Barclays ATP World Tour Finals - Day 2

[the AntiPusher]

Nole reading Fed's serve like a book.

A library book?

Yep.. He was reading Fed's serve like Fed reads Roddick!

 

[tented]

Nole reading Fed's serve like a book.

A library book?

Yep.. He was reading Fed's serve like Fed reads Roddick!

Fed had "The Chronicles of Roddick" memorized.

 

[Denis]

Lol the interviewer did not see the same match as nehmeth!

 

[DarthFed]

The one positive I see in Roger's game is the slice has a lot of bite again. That had been missing for quite some time. Aside from that the serve % was too low, weak return and the backhand is too easy for Nole and others to bully. I doubt he takes DP but who knows, a quick match vs. Dickie could help but I'm not sure he is playing well enough to guarantee that.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Darn, did not catch even a point, but the set Roger got might mean something, if it comes to that...

 

[nehmeth]

Novak could have closed that out in 2, but for another one set walkabout.

After seeing this match, I am betting Del Potro feels a lot better about being in this group.

 

[Kieran]

Nole looks tired in the interview. Gets a day rest so that'll help him...

 

[Riotbeard]

The one positive I see in Roger's game is the slice has a lot of bite again. That had been missing for quite some time. Aside from that the serve % was too low, weak return and the backhand is too easy for Nole and others to bully. I doubt he takes DP but who knows, a quick match vs. Dickie could help but I'm not sure he is playing well enough to guarantee that.

No, Fed is not where he needs to be he finally seems to be making some positive steps forwards as opposed to the rest of the season. He has a shot at a deep run here, if he can eek past Delpo (which I hope doesn't happen, but you know!)

 

[Riotbeard]

Novak could have closed that out in 2, but for another one set walkabout.

After seeing this match, I am betting Del Potro feels a lot better about being in this group.

Depends on which sets he watches.

 

[Denis]

The one positive I see in Roger's game is the slice has a lot of bite again. That had been missing for quite some time. Aside from that the serve % was too low, weak return and the backhand is too easy for Nole and others to bully. I doubt he takes DP but who knows, a quick match vs. Dickie could help but I'm not sure he is playing well enough to guarantee that.

I think the slice is why the match might have looked so ugly (I didnt see most part though). Murray does it too a lot against Nole. Nole has difficulty with that shot, but can force the other player into an error (for example if Fed tries to go for the bhdtl).

 

[tented]

So, once again the better man lost, yet the better man won ... but somehow the worse man won and the worse man lost ... not one for the time capsule. They were so up and down, playing well, then playing poorly, etc.

Congratulations to Novak. He looked exhausted, but he pulled it together in the third.

 

[Kieran]

The one positive I see in Roger's game is the slice has a lot of bite again. That had been missing for quite some time. Aside from that the serve % was too low, weak return and the backhand is too easy for Nole and others to bully. I doubt he takes DP but who knows, a quick match vs. Dickie could help but I'm not sure he is playing well enough to guarantee that.

No, Fed is not where he needs to be he finally seems to be making some positive steps forwards as opposed to the rest of the season. He has a shot at a deep run here, if he can eek past Delpo (which I hope doesn't happen, but you know!)

Exactly. I thought Federer looked sharp for large parts of it, and I liked how he recovered to take the second set - I thought he'd fall away badly at 5-5 or 6-6 - but he didn't get on top early in the third and Nole rode that wave through to the finish.

I expect Roger to dispatch Gasquet quite easily and set himself up for a semi-final spot in his last match. He might be rooting for Nole versus DP...

 

[shawnbm]

Nole's girl looks cute, but she never looks like she understands what's going on. Hell for Mirka, who does. Nole has crunched her man in this set. Fierce reaction from Novak to losing the second...

I agree--he played like a lion in the third. Tough and determined, Roger was playing well too in stretches, but he could not come up with the better shots at the biggest of moments. It is Novak's time these days.

 

[Denis]

I think Novak looked as fresh as a daisy compared to Ferrer. The poor guy looked like a wreck.

 

[DarthFed]

The one positive I see in Roger's game is the slice has a lot of bite again. That had been missing for quite some time. Aside from that the serve % was too low, weak return and the backhand is too easy for Nole and others to bully. I doubt he takes DP but who knows, a quick match vs. Dickie could help but I'm not sure he is playing well enough to guarantee that.

No, Fed is not where he needs to be he finally seems to be making some positive steps forwards as opposed to the rest of the season. He has a shot at a deep run here, if he can eek past Delpo (which I hope doesn't happen, but you know!)

Exactly. I thought Federer looked sharp for large parts of it, and I liked how he recovered to take the second set - I thought he'd fall away badly at 5-5 or 6-6 - but he didn't get on top early in the third and Nole rode that wave through to the finish.

I expect Roger to dispatch Gasquet quite easily and set himself up for a semi-final spot in his last match. He might be rooting for Nole versus DP...

Well no doubt he wants Nole to win vs. DP because then it is winner take all for 2nd spot if Roger beats Gasquet.

Roger looked sharp the first 8 games of the match but not much overall to be happy about after that, largely because his serve was poor. The 2nd set was a slop fest.

 

[nehmeth]

I think Novak looked as fresh as a daisy compared to Ferrer. The poor guy looked like a wreck.

You think? More than a few times Nole was back there gasping for air, like a goldfish on the outside of his bowl. He looked pretty fresh in the first set, but after throwing away the second, he had the same haggard look he had Sunday.

 

[tented]

I think Novak looked as fresh as a daisy compared to Ferrer. The poor guy looked like a wreck.

Really? Novak looked red, sounded winded by the end, and was breathing heavily. I think he could have won this in straights if he had been a little more rested. He was so up and down today, playing beautifully, playing horribly. Of course, Roger was up and down, too. Weird match.

 

[Denis]

Well, I was comparing him to Ferrer... but nothing seemed out of the ordinary... I only saw the last set though and there is always a little bit of drama of his part.

 

[Moxie]

I think Novak looked as fresh as a daisy compared to Ferrer. The poor guy looked like a wreck.

Really? Novak looked red, sounded winded by the end, and was breathing heavily. I think he could have won this in straights if he had been a little more rested. He was so up and down today, playing beautifully, playing horribly. Of course, Roger was up and down, too. Weird match.

I agree with you both…he's had a lot going on the past 4 days, too. More than likely explains that "walkabout."

 

[Denis]

I don't want to sound demeaning, but I wonder if Fed has started thinking about an exit strategy. I mean its a dream for every player to end your career like Sampras did, it's time to start thinking about those things now that he is getting regularly beaten by the top guys. I'd definitely call it quits if he gets no 18, but I'd be surprised if he did.

He could hang in there for a couple of years of course. Top 10 probably. But what's the point if you know you're not going to be competitive against Novak and Rafa? Or Murray and DP?