#1 up for grabs at Roland Garros (and beyond)

[Correspondent Kiu]

:snigger

Not a fan of horror. I spent enough years watching Rafa win the big matches at the slams. To see that reversed over the next 3-4 years would never get old for me.

But you were a fan of Rafa during most of that time. So that would make you a fan of the "feel-good" genre. :angel: (Just funning you.) :lolz:

Moxie,
Who do you think I am a fan of?

Serena?

:violins:

Your boy will win this, my crystal ball says....

Serena won't!! My cryst...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

:snigger

Not a fan of horror. I spent enough years watching Rafa win the big matches at the slams. To see that reversed over the next 3-4 years would never get old for me.

But you were a fan of Rafa during most of that time. So that would make you a fan of the "feel-good" genre. :angel: (Just funning you.) :lolz:

True... I was a fan of both and always let it be known my first allegiance was to Novak. Then when he started winning everything I wasn't allowed to be a fan of both anymore.

Rafa and Novak are my 2 favourite players...it's soo hard for me when they play one another.
When Novak plays anyone but Rafa....I become his No 1 fan....and vice versa....I dont know what kind of fan that makes me..........uzzled

 

[nehmeth]

:snigger

Not a fan of horror. I spent enough years watching Rafa win the big matches at the slams. To see that reversed over the next 3-4 years would never get old for me.

But you were a fan of Rafa during most of that time. So that would make you a fan of the "feel-good" genre. :angel: (Just funning you.) :lolz:

True... I was a fan of both and always let it be known my first allegiance was to Novak. Then when he started winning everything I wasn't allowed to be a fan of both anymore.

Rafa and Novak are my 2 favourite players...it's soo hard for me when they play one another.
When Novak plays anyone but Rafa....I become his No 1 fan....and vice versa....I dont know what kind of fan that makes me..........uzzled

It makes you a fan of two of the greatest competitors in their sport. My situation was the reverse; I'd
cheer for Rafa whenever he wasn't playing Novak. And when they met, I would want both of them to do well, while hoping Djoker would win. He never would in the biggest matches. Over and over when it came down to it, Rafa would always come out on top. Until 2011. It was very nice to see things finally turn around.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

:snigger

Not a fan of horror. I spent enough years watching Rafa win the big matches at the slams. To see that reversed over the next 3-4 years would never get old for me.

But you were a fan of Rafa during most of that time. So that would make you a fan of the "feel-good" genre. :angel: (Just funning you.) :lolz:

True... I was a fan of both and always let it be known my first allegiance was to Novak. Then when he started winning everything I wasn't allowed to be a fan of both anymore.

Rafa and Novak are my 2 favourite players...it's soo hard for me when they play one another.
When Novak plays anyone but Rafa....I become his No 1 fan....and vice versa....I dont know what kind of fan that makes me..........uzzled

It makes you a fan of two of the greatest competitors in their sport. My situation was the reverse; I'd
cheer for Rafa whenever he wasn't playing Novak. And when they met, I would want both of them to do well, while hoping Djoker would win. He never would in the biggest matches. Over and over when it came down to it, Rafa would always come out on top. Until 2011. It was very nice to see things finally turn around.

2011 was just a Amazing year for Novak...I have followed Novak since 2007...and as a fan I was delighted for him.

 

[Federberg]

Here's an excerpt from an article I read...

But Federer threw his weight behind Nadal on Sunday, moments after equalling the Spaniard’s record of 59 Roland Garros wins courtesy of a 6-2 6-4 6-2 breeze past Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.

"It doesn’t go week by week. I don’t know who’s talking all the time, but Rafa is the favourite, and then Novak, and then the rest, you know. It’s very clear," insisted Federer. "I think he’s back where he wants to be. He’s played the matches he needs to play. He’s even won at home in Madrid. So I think he probably is where he wants to be, in my opinion." Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues.

The Serb, who needs a French Open title to join Federer and Nadal in completing a career Grand Slam, injured his right wrist in Monte Carlo, then skipped Madrid before storming to victory in Rome.

"Three weeks ago he couldn’t play tennis anymore. When he was injured, oh, my God, you know. Things are looking so terrible. Now everything is great," said the Swiss

I might be a Fedfan, but if the context is right.. I hope he wasn't criticizing Novak here. He should just shut his pie-hole as far as I'm concerned. The guy didn't make excuses or anything. He did what we always say... take time off and get better. I find this sort of commentary about other players business a tad irritating personally...

 

[tented]

Here's an excerpt from an article I read...

But Federer threw his weight behind Nadal on Sunday, moments after equalling the Spaniard’s record of 59 Roland Garros wins courtesy of a 6-2 6-4 6-2 breeze past Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.

"It doesn’t go week by week. I don’t know who’s talking all the time, but Rafa is the favourite, and then Novak, and then the rest, you know. It’s very clear," insisted Federer. "I think he’s back where he wants to be. He’s played the matches he needs to play. He’s even won at home in Madrid. So I think he probably is where he wants to be, in my opinion." Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues.

The Serb, who needs a French Open title to join Federer and Nadal in completing a career Grand Slam, injured his right wrist in Monte Carlo, then skipped Madrid before storming to victory in Rome.

"Three weeks ago he couldn’t play tennis anymore. When he was injured, oh, my God, you know. Things are looking so terrible. Now everything is great," said the Swiss

I might be a Fedfan, but if the context is right.. I hope he wasn't criticizing Novak here. He should just shut his pie-hole as far as I'm concerned. The guy didn't make excuses or anything. He did what we always say... take time off and get better. I find this sort of commentary about other players business a tad irritating personally...

This is pure Roger. He knows how and when to get into the heads of certain players. Personally, I think it's a good tactical move.

 

[Federberg]

^ Hmmm... you think it's tactical? If that's the case then we Fedfans shouldn't complain about some of Rafa's tactics against him I guess. Personally I would rather he just does what he needs to do on court. But maybe I'm being naive!

 

[tented]

^ Hmmm... you think it's tactical? If that's the case then we Fedfans shouldn't complain about some of Rafa's tactics against him I guess. Personally I would rather he just does what he needs to do on court. But maybe I'm being naive!

You'd think that would be the case, however history shows differently.

Federer isn't going to get into Rafa's head, so he won't waste his time making comments like this. Djokovic, on the other hand, has proved quite susceptible to such things, most famously when Andy Roddick made comments at the USO a few years ago.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Here's an excerpt from an article I read...

But Federer threw his weight behind Nadal on Sunday, moments after equalling the Spaniard’s record of 59 Roland Garros wins courtesy of a 6-2 6-4 6-2 breeze past Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.

"It doesn’t go week by week. I don’t know who’s talking all the time, but Rafa is the favourite, and then Novak, and then the rest, you know. It’s very clear," insisted Federer. "I think he’s back where he wants to be. He’s played the matches he needs to play. He’s even won at home in Madrid. So I think he probably is where he wants to be, in my opinion." Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues.

The Serb, who needs a French Open title to join Federer and Nadal in completing a career Grand Slam, injured his right wrist in Monte Carlo, then skipped Madrid before storming to victory in Rome.

"Three weeks ago he couldn’t play tennis anymore. When he was injured, oh, my God, you know. Things are looking so terrible. Now everything is great," said the Swiss

I might be a Fedfan, but if the context is right.. I hope he wasn't criticizing Novak here. He should just shut his pie-hole as far as I'm concerned. The guy didn't make excuses or anything. He did what we always say... take time off and get better. I find this sort of commentary about other players business a tad irritating personally...

He's criticizing the fickle nature of the media, not Novak. I thought that was pretty obvious. He's criticizing them for freaking out when Novak got injured, only to pencil him as the favorite now,. He's criticizing them for being prisoners of the moment. Roger's always been pretty protective of the players when it comes to criticism from the media. See his Wimbledon 2010 press conference after the Berdych loss as an example. It's not a tactical move or anything. People read way too much into these things.

 

[Federberg]

^ Ah! Ok. I guess it can be read like that BS. If that's how he meant it then I can accept that

 

[tented]

Here's an excerpt from an article I read...

But Federer threw his weight behind Nadal on Sunday, moments after equalling the Spaniard’s record of 59 Roland Garros wins courtesy of a 6-2 6-4 6-2 breeze past Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko.

"It doesn’t go week by week. I don’t know who’s talking all the time, but Rafa is the favourite, and then Novak, and then the rest, you know. It’s very clear," insisted Federer. "I think he’s back where he wants to be. He’s played the matches he needs to play. He’s even won at home in Madrid. So I think he probably is where he wants to be, in my opinion." Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues.

The Serb, who needs a French Open title to join Federer and Nadal in completing a career Grand Slam, injured his right wrist in Monte Carlo, then skipped Madrid before storming to victory in Rome.

"Three weeks ago he couldn’t play tennis anymore. When he was injured, oh, my God, you know. Things are looking so terrible. Now everything is great," said the Swiss

I might be a Fedfan, but if the context is right.. I hope he wasn't criticizing Novak here. He should just shut his pie-hole as far as I'm concerned. The guy didn't make excuses or anything. He did what we always say... take time off and get better. I find this sort of commentary about other players business a tad irritating personally...

He's criticizing the fickle nature of the media, not Novak. I thought that was pretty obvious. He's criticizing them for freaking out when Novak got injured, only to pencil him as the favorite now.

I disagree. Why else have the line "Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues"?

Roger's always been pretty protective of the players when it comes to criticism from the media. See his Wimbledon 2010 press conference after the Berdych loss as an example.

What? Maybe protective of some players, but not Novak.

 

[brokenshoelace]

^ Ah! Ok. I guess it can be read like that BS. If that's how he meant it then I can accept that

For context, here's something that might be interpreted very differently if read in isolation that Federer said after his loss at Wimbledon in 2010:

Asked whether he thought Andy Murray’s chances of victory were helped by his own exit and the patchy performance of Rafael Nadal, the world number one, he replied sneeringly:

“Rafa played terribly lately; Soderling is not a threat either. He’s got an easy ride to this victory, that’s for sure. Djokovic can’t play tennis anymore it seems like.”

The 16-times grand slam champion added: “Respect the players. Obviously Andy is a fantastic player and he’s got all the chances to win here. We all know that.”

PS: The actual question asked pertained to many of the top players not performing well and whether it was hurting tennis and giving others a chance...

PPS: Federer was being sarcastic in his answer, for those who missed it.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I disagree. Why else have the line "Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues"?

Because that line is an editorial note by the media, and not a quote from Federer himself? "Hinted as exasperation" is the media's interpretation of Federer's quote, the same way you're interpreting it.

What? Maybe protective of some players, but not Novak.

See my post above, and you'll see him being pretty protective regarding the media criticism directed at Novak's form in the past.

 

[brokenshoelace]

And by the way, I said:

"Roger's always been pretty protective of the players when it comes to criticism from the media."

Emphasis on "from the media."

There's a difference between that, and the criticism that comes from Federer himself. Obviously, Roger has criticized Nadal and Djokovic in the past, but he's far less receptive to that criticism when it's the media dishing it out. It's a typical professional athlete thing, where they feel entitled to dish out criticism to other athletes since they're sporting similar shoes, but not from the media, who are "outsiders."

 

[Ricardo]

I disagree. Why else have the line "Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues"?

Because that line is an editorial note by the media, and not a quote from Federer himself? "Hinted as exasperation" is the media's interpretation of Federer's quote, the same way you're interpreting it.

What? Maybe protective of some players, but not Novak.

See my post above, and you'll see him being pretty protective regarding the media criticism directed at Novak's form in the past.

haha can't believe anyone would imply accusation over an editorial note, and hold it against Federer. Perhaps Roger needs to read through everything written by every journalist and immediately explains himself so he doesn't upset some fans who aren't so 'understanding'.

however a lot of players can mouth off inappropriate stuff including Fed, no big deal really..... what they bring on the court is what really matters.

 

[Ricardo]

And by the way, I said:

"Roger's always been pretty protective of the players when it comes to criticism from the media."

Emphasis on "from the media."

There's a difference between that, and the criticism that comes from Federer himself. Obviously, Roger has criticized Nadal and Djokovic in the past, but he's far less receptive to that criticism when it's the media dishing it out. It's a typical professional athlete thing, where they feel entitled to dish out criticism to other athletes since they're sporting similar shoes, but not from the media, who are "outsiders."

Rafa has dished out pretty hard balls at Fed (over ATP player council issue) who took it nicely, i thought.

 

[brokenshoelace]

And by the way, I said:

"Roger's always been pretty protective of the players when it comes to criticism from the media."

Emphasis on "from the media."

There's a difference between that, and the criticism that comes from Federer himself. Obviously, Roger has criticized Nadal and Djokovic in the past, but he's far less receptive to that criticism when it's the media dishing it out. It's a typical professional athlete thing, where they feel entitled to dish out criticism to other athletes since they're sporting similar shoes, but not from the media, who are "outsiders."

Rafa has dished out pretty hard balls at Fed (over ATP player council issue) who took it nicely, i thought.

That's precisely my point. He handled it nicely because it came from a fellow player, whom he probably wants to maintain a semi-good relationship with in the eyes of the public (I'm sure things are a little different in reality), so he's more likely to handle that criticism with professionalism, if that's the word.

It's the same reason Djokovic has reacted well to Federer's criticism, and the same reason Nadal reacts well to players criticizing his taking too much time in between points...

When it comes to media criticism however, Federer is far more cut-throat, as are most athletes.

 

[tented]

I disagree. Why else have the line "Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues"?

Because that line is an editorial note by the media, and not a quote from Federer himself? "Hinted as exasperation" is the media's interpretation of Federer's quote, the same way you're interpreting it.

What? Maybe protective of some players, but not Novak.

See my post above, and you'll see him being pretty protective regarding the media criticism directed at Novak's form in the past.

I'm still not convinced you're right. I'd have to hear Roger say it in order to be sure.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I disagree. Why else have the line "Federer also hinted at exasperation over Djokovic’s roller-coaster fitness issues"?

Because that line is an editorial note by the media, and not a quote from Federer himself? "Hinted as exasperation" is the media's interpretation of Federer's quote, the same way you're interpreting it.

What? Maybe protective of some players, but not Novak.

See my post above, and you'll see him being pretty protective regarding the media criticism directed at Novak's form in the past.

I'm still not convinced you're right. I'd have to hear Roger say it in order to be sure.

Context makes it pretty easy to figure out.

The media say Novak is the favorite. Roger responds to them. He explicitly mentions that "it doesn't go week by week" clearly implying that the media change their narratives on favorites from week to week (keep in mind, it wasn't Novak himself who declared himself as the favorite, but the media). Then he jumps into the whole "a few weeks ago he was injured, bla bla bla." Again, it's obvious he's referring to the media narrative, because that's the context.

Novak didn't say anything so it would be extremely random to direct that at him. Not to mention, even when he got injured, Djokovic never actually blew it out of proportion. Federer might play mind games at times, but he's very smart about what he says. He's not stupid enough to call someone out on an injury when that player himself didn't make a big deal out of it.

 

[Denis]

This is basically the Wimbledon 2011 scenario. Rafa lost his no 1 position when Novak reached the final. Hope we get the same result as we did back then.