Dubai Duty Free ATP 500

[Murat Baslamisli]

Big win for Roger, no?

 

[Kieran]

Great stuff by Roger! Started slow and came good. Nole went AWOL in the 2nd and 3rd, but Roger's level was tremendous - and he maintained it too, which I didn't expect. His performance of the year so far...

 

[shawnbm]

Roger closes the deal and it has to be a mighty big confidence builder for him. I will look to watch the match later but it sounds like these two were scapping and running all over the place. Quality was high throughout?

 

[kskate2]

And he takes the match on his first MP. Great job by Roger. :clap He was steady and unmovable the last 2 sets.

 

[Front242]

Without doubt the best performance I've seen from Roger in a LONG time! Respect. That was class.

 

[bobvance]

Fantastic match from Roger. His movement has dramatically improved.--his running forehand hasn't looked this good in at least a couple of years.

 

[Kieran]

Roger closes the deal and it has to be a mighty big confidence builder for him. I will look to watch the match later but it sounds like these two were scapping and running all over the place. Quality was high throughout?

It was a good match, but Nole lacks intensity these days so only one of them maintained the quality...

 

[kskate2]

I think he must have drawn some inspiration from Venus, who had her best performance in a long time at Dubai last week. She mowed down everyone in her path. Hopefully Fed doesn't lose the plot against Berd tomorrow.

 

[shawnbm]

Thank you, Ellsworth.

 

[bobvance]

Berd has a big smile on his face. MP for Fed

Agreed. I think Tomas wets the bed when he dreams of Novak. Still, with the way Roger is playing I'd think he's the favorite.

 

[Front242]

I think he must have drawn some inspiration from Venus, who had her best performance in a long time at Dubai last week. She mowed down everyone in her path. Hopefully Fed doesn't lose the plot against Berd tomorrow.

Beating Berdych would be a bigger confidence boost imo than Djokovic. He's had a lot of bad losses in the last few years to Berdych. Time to avenge himself even if it is only an ATP 500 tournament.

 

[Kieran]

Thank you, Ellsworth.

:snigger I doth tryeth mine best!

Going for a few pints tonight in town, you up for it?

 

[kskate2]

I think he must have drawn some inspiration from Venus, who had her best performance in a long time at Dubai last week. She mowed down everyone in her path. Hopefully Fed doesn't lose the plot against Berd tomorrow.

Beating Berdych would be a bigger confidence boost imo than Djokovic. He's had a lot of bad losses in the last few years to Berdych. Time to avenge himself even if it is only an ATP 500 tournament.

500 is alot of points for Fed at this stage of his career. He'll take em, believe me.

 

[shawnbm]

Yes, kieran, taking the missus out tonight for some libations and dinner. Please have a Guinness or three for me!

 

[Kieran]

Yes, kieran, taking the missus out tonight for some libations and dinner. Please have a Guinness or three for me!

I'll hoist 'em high, brother! Enjoy yourself with the missus, she must be a saint to put up with ya! :snigger

 

[Federberg]

Wow! I wasn't sure if Roger was still capable of that type of sustained tennis. But it'll all be for nothing if he can't win the title. He needs to get back to holding trophies on Sunday before I become a committed believer again. But for sure, if his movement remains as good as that he has a chance in 2014

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

What a horrible week for Roger, beating Novak and losing to Bird. We call this "Swimming across the ocean only to drown in a pond". But maybe , just maybe....uzzled

 

[DarthFed]

I think he must have drawn some inspiration from Venus, who had her best performance in a long time at Dubai last week. She mowed down everyone in her path. Hopefully Fed doesn't lose the plot against Berd tomorrow.

Beating Berdych would be a bigger confidence boost imo than Djokovic. He's had a lot of bad losses in the last few years to Berdych. Time to avenge himself even if it is only an ATP 500 tournament.

I disagree with that. Berd is a problem but Novak is still a much better player than Berd and one of the guys Roger will almost always have to go through to win another major. He might not have to go through Berd. It is still a big one tomorrow to see if he can turn the tide on the big thorn in his side.

This is a big win for obvious reasons but also for the big picture and that being a chance to get back to #4 before Wimbledon. If Roger gains a good 700 or so points before Wimbledon he has a decent chance. Tomorrow is a chance to gain over 300 of them and then between IW and Miami he only has a combined 180. So the opportunity is there.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I missed all the fun.

Anyway, I was not confident that Roger will win today, but am glad he won.

He already has more top 10 victories in 2014 than he had in 2013 until USO.

 

[masterclass]

Roger closes the deal and it has to be a mighty big confidence builder for him. I will look to watch the match later but it sounds like these two were scapping and running all over the place. Quality was high throughout?

Fairly high Shawn.
Federer was a little slow out of the gate as expected compared to Djokovic raring to go after a day off. Their levels soon equalized, but Djokovic had already done the damage. Then Djokovic had a brief lull in the second, also as expected by me. Federer raised his level, and didn't come down as I thought he might. Then finally in the 3rd set, Djokovic couldn't stay with Federer, looking rattled at times, especially after some of Federer's net play and strong groundstrokes off both wings. Djokovic didn't seem to know how to diffuse Roger's brilliance. An MTO might have done it, but Djokovic played on to the end. Going to the net was never a solution for Djokovic; he just hasn't improved enough in that department, though maybe with Becker's guidance he could eventually.

Federer was aggressive at the net and elsewhere and it definitely helped him and put more pressure on Djokovic to do something spectacular. Whenever Federer, wobbled just a bit, his serve was there when he needed it. There were some fantastic points by both players during the match. Someone had to win it, and today Roger was probably at his best level since Cinci 2012 (where he was not broken the whole tournament).

Make no mistake, this was like a final for both players. I don't think it matters too much to Federer, if he wins or loses tomorrow vs. Berdych, as I think he might have spent most of what he had in the tank for this match, though I'm sure he'd like to win. This match is confidence in the bank for Mr. Roger Federer.

Nole has to regroup and refocus just a bit. But it's no shame to lose to a Federer playing vintage stuff. Boris Becker has to get Nole to realize that when the Federer genius comes out, that he shouldn't panic, ride the tide, and then look for opportunities to turn the match around. Easier said then done, but Nole has to have a bit more calm. He retrieves and returns as well as anyone. It will help him when he gets back on slower courts. These medium-fast courts in Dubai are probably just a bit too fast for him against someone with the ability and aggression of Federer when he is executing well. There is only so much one can defend.

Respectfully,
masterclass