2019 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[DarthFed]

Winner of this set takes the match. If Roger loses this set it will be another Milkman match

 

[Moxie]

Not easy, but 2 sets to none Roger.

 

[Moxie]

Hardly, he gagged on every chance he had to win before the TB. Now he is choking the second set away.

I think we said the same thing.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Even though Roger is up two sets, he is clearly not playing well.

In the first set, at least Roger served well, even though he failed to make any dent on returns.

In the second, Roger actually let Evans get into his service games on three different occasions (and once with success).

On the positive side, Roger played a good TB in 2nd set (unlike the miserable TB of 1st set).

 

[Moxie]

Even though Roger is up two sets, he is clearly not playing well.

In the first set, at least Roger served well, even though he failed to make any dent on returns.

In the second, Roger actually let Evans get into his service games on three different occasions (and once with success).

On the positive side, Roger played a good TB in 2nd set (unlike the miserable TB of 1st set).

It would be kind of a joke if Roger didn't win a TB against a guy like this. Not really such an up-side.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well, that's a totally different issue. Would have been worth explaining.

Most people know as he was banned from playing tennis for one year and just came back less than a year ago.

 

[DarthFed]

Even though Roger is up two sets, he is clearly not playing well.

In the first set, at least Roger served well, even though he failed to make any dent on returns.

In the second, Roger actually let Evans get into his service games on three different occasions (and once with success).

On the positive side, Roger played a good TB in 2nd set (unlike the miserable TB of 1st set).

Yep, this is a good example of how just being poor on return can make things dicey even if the rest of his game has been pretty good. The other worry is the mental side, neither of those sets should have reached a TB and the first one was really bad as you said.

 

[Moxie]

Most people know as he was banned from playing tennis for one year and just came back less than a year ago.

Forgive me, but I didn't. Never heard it discussed around here.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Roger was actually on fire in the 1st round. It looks like it is difficult to predict how good Roger will be on a given day. Even though he sucks today, he may again come up with a great show in the next match.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

If Roger plays like this one of Tsitsipas / Bailashville / Cilic / Khachanov will get him.

 

[Moxie]

Roger was actually on fire in the 1st round. It looks like it is difficult to predict how good Roger will be on a given day. Even though he sucks today, he may again come up with a great show in the next match.

But this is the whole problem with late-age players, and late-age Roger. He can look good, and then fold. Getting through 7 BO5 matches is exactly what gets harder.

 

[DarthFed]

Surprised to see Evans has only won 43% of 2nd serves. It has seemed much higher than that. He has won 75% of first serves which is way too high. It's actually a pretty clean match though, 25/11 for Evans and 45/16 for Roger.

 

[Moxie]

Cilic through in 4, but pushed by a not especially important American. Tsitsipas through also in 4, but tougher opponent in the fading Troicki.

 

[DarthFed]

Roger was actually on fire in the 1st round. It looks like it is difficult to predict how good Roger will be on a given day. Even though he sucks today, he may again come up with a great show in the next match.

Roger hasn't really sucked though, just been kind of bad in key moments which has made this a lot tighter than it should have been. Tsitsipas is very tough mentally already so if that's the matchup (a big if) he would test Roger a lot in that regard.

 

[Michael;Kiwi]

It is clear that in the last six months Federer's playi has gotten much more variable. I think he can still beat top players, but he has matches like these ones. The most concerning ink about this match to me is how long it is taking. As long as it is straights it isn't a problem, but if he had given up a set he could have gotten exhausted. I'm very surprised by Anderson's loss. That was a great win for Tiafoe, but disappointing for Anderson. I really thought he had a chance to go deep here.

 

[Moxie]

Poor shot selection there from Evans.

 

[DarthFed]

But this is the whole problem with late-age players, and late-age Roger. He can look good, and then fold. Getting through 7 BO5 matches is exactly what gets harder.

Roger has been "late-age" for a long time now, at least 5-6 years by any measure. It does become tougher to stay consistent as he gets older but the mental issues can come and go. There is the chance he never gets the mental edge back which means he is done.

 

[Moxie]

Roger has been "late-age" for a long time now, at least 5-6 years by any measure. It does become tougher to stay consistent as he gets older but the mental issues can come and go. There is the chance he never gets the mental edge back which means he is done.

By your count, he's been late-age since 2008. But the deteriorating results have been incremental. A bit more evident in the last few years.

 

[DarthFed]

By your count, he's been late-age since 2008. But the deteriorating results have been incremental. A bit more evident in the last few years.

30 is still old for elite players. The guys who have peaked in their late 20's - early 30's have been 2nd tier guys or lower who simply don't have the same mileage on them as the elite guys.

I didn't see deteriorating results in 2017 from him. Even if 2018 turned bad at the end he still won a major so I'd take another year like that as well.

 

[Vince Evert]

GAME-SET-MATCH Roger Federer ! Into the third round now.