2015 French Open QF: Federer vs, Wawrinka

[Federberg]

^I have to agree. That shot has not been a killer for a long time. Even in the Wimbledon final against Roddick in 09 I remember thinking where's the pop. I think the last slam where I thought it was a monster was actually the Wimbledon final in 08! Crazy as it sounds. It can still be good. But there was a time where just getting on to his forehand was a virtual point ender. Nothing lasts forever

 

[Fiero425]

^I have to agree. That shot has not been a killer for a long time. Even in the Wimbledon final against Roddick in 09 I remember thinking where's the pop. I think the last slam where I thought it was a monster was actually the Wimbledon final in 08! Crazy as it sounds. It can still be good. But there was a time where just getting on to his forehand was a virtual point ender. Nothing lasts forever

All the more reason he needs to revise his schedule as he puts on miles and years; skip the FO altogether! It seems he's all about the records now and keeping that consecutive streak going! He'll never catch up to Robredo's record in the # played, but his ego may have something to do with his attending the FO and wasting his time and energy! It's a miracle he survived until today even though I've thought the rest of the tour gutless in allowing the "Big 4" to rule all majors and Masters! Only Berdych failed to make the QF's; unheard of on clay! Someone SHB upset; esp. Roger! :cover uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy: - He must have had a dream draw with his pigeon waiting, but this is clay and all 3 losses to his compatriot have been on this surface! :clap

 

[DarthFed]

Roger's forehand might legitimately not be a top 3 ground stroke on tour at the moment, on many surfaces. Times are changing. It's the greatest shot in tennis history. Still weird seeing what it's been reduced to, even after all these years.

It might not be a top 3 forehand at this point. Nole's and Rafa's are better for starters.

I didn't see today's match but the return stats stick out. Stan served less than 60% but won almost 90% of 1st serve points (on clay!!) and was never broken. The ROS has played a big role in a lot of Roger's losses at majors over the past 7 years and today was no different. I've only seen him make mention of his weak return of serve after the loss at Wimbledon last year, hopefully he becomes more conscious of it. All things considered he should still have a decent ROS.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Roger's forehand might legitimately not be a top 3 ground stroke on tour at the moment, on many surfaces. Times are changing. It's the greatest shot in tennis history. Still weird seeing what it's been reduced to, even after all these years.

It might not be a top 3 forehand at this point. Nole's and Rafa's are better for starters.

I didn't see today's match but the return stats stick out. Stan served less than 60% but won almost 90% of 1st serve points (on clay!!) and was never broken. The ROS has played a big role in a lot of Roger's losses at majors over the past 7 years and today was no different. I've only seen him make mention of his weak return of serve after the loss at Wimbledon last year, hopefully he becomes more conscious of it. All things considered he should still have a decent ROS.

Also after the Krygios loss recently.

 

[DarthFed]

^ Was unaware. Well just recognizing/admitting it's a problem can only help. At least that's what they tell alcoholics and drug addicts

 

[TsarMatt]

Stan, yew legend m8.

 

[brokenshoelace]

In the second set, Stan won 100% of the points behind his first serve.

 

[Shamal90]

I couldn't bear watch the third set, I was so sad... Wawrinka did really very well...
the reality is there is one winner in Tennis.

 

[Federberg]

^I have to agree. That shot has not been a killer for a long time. Even in the Wimbledon final against Roddick in 09 I remember thinking where's the pop. I think the last slam where I thought it was a monster was actually the Wimbledon final in 08! Crazy as it sounds. It can still be good. But there was a time where just getting on to his forehand was a virtual point ender. Nothing lasts forever

All the more reason he needs to revise his schedule as he puts on miles and years; skip the FO altogether! It seems he's all about the records now and keeping that consecutive streak going! He'll never catch up to Robredo's record in the # played, but his ego may have something to do with his attending the FO and wasting his time and energy! It's a miracle he survived until today even though I've thought the rest of the tour gutless in allowing the "Big 4" to rule all majors and Masters! Only Berdych failed to make the QF's; unheard of on clay! Someone SHB upset; esp. Roger! :cover uzzled :nono :angel: :dodgy: - He must have had a dream draw with his pigeon waiting, but this is clay and all 3 losses to his compatriot have been on this surface! :clap

Well... Roger's the number 2 ranked player in the world. I don't understand why he would want to skip any slam personally. He still has a punchers chance of winning. I think in each of his rounds the weather was favourable until this one. If it had been a calm sunny day he would have put up much stiffer resistance against Stan. I'm not really shocked that the power hitters won in both mens matches. Perhaps Novak might have survived the onslaught but I actually have my doubts. This might be controversial, but in those conditions yesterday I would probably put my money on Stan over even Rafa and Novak. He was hitting the ball like he was playing an indoor match, I'm not sure there's anyone else on the tour that can do that :nono It's just a pity the weather will improve at the end of the week!

 

[Federberg]

Stan, yew legend m8.

I love that movie! Props to Brad Pitt, the guy is amazingly versatile. Remember the junkie in True Romance? Great cameo!

 

[isabelle]

Very happy for Stanimal, he really impressed me

 

[TsarMatt]

Stan, yew legend m8.

I love that movie! Props to Brad Pitt, the guy is amazingly versatile. Remember the junkie in True Romance? Great cameo!

Yeah, Pitt is awesome. He's hilarious in Burn After Reading. Remember this hilarious scene?

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JlG7q-ld8M[/video]

 

[Federberg]

^Lol! Yes I do.

 

[Kieran]

Stan was in a mode yesterday. He's kinda slipped in so far with no blips on the radar. He manhandled Roger confidently, which surprised me...

 

[Haelfix]

I didn't see today's match but the return stats stick out. Stan served less than 60% but won almost 90% of 1st serve points (on clay!!) and was never broken. The ROS has played a big role in a lot of Roger's losses at majors over the past 7 years and today was no different. I've only seen him make mention of his weak return of serve after the loss at Wimbledon last year, hopefully he becomes more conscious of it. All things considered he should still have a decent ROS.

He was actually returning better than he has in a long time in the preceding months. Stan was just killing him from the baseline, so I think he's been actively working on it.

Last great TMF forehand was in the semis and finals of the uso 2008, 7 years ago. It was the last time that it was in the Fernando Gonzalez level of power. I suspect that's movement based more than anything else.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Roger's forehand might legitimately not be a top 3 ground stroke on tour at the moment, on many surfaces. Times are changing. It's the greatest shot in tennis history. Still weird seeing what it's been reduced to, even after all these years.

It might not be a top 3 forehand at this point. Nole's and Rafa's are better for starters.

I didn't see today's match but the return stats stick out. Stan served less than 60% but won almost 90% of 1st serve points (on clay!!) and was never broken. The ROS has played a big role in a lot of Roger's losses at majors over the past 7 years and today was no different. I've only seen him make mention of his weak return of serve after the loss at Wimbledon last year, hopefully he becomes more conscious of it. All things considered he should still have a decent ROS.

I don't know whether people are aware of this. This is the first time since 2002 USO (that was
before Rog won his first slam) that Roger has gone through a whole grand slam match (including the ones in which he lost) without breaking opponent's serve. Go figure. :cover

 

[DarthFed]

^ That is a crazy stat. Given the time elapsed that is probably about 300 matches give or take a few. He's had quite a few matches the past 6-7 years where he's only broken serve once. Better than not breaking at all of course but it's still damn tough to win with just 1 break...unless it's poor A-Rod in 2009 final.

 

[Kieran]

I don't know whether people are aware of this. This is the first time since 2002 USO (that was
before Rog won his first slam) that Roger has gone through a whole grand slam match (including the ones in which he lost) without breaking opponent's serve. Go figure. :cover

That's interesting. I woulda thunk that in the 2008 humiliation in Paris he'd have failed to break serve, but there in the stats it says he did. Strange record...