of nadal.
when federer hit those put away shots, he doesn't expect them to come back but when he plays nadal, many of those shots would come back.
i think had federer played verdasco, he probably would have had more winners than what he had in the match against nadal.
when federer hit those put away shots, he doesn't expect them to come back but when he plays nadal, many of those shots would come back.
i think had federer played verdasco, he probably would have had more winners than what he had in the match against nadal.
rubberduckies
Professional
Verdasco is this year's surprise finalist, or he would've been had Nadal finally broken the trend but stepping up to one of these AO darkhorses. These guys can reach the final but cannot close - just too tough your first time.
anointedone
Banned
I would have been rooting for Verdasco all the way in that one, but objectively I definitely think it would have been Federer. Federer in no way has a mental block someone like Verdasco as he has now vs Nadal, no matter how well Verdasco is playing. Verdasco was even more tired than Nadal at the end of that semifinal so would have been even more tired for the final than Nadal visibly was. Federer has only lost a slam final to Nadal to date. Verdasco would have bene in his first final which is always a tough challenge. While the exo match between them was close if Verdasco couldnt even beat Federer in the exo then it doesnt bode well for his chances in the real thing since Federer is known to really cruise the exos anyway. I just cant see it happening for him.
I think Verdasco gets a set, that is it.
I think Verdasco gets a set, that is it.
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D
Deleted member 21996
Guest
you mean the guy who had less than 24 H between a semifinal with number 1 and the final with number 2? wow.. you are a great tennis expert!
vtmike
Banned
Yeah I agree...Its Nadal loopy forehand thats the main problem...Verdasco's shots are much flatter which is why he would've taken him in 4 if not 3...
People forget that Fed still played a very good tournament only until the fifth set of the final... So really its not like he was eliminated in the first or second round...It was still a close match
Anyways people here like jumping to conclusions so fast that its not even funny anymore...
1
1970CRBase
Guest
IF Verdasco had an equally easy semi final against somebody other than Nadal and had then played against Fed like the semi final that he did play against Nadal, Fed would been blown away. Verdasco was blasting winners from all over the court he ended up with nearly 100 clean winners. That's just ridiculous. It was all Nadal could do just to stick with him until their match was reduced into a contest of who would fall to the ground first. And of course, nobody can out endure Nadal. At the end, Verdasco was making mistakes because he could hardly lift his arms to play anymore. On that day, it wasn't nerves, it wasn't even lack of fitness. It's just that his opponent happened to be Nadal.
If Verdasco gets to play like this at the French or Wim against Nadal, we'll have a great summer
If Verdasco gets to play like this at the French or Wim against Nadal, we'll have a great summer
dailophay247
Rookie
IF Verdasco had an equally easy semi final against somebody other than Nadal and had then played against Fed like the semi final that he did play against Nadal, Fed would been blown away. Verdasco was blasting winners from all over the court he ended up with nearly 100 clean winners. That's just ridiculous. It was all Nadal could do just to stick with him until their match was reduced into a contest of who would fall to the ground first. And of course, nobody can out endure Nadal. At the end, Verdasco was making mistakes because he could hardly lift his arms to play anymore. On that day, it wasn't nerves, it wasn't even lack of fitness. It's just that his opponent happened to be Nadal.
If Verdasco gets to play like this at the French or Wim against Nadal, we'll have a great summer
Have to agree.
aceroberts13
Professional
Federer lost to Nadal. Nadal beat Verdasco. It doesn't matter if Fed would have beaten Verdasco. Would Nadal have beaten Roddick? Probably, but we'll never know because it doesn't matter. Why don't we go all the way back in the draw and find every man that Nadal beat and ask if Fed would have beaten them?
ksbh
Banned
Federer would have beaten Verdasco in straight sets!
Nobody except Nadal has beaten Federer in a grand slam final, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. In fact, I think there's a strong possibility that when Federer retires, he'll have only lost to Nadal in grand slam finals.
Nobody except Nadal has beaten Federer in a grand slam final, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon. In fact, I think there's a strong possibility that when Federer retires, he'll have only lost to Nadal in grand slam finals.
saram
Legend
Fernando would have held his first Major Title and trophy
Leublu tennis
Legend
So did I. Verdasco probably would not have folded against Federer as he did against Nadal. That man was hot and Federer's defense does not not compare to Nadal's.
M
Morrissey
Guest
Man, what's with these questions? "Oh what if Fed played Verdasco?" "What if Fed played a tougher SF instead of Roddick?", "What does Fed need to do now?", "How many times will Fed lose to Nadal this year?"
Jesus Christ. Let it go guys. It's over. I've never seen the board is such a shambles. You'd think you were at a funeral.
Fed's funeral.
You haven't figured out that Fed's era is over? Nadal took over at Wimbledon and has now stamped his name on the Nadal era. I expect him to win the French again and he's got a good shot at defending Wimbledon again. US Open is a BIG if. But Nadal potentially can grab at least 3 slams and would possibly be in position to win all 4. At this point, I wouldn't mind Nadal playing Fed in all those finals.
Jesus Christ. Let it go guys. It's over. I've never seen the board is such a shambles. You'd think you were at a funeral.
Fed's funeral.
You haven't figured out that Fed's era is over? Nadal took over at Wimbledon and has now stamped his name on the Nadal era. I expect him to win the French again and he's got a good shot at defending Wimbledon again. US Open is a BIG if. But Nadal potentially can grab at least 3 slams and would possibly be in position to win all 4. At this point, I wouldn't mind Nadal playing Fed in all those finals.
Rickson
G.O.A.T.
If Nadal beats Federer again before the French Open final, he'll definitely win, but if they don't meet until then, Nadal will more than likely lose. It's a numbers system I use so hopefully for Nadal's sake, he either beats Federer before the French or the 2 of them don't meet at the French. I'm not saying Federer is better than Nadal on clay because he's not, but the numbers system says Nadal will lose the next time they meet, regardless of where it is.
ksbh
Banned
Rickson ... you have a habit of making foolish predictions. You were wrong about Wimbledon, the Australian Open and now you've got the FO prediction wrong.
If Nadal - Federer play the FO final, Nadal will take Federer down. Of this, there is no question.
If Nadal - Federer play the FO final, Nadal will take Federer down. Of this, there is no question.
M
Morrissey
Guest
I doubt any of us should listen to what you have to say since in every match Nadal plays you pick AGAINST Nadal. I for one, was glad you picked against Nadal in the SF and F because I know your predictions don't happen. So I knew, Nadal would win. Because you picked his opponent to win. Easy. So where's that Fed for FO 2009 thread?
zagor
Bionic Poster
Who cares if he would Rickson? It doesn't make any difference.But I'll give you an answer nonetheless,I personally feel that Fed would have beaten any other player in the draw(yes even Murray)if he met them in the final except Nadal.But as I said it doesn't matter and we can only give opinion since we'll never know anyway.
Jimmyk459
Rookie
Its also different because Verdasco was tee-ing off on nadals high bouncing shots. They were perfect for him to flatten out. Federer on the other hand is much better than nadal at absorbing pace and returning it with more firepower. He wouldn't have let Verdasco get into any rhythm. Federer would have one in 3 or 4 sets.
helloworld
Hall of Fame
I would be surprised if Fed makes the FO final this year. He's not invincible on clay, and he knows Nadal's not going to let him get the trophy. His effort to the final is futile. The outcome is obvious. Nadal wins.
Nadal_Freak
Banned
A fresh Verdasco beat Murray and Tsonga. His leftiness would've bothered Federer. I voted no.
gj011
Banned
Of course not.
Verdasco convincingly beat Tsonga and Murray, and played better match against Nadal than Federer. Also, as Nadal Freak said, he is lefty as well.
Verdasco would win, but all these "what if" threads are nothing more than a way for Federer fans to make them feel better.
Verdasco convincingly beat Tsonga and Murray, and played better match against Nadal than Federer. Also, as Nadal Freak said, he is lefty as well.
Verdasco would win, but all these "what if" threads are nothing more than a way for Federer fans to make them feel better.
JankovicFan
Semi-Pro
I say no, assuming Federer's usual serve wasn't there, the same as when playing Nadal. He was off. He couldn't get those free points like he usually does when he gets behind or needs to intimidate.
hyogen
Hall of Fame
nadal is more humble and classy than this, i think. i don't think he's TRYING to keep federer from matching Pete's slam record. He's just trying to play his best, just like he tries his absolute hardest on every point
Yes Federer definitely would have beaten Verdasco, which makes it all the more sweeter that Verdasco came so close but didnt pull it off in the end even though I like him. I knew that even as well as Verdasco was playing Verdasco wins = Federer trophy, and that is the main reason I was pulling so hard for Nadal to pull it out in the end. Thank goodness he did and we did not see Federer trophy.
MarrratSafin
Hall of Fame
No. 10 chars
Sentinel
Bionic Poster
(haha) I sure hope so.
Ack, a new world order has started (just in case no one noticed), God does these things without announcements.
JankovicFan
Semi-Pro
So, "trophy" is a verb now?;-)
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