Younger Federer v Current Federer

L

luca85

New User
As i re-watched Federer back in 2001 -2004, i started to think to myself that i prefer him with longer hair and not strutting around the court so much.

I am a huge federer fan, possibly one of the biggest but i cant help but think that the current Federer is not as entertaining.

In the 2004 US open final we witnessed serves of around 134mph and crushing forehands from the get go. Now he doesnt seem to hit the ball as hard and at times i find watching him not as thrilling as previously (unless i am sitting courtside, which is another experience altogether, as i was at Wimbledon 2007 during his match with Del Potro)

What are your views on this?
 
DavidGarcia

DavidGarcia

Hall of Fame
We are all humans as is Fed......we get older, weaker, slower, etc........we can't battle the time! Youngers are taking over him now, this is good for the sport.
 
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Motherwasp

Motherwasp

Semi-Pro
I loved old school Federer...back when he was using ps6.0 and tour90. Before he started all the colour matching and stuff. Dont get me started on what he was wearing at wimbledon last year!!!
 
N

NamRanger

G.O.A.T.
BeHappy said:
His backhand wasn't as good back then, I think he peaked in '06.
Click to expand...


2004 he hit his backhand flatter and with better depth and pace. The only problem was that he would occasionally hit out or mishit. He also sliced ALOT more, and hit a nasty biting slice.
 
T

tricky

Hall of Fame
In the 2004 US open final we witnessed serves of around 134mph and crushing forehands from the get go
Click to expand...

He still plays that way against people who hit big and flat against him. Players like Nadal and Jokers play very little like Safin or 2004 Roddick, and so his game has adjusted accordingly.

If you watch really early Federer, he actually played more like a clay courter than a flat baseliner. His finish was higher, and his shots had more net clearance and higher spin. Then, as he got accustomed to the speed of the tour, he started hitting flatter and deeper. But, it's worth mentioning because it suggests his foundation was not really like his other peers like Safin or Roddick.

I personally think he was more fun to watch during the 2001-03 period; his artistry and creativity was what made me a fan of his. And I see a bit of that with Tsonga as well. But I have no illusion that you can ascend to perennial GS contender level playing that way.
 
M

Moose Malloy

G.O.A.T.
If you watch really early Federer, he actually played more like a clay courter than a flat baseliner.
Click to expand...

Be careful, fastdunn's been getting flamed for years for even daring to suggest that.

I personally think he was more fun to watch during the 2001-03 period; his artistry and creativity was what made me a fan of his.
Click to expand...

I agree. He S&Ved on every 1st serve at '03 Wimbledon.

But I generally like great players most when they are on the rise more than when they are established #1's anyway. And they tend to play a lot riskier then, compared to when they are #1.
 
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tenis

tenis

Professional
It feels like Roger is worry hit some shots, which he used to; not confident like early; not that great execution. Sometimes too much "in the head".
Oh well, all this celebrities, money... and fun matches (Pete). Maybe he forgot he's still at ATP???
 
jlan

jlan

Rookie
I have TONS of his old matches on my computer and watch them all the time. Come back Roger!!
 
B

BeHappy

Hall of Fame
his mono will end his dominance takes up to 2 years to fully leave the body, he'll be a step slower then.
 
superman1

superman1

Legend
But it is true that he plays a bit differently now, and by now I mean in the past year or so. He doesn't slice the backhand nearly as much as he used to, and he's also a lot less all-court, a lot less like a predator. Now he prefers to mainly go side-to-side from the baseline and duke it out with the claycourters.

Aside from the mono, I think he's still at his physical peak, so maybe it's time he got a coach and got back to those vintage Federer plays that destroyed so many opponents. Moving his opponent around with the backhand slice, then unleashing a down-the-line forehand, getting to mid-court and hitting an inside-out forehand winner. That kind of stuff.
 
F

Fedexeon

Hall of Fame
What i have observed is the current Federer seems to have a hard time reading the serve.... The matches he lost this year, against Murray and Fish, he returned poorly and passively....

In the Murray match, i think he didn't even break Murray's serve once.. Same with the Fish match....
 
U

urban

Legend
i liked him most 2003-4, when he played more allround and adventurous like Tzonga now. Since 2005 he got more cautious and defensive, but it worked. He relied on excellent footwork, movement and positioning, and like a spider threw a web on his opponents. His return, especially his second serve return has become too tame, always on the bh going down the middle into half court. This gives people with confidence the chance to dictate exchanges.
 
crawl4

crawl4

Rookie
you guys are sick talking about federer's career and criticizing him now. the guy is human.

you are all a disgrace :evil:
 
daddy

daddy

Legend
crawl4 said:
you guys are sick talking about federer's career and criticizing him now. the guy is human.

you are all a disgrace :evil:
Click to expand...

You mean peple are a disgrace when they say the obvious about Federer because he is a truly great champion ? I do not follow this logic of yours, facts are facts and his game evolved just like everybodys game evolvs over time. Some people loved the old Fed more than todays, so what ?

Get a grip on your logic mate .. ;)
 
V

Vision84

Hall of Fame
Federer impressed me more when he hit his shots hard and relied less on his defense. Now he relies much more on his footwork and defense. Like many others I've been noticing this for a long time.
 
saram

saram

Legend
Vision84 said:
Federer impressed me more when he hit his shots hard and relied less on his defense. Now he relies much more on his footwork and defense. Like many others I've been noticing this for a long time.
Click to expand...

In case you have not noticed, it is not a decline in Roger's game. If you look around the tour--players are hitting the ball harder than ever. Take Novak for example--his groundies are blistering compared to what he was hitting a year ago. And, with the increased pace, comes more defense.
 
montx

montx

Professional
He's got a bigger belly than before, I would suggest he also find a way to pull out the hunger to win.
 
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