Australian Open Day 5: Friday, January 23

[Vince Evert]

I also don't buy into this "mentally" BS, Darth. It's the same de facto thing when it comes to every Federer loss. Is Fed somehow intimidated by Seppi? He just played poorly. There's a difference.

How so :huh: He may have done with poor choice of tactics (chip and charge on a true bounce surface) but you got to salute Andreas Seppi. I kept expecting him to tense up but today he was solid. It was his day.

Nick Kyrigos could be Seppi's 4th round opponent should the aussie win tonight's match. Huge opportunity for Nick to get to a QF.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I also don't buy into this "mentally" BS, Darth. It's the same de facto thing when it comes to every Federer loss. Is Fed somehow intimidated by Seppi? He just played poorly. There's a difference.

How so :huh: He may have done with poor choice of tactics (chip and charge on a true bounce surface) but you got to salute Andreas Seppi. I kept expecting him to tense up but today he was solid. It was his day.

Nick Kyrigos could be Seppi's 4th round opponent should the aussie win tonight's match. Huge opportunity for Nick to get to a QF.

I don't understand your question (the "how so?" part).

 

[DarthFed]

Mac is speechless in the booth. That almost never happens. :lolz:

It's because the old bitter bastard is too happy to speak.

 

[Fiero425]

I'll have to lighten up in calling the rest of the ATP "gutless!"

Yes, please do, because it was never accurate to begin with.

Oh really? Like I couldn't come up with match after match where a top player was so close to losing and then a gutless "also-ran" gave it all back! Nothing worse OTTOMH was Tsonga a couple years ago against NOLE in PARIS with 4 match points; couldn't close it out! In the old day, Borg, Connors, Lendl, or McEnroe could go out if they weren't careful! It rarely happens these days with the BIG 3 or 4 getting to the semi's routinely! The women have been more competitive over the last decade! That never happened before with their BIG 4 always taking the majors! Not so cut and dry with them so much now! :nono :angel: :dodgy: :devil

 

[tenisplayrla08]

I also don't buy into this "mentally" BS, Darth. It's the same de facto thing when it comes to every Federer loss. Is Fed somehow intimidated by Seppi? He just played poorly. There's a difference.

When you lose damn near every big point which he did tonight it isn't all about just being off. I think we can all agree on that...

Exactly Darth.

Tennis IS and always has been and always will be at least 50% mental. That's true for every single player.

There are plenty of really good players who have the ability to play against other pros who never even went pro because they don't have the mental fortitude to win matches much less do it consistently enough to make a living on the pro tour. And then there is a huge difference between the top players and the rest of the tour mentally. Yes, the very top players are simply better in certain areas. The best backhand or return (Djokovic and Murray) the best forehand (Fed and Rafa) better point construction (all of the big 4 as well as Ferrer and some others). But if you don't have the mental fortitude to think clearly in the big points it's all for naught. It's probably why in the end, Rafa usually beats Fed. He's better mentally. Always has been. Believes in himself more or whatever. Maybe isn't as afraid to lose. Which is precisely something you could see in Fed tonight.

Those last few points, both guys were playing not to lose. One time, Fed pulled the trigger because he knew he had to go for it. Yes, he was working the point to look for an opening, but I think there were openings earlier in that rally. Fed showed tentativeness all night. In the latter two sets, you could say the tentativeness came from poor play earlier in the match. He didn't know how his shot would go. But that's precisely the point. He no longer trusted his shot as much as he usually does. He lost enough of his confidence to let Seppi hang around. Yes, he played poorly. Part of that is not mental. To start the match he just was missing way too much. But one could probably make a solid argument that he missed so much early on because of a lack of focus. And it may not have been his fault. Sometimes you just can't get focused. We all experience it. It may be biological. Who knows. But it is still a mental break down.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Well, congrats to Seppi, but what a disappointing performance from Roger.

Agreed

 

[TsarMatt]

Well done to Seppi. What a clutch performance, and what an amazing winner on MP. Yeah, Federer wasn't at his best, but he wasn't at his worst, either. I was sure that Federer would have won that tiebreak and then win the 5th comfortably, but the Italian proved me wrong.

It's staggering how, before this match, Seppi was 0-10 against Federer and only had won one set in those ten encounters. It reminded me of Wawrinka vs. Nadal last year where Stan had such a terrible history against Rafa but nonetheless still won.

I'm still in a bit of shock. This opens up the draw immensely for Kyrgios. A QF appearance is probable, providing his back holds up well and the nerves don't overtake him. But wow!

 

[Mile]

Do we have YE No.1 already in the beggining of the year ?

 

[rafanoy1992]

Now, I hope that Nadal doesn't get the same fate as Federer.

 

[tented]

Mac is speechless in the booth. That almost never happens. :lolz:

It's because the old bitter bastard is too happy to speak.

Perhaps it's me, but I definitely get the impression McEnroe wants Roger to lose whenever he steps on court.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Mac is speechless in the booth. That almost never happens. :lolz:

It's because the old bitter bastard is too happy to speak.

Perhaps it's me, but I definitely get the impression McEnroe wants Roger to lose whenever he steps on court.

Because he loves Nadal very much :laydownlaughing

At the same time, somewhere out there Chris Evert is crying right now because Federer lost early.

 

[the AntiPusher]

"Nobody beats Andreas Seppi 11 times in a row"

 

[tented]

It's because the old bitter bastard is too happy to speak.

Perhaps it's me, but I definitely get the impression McEnroe wants Roger to lose whenever he steps on court.

Because he loves Nadal very much :laydownlaughing

At the same time, somewhere out there Chris Evert is crying right now because Federer lost early.

Absolutely.

But love him or hate him, it's bad for tennis that Roger lost so early. It will affect ratings, attendance, and (most selfishly) the number of users who come here.

 

[Vince Evert]

I also don't buy into this "mentally" BS, Darth. It's the same de facto thing when it comes to every Federer loss. Is Fed somehow intimidated by Seppi? He just played poorly. There's a difference.

How so :huh: He may have done with poor choice of tactics (chip and charge on a true bounce surface) but you got to salute Andreas Seppi. I kept expecting him to tense up but today he was solid. It was his day.

Nick Kyrigos could be Seppi's 4th round opponent should the aussie win tonight's match. Huge opportunity for Nick to get to a QF.

I don't understand your question (the "how so?" part).

It was my response to your 'He Just Played Poorly' comment. Tennis sucks whenever any of the 4 top seeds are eliminated in early rounds.

 

[TsarMatt]

Mac is speechless in the booth. That almost never happens. :lolz:

It's because the old bitter bastard is too happy to speak.

 

[Vince Evert]

"Noone beats Andreas Seppi 11 times in a row"

Well put :clap

 

[DarthFed]

Mac is speechless in the booth. That almost never happens. :lolz:

It's because the old bitter bastard is too happy to speak.

Perhaps it's me, but I definitely get the impression McEnroe wants Roger to lose whenever he steps on court.

It's not just you, it's obvious at this point. I don't know if anyone was paying close attention to him broadcasting the Wimbledon semi vs. Raonic but it was ridiculous. He sounded close to tears as he realized Roger would be in the final. He's Wafa's biggest fan girl.

 

[pavlik89]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05L_PFE5xwM[/video]

 

[the AntiPusher]

"Noone beats Andreas Seppi 11 times in a row"

Well put :clap

I meant Nobody. Sorry to see roger loose.. Seppi is a deserving chap.. Roger will be back and mighty as Ever

 

[TsarMatt]

Meanwhile, Bernard Tomic has snatched the first set off Sam Groth.