2019 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[tented]

He played like a multi time slam champion, tented!

Thanks. Can’t wait to see it. I am pretty shocked, though, but congrats to Tsitsipas.

 

[DarthFed]

Seen Fed play a lot worse than that mate. I'm not expecting a 2005 version to appear out of nowhere. The lad has got a big game... the big question mark was if he could maintain that tempo over the 5 set format and do it under pressure. He answered both questions... bit of credit where it's due... he played a great match.

I agree, he's definitely played a lot worse. But we all know if Fed converts one of those break/set points in set 2 it's probably over. Roger won't win anything of note again if he doesn't fix the mental issues that have been dogging him. Some credit to Tsitsipas but not a match Roger should lose, this guy might not be top 10 at year end for all we know.

 

[britbox]

I agree, he's definitely played a lot worse. But we all know if Fed converts one of those break/set points in set 2 it's probably over. Roger won't win anything of note again if he doesn't fix the mental issues that have been dogging him. Some credit to Tsitsipas but not a match Roger should lose, this guy might not be top 10 at year end for all we know.

Well, you know my feeling on Roger and majors going forward... and it'll only get harder as these youngsters come of age. I thought 2012 Wimbledon was career gravy at the time... 2017... somebody spilled the gravy jug. It can't go on forever and I can't think of anybody else I'd rather see him lose to.

 

[tented]

Can anyone honestly say they picked Nadal/Tiafoe & Tsitsipas/RBA QFs in the bottom half?

 

[Vince Evert]

Great match by Tsitsipas and tbh even if Federer had scraped through this one I reckon he'd have lost to RBA and losing to that guy would make me want to top myself. Tsitsipas on the other hand is a helluva player to watch. Well deserved but far from Roger's best showing too. Entertaining match though.

Well said. Lets hope the young man from Greece kicks the two Spaniards RBA and the Nadal's butts playing the same game and attitude he demonstrated tonight.

 

[Andy22]

Someone tell me why this old guy federer has not retired yet he look so slow on court, I said that in one of my posts but you fedheads guys rip it off now that do you think of it. Hes going to lose nadal this season as well.

 

[AnonymousFan]

Can anyone honestly say they picked Nadal/Tiafoe & Tsitsipas/RBA QFs in the bottom half?

Just checked the tennis frontier challenge. I had KAndy, Nadal, Fed, Khachanov LOL

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Love Mats Wilander's analysis. Totally right that, from what I saw, Tsitsipas had the better forehand. Had the big serve. Of course moved better. Federer didn't have the answers tonight. But Mats also saying he looked so positive. I saw him miss some shots he shouldn't have. He barely let them bother him. He just moved on. I did notice he was talking to himself waiting for Roger's serve. It looked to me like he was saying something repetitive. Like some device he has that he can repeat to himself to keep himself focused. Smart if so.

Mostly what I saw from Fed was that he was a bit resigned. As he gets. When he knows that he can still win. But that his opponent isn't going anywhere. His opponent is playing well. Up to par. And he knows his own weaknesses (return of serve against solid serving, backhand). And he'll feel like he gave what he could. Didn't have his absolute best. And this is probably the first time they've played I think. Other than practicing together, if that happened.

Anyways. Good for Tsitsipas. Honestly. What I'm hoping this does is inspire Fed to show up to the damn French. PLEASE. Hate not having him there. Even if he's not the top threat.

Also glad to hear Bautista Agut came through against Cilic. Good win for him. He's on a 9 (ish) match win streak.

 

[DarthFed]

Well, you know my feeling on Roger and majors going forward... and it'll only get harder as these youngsters come of age. I thought 2012 Wimbledon was career gravy at the time... 2017... somebody spilled the gravy jug. It can't go on forever and I can't think of anybody else I'd rather see him lose to.

I know. But it's never felt like gravy. Nadal is still around and 20 might end up being worse than we thought 17 was. Fed needs to keep on going and try to win 1-2 more to keep the scum at bay.

 

[britbox]

Can anyone honestly say they picked Nadal/Tiafoe & Tsitsipas/RBA QFs in the bottom half?

Ha, hah... I seriously doubt it!

 

[britbox]

Love Mats Wilander's analysis. Totally right that, from what I saw, Tsitsipas had the better forehand. Had the big serve. Of course moved better. Federer didn't have the answers tonight. But Mats also saying he looked so positive. I saw him miss some shots he shouldn't have. He barely let them bother him. He just moved on. I did notice he was talking to himself waiting for Roger's serve. It looked to me like he was saying something repetitive. Like some device he has that he can repeat to himself to keep himself focused. Smart if so.

Mostly what I saw from Fed was that he was a bit resigned. As he gets. When he knows that he can still win. But that his opponent isn't going anywhere. His opponent is playing well. Up to par. And he knows his own weaknesses (return of serve against solid serving, backhand). And he'll feel like he gave what he could. Didn't have his absolute best. And this is probably the first time they've played I think. Other than practicing together, if that happened.

Anyways. Good for Tsitsipas. Honestly. What I'm hoping this does is inspire Fed to show up to the damn French. PLEASE. Hate not having him there. Even if he's not the top threat.

Also glad to hear Bautista Agut came through against Cilic. Good win for him. He's on a 9 (ish) match win streak.

I thought he was winning all the backhand to backhand exchanges too.

 

[Jelenafan]

Tsitsipas had chances to win the first set.

The difference was unlike some of the other young guns, he didn’t seem dejected or have a mental meltdown. He still looked pretty confident about his game the whole match.

 

[tented]

Love Mats Wilander's analysis. Totally right that, from what I saw, Tsitsipas had the better forehand. Had the big serve. Of course moved better. Federer didn't have the answers tonight. But Mats also saying he looked so positive. I saw him miss some shots he shouldn't have. He barely let them bother him. He just moved on. I did notice he was talking to himself waiting for Roger's serve. It looked to me like he was saying something repetitive. Like some device he has that he can repeat to himself to keep himself focused. Smart if so.

Mostly what I saw from Fed was that he was a bit resigned. As he gets. When he knows that he can still win. But that his opponent isn't going anywhere. His opponent is playing well. Up to par. And he knows his own weaknesses (return of serve against solid serving, backhand). And he'll feel like he gave what he could. Didn't have his absolute best. And this is probably the first time they've played I think. Other than practicing together, if that happened.

Anyways. Good for Tsitsipas. Honestly. What I'm hoping this does is inspire Fed to show up to the damn French. PLEASE. Hate not having him there. Even if he's not the top threat.

Also glad to hear Bautista Agut came through against Cilic. Good win for him. He's on a 9 (ish) match win streak.

They played at Hopman Cup, right? But this was their first official match.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Someone tell me why this old guy federer has not retired yet he look so slow on court, I said that in one of my posts you fedheads guys rip it off now that do you think of it. Hes going to lost nadal this season as well.

Yeah. Don't make it out like it's some original idea. He's looked slow even when he won here last year. And especially since. Doesn't mean he can't win. He's just not the spring chicken he was. He's still faster than the vast majority of 37 yr old's in the world. He's just not as bouncy as a lean, 20 year old Tsitsipas or other younger players.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Tsitsipas had chances to win the first set.

The difference was unlike some of the other young guns, he didn’t seem dejected or have a mental meltdown. He still looked pretty confident about his game the whole match.

He's definitely believed in himself since I first saw him in Barcelona last year. Lack of belief definitely not an issue he has. Super confident.

 

[mrzz]

This is where @mrzz's assessment comes into play, I think. Nadal reverting to old play. Hanging back, and hitting the ball a bit short. Tomas just still coming up with the UFEs.

My assessment missed that little 6x0 6x1 part. I basically got it everything wrong, but apart from that I did ok.

 

[Andy22]

Federer basically sucked ever since he's last major win, thats why nadal going get to his slam tally in the next few seasons.

 

[britbox]

They played at Hopman Cup, right? But this was their first official match.

They were talking about that on Channel 9 with H2H stats. Apparently on the ITF stats, Hopman Cup counts and on ATP stats, it doesn't.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

They played at Hopman Cup, right? But this was their first official match.

Right. I thought that's what I was missing. But I checked the h2h and nothing. So yeah, Hopman cup (sad this was the last year) is not a tour stop. Even though it's far from an exhibition. Fed won there. Didn't lose at all there. So Tsitsipas got to see him before today and get ready. Fed did too. But that's probably part of the reason he was resigned there at the end. He's seen how good the kid is. Knows he's got the movement and speed advantage because of the age difference.

 

[tented]

Just checked the tennis frontier challenge. I had KAndy, Nadal, Fed, Khachanov LOL

I thought Khachanov would beat RBA, but I didn’t see it so I don’t know what happened. Too many matches don’t get shown on ESPN.