Roger Federer: Novak And Rafa Are The US Open Favorites, Not Me!

I would agree with that. I’d say that Fed is the 3rd favorite, and DelPo 4th.

August 20th, 2018 at 3:32 pm

Fed is right about that.

But I’m going out on a limb a bit & putting Stan ahead of Delpo.

The big man looked absolutely punch-drunk going down to Goffin the other day…I can’t see him making it through 2 weeks.

But I would put Delpo in as a dark horse ’cause you never know, with the luck of the draw & all..Sascha too, if he can get that punk head together & of course I can’t wait to see what damage if any Tsitsipas causes.

It would be amazing to see Fed conjure up god mode one more time, but I think there’s just too much in his way.

August 20th, 2018 at 11:04 pm

“That’s going to be just something I’m going to be working on. I just gotta come up with a lot of energy,…”
Telling.

August 20th, 2018 at 11:27 pm

Yeah i think Federers right, its been a number of years since he last won the USO, its the most open GS of the four, no repeat winners in recent years unlike the other 3 GS, however that could also work in his favour where he can go there will less pressure ….

August 21st, 2018 at 2:09 am

Federer doing his impression of Captain Obvious calling Djoker and Nadal the favorites.

If it’s possible for a 20 slam winner to feel pressure, I think there’s some pressure on Federer at the USO. He hasn’t had a bad summer by any stretch. In fact, he’s had a very solid year. But, this recent straight set loss to Novak has to reverberate a little bit. Novak’s game is in Federer’s head and on some level, I think Federer wants to prove that that changes in his game will work with Novak as well.

I thought Federer played an uncharacteristically poor match against Novak. On the last point, his forehand must have missed the court by 3 to 4 feet. If he plays like he can, I expect that he can get to Novak.

August 21st, 2018 at 12:50 pm

Djoker rocket served, moonballed it, volleyed, sliced, and hit a very hard, flat backhand angle.
Nadal can’t do that and serve hard all match. That’s why Fed beat Nadal 5 times.
Djoker recovers easily from a few injuries, but
his emotional destruction takes longer to get rid of.
He usually only plays 5 hours against Nadal because they like playing very long,
just to say they enjoyed long matches with each other.

Fed is no dropshot hero.
He can’t win everything, and throughout his life,
he was easily exhausted by strong serving, flat hard hitters with some volleys & moonballs.

August 21st, 2018 at 1:20 pm

I was a bit shocked at some of Federer’s shots. There was one drop shot that sailed wide by several feet. He was just off.

But even playing a judicious schedule, he’s 37 and I can see that by the time September comes around, the miles logged take their toll.

Could be that the Australian Open is his best shot to pick up majors at this point.

August 21st, 2018 at 1:33 pm

The idea that His Arrogance can make it past the quarters at the US Open is so preposterous, I don’t even know where to begin.

August 21st, 2018 at 4:18 pm

We have to remember he had MP against Anderson. Had he converted that single point, history could be very different now. He would be favorite in semis and finals, even against Djoko who was finding his best form still at that point.
1 single points could have changed the entire course of the season, specially if Novak wins USO and gets closer to #1.

So I still think Fed has 1 more Wimbledon run in him. He will again rest during clay and make an attack on grass. This year he lost 2 matches, but Coric played his best match all year and Anderson was mental wall that day, something we haven’t seen him replicate. Its like Fed was unlucky this grass season. Maybe better luck net time.

But agree, USO will be hard to get. First thing for him is a good draw, meaning Novak in Nadal’s side. He needs a Nadal like luck at USO to win it this year.

August 21st, 2018 at 10:41 pm

Daniel, his draw is a nightmare.

August 23rd, 2018 at 5:47 pm

Just saw FedEx, awful draw.

But lets see what happens in first 3 rounds, sometimes some seeds fall and draws open up. Remember his AO 2017 draw. it looked impossible at first. suddenly Djoko and Murray fell fast and Fed played isa Zverev in QF.

So, as much as at first things look bad, let’s see some matches first.

Hard to see Nadal losing early, unless Ferrer decides to play the match of his life in his last USO.

August 23rd, 2018 at 5:53 pm

For example, if you take Kyrgios out (and he can lose early specially if lingering some injury), than Fed has a virtually safe bye to QF with only Fognini (if he makes R16) in his way.

Than Djoko (can’t see Djoko losing to anyone on his side, just can’t) not now with Cincy boost – Zverev / Cilic semis.

August 23rd, 2018 at 6:30 pm