Roger Federer To Play Three More Years?

If you go back to Fed’s comments about his long layoff at the end of last year, he said that he was doing it in order to be able to play for several more years. So this is expected. And if I came back from a 6-month injury layoff and won the first GS I played, I’d also think I could play another 3 years.

February 21st, 2017 at 11:15 am

way to go RF!

way to go RZ!

February 21st, 2017 at 1:49 pm

LOL madmax, cheers to you!

February 21st, 2017 at 4:30 pm

Roger Federer Forever…

February 21st, 2017 at 4:49 pm

My sentiments too Amit. 3 years or 30 we won’t see another Roger Federer

February 21st, 2017 at 5:44 pm

Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but from Dubai through Miami, the only person who’s got much to worry about is Djokovic, as he’s defending points from winning the IW-Miami double. Here’s who is defending what:

Murray: 90
Djokovic: 2,090
Nadal: 370
Federer: 0

No one is quite nipping at Novak’s heels, but even Wawrinka, who’s behind him, doesn’t have much to defend either in IW or Miami. There could be some interesting shuffling happening in the rankings between now and the clay swing (and let’s not even talk about Novak’s W to defend at Roland Garros).

I see Federer going for it in Dubai and IW to pick up some “easy” points and help boost the ranking so that his seedings going into the spring/summer are certainly top 8 if not top 4. He’s stumbled in Miami more often than not, so it’s interesting that he’s even going to play there. I suspect he might pull out at the 11th hour depending on how far he goes in the California desert.

Obviously, plenty of other younger and hungry guys looking to make big statements too this year! What do others think?

February 21st, 2017 at 9:32 pm

I am playing for 10 more years. No question about it.

February 21st, 2017 at 9:53 pm

Now I think that Nadal will retire first than Roger…

February 21st, 2017 at 10:57 pm

@HR….LOL!LOL!

@Angel…Now,why on earth would u think that??

February 22nd, 2017 at 12:50 am

Another 11 more slams- I’d be happy if he can take 5 of them

February 22nd, 2017 at 6:13 am

AndyMira: Thank you so much for your kind words in previous thread… Much appreciate.. More power to Fedal… :)

February 22nd, 2017 at 6:34 am

@Amit…he he..you’re welcome!!!

February 22nd, 2017 at 7:11 am

Btw Amit…here’s for u…

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/news/news/Roger_Federer/40921/del-potro-roger-federer-is-the-best-ever-he-can-be-world-no-1-again-/

February 22nd, 2017 at 7:13 am

AndyMira: I hope Federer plays some great tennis and picks up few GS before hanging up his racquet.. I wish the same for Nadal too. It would be brilliant for tennis and for us as well.. And I have always liked Delpotro.. Hope he and Murray make some history too and collect few more slams before leaving the stage.. Ideal for tennis(but more so for me!!) will be Federer, Nadal, Djokovic each winning a couple more slams in their careers; then Murray and Delpotro winning 3-4 slams more each and then Dimitrov starting his reign…

February 22nd, 2017 at 10:29 am

AndyMira: I would love for Fed and Rafa to be year end #1 and win WTF for one last time in their rewpective careers… I love Murray and Delpotro as well and would love them to see winning 4-5 slams more, each, it’s being wishful though I know!! That would be awesome.. And BTW even though am not a big Berdych fan, I read some days back in an article that he wishes to win a GS someday, his game isnt bad.. I hope his dream gets fulfilled and he cries some tears of joy… None should have his dream shattered.. All deserve joy… Whether or not, they are my favorites… :)

February 22nd, 2017 at 10:43 am

@Amit…Couldn’t agree more!They’re ALL great players and i wish them all the best of luck to chase a couple more slams to add to their personal tally..they’re all still capable of doing it…but my personal wish other than to see Rafa add his La Decima at FO is for Andy to reach at least 6 or 7 slams to stay the same level with Becker ,Stefan Edberg or JohnMc..It would be awesome if he could do that…

February 22nd, 2017 at 10:49 am

Maggie Says:

My sentiments too Amit. 3 years or 30 we won’t see another Roger Federer

————–

Agreed. His game is so sweet and so complete. Athletically speaking, only Sampras is comparable but Roger is clearly the better player. Being so good, so focused at age 35…it’s unbelievable. He loves tennis.

I was watching a 40 minute video of him heading to one of his own practices in Dubai where was hitting with Lucas Pouille. A good watch for Federer fans. A light video, quite interesting drills in warm up.

February 22nd, 2017 at 12:33 pm

Amit – ” Ideal for tennis(but more so for me!!) will be Federer, Nadal, Djokovic each winning a couple more slams in their careers; then Murray and Delpotro winning 3-4 slams more each and then Dimitrov starting his reign…”.

===========

Ideally for tennis, it needs fresh blood and new stars to cheer for. Nothing bad per se about the Big 4, or Queen Serena – but it’s 14 years for them and 20 for the reign of the Sistas.
Fans of the Big 4 may love the AMAZING ULTRA IMPORTANT STATISTICS that their fave might get for another 3 years in the case of Fed up to 8 more years for Andy and Nole – but that is not optimal for any sport or entertainment media of any kind to have same old, same old for decades.

February 22nd, 2017 at 2:35 pm

Chrisford: Can’t say if Djokovic or Murray can contend for slams up to 8 more years, their style is much more physical, Novak at least has aggression, Murray has talent but his game is very defensive.. As you said Murray has most raw talent after Federer… But Murray is counterpuncher basically though he plays beautiful when playing aggressive, like when he whopped Fed’s ass in Olympic.. I watch that match repeatedly… Brilliant tennis.. But Novak is mostly aggressive… He never wastes chances to hit a FH winner scorching past the opponent.. But risk for Novak is when he slides on HC or grass.. But anyway, I give Novak/Murray max 5 years, and Fed 3 years, and Rafa probably 3-4 years…

February 22nd, 2017 at 3:36 pm

I find Murrays game aesthetically pleasing though, besides of Federer.. And Rafa brings that pumped up display to tennis.. Djokovic fights and fights till he finally smacks down and then breaks the spinal cord of his vanquished opponent…

February 22nd, 2017 at 3:42 pm

Djokovic is best described in one word: GLADIATOR… Though sometimes he is like a marauding jumbo!!

February 22nd, 2017 at 3:44 pm

Federer is King Kong, Nadal is Godzilla, Murray is T-Rex and Djokovic The Alien!!!

February 22nd, 2017 at 3:48 pm

Or should I say Federer is Godzilla and Nadal Kingdom Kong?? Nadal thumps and fist-pumps like King Kong Though.. And Federer is like The Pre-Historic Alpha-Predator Godzilla..

February 22nd, 2017 at 3:51 pm

Ok its done!!! Federer is Godzilla, Nadal is King Kong, Murray is The T-Rex and Djokovic The Alien!!! Actually Murray whines and makes stupid faces a lot, so we can conclude of him as The Predator as well!!!

February 22nd, 2017 at 3:55 pm

Amit Says:
I find Murrays game aesthetically pleasing
—
wow. You must have very low standards.

I am sure you also think the Big Lady glides on court..sure, not as good as God himself but still good.

February 22nd, 2017 at 6:59 pm

Wow!…HR and his continuous HATE of Andy never ceased to amaze me!

February 22nd, 2017 at 7:21 pm

Humble Rafa: Why so butt-hurt with Murray???

February 22nd, 2017 at 11:33 pm

@Amit…don’t bother to ask HR…he’s never traded comment with anyone before..His duty was to comment about things and leave..and he was known to dislike Andy so much!

February 23rd, 2017 at 12:46 am

Checks in.
Same old, same old from HR
Checks out.

February 23rd, 2017 at 1:27 am

@AndyMira Oh ok!! Never knew that!!! Anyway glad to know you like Murray so much!! :)

February 23rd, 2017 at 6:18 am

@Amit…I adore Andy to bits,just like I adore Rog and Novak…but of coz Rafa still on top of my list!he he..BTW..who’s your 2nd fav Amit?

February 23rd, 2017 at 10:02 am

Amit – “But risk for Novak is when he slides on HC or grass.”

Far less risk to Djokovic than others doing sliding off clay, due to his unique flexible physiology and 20+ years of strengthening ankle joints for that precise activity and skiing. The thing is that while he plays longer points than Federer, he just might have comparable longevity. The reason being energy from all the stopping and starting is transferred to ligaments and leg muscles in regular players, while for Djokovic much of that energy is concerted into frictional heat in his shoe soles instead.
Better, he even manages to convert some of that energy into movement by conservation of momentum. Which in some ways is the most amazing thing about Novak’s movement. He can do a full 180DEG reversal slide cutting a donut on court surfaces he figures he can do it at. Half circle, still moving fast, bolting off at the ball, watching the ball and his foe’s placement on court.

Try it. Run at a good clip on hardcourt in sneakers, come to a sudden stop 10 times. See how your knees, ankles and leg muscles feel. Now run (keeping it safe of course, wear a cricket helmet maybe…) on concrete with a thin layer of dirt or fine sand and slide to stop your run 10 times. Check out the difference.

On Rafa..He has been on a retirement watch longer than Fed has been. (2010 – ‘how much longer can Rafa play’ was a theme that year.)
But he takes long times off to heal and that may give him a longer career than many think. But his ordinary serve and reluctance at times to risk closing at net when he has his great passing shots have thwarted the need to shorten points.

On Andy – He runs more than Novak and has great speed as well, but he carries more mass and at times stops his momentum with what looks like a side-angled deep squat with a heavy barbell on his shoulders.

On Federer – I was looking at an Agassi tape about his last years. He won the AO in 2003 and played Federer a very good Final at the USO in 2015. A year later, he was out. With Federer, he has already gone from great to terrible in a year 2012-2013. He made adjustments for his age,losing a step. And combated fatigue causing him to shank balls with a bigger racket. Another year, more aging, the wear and tear and exhaustion with less ability to recuperate in a short time may cause another 2013.

February 23rd, 2017 at 12:31 pm

Chrisford: I really don’t know how long can Federer last.. I hope he lasts until 2020.. Though it’ll be no cakewalk to stay competitive.. And unfortunately with Federer, just staying competitive is no good either.. He needs grand slams.. Anything less than that has little meaning for him and surely he “may” lose motivation.. Only thing that Federer may have in his favour is he loves the game, but that’s of little use if his body can’t stay up, and at his age, his body may not stay up for long to take to tennis courts.. It’ll be a heartbreaking day when he retires , at least for his fans… Thus being a faithful eternal Federer fan, I hope he plays for at least 3 more years, and picks up more GS, if possible.. It would be incredibly difficult for any player of this generation to surpass him even if he retires today.. But I still haven’t had enough of him.. I wanna see him one more USO or whatever, but his final hurrah I pray comes at WIMBLEDON… He started there, and hope he ends his wonderful journey going full circle, reaching the point where it all started, at last, with a final cheers holding the WIMBLEDON TROPHY… Let’s see what future holds for him.. Sigh…

February 24th, 2017 at 3:44 am

I want Fed to end his career with a Wimbledon win, Nadal to end his career with a final triumph at either RG/Wimbledon, Novak to end his career with one last triumph at either AO/Wimbledon and Murray to end his with his last hurrah at Wimbledon.. I have maximum love for Wimbledon!!!

February 24th, 2017 at 3:47 am

Checks in, checks out

This site has reached its sell by date

February 24th, 2017 at 6:38 am

“sell by date” … as long as it is not “use by date”…

February 24th, 2017 at 7:26 am

Both

February 24th, 2017 at 7:49 am

Good

February 24th, 2017 at 7:52 am

Fed put to rest so many demons at the AO open. Injury doubts, winning 5th sets (won 3 of them), beating Nadal, beating Nadal on a slower hard court, beating Nadal in a 5th set, beating Nadal in a 5th set being down a break, finally winning the 18th after a nearly 5 year struggle……

I think he finally figured out the backhand and did what everyone has being saying for so long – take it early. Of course, not easy against Nadal, but now Nadal’s topspin is not what it used to be, so it can be done. and he did it. And now that Nadal is 30+, the speed is also a bit less.

I think the lack of so much pressure will only make him (Fed) play freer and better. If he stays healthy, he has a good shot at Wimbledon again. Also since Djokovic really was like a tightly wound up string storing tremendous energy – until he finally won the French, and the string totally unwound. And he is almost 30 too.

So watch out for the rested, retooled, stress free Fed. The knee is still a (small) question mark though, lets see. And since he won’t be gunning for No. 1 ranking, he will take more breaks, stay more rested compared to Djoke and Murray, which would help him further at the majors.

Another one to watch out for – can Nadal get his 10th (and I would say final) FO this year. He is playing better than he has in the last 3 years and seems healthy again.

February 24th, 2017 at 7:58 am

“beating Nadal on a slower hard court”

How many drinks did you have, or fid you really watch AO2017?

AO 2017 was by far fastest court ever, faster than Wimbledon, faster than USO, faster than Rebound Ace court on which one Roger won his first three AO, plus low bounce, lower then Wimbledon, lower than USO. Check You Tube and Jim Courier…

February 24th, 2017 at 8:09 am

^^ “did” not “fid”

February 24th, 2017 at 8:09 am

“beating Nadal on a slower hard court”

Revisionism is everywhere.

Fake news.

Federer beating Nadal on a fast hard court has been as constant as Rafa beating Fed just about everywhere else since Nadal could drink leagally in the US.

February 24th, 2017 at 8:55 am

HJF,

After rereading 7:58am post (it is obvious the bloke hasn’t even watched AO 2017) I definitely agree, all what we need now is Bruce Willis, die hard and proper burial thing, just to check with Sean Randal whether to call priest, pastor, rabin or it will be atheists (agnostic) funeral?

February 24th, 2017 at 9:02 am

It is 1am here, I have to go to bed, but if that dude comes back to argue the speed od the court (AO 2017), can you tell him please, that I was there this January, same as I was in Melbourne for the last 15 years or so, so even I (not very knowledgeable tennis fan) can see the difference in the speed of the court, not waiting for Courier, Hewitt, Rashid, Nole, Andy and Roger to tell me that court is (was) bloody fast, Roger even went so far to say that him and Serena don’t have a problem with so fast AO since they played on such fast courts, but Andy and Nole haven’t played …that’s called rubbing the salt etc etc etc

February 24th, 2017 at 9:23 am

Maybe Fed is taking some inspiration from his buddy Tommy Haas.
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/02/tommy-haas-delray-beach-indian-wells-atp-tennis/64394/

February 24th, 2017 at 11:27 am

Confessions of a Federer Fan

“Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. I did not watch the Federer-Nadal Australian Open final live.”

“I am sorry son, but for a Federer Fan, this is a mortal sin. You are condemned to live in tennis fan purgatory forever”

“I already know that…I’m there.”

“Do you detest the sin committed?”

“I DETEST it! I DETEST it immensely! I feel GREAT SORROW in my soul!”

“OK, due to the sincerity of your contrition, I will commute your sentence. Your penance is to watch the replay 28 times.”….

Read more at http://tinyurl.com/confessionsfederer

February 24th, 2017 at 3:48 pm

Fed pulls a “rafa”, seems he had a leg injury he was dealing with at AO. Guess he won “injured”, not 100 %.

GOAT>

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/roger-federer-considered-retiring-after-his-2017-australian-open-win/news-story/d179eefe6c77de344f88c7363cfec834

February 24th, 2017 at 3:50 pm

Nah, only Fed would whine about an injury AFTER he wins a slam LOL.

That’s an original.

GLOAT>

February 24th, 2017 at 4:54 pm

^No, Rafa was the founding father of it, after loss to Soderling @ FO.

February 24th, 2017 at 6:22 pm

LOL fail again, fail harder.

As I said, ONLY Fed would whine about an injury after he **WINS** a slam LOL.

Another “classy” Fed original!!!

February 24th, 2017 at 6:31 pm

I’m still feeling mighty good about Federer’s 18th major title. No sourgrape comments can change that. I even relish those sourgrape comments because they speak of how much his 18th major win has rankled his detractors.

February 24th, 2017 at 10:01 pm

Nah, sour grapes is claiming that another player besides Fed has whined about injury after WINNING a slam and fans still showing sour grapes over Nadal’s dominance DESPITE FEd’s win.

Mighty good but apparently not mighty enough LOL.

February 24th, 2017 at 10:09 pm

I was right.

February 24th, 2017 at 10:28 pm

@Markus…18th is a VERYYYYYY nice number!U deserves to still feel mighty good buddy!If rafa can win his La Decima,i also would feel exactly like u!!So,enjoy this amazing moment markus!!Happy for u!….

February 24th, 2017 at 11:34 pm

AndyMira: I am rooting for Nadal to win his tenth French. Some people presume that because I like like like Federer that I should hate hate hate Nadal. That isn’t so. It is his irrational fans that I hate. But not Nadal himself. Even if it’s between Nadal and Federer at the French final, I would root for Nadal’s 10th because I think more than anything that is what Nadal would be most happy for. His rational fans would be happy with that, too.

February 25th, 2017 at 8:19 am

@Markus…..Thank u so much for your nice words regarding rafa!Really really appreciated Markus!…but truth is i’m not thinking too much about Rafa’s La Decima…anything could happen between now and the FO…the most feared is certainly his fragile physical…he could be hit by injury any moment…if he can stay fit and injury free,then there’s hope…but thank u once again for your kind words Markus!

February 25th, 2017 at 8:48 am

I thought Andre Agassi played the most efficient game of tennis I have ever seen. And he was done at 36.Federer seems to have to work harder each point than Agassi. I don’t believe Federer will be playing full time in 2019. He is not really playing a full load of tournaments as it is. I think he might play a few tournaments in 2019 and the Basel Switzerland tournament will be one of them. This might be a guaranteed wild card more than anything else.
The body just has physical limits. Although Federer’s mind is limitless.

February 25th, 2017 at 2:06 pm

So honest Markus (and such a unique perspective that I’ve never heard on a tennis fan site before).

Whereas some people presume that because I, on the other hand, dislike dislike Fed that I should hate hate Fedfans. But that isn’t so. It’s his rational fans like you that I ADORE! Even if it’s between Nadal and Federer at French final, I would root for Fed’s second because I think more than anything that is what his rational fans would be most happy for. His irrational fans would be happy with that, too (so they could eventually no longer feel the need to put down other players and there fans even after he wins).

February 25th, 2017 at 2:18 pm

I don’t know Bobby.

I remember Agassi grinding it out on the baseline and he went late in his career because he didn’t play a heavy schedule limiting himself to an average of 55-60 matches per year in his last 10 full years on tour.

I still think that Fed plays with what he makes look effortless but I know it isn’t as easy as it looks.

Some of that difference is that the very top players today put more pressure on him than in Agassi’s last few years.

Agassi won his last slam at 32 and made just one slam final after that whereas Fed has made four slam finals after turning 32, won at 35 and is still a valid contender for more. I think his predicted 20 is within reach if he stays healthy which I think he can.

February 25th, 2017 at 2:31 pm

Agassi didn’t run as hard for balls as Federer does. Fed plays more defense and has more explosive movement and play. Do you honestly believe Federer will be top 5 in the world at the age of 38 plus and playing a full schedule? The point I am making is that he won’t. Nothing more nothing less. Agassi ran his opponents ragged. I would be surprised if he is winning majors in 2019. I hope you are right.

February 25th, 2017 at 6:26 pm

Bobby, I think Fed at 35-36 is a real contender whereas Agassi wasn’t at that age.

I don’t see Fed any more defensive than Agassi, both looked to be agressive when given the opportunity and I’d give Fed the definite edge in that category.

I think Fed will be very competitive this year and next. 2019 too far to say.

I don’t see any other of the Big Four playing that well at Fed’s age. He’s amazing.

February 25th, 2017 at 6:51 pm

Just wait for his first defeat, and we will see how he responds, we might not have to wait for too long, Andy and Roger are projected to meet in SF, hopefully Andy is back to normal, that defeat at AO was embarrassing, same as Nole’s one, doesn’t matter how their fans want to make it look like Istomin and Zverev played out of this world, neither of them had any business of losing to second tier players at GS like Misha and Denis, end of story.

February 25th, 2017 at 9:51 pm

^Fake news again. Agassi was a contender at his late age, but his back gave out. At 36 he made it to the USO Finals losing to Fed. Apparently he was still a REAL contender at that age.

February 25th, 2017 at 9:55 pm

^ re: 6:51 post. WB what are you doing over here? :)
Is it STFU or FO? Can’t remember.

February 25th, 2017 at 9:57 pm

@WB,
I wouldn’t worry about Feds next defeat, he doesn’t really need any more wins. You buddy should worry about his, he is in his prime. Am sure his guru will bust him out of his current bad mojo.

February 25th, 2017 at 9:59 pm

No, it is new age illness that there is no cure for, FoMO, you just proved how badly you are ill, but regardless you can still FO or STFU, whichever you find easier to perform, pick one.

February 25th, 2017 at 10:14 pm

You should educate yourself about FoMO in order to understand and deal with the illness you are so badly affected with.

February 25th, 2017 at 10:16 pm

More fake news at 9:55 from the same source that didn’t know playing doubles can help with singles and that Fed pulled a Fed original complaining of injury after he WON a slam. So classy of course.

Everybody knows Agassi went out in the 3rd round of the USO at 36 losing to a qualifier no less.

And you can’t BE a contender when your back gives out. That’s the point LOL. No coulda, woulda contenders in tennis sorry.

Wog Boy, he’ll have to pick just one. I’m guessing multitasking is not his forte. Nor is tennis knowledge apparently.

February 25th, 2017 at 10:36 pm

sinha71,

I guess you are right, the task I gave him was way beyond his abilities,

February 25th, 2017 at 10:58 pm

To be fair, m. zverev was too talented compared to weak era clowns like Roddick (who just smacked the ball mindlessly and froze at the net).
M. Zverev is only 4 years younger than Roddick, but Roddick was a fluke & nobody again by 2004.

Just because zverev began late surging at age 29 doesn’t mean he’s inferior to the top 10 of 2006 (#4 Blake and Gaudio).
Poor Fed did nothing but play pretty dancer because Ddick was a money hungry, evil, lazy hapless elephant on court.
It takes clowning mishaps to give Fed the illusion of invincibility.
Stupid fans. lmao

February 25th, 2017 at 11:00 pm

Since I am a good person and help people in need whenever I can, I’ll give our FoMO sufferer some calming and healing video that will bring him to nirvana state, good food, prepared in absolute nature without any fake sound, just sound of nature and cooking…and of course our friend Mr Ramsay the Owl. When ever you have unexplained urge to go after somebody on internet play this You Tube channel and you will feel no need to do that, you see, I’ll save you lot of money you spending now for your psychoanalysis:

https://youtu.be/42Q3cNKoYxI

February 25th, 2017 at 11:21 pm

^^^ warning, this is pornfood video, classified XXX .. ……..just joking ;)

February 25th, 2017 at 11:23 pm

Ok, footy is about to start, it is Sunday afternoon, though I had to work since Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth are in the harbour, quite a few thousands of tourists at once, not easy to handle…back home relaxing, feet on the table, wifey cooked absolutely next to none “PODVARAK” (not vegan, has smoked bacon and pork ribs), I am with a glass of good old Stoly…so it is just fair to share with you epic lamb chops…and they are epic, cocked in unspoiled nature somewhere in Serbia, check it out, ciao:

https://youtu.be/BD1-mlqBVvU

Loved it😻

February 26th, 2017 at 12:47 am

How I could forget our Mr Ramsay the Owl, hand reared owl, don’t worry, he is safe, they won’t cook him🙀

February 26th, 2017 at 12:51 am

Federer has many more options in his game than Agassi. He has all of Agassi’s ball-striking skills but he’s also got a better serve, which lets him set up points better, and a better net game. He doesn’t have to develop long punishing rallies to win points. His movement is a lot smoother, too.

Agassi has a spinal defect that impedes his movement, the amazing thing about him was that he became an all-time great even though he can’t move as fast as other top players.

At AO Federer took the ball much earlier, on the rise, and sought to step into the court and improve his court position with every shot in the rally. That he didn’t do as much in his earlier years, he would stay back more and just rely on his footspeed to hit winners from the baseline. Against the NadMurDjoko troika, this is a losing proposition because they can outlast him and then he gets tired and his game breaks down.

With the new racket he’s got a bigger sweet spot and can take risks on balls he’d never consider going for before. As he ages, it is the only way he can stay playing at a high level: keep the points short, take balls out of the air with drive volleys, come to net as much as he can, half-volley everything, be more aggressive on returns–and even in the baseline points, seek to take away the opponent’s time and take the ball early, early, early. Less time spent on court, fewer miles on those aging legs. Not coincidentally, it also robs his defensive-minded opponents of the time they need to play their game.

That puts the burden on his precise footwork, timing, and hand-eye coordination–which don’t wane as much with age and actually improve due to muscle memory–rather than his stamina, which decreases. If he continues to play this way, I think he can maintain an exceptionally high level until he’s forty or so.

This tactic really does shorten things significantly: he went five sets with Nadal and it was a little over three and a half hours, and you have to figure about twenty minutes of that was Nadal’s pre-serve fidgeting and fussing with his hair, pants, etc.

Nadal never really had a grip on the match because it wasn’t being played on his terms. Federer kept taking his time away from the baseline and hitting those pressurizing returns. In the fifth set Nadal tried to play first-strike tennis to keep his lead and did pretty well for about ten or eleven of those break points. The problem was that Federer created so many more break points and kept playing so aggressively, eventually Nadal was forced to go for too much and play too quickly for him to be comfortable.

I think the people who are expressing skepticism about Federer’s ability to carry on at the top are the ones who were urging him to retire after winning this AO. They’re going to be disappointed, I’m afraid: this victory was not an end, but a beginning.

February 28th, 2017 at 6:30 pm

Nice read Steve-o. And I hope so!
Wanted to point out you left out anticipation, which his has improved also. Anticipating where the ball is going should improve with age, and it has with the Maestro. It saves a lot of unnecessary footwork.

Looking back, the way Fed played was superhuman, never seen that kind of elevated play. But keep in mind, despite how awesome he looked and played out there, it still took him 5 sets to beat Nadal. That Rafa is one tough Hombre for Fed. IF it was anyone else out there that day, Fed would have swept them in 3.

February 28th, 2017 at 7:39 pm

And even then he only won because AO was fasted HC slam conditions ever, measured faster than Wimbledon last year.

February 28th, 2017 at 8:23 pm

” IF it was anyone else out there that day, Fed would have swept them in 3.”

Sure, same as he swept Melzer, Nishikori and Wawrinka in 3 in previous rounds:)

Of course it was easy to step in court and return early, particularly against Rafa on fast low bouncing court very unfrendly to Rafa’s spin and when Rafa’s WTA was falling well inside service box and was predictable, he didn’t have flat hitters big servers to deal with as A Zverev showed us in Perth, hitting from the both wings flat and accurate and keeping Roger honest behind base line, when he tried to step in he was shanking due to flat strong balls, not one with a spin on the court that doesn’t take spin and falling well inside.

He should’ve beaten Rafa in three in those circumstances and yet it took him five a needed Rafa to choke.

February 28th, 2017 at 8:50 pm

^^^ WTA serve

February 28th, 2017 at 8:52 pm

“measured faster than Wimbledon last year.”
Wmby is not “fast” anymore. That was taken away in the rebuild. There are faster courts now.

February 28th, 2017 at 9:12 pm

There is only one faster court than RL arena on ATP tour, only one, and that is Shanghai, fact:

http://theultimatetennisblog.com/final-thoughts-on-the-2017-australian-open-the-changed-court-speed-made-all-the-difference/

February 28th, 2017 at 9:23 pm

“He should’ve beaten Rafa in three in those circumstances and yet it took him five a needed Rafa to choke.”
But he won. Shoulda woulda coulda.

“he swept Melzer, Nishikori and Wawrinka ”

WB,
Lets recap. Those are good players, in what some have tried to repetitively false claim, in a strong era. Having such a current low ranking, he had a hell of a draw to go through.
Fed is 35, NOT in his prime age.
He just came off the most extended leave of absence from the tour from his knee injury.
What warm up tournaments did he have prior to AO? Perth? And?

Now compare to the other top 3.

As Fed was working through the draw imo he was getting better and better. Yes imo that form he showed in the final would have taken down other players in 3. It was that good. Was just trying to point out how Rafa is still the probably worst matchup for Fed. He is a hard one for him. He took it to him by having to play unbelievable tennis. There are certain matchups that cause EVERY Player problems. You know that. That is all.
WB,
One more thing, that Schnitzel vid was pure food porn. Stop it! I gotta make that….:)

February 28th, 2017 at 9:23 pm

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/02/andre-agassi-roger-federer-australian-open-udemy-course-nick-kyrgios/64416/

February 28th, 2017 at 9:31 pm

As I said. Fasted hard court slam conditions ever.

Speaking of Fed’s win, Milos pulled a “Fed” by pulling out of his final in Deltay.

Like Nole, Sock won by default.

February 28th, 2017 at 9:36 pm

“As i said, Fasted hard court slam conditions ever.”
Subjective. Not a fact.

February 28th, 2017 at 11:36 pm

Good points, skeeze. He does read the ball and the opponent’s responses better and better as time goes on.

March 1st, 2017 at 1:08 am