Roger Federer had his 12-match winning streak at the World Tour Finals snapped as he lost to Juan Martin del Potro 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-3. It was the Argentine's second straight win against the Swiss great.
There was nothing separating the world #2 and world #7 in the first set, and just as they did twice in Basel, it went to a tiebreak. Federer was playing solidly enough up to that point, but he imploded and got down 5-1 in dropping the set in disappointing fashion.
The second set was much more solid from Roger as he got a break in the very first game, and rode his serve to victory. It was a very solid serving performance as he never let Delpo into any of his service games. However, the big man turned the tables on Fed in the third set and broke early to take a 3-0 lead, one which he would not relinquish, and he held out from there to assure his place in the semifinals.
Janko Tipsarevic put in his best effort at this year's World Tour Finals, but it was to no avail as he lost to David Ferrer 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Unfortunately for the Spaniard, he does not make the semifinals. It has to be a disappointing end to a fantastic season.
My thoughts on Federer:
It is obvious that Roger is burned out after the long season. He does not have the same stout mental ability that he usually does, and his game can be described as inconsistent and frustrating - he plays superb in stretches and then looks completely lost at others. Against del Potro, that was the case in the first set tiebreak.
However, I have watched too many Federer matches to count, and at this given point in time, Roger is far from playing his worst. I understand that he is not lighting it up, but he put together two very solid performances (in different ways), and then had a letdown against a very good del Potro. Considering the big guy is in the prime of his career and Roger is at the tail end of a season where he has won 70 matches, the most since 2006, when he had his greatest season ever.
Breaking down the match, Roger was definitely overpowered by the strong Delpo serve. He was rarely in any service games and had trouble returning. Juan Martin doesn't have the fastest serve, but it is very heavy. The same can be said of his groundstrokes. We must remember that Roger has had trouble with Delpo many times before, so we shouldn't be surprised that he lost to a guy that needed the win much more than he did.
When you look at the match really closely, Roger could have won it 6-3, 6-4 if he had taken the break at 4-3 when he had two chances to break. And even without that set won, he forced Delpo to stay strong on the serve in the third set as he kept putting on the scoreboard pressure and kept it a one-break lead. Statistically speaking, he served very well, especially in the second set, when his entire game came together.
Andy Murray is the next opponent for Roger in the semifinals. Andy is playing some great tennis at the moment, but I really do believe Roger will raise his game because he'll have to. He usually brings his best when he needs it the most, and I hope that is what happens.
I hold the belief that Roger's game is right there, and he just needs to dig a little deeper to find it. His defense has been class all week, and regardless of the unforced errors, he has put together a vast array of amazing, jaw-dropping shots.
He is also getting frustrated more easily than we usually see him, but I think against Murray that may change as Andy could be the one blowing a gasket or two at any given time, and Fed stays cool against those kind of guys. Plus, Fed's anger can be attributed to his passion - he really wants to win, and knows that the level he's playing won't be good enough to win.
We know that Federer loves challenges. He will be forced to play his best against Murray and it shall be interesting to see if he can. I know many are saying he can't, but I am too experienced a Roger fan to ever write him off. He has proven me wrong too many times in the past.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Djokovic/Murray final, but I also wouldn't be shocked to see another Federer vs del Potro match. In fact, if that did happen, it would be their 9th match of the season!
For those doubters and cynics out there, remember the fighting champion spirit that perhaps drew you to Federer in the first place. Even if he doesn't beat Murray, you can be rest assured he will give it everything he has, because he cares about winning this event that much. That is all.
Kyle.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Federer Battles by Ferrer
Roger Federer qualified for the semifinals of the World Tour Finals with a tough but good 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over the world #5 David Ferrer. The Spaniard had been on an 11-match winning streak prior to the match.
The Swiss Maestro had a shaky start and was forced to save three break points in his opening game, which he held. Almost predictably, he broke Ferrer in the second game and held in the third to consolidate the break. However Ferrer's form came back and he got on level terms at 3-3. Skip ahead to 5-4, and the Paris champion played a few loose points and the Swiss took full advantage.
The second set was much closer, and Roger had his chances to get the elusive break, but was unable to. 12 games could not decide the set winner so they went to a tiebreak, where Fed played some of his best tennis to seal the match in one hour and twenty-nine minutes.
Fed was clutch on the day, as he saved nine of ten break points, and he had to earn about eight of them I'd say. Clutch Roger at his best is something to see. His composure is outstanding.
Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray on Wednesday in a tight three-setter to move him to 2-0 in the group. Tomas Berdych also won in three, beating Tsonga. It sets up a very interesting Friday, as Murray must win to advance to the semifinals. Juan Martin del Potro also picked up his first win by dismantling Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 6-0.
Analysis of Federer/Ferrer match:
This was a match that you cannot look too deeply into the statistics. Federer hit 39 unforced errors, but he also hit some jaw-dropping shots, including a few that were reminiscent of his prime days on tour. He didn't get as many first serves in play as he would have liked, but his second serve was elite and won him many points.
Ferrer also played very well, and his aggressive attack certainly caused Fed to go for more on his serve, and Roger admitted that afterwards. Much of the struggle Roger had on the day can be attributed to (in my opinion) the depth and consistency of Ferrer's shots. There were many backhand errors where Roger was half-volleying them from the baseline and tried to hit the ball a little too fine to give him an offensive position and he shanked.
So why am I not worried about the 39 unforced errors? A few reasons. When Roger struggles, he tends to get impatient and goes for outright winners when he has no business attempting them. This is not what happened today. As I previously mentioned, many of his errors came from the baseline and off the backhand wing where Ferrer was peppering it deep and without much pace (but lots of spin). Roger, never wanting to back off the baseline, was playing much riskier shots than if he were to back off the back line.
It is very easy to mistime a backhand hit right off the bounce (Federer takes the ball so early that even if it isn't a "half-volley" it is still coming fiercely off the court). Having a one-hander of my own, I know what it's like. When you hit a successful one, your centre of gravity remains low throughout the shot, and then when the follow through is completed, the weight shifts. But the slightest shift in weight too early, and balance can be lost and therefore the shot becomes misdirected. Notice that the majority of the time Roger makes an error of his backhand wing, he's off-balance and he doesn't have his right foot planted firmly.
All right, onto the positives of the match, and the way I see it, there were many of them. Firstly, his second serve. Early in the match, he hit a good three or four second serve kickers that had Ferrer missing wildly. One serve, on the deuce side, just landed over the net close to the centre line, and kicked up over Ferrer's head. It was jaw-dropping, and just as impressive as any other highlight-reel shot Roger comes up with.
The other big thing to take away from the match was Roger's defense. Since the US Open, his legs have not been as sharp as they usually are, and it was affecting his game. Now, it appears as if the week he took of in Paris was certainly the right decision. There were many points where Ferrer had Roger running side to side, and the Fed, in his vintage free-flowing style, tracked them down and defended beautifully. Especially off the forehand side. A few times he lasered a forehand cross-court or down the line and it immediately put him back on the offensive.
Last but not least, the creative juices were flowing in this one. Halfway through the second set, Fed played around with his drop shot and well before the match ended, he had pretty much hit and/or attempted every single shot in his repertoire. And remember, that repertoire is an encyclopedia (meaning, in essence, that he has every single shot in the book).
A few gems from the Grand Master: six rallies that stood out to me.
At 30-40 in the very first game, Roger was forced into hitting a short ball, and Ferrer approached. The Spaniard hit a near-perfect shot right into the corner, but Roger while running, scooped up the ball on his backhand side and flicked it past David down the line. It was a play that Roger could make at will in his prime and it was nice to see him bring it out on such an important point.
At 2-0 break point Ferrer, Fed came up with another stunner. Ferrer hit a hard forehand cross-court with great angle, and Roger, while on the dead run, whipped his forehand like a lasso with an absurd angle for an ouright winner. David Ferrer is one fast dude, and to be able to hit a winner like that by him (he was tracking it down) is just too good.
The first point of the 10th game at 5-4 didn't end spectacularly but it was special nevertheless. Once again, Roger was pushed out wide on the forehand and hammered a forehand down the line with just a flick of his wrist (uncanny). He next scampered across the court, set his feet, and nailed a penetrating backhand down the line. After that, he attacked the net, and took a swinging forehand looper out of the air, and Ferrer hit his lob long. I highlight this point in words because Roger would have never been able to attack without the tremendous defense he played, and that sort of thing was something he was doing regularly in the spring. It appears he is back in that regard.
In the second set, in the first game at 30-40 on his serve, Roger stole one. After hitting an inside-in forehand and then a short cross slice, he came in. However, he stumbled just before reaching the service line and nearly lost his balance. He didn't though, and somehow pulled off a volley behind Ferrer, which forced David to pop up a lob. It would have been successful and he would have grabbed the game but Roger used all his athletic ability and made contact with the smash off the very top of his strings for the putaway. It would have been easier but Roger was caught too close to the net when he stumbled and was forced to recover more. That made it special.
The next point I described may have been the best of the match, at 1-1 15-30 on Roger's serve. A few shots into the rally, Fed hit a hard angled forehand cross court which forced Ferrer to make a stunning get. Fed, in the doubles alley, ran all the way past centre to to hit a forehand (oh Roger) which clipped the net. Fed's next shot was a sick-angled backhand which David amazingly got to. The next shot was the dagger, as Roger hit a fading-away inside-in forehand that forced Ferrer to hit a weak reply and he hit the net. But the only reason David couldn't get to the ball was because he stopped in his backhand corner for a split second, looking for Roger's favourite inside-out shot. That is how big of a weapon that shot is for him. Even when he isn't smacking it, the hesitance of his opponents wins him points.
One last one, I promise. This one came in the second set at 3-2 0-15. After a great baseline exhange of spin and angle, Roger tried to sneak in but Ferrer caught him and put a ball near his feet. Fed tossed up an inside-out backhand drop shot. Ferrer was there with time to spare and smashed it cross-court, but Federer, floating like a butterfly, lunged to his left and stabbed a backhand volley to the open court. A great display of reflex, anticipation, and creativity.
Okay, I'm done with that.
In general, Roger didn't bring his A-game but wasn't allowed to from the great play of Ferrer. But Roger brought his A-game in terms of creativity and it was a very fun match to watch, with a countless number of exciting baseline exchanges, and some very great net play. Don't worry about the serving or the shanks - this was still a very classy match from the Swiss Genius.
Federer now plays del Potro in his third match, which will take place on Saturday. He is guaranteed a semifinal finish regardless of the outcome, but you know he'd like to have a clean sweep and go into the semis with confidence, especially if he ends up playing Murray or Berdych.
Hope you enjoyed,
Kyle.
The Swiss Maestro had a shaky start and was forced to save three break points in his opening game, which he held. Almost predictably, he broke Ferrer in the second game and held in the third to consolidate the break. However Ferrer's form came back and he got on level terms at 3-3. Skip ahead to 5-4, and the Paris champion played a few loose points and the Swiss took full advantage.
The second set was much closer, and Roger had his chances to get the elusive break, but was unable to. 12 games could not decide the set winner so they went to a tiebreak, where Fed played some of his best tennis to seal the match in one hour and twenty-nine minutes.
Fed was clutch on the day, as he saved nine of ten break points, and he had to earn about eight of them I'd say. Clutch Roger at his best is something to see. His composure is outstanding.
Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray on Wednesday in a tight three-setter to move him to 2-0 in the group. Tomas Berdych also won in three, beating Tsonga. It sets up a very interesting Friday, as Murray must win to advance to the semifinals. Juan Martin del Potro also picked up his first win by dismantling Janko Tipsarevic 6-4, 6-0.
Analysis of Federer/Ferrer match:
This was a match that you cannot look too deeply into the statistics. Federer hit 39 unforced errors, but he also hit some jaw-dropping shots, including a few that were reminiscent of his prime days on tour. He didn't get as many first serves in play as he would have liked, but his second serve was elite and won him many points.
Ferrer also played very well, and his aggressive attack certainly caused Fed to go for more on his serve, and Roger admitted that afterwards. Much of the struggle Roger had on the day can be attributed to (in my opinion) the depth and consistency of Ferrer's shots. There were many backhand errors where Roger was half-volleying them from the baseline and tried to hit the ball a little too fine to give him an offensive position and he shanked.
So why am I not worried about the 39 unforced errors? A few reasons. When Roger struggles, he tends to get impatient and goes for outright winners when he has no business attempting them. This is not what happened today. As I previously mentioned, many of his errors came from the baseline and off the backhand wing where Ferrer was peppering it deep and without much pace (but lots of spin). Roger, never wanting to back off the baseline, was playing much riskier shots than if he were to back off the back line.
It is very easy to mistime a backhand hit right off the bounce (Federer takes the ball so early that even if it isn't a "half-volley" it is still coming fiercely off the court). Having a one-hander of my own, I know what it's like. When you hit a successful one, your centre of gravity remains low throughout the shot, and then when the follow through is completed, the weight shifts. But the slightest shift in weight too early, and balance can be lost and therefore the shot becomes misdirected. Notice that the majority of the time Roger makes an error of his backhand wing, he's off-balance and he doesn't have his right foot planted firmly.
All right, onto the positives of the match, and the way I see it, there were many of them. Firstly, his second serve. Early in the match, he hit a good three or four second serve kickers that had Ferrer missing wildly. One serve, on the deuce side, just landed over the net close to the centre line, and kicked up over Ferrer's head. It was jaw-dropping, and just as impressive as any other highlight-reel shot Roger comes up with.
The other big thing to take away from the match was Roger's defense. Since the US Open, his legs have not been as sharp as they usually are, and it was affecting his game. Now, it appears as if the week he took of in Paris was certainly the right decision. There were many points where Ferrer had Roger running side to side, and the Fed, in his vintage free-flowing style, tracked them down and defended beautifully. Especially off the forehand side. A few times he lasered a forehand cross-court or down the line and it immediately put him back on the offensive.
Last but not least, the creative juices were flowing in this one. Halfway through the second set, Fed played around with his drop shot and well before the match ended, he had pretty much hit and/or attempted every single shot in his repertoire. And remember, that repertoire is an encyclopedia (meaning, in essence, that he has every single shot in the book).
A few gems from the Grand Master: six rallies that stood out to me.
At 30-40 in the very first game, Roger was forced into hitting a short ball, and Ferrer approached. The Spaniard hit a near-perfect shot right into the corner, but Roger while running, scooped up the ball on his backhand side and flicked it past David down the line. It was a play that Roger could make at will in his prime and it was nice to see him bring it out on such an important point.
At 2-0 break point Ferrer, Fed came up with another stunner. Ferrer hit a hard forehand cross-court with great angle, and Roger, while on the dead run, whipped his forehand like a lasso with an absurd angle for an ouright winner. David Ferrer is one fast dude, and to be able to hit a winner like that by him (he was tracking it down) is just too good.
The first point of the 10th game at 5-4 didn't end spectacularly but it was special nevertheless. Once again, Roger was pushed out wide on the forehand and hammered a forehand down the line with just a flick of his wrist (uncanny). He next scampered across the court, set his feet, and nailed a penetrating backhand down the line. After that, he attacked the net, and took a swinging forehand looper out of the air, and Ferrer hit his lob long. I highlight this point in words because Roger would have never been able to attack without the tremendous defense he played, and that sort of thing was something he was doing regularly in the spring. It appears he is back in that regard.
In the second set, in the first game at 30-40 on his serve, Roger stole one. After hitting an inside-in forehand and then a short cross slice, he came in. However, he stumbled just before reaching the service line and nearly lost his balance. He didn't though, and somehow pulled off a volley behind Ferrer, which forced David to pop up a lob. It would have been successful and he would have grabbed the game but Roger used all his athletic ability and made contact with the smash off the very top of his strings for the putaway. It would have been easier but Roger was caught too close to the net when he stumbled and was forced to recover more. That made it special.
The next point I described may have been the best of the match, at 1-1 15-30 on Roger's serve. A few shots into the rally, Fed hit a hard angled forehand cross court which forced Ferrer to make a stunning get. Fed, in the doubles alley, ran all the way past centre to to hit a forehand (oh Roger) which clipped the net. Fed's next shot was a sick-angled backhand which David amazingly got to. The next shot was the dagger, as Roger hit a fading-away inside-in forehand that forced Ferrer to hit a weak reply and he hit the net. But the only reason David couldn't get to the ball was because he stopped in his backhand corner for a split second, looking for Roger's favourite inside-out shot. That is how big of a weapon that shot is for him. Even when he isn't smacking it, the hesitance of his opponents wins him points.
One last one, I promise. This one came in the second set at 3-2 0-15. After a great baseline exhange of spin and angle, Roger tried to sneak in but Ferrer caught him and put a ball near his feet. Fed tossed up an inside-out backhand drop shot. Ferrer was there with time to spare and smashed it cross-court, but Federer, floating like a butterfly, lunged to his left and stabbed a backhand volley to the open court. A great display of reflex, anticipation, and creativity.
Okay, I'm done with that.
In general, Roger didn't bring his A-game but wasn't allowed to from the great play of Ferrer. But Roger brought his A-game in terms of creativity and it was a very fun match to watch, with a countless number of exciting baseline exchanges, and some very great net play. Don't worry about the serving or the shanks - this was still a very classy match from the Swiss Genius.
Federer now plays del Potro in his third match, which will take place on Saturday. He is guaranteed a semifinal finish regardless of the outcome, but you know he'd like to have a clean sweep and go into the semis with confidence, especially if he ends up playing Murray or Berdych.
Hope you enjoyed,
Kyle.
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
Federer Sweeps Past Tipsarevic
Roger Federer began his quest for his 7th World Tour Finals title with a comprehensive and smooth victory over Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-1 on Tuesday afternoon. The win moved Federer into the lead for most match wins at the event, and he passes John McEnroe in the all-time wins list, with 876.
The Swiss Maestro held quite comfortably at the start of the match, and then proceeded to break the 8th seed. He opened up a controlling three-game lead, and focused all his energy on holding. In the second set, he broke Tipsarevic in the third, fifth, and seventh games to put away the match rather easily. It was a fine display from Federer and the peRFect way to start off his week.
It is worth noting that Tipsarevic has fallen victim to a cold in recent days, but even if he was completely healthy, the result would remain pretty much the same. Janko has nothing to hurt Federer with and the Swiss was in full control of his advanced arsenal the entire match.
The world #2 only served at 51% for the match, however he backed it up with a very stable second serve and authoritative baseline strokes. It was a vintage performance as Roger pulled out some amazing shots (more on that later), and hit his backhand like gold.
On Monday, Andy Murray defeated Tomas Berdych in three sets and Novak Djokovic defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straights. Therefore, we will see a rematch of the US Open and Shanghai finals on Wednesday, in what should be a cracker. Federer plays David Ferrer, who took out del Potro 6-4 in the 3rd. Roger definitely has a big advantage in his group in games won/loss so far.
Analysis/Thoughts on Federer in this match:
Simply put, Roger was fantastic in this match. He may lose a step or two at his age (although it appears he hasn't), but he will never lose his unique shotmaking genius. A few examples of the amazing shots he hit in this match:
- Early in the first set (at 3-1, 30-0), Tipsarevic attacked the net and Fed passed him. However, the Serb got his racket on it and just dipped the ball over the net. Federer, scrambling almost effortlessly to get there, ran around his backhand side to lay a forehand on the ball, and flicked the fuzz inside-out with a very acute angle. Janko got his racket on the ball, but Roger put away the smash. It was absolutely brilliant and shows how dexterous Fed's right wrist is. He is way too flexible for his own good, I tell you.
- At 3-1 deuce in the second set, Roger hit a fading drop shot just over the net. He moved forward, while Tipsarevic slipped the ball past him with a sharp angle. Fed, as agile as he is, ran to the ball that was behind him and somehow flicked his wrist into a backhand that got the ball over the net. Again, his wrist is way too talented with a racket in his hand.
- Just two points later, the two men had an exchange of forehand strokes, and then out of the blue, Federer hit a forehand that landed short of the service line just inside the sideline. The only catch is that he did this while standing in the ad court. How he was able to create an angle such as that I don't know. The amount of top spin he puts on the ball is extremely underrated though.
- When he did capture the break in that game, it was a thing of beauty. A 24-shot rally in which Roger defended superbly a few times off the backhand side until a sizzling backhand down the line gave him control of the rally, and then he put away a popped up Tipsarevic defensive shot with a fiery forehand winner. He then let out a yell that wasn't a "come on" or an "allez," but it was more like a "Yeee!"
Federer's success on the the indoor London hardcourt:
With his win, Federer moved to 13-2 at the O2 Arena in London for the World Tour Finals, and he has won his past 11. Overall, he has 40 wins at the event dating back 11 years ago when he first made the top 8 in 2002. Picking up two titles in Houston and two in Shanghai, he cemented his status as the man to beat at the end of the season almost every year. He was never fatigued like others were at the end of the season-long grind, and nearly always performed his best.
The same rings true in London.
At the O2 Arena, it is as if Federer is playing in his own backyard. His serve is more lethal, his returns are crisper (and he makes more of them), his volleying is more accurate, and his immaculate groundstrokes are made to be even more effective. Especially his backhand, which brings me to my next point.
Federer's backhand is unbreakable on this court. Just using this match against Tipsarevic as an example, there is great evidence to suggest as much. Many times Janko hammered away backhands at Roger, but Fed just half-volleyed them back and with interest. Mentally, Roger just doesn't have any fear of hitting on that side on this court, and it pays massive dividends for him when it comes to dominating from the baseline.
Historically, Federer's backhand has been his best shot on the court too. In 2009 and 2010, Murray tried to break it down. Couldn't do it. In 2010 Djokovic tried and failed. In 2010 and 2011, Rafael Nadal, the one man who has hurt Roger's backhand the most in his career, couldn't even come close to doing it. But why?
Much of it (in my analyzed opinion) has to do with the actual court. Of course, the event is played indoors so that helps with Roger's confidence on that wing in that he can time the ball much better, but that isn't what I am talking about.
The court can be described as a mid-to-low bouncing hardcourt. Federer's top spin strokes bounce off the court faster than normal because there's no wind to affect the ball. The court is pretty fast, however the heavy top spin his shots have kick off the court quicker and more extreme. His slice also stays extremely low, and many players have struggled with the extreme variation Federer shows them on this court.
The quickness of the court helps with his backhand because he is able to counter-punch successfully off the backhand side when it is peppered, since many balls don't come shoulder height and he doesn't have to move back to wait for the ball to drop. He can take on half-volleys at will standing close to the baseline and bide his time until the right shot opens up or the opponent tries to attack his forehand.
Note: I have observed just how deep Federer hits his backhand consistently on the court. It is absolutely stunning. He just does not allow opponents to attack him by keeping them on the back foot. His forehand depth isn't as great, but he uses his forehand for more angle so he doesn't have to hit it deep all the time.* But unless Roger has stepped inside the court, he will not angle his backhand cross court, but rather set himself up to run around his backhand for his favourite inside-out forehand.
*Federer's forehand can be angled off more and be just as effective because it's generally coming faster than his backhand is. So a whip forehand that lands at the service line gets to the opponent just as fast as a steady, solid deep backhand that he half-volleys off the baseline.
Anyway, that is my attempt at analysis. I have been thinking about his backhand since I saw the match, and it brought up fresh thoughts that I just had to get down (for my own benefit). I do find Roger's game fascinating, and especially indoors when everything comes together.
Enjoy the tennis tomorrow and I'll be back after Federer vs Ferrer. Hope you enjoyed!
Kyle.
The Swiss Maestro held quite comfortably at the start of the match, and then proceeded to break the 8th seed. He opened up a controlling three-game lead, and focused all his energy on holding. In the second set, he broke Tipsarevic in the third, fifth, and seventh games to put away the match rather easily. It was a fine display from Federer and the peRFect way to start off his week.
It is worth noting that Tipsarevic has fallen victim to a cold in recent days, but even if he was completely healthy, the result would remain pretty much the same. Janko has nothing to hurt Federer with and the Swiss was in full control of his advanced arsenal the entire match.
The world #2 only served at 51% for the match, however he backed it up with a very stable second serve and authoritative baseline strokes. It was a vintage performance as Roger pulled out some amazing shots (more on that later), and hit his backhand like gold.
On Monday, Andy Murray defeated Tomas Berdych in three sets and Novak Djokovic defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in straights. Therefore, we will see a rematch of the US Open and Shanghai finals on Wednesday, in what should be a cracker. Federer plays David Ferrer, who took out del Potro 6-4 in the 3rd. Roger definitely has a big advantage in his group in games won/loss so far.
Analysis/Thoughts on Federer in this match:
Simply put, Roger was fantastic in this match. He may lose a step or two at his age (although it appears he hasn't), but he will never lose his unique shotmaking genius. A few examples of the amazing shots he hit in this match:
- Early in the first set (at 3-1, 30-0), Tipsarevic attacked the net and Fed passed him. However, the Serb got his racket on it and just dipped the ball over the net. Federer, scrambling almost effortlessly to get there, ran around his backhand side to lay a forehand on the ball, and flicked the fuzz inside-out with a very acute angle. Janko got his racket on the ball, but Roger put away the smash. It was absolutely brilliant and shows how dexterous Fed's right wrist is. He is way too flexible for his own good, I tell you.
- At 3-1 deuce in the second set, Roger hit a fading drop shot just over the net. He moved forward, while Tipsarevic slipped the ball past him with a sharp angle. Fed, as agile as he is, ran to the ball that was behind him and somehow flicked his wrist into a backhand that got the ball over the net. Again, his wrist is way too talented with a racket in his hand.
- Just two points later, the two men had an exchange of forehand strokes, and then out of the blue, Federer hit a forehand that landed short of the service line just inside the sideline. The only catch is that he did this while standing in the ad court. How he was able to create an angle such as that I don't know. The amount of top spin he puts on the ball is extremely underrated though.
- When he did capture the break in that game, it was a thing of beauty. A 24-shot rally in which Roger defended superbly a few times off the backhand side until a sizzling backhand down the line gave him control of the rally, and then he put away a popped up Tipsarevic defensive shot with a fiery forehand winner. He then let out a yell that wasn't a "come on" or an "allez," but it was more like a "Yeee!"
Federer's success on the the indoor London hardcourt:
With his win, Federer moved to 13-2 at the O2 Arena in London for the World Tour Finals, and he has won his past 11. Overall, he has 40 wins at the event dating back 11 years ago when he first made the top 8 in 2002. Picking up two titles in Houston and two in Shanghai, he cemented his status as the man to beat at the end of the season almost every year. He was never fatigued like others were at the end of the season-long grind, and nearly always performed his best.
The same rings true in London.
At the O2 Arena, it is as if Federer is playing in his own backyard. His serve is more lethal, his returns are crisper (and he makes more of them), his volleying is more accurate, and his immaculate groundstrokes are made to be even more effective. Especially his backhand, which brings me to my next point.
Federer's backhand is unbreakable on this court. Just using this match against Tipsarevic as an example, there is great evidence to suggest as much. Many times Janko hammered away backhands at Roger, but Fed just half-volleyed them back and with interest. Mentally, Roger just doesn't have any fear of hitting on that side on this court, and it pays massive dividends for him when it comes to dominating from the baseline.
Historically, Federer's backhand has been his best shot on the court too. In 2009 and 2010, Murray tried to break it down. Couldn't do it. In 2010 Djokovic tried and failed. In 2010 and 2011, Rafael Nadal, the one man who has hurt Roger's backhand the most in his career, couldn't even come close to doing it. But why?
Much of it (in my analyzed opinion) has to do with the actual court. Of course, the event is played indoors so that helps with Roger's confidence on that wing in that he can time the ball much better, but that isn't what I am talking about.
The court can be described as a mid-to-low bouncing hardcourt. Federer's top spin strokes bounce off the court faster than normal because there's no wind to affect the ball. The court is pretty fast, however the heavy top spin his shots have kick off the court quicker and more extreme. His slice also stays extremely low, and many players have struggled with the extreme variation Federer shows them on this court.
The quickness of the court helps with his backhand because he is able to counter-punch successfully off the backhand side when it is peppered, since many balls don't come shoulder height and he doesn't have to move back to wait for the ball to drop. He can take on half-volleys at will standing close to the baseline and bide his time until the right shot opens up or the opponent tries to attack his forehand.
Note: I have observed just how deep Federer hits his backhand consistently on the court. It is absolutely stunning. He just does not allow opponents to attack him by keeping them on the back foot. His forehand depth isn't as great, but he uses his forehand for more angle so he doesn't have to hit it deep all the time.* But unless Roger has stepped inside the court, he will not angle his backhand cross court, but rather set himself up to run around his backhand for his favourite inside-out forehand.
*Federer's forehand can be angled off more and be just as effective because it's generally coming faster than his backhand is. So a whip forehand that lands at the service line gets to the opponent just as fast as a steady, solid deep backhand that he half-volleys off the baseline.
Anyway, that is my attempt at analysis. I have been thinking about his backhand since I saw the match, and it brought up fresh thoughts that I just had to get down (for my own benefit). I do find Roger's game fascinating, and especially indoors when everything comes together.
Enjoy the tennis tomorrow and I'll be back after Federer vs Ferrer. Hope you enjoyed!
Kyle.
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Paris Glory and World Tour Finals
An exciting and eventful week in Paris for the final Masters 1000 event of the season culminated with a wonderful finish, as David Ferrer, the world #5 caught in the shadows of the dominant top 4, won his first Masters crown and 18th title overall by defeating qualifier Jerzy Janowicz of Poland in straight sets.
A quick recap of the week:
Roger Federer withdrew from the event following his final loss in Basel to Juan Martin del Potro. As a result, he gave up the #1 ranking to Novak Djokovic, who will end the year on top. Speaking of the Australian Open champion, he was defeated by Sam Querrey in the 2nd round, ending a 10-match winning streak where he picked up titles in Beijing and Shanghai.
Andy Murray suffered the same fate as he was shockingly upset by Jerzy Janowicz, who saved a match point in the second set to win 6-2 in the third. For Murray, it was the third consecutive tournament in which he has held match point in a contest and lost. The first was to Milos Raonic in Tokyo, the second to Djokovic in the Shanghai final.
The biggest story of the week was Janowicz, the Polish 21 year-old. He defeated five straight top 20 players before losing to Ferrer in the final. They were Kohlschreiber, (19), Cilic (15), Murray (3), Tipsarevic (9), and Simon (20).
The Pole's play was outstanding all week, as he rained down bombing serves and groundstrokes. But he also showed a great sense of variety and touch, employing drop shots at will, and a rock-solid head and mental maturity. He became the first player in 12 years to reach a final in his Masters debut. He also jumps to #26 in the world after his star-in-the-making type performance. It is quite considerable when you realize that he started the year #221 in the world.
For the victor of the week, Ferrer, it is a tremendous achievement. At the age of 30 (old in tennis, supposedly), he has quietly put together his best year on tour. He has a tour-leading 71 wins and 7 titles. His attitude, effort, and consistency has paid great dividends and finally winning a Masters title is the icing on the cake to a fantastic year.
Mini World Tour Finals Preview:
The year-ending World Tour Finals starts on Monday, as the final eight do battle at the O2 Arena in London for the final title of the year. The participants are Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Ferrer, Berdych, del Potro, Tsonga, and Tipsarevic. The world #4 Nadal withdrew from the event, marking the third time he has been absent from the proceedings since 2005, when he was world #2.
Group A features Djokovic, Murray, Berdych, and Tsonga, while Group B features Federer, Ferrer, del Potro, and Tipsarevic. Federer certainly received a favourable draw, as he is 31-3 combined against his three round robin opponents.
My thoughts and predictions:
Federer should make the semifinals if he shows the same kind of form that has won him his past two World Tour Finals titles. Tipsarevic should be a straight-sets win, while Ferrer and Delpo should give much more difficult matches. Well, at least Delpo anyway. I have my suspicions that Ferrer will be very tired, both physically and emotionally after the past two weeks he has had, winning Valencia and Paris. He only has a day of rest after playing for two weeks straight before he faces the 2009 US Open champion, and he could be gassed. We shall see.
On the other side, it is much more open. Djokovic has been strong lately and he should be a force to be reckoned with unless fatigue overcomes him. It's hard to question where Murray's mind is right now after losing three matches he should have won recently. Nevertheless, he will have the full crowd support behind him, especially after what he accomplished at Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the US Open, where he won his first Slam and ended the ever-long drought for a British Grand Slam winner (76 years, I believe?). Berdych and Tsonga are two unknowns. They can both play lights out and they'll need to if they hope to make it out of the round robin stage. The Frenchman will take refuge in the fact that he had such a great week a year ago, making the final before losing to Federer in a very close match.
If I had to make a prediction now, it would go like this:
Federer goes 3-0
Del Potro goes 2-1
Ferrer goes 1-2
Tipsarevic goes 0-3
Murray goes 2-1
Berdych goes 2-1
Djokovic goes 2-1
Tsonga goes 0-3
The final would feature Federer and Murray in a blockbuster.
Regardless of the outcome, it has been an amazing season with so many terrific storylines. Let us hope that the year ends with a bang in London, preferably with Federer coming out the victor! (Yes, I know I am biased, sue me).
A quick recap of the week:
Roger Federer withdrew from the event following his final loss in Basel to Juan Martin del Potro. As a result, he gave up the #1 ranking to Novak Djokovic, who will end the year on top. Speaking of the Australian Open champion, he was defeated by Sam Querrey in the 2nd round, ending a 10-match winning streak where he picked up titles in Beijing and Shanghai.
Andy Murray suffered the same fate as he was shockingly upset by Jerzy Janowicz, who saved a match point in the second set to win 6-2 in the third. For Murray, it was the third consecutive tournament in which he has held match point in a contest and lost. The first was to Milos Raonic in Tokyo, the second to Djokovic in the Shanghai final.
The biggest story of the week was Janowicz, the Polish 21 year-old. He defeated five straight top 20 players before losing to Ferrer in the final. They were Kohlschreiber, (19), Cilic (15), Murray (3), Tipsarevic (9), and Simon (20).
The Pole's play was outstanding all week, as he rained down bombing serves and groundstrokes. But he also showed a great sense of variety and touch, employing drop shots at will, and a rock-solid head and mental maturity. He became the first player in 12 years to reach a final in his Masters debut. He also jumps to #26 in the world after his star-in-the-making type performance. It is quite considerable when you realize that he started the year #221 in the world.
For the victor of the week, Ferrer, it is a tremendous achievement. At the age of 30 (old in tennis, supposedly), he has quietly put together his best year on tour. He has a tour-leading 71 wins and 7 titles. His attitude, effort, and consistency has paid great dividends and finally winning a Masters title is the icing on the cake to a fantastic year.
Mini World Tour Finals Preview:
The year-ending World Tour Finals starts on Monday, as the final eight do battle at the O2 Arena in London for the final title of the year. The participants are Djokovic, Federer, Murray, Ferrer, Berdych, del Potro, Tsonga, and Tipsarevic. The world #4 Nadal withdrew from the event, marking the third time he has been absent from the proceedings since 2005, when he was world #2.
Group A features Djokovic, Murray, Berdych, and Tsonga, while Group B features Federer, Ferrer, del Potro, and Tipsarevic. Federer certainly received a favourable draw, as he is 31-3 combined against his three round robin opponents.
My thoughts and predictions:
Federer should make the semifinals if he shows the same kind of form that has won him his past two World Tour Finals titles. Tipsarevic should be a straight-sets win, while Ferrer and Delpo should give much more difficult matches. Well, at least Delpo anyway. I have my suspicions that Ferrer will be very tired, both physically and emotionally after the past two weeks he has had, winning Valencia and Paris. He only has a day of rest after playing for two weeks straight before he faces the 2009 US Open champion, and he could be gassed. We shall see.
On the other side, it is much more open. Djokovic has been strong lately and he should be a force to be reckoned with unless fatigue overcomes him. It's hard to question where Murray's mind is right now after losing three matches he should have won recently. Nevertheless, he will have the full crowd support behind him, especially after what he accomplished at Wimbledon, the Olympics, and the US Open, where he won his first Slam and ended the ever-long drought for a British Grand Slam winner (76 years, I believe?). Berdych and Tsonga are two unknowns. They can both play lights out and they'll need to if they hope to make it out of the round robin stage. The Frenchman will take refuge in the fact that he had such a great week a year ago, making the final before losing to Federer in a very close match.
If I had to make a prediction now, it would go like this:
Federer goes 3-0
Del Potro goes 2-1
Ferrer goes 1-2
Tipsarevic goes 0-3
Murray goes 2-1
Berdych goes 2-1
Djokovic goes 2-1
Tsonga goes 0-3
The final would feature Federer and Murray in a blockbuster.
Regardless of the outcome, it has been an amazing season with so many terrific storylines. Let us hope that the year ends with a bang in London, preferably with Federer coming out the victor! (Yes, I know I am biased, sue me).
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