Dubai Duty Free ATP 500

[TsarMatt]

Oh yeah, Federer!

I'm a bit happy right now. He'll do well at IW, possibly even win it if doesn't come across Nadal.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Oh yeah, Federer!

I'm a bit happy right now. He'll do well at IW, possibly even win it if doesn't come across Nadal.

Indian Wells is significantly slower than Dubai so we'll see. Dubai plays very fast. Part of the reason why he's done so well there historically.

 

[fedfan]

I think by any measure, Federer is looking better this year, already. I think it's a combo of his confidence and his attachment to the new stick, and both of these maybe related. He certainly went up a notch, competitiveness-wise, at the end of last season, but this year has been encouraging so far. Most likely should have beaten Hewitt in Brisbane, will be sending Grigor hexes from now til doomsday about Oz, and he's beaten Nole and Berdy in Dubai.

What's not to like?

I agree with this and think indeed it's related. Notice how his movement was somewhat rejuvenated as well.

 

[fedfan]

Prediction: Fed will have a good year (remains to be seen just how good), but will underwhelm on slower surfaces. His fans will go crazy after the clay season berating their man, calling themselves idiots for believing he might be back, before he has a great Wimbledon and North American hard court season.

I predicted him to finish #3 but that doesn't mean I think he will have a good year. A good year is winning a slam, simple as that.

If getting #4 by Wimbledon wasn't a high priority I wouldn't mind seeing him skip everything except Madrid and RG on clay. He won't be doing anything on clay again, and aside from points it will just be getting in his way.

At 32/33 that would go down as one of his most remarkable achievements, if not the most.

Don't hold your breath.

At his age he's more likely to win a Masters against a top field than a slam.

 

[DarthFed]

Prediction: Fed will have a good year (remains to be seen just how good), but will underwhelm on slower surfaces. His fans will go crazy after the clay season berating their man, calling themselves idiots for believing he might be back, before he has a great Wimbledon and North American hard court season.

I predicted him to finish #3 but that doesn't mean I think he will have a good year. A good year is winning a slam, simple as that.

If getting #4 by Wimbledon wasn't a high priority I wouldn't mind seeing him skip everything except Madrid and RG on clay. He won't be doing anything on clay again, and aside from points it will just be getting in his way.

At 32/33 that would go down as one of his most remarkable achievements, if not the most.

Don't hold your breath.

At his age he's more likely to win a Masters against a top field than a slam.

That's true, it will be difficult yet what I said is still true. There is no such thing as a good year for Roger where he doesn't win a slam. 2011 certainly wasn't a good year despite the fact he got close.

 

[calitennis127]

I'm still not that impressed by Rogers level of play. IMO this was more about how bad Berdych and Djokovic played. So I wouldn't necessarily promote him to a slam contender just yet.

Guys this level of tennis is very far from what these guys have outputed in previous clashes. Let's just say everyone is a work in progress and IMO significantly lower level than the current best (Rafa and Wawrinka)

Well he showed fighting spirit that was lacking most of last year and that's a huge difference right there. Down a set and a break to Berdych last year and there was no comeback. I'm not promoting him to slam contender by any means but equally so the opponents he beat this week don't look like contenders either. A lot can, and likely will, change before RG and Wimbledon regarding players' relevant form.

That's what has most impressed me this week: Down a set against both Berdych and Djokovic, but coming back to win in three. Too many times last year, those matches would have been over in straights, pretty much regardless of his opponents' level of play. It's great to see Roger now fighting them out.

Federer lost to Djokovic in both Paris and London last fall in three sets. He did plenty of fighting in both of those matches.

His problem last year was not "lack of fight".

 

[calitennis127]

Prediction: Fed will have a good year (remains to be seen just how good), but will underwhelm on slower surfaces. His fans will go crazy after the clay season berating their man, calling themselves idiots for believing he might be back, before he has a great Wimbledon and North American hard court season.

I predicted him to finish #3 but that doesn't mean I think he will have a good year. A good year is winning a slam, simple as that.

If getting #4 by Wimbledon wasn't a high priority I wouldn't mind seeing him skip everything except Madrid and RG on clay. He won't be doing anything on clay again, and aside from points it will just be getting in his way.

At 32/33 that would go down as one of his most remarkable achievements, if not the most.

Don't hold your breath.

At his age he's more likely to win a Masters against a top field than a slam.

That's true, it will be difficult yet what I said is still true. There is no such thing as a good year for Roger where he doesn't win a slam. 2011 certainly wasn't a good year despite the fact he got close.

:laydownlaughing:lolz:

So on another thread DarthFed denies the Catholic Church's authority to provide a universal definition of marriage (something it has been consistent about for two millennia), but in his characteristically white-jock muscleheaded fashion, he believes that only he - DarthFed - has the true definition of what a "good year" is for Roger Federer. It simply must entail winning a Slam. It simply must. That simple. Now grunt and chug a protein shake. What's your bench press up to Darth? Need a spotter?

Federer could finish the year at #3, win 70 matches, win 2 Masters titles, beat each of the Top 4 besides himself - but if he loses a 5-set Wimbledon final to Nadal and a 5-set US Open final to Djokovic, then his season is not a "good year". You know why? Because DarthFed said so.

 

[DarthFed]

Prediction: Fed will have a good year (remains to be seen just how good), but will underwhelm on slower surfaces. His fans will go crazy after the clay season berating their man, calling themselves idiots for believing he might be back, before he has a great Wimbledon and North American hard court season.

I predicted him to finish #3 but that doesn't mean I think he will have a good year. A good year is winning a slam, simple as that.

If getting #4 by Wimbledon wasn't a high priority I wouldn't mind seeing him skip everything except Madrid and RG on clay. He won't be doing anything on clay again, and aside from points it will just be getting in his way.

At 32/33 that would go down as one of his most remarkable achievements, if not the most.

Don't hold your breath.

At his age he's more likely to win a Masters against a top field than a slam.

That's true, it will be difficult yet what I said is still true. There is no such thing as a good year for Roger where he doesn't win a slam. 2011 certainly wasn't a good year despite the fact he got close.

:laydownlaughing:lolz:

So on another thread DarthFed denies the Catholic Church's authority to provide a universal definition of marriage (something it has been consistent about for two millennia), but in his characteristically white-jock muscleheaded fashion, he believes that only he - DarthFed - has the true definition of what a "good year" is for Roger Federer. It simply must entail winning a Slam. It simply must. That simple. Now grunt and chug a protein shake. What's your bench press up to Darth? Need a spotter?

Federer could finish the year at #3, win 70 matches, win 2 Masters titles, beat each of the Top 4 besides himself - but if he loses a 5-set Wimbledon final to Nadal and a 5-set US Open final to Djokovic, then his season is not a "good year". You know why? Because DarthFed said so.

One scorned woman...

In my opinion Roger would not be happy with a slamless season. If he is not happy it is therefore not what he would call a good year. Yes I did not ask him personally but I'm just a meathead trying to use my uncommon sense. Go cry on a different thread about how Catholics don't rule the world.

 

[fedfan]

Prediction: Fed will have a good year (remains to be seen just how good), but will underwhelm on slower surfaces. His fans will go crazy after the clay season berating their man, calling themselves idiots for believing he might be back, before he has a great Wimbledon and North American hard court season.

I predicted him to finish #3 but that doesn't mean I think he will have a good year. A good year is winning a slam, simple as that.

If getting #4 by Wimbledon wasn't a high priority I wouldn't mind seeing him skip everything except Madrid and RG on clay. He won't be doing anything on clay again, and aside from points it will just be getting in his way.

At 32/33 that would go down as one of his most remarkable achievements, if not the most.

Don't hold your breath.

At his age he's more likely to win a Masters against a top field than a slam.

That's true, it will be difficult yet what I said is still true. There is no such thing as a good year for Roger where he doesn't win a slam. 2011 certainly wasn't a good year despite the fact he got close.

Dude, do you not get his current age? They adjust, even the great ones, their expectations with father time. A good year for Rog would be a Masters title or two, a couple of 500s and a slam final.

Even if he won just Dubai and say Wimbledon that would easily qualify as a GREAT year.

 

[calitennis127]

Darth, you have repeatedly demeaned Federer any time he has done anything less than win the biggest events. He either "played terrible" or was a "mental midget" or this and that. You have given no credence to the improvement of the Top 4 when he was 25/26 versus 28+, or the match-up challenge that all of his top rivals are now great movers who hit well off the left side. To you it's always about Federer being terrible and not having "good years" anymore.

 

[DarthFed]

Prediction: Fed will have a good year (remains to be seen just how good), but will underwhelm on slower surfaces. His fans will go crazy after the clay season berating their man, calling themselves idiots for believing he might be back, before he has a great Wimbledon and North American hard court season.

I predicted him to finish #3 but that doesn't mean I think he will have a good year. A good year is winning a slam, simple as that.

If getting #4 by Wimbledon wasn't a high priority I wouldn't mind seeing him skip everything except Madrid and RG on clay. He won't be doing anything on clay again, and aside from points it will just be getting in his way.

At 32/33 that would go down as one of his most remarkable achievements, if not the most.

Don't hold your breath.

At his age he's more likely to win a Masters against a top field than a slam.

That's true, it will be difficult yet what I said is still true. There is no such thing as a good year for Roger where he doesn't win a slam. 2011 certainly wasn't a good year despite the fact he got close.

Dude, do you not get his current age? They adjust, even the great ones, their expectations with father time. A good year for Rog would be a Masters title or two, a couple of 500s and a slam final.

Even if he won just Dubai and say Wimbledon that would easily qualify as a GREAT year.

I understand his age just fine. It isn't about what we expect of him. I expect that he will not win a slam this year or ever again but he will likely finish top 4 (though Stan winning AO could complicate that). I'd suspect Roger's expectations years ago was to win multiple majors every year and barely lose a match.

Of course it is different now. Roger knows he can't win every tournament and winning slams in bunches is very unlikely too. Yet I don't think he is happy just to exist on tour, win an occasional title, make an occasional slam semi, etc. I give his game and ambition more credit than that. We can talk about "love of the game" and all but I doubt he is happy about going slamless. It has to be the big matches and chasing the big titles that really motivates him at this point

 

[DarthFed]

Darth, you have repeatedly demeaned Federer any time he has done anything less than win the biggest events. He either "played terrible" or was a "mental midget" or this and that. You have given no credence to the improvement of the Top 4 when he was 25/26 versus 28+, or the match-up challenge that all of his top rivals are now great movers who hit well off the left side. To you it's always about Federer being terrible and not having "good years" anymore.

I don't really care about the other players so why would I give them credit? But that said of course I have acknowledged that the other top guys have improved since when they were just starting out.