Tennis Forever

[omega]

Federer has not only lost a step, his biggest weapon FH has declined considerably that it doesn't penetrate as much.
His serve (still solid) has lost that extra bite that it used to have.

[JamesDap]

Federer has not only lost a step, his biggest weapon FH has declined considerably that it doesn't penetrate as much.
His serve (still solid) has lost that extra bite that it used to have.

Yeah, that too, but more recently. He first began to shank it wildly in 2013. Then after changing racquets he got back some control but the power is gone. Even against Granollers, though he won, there was no depth on the forehand and it didn't bother Granollers at all. All inevitable given his age. Would love to hear Foolander's explanation for Fed's victory over Djoko in 2012 Wimby. Oh, I go it, ONLY because roof was closed, right? Whatever. I would readily accept that Nadal gets to Fed, it's just a bad match up for Fed and has been since Miami 2004. But I don't see anything to suggest that once Djoko and Murray matured, Fed was simply not good enough to touch them. Fed still beats Djoko once in a while in 1000 and 500 events, beat Murray in AO last year. If he can do that in his 30s, isn't it insane to pretend a 23-24 year old Fed was lucky not to have to face them in their prime?

[omega]

Right, Nadal troubled Federer on his least fav. surface in their very first meeting @ 2004 Miami masters.
Federer being the undisputed No.1 & Humble Bull ranked 30+ won in straight sets.
Quite mysterious that it took him another 5 years to win AO & 6 years to win USO. Right we get that, he was still developing his hardcourt game.
Never showed up in these grandslams while Federer was trashing everyone.
Just look @ 2013 alone, an injury bothered year when they met 4 times. Compare that to Bulls bad years 2014 & 2015 when they have met just once...
Thats how it goes. Cherry picker knows when to pick cherries..

[omega]

Olderer to meet his recent clay nemesis Clownfills in the 4th round on Sunday.
The last 2 meetings (Davis Cup 2014 & Monte Carlo 2015) Clownfills has been able to get Olderer in straight sets.
Just like the Davis Cup match this would be in front of his home crowd, if anything even at a bigger stage. Will be a tough match.
I expect a much better performance from Federer this time around. Roger in 4 sets or Monfills in 5 (yet another).

[ajithfederer]

Dheivame . Never stop writing here boss.

Right, Nadal troubled Federer on his least fav. surface in their very first meeting @ 2004 Miami masters.
Federer being the undisputed No.1 & Humble Bull ranked 30+ won in straight sets.
Quite mysterious that it took him another 5 years to win AO & 6 years to win USO. Right we get that, he was still developing his hardcourt game.
Never showed up in these grandslams while Federer was trashing everyone.
Just look @ 2013 alone, an injury bothered year when they met 4 times. Compare that to Bulls bad years 2014 & 2015 when they have met just once...
Thats how it goes. Cherry picker knows when to pick cherries..

[Arvind Srinivasan]

Federer has not only lost a step, his biggest weapon FH has declined considerably that it doesn't penetrate as much.
His serve (still solid) has lost that extra bite that it used to have.

Got to agree. At times his FH is so unreliable that I sort of hope he gets to his BH wing. That's improved a lot with the larger racquet.

[JamesDap]

Unfortunately, except on grass, his BH is not a weapon the top guys would fear. At Rome, Djoko simply ran around his backhand and kept hitting low off forehands to Fed's backhand slice until he eventually put it out of his reach. Fed is not as comfortable driving his backhand as Wawrinka, who would have simply spanked a winner if anybody tried to open up his backhand corner so much. Never was, in fact, but earlier he had such a massive forehand and could run around his BH.

[omega]

Unfortunately, except on grass, his BH is not a weapon the top guys would fear. At Rome, Djoko simply ran around his backhand and kept hitting low off forehands to Fed's backhand slice until he eventually put it out of his reach. Fed is not as comfortable driving his backhand as Wawrinka, who would have simply spanked a winner if anybody tried to open up his backhand corner so much. Never was, in fact, but earlier he had such a massive forehand and could run around his BH.

Fed's BH slice is a great shot in any surface other than clay off-course where it doesn't skid for it be effective.
He mostly mixes it up with a combination of slices & drives at varying lengths/ angles finally opening up the court for the winner/drawing the error.
These days mostly he just ball bashes ending up feeding quite a few sitting ducks.
Overall I am still impressed with his level of play @ 33 in clay especially even if he loses to Monfills today.

[VinodKumar's]

even if he loses to Monfills today.

no problem dude. he is winning .

[VinodKumar's]

Roger into QF. He will play Wawrinka tomorrow.