Roger Federer: What I Like About Del Potro’s Forehand Is He Doesn’t Hold Back!

Ahead of his showdown Wednesday night against Juan Martin del Potro, Roger Federer talked about the Argentine’s lethal forehand.

“What I like about it, he doesn’t really hold back,” Federer said Monday. “He doesn’t care if he misfires a few times. He keeps doing it until he finds his range and his rhythm.

“It seems like a huge takeback, so you always feel like he’s going to be late on it. At the end of the day he’s in position when he needs to be. He drives through the ball perfectly. I think a lot of juniors actually should look at that forehand as a great forehand.”

Federer added that he thinks Rafael Nadal’s forehand may be a touch better.

“I think Rafa’s for me is maybe number one,” Federer said. “It depends on what surface we’re talking about. But just throughout the career, I think Rafa’s is extremely high, if not my favorite one.

“But DelPo’s is flat. When it’s flat, clearly margins are smaller. You also have to be in really good position, court position, to be able to do it, when he can do it from further back, as well. He’s got a great forehand down the line, inside-out forehand, which in my opinion are maybe more difficult shots to hit.”

Juan Martin del THORtro @delpotrojuan pic.twitter.com/BsLeAHhULV

— Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) September 5, 2017

Meanwhile, del Potro loves to crack a good forehand.

“I know the people likes when I hit hard with my forehands,” del Potro said. “The people stand up from the chairs when I hit good winners. I like to do that. But it doesn’t happen very often. When I feel that confidence to do my best shots, I know I can be dangerous for all the guys.”

With two of the best forehands in the game, it should be quite a match tomorrow night. No holding back!