Gerry Weber Open, Halle, Germany, ATP 500

[kskate2]

Hey Baron. How was your flight?

 

[Federberg]

good grief Fedfans I don't understand the drama here. He's tentative with his movement. Every now and then he's showing he can raise his level, but he clearly doesn't want to. Why the worry?

 

[Moxie]

Winning ugly is still winning.

You'll get excommunicated from the 1hbh cult with talk like that.

 

[britbox]

Hey Baron. How was your flight?

Long... but nice break coming up. In the right timezone for Wimbledon...

 

[DarthFed]

Winning ugly is still winning.

It's about overplaying at this point. If he blasted through this week there wouldn't be that worry. Honestly the worst result he can have this week is making the final while playing a bunch of long matches.

 

[Federberg]

One thing I like is that he's being pushed into driving his backhand returns. None of that passive blocking nonsense. He'll definitely need to be tuned into doing that in bigger matches

 

[monfed]

Halle is not only a tournament to win, it's a tournament to send the rest of the field a message that he's the firm favourite for Wimbledon. Ofcourse he'll win if he doesn't screw up badly.

Also he shouldn't lose energy as he's already played Stuttgart. That's the big one.

 

[Federberg]

He's taking care of business. Doesn't have to be pretty. You guys fretting are making me laugh

 

[DarthFed]

It's about overplaying at this point. If he blasted through this week there wouldn't be that worry. Honestly the worst result he can have this week is making the final while playing a bunch of long matches.

And thankfully he got through in 2. Hope he saves his best for this weekend. His final with Sascha took most of the suspense out of Wimbledon last year. No matter what I don't think it'd be the same this year but a great performance this weekend is what the doctor ordered.

 

[britbox]

He's won Stuttgart and in the semis of Halle. Not much else he can do results-wise. He doesn't need to produce a virtuoso performance every time he steps on court.

 

[Moxie]

He's won Stuttgart and in the semis of Halle. Not much else he can do results-wise. He doesn't need to produce a virtuoso performance every time he steps on court.

Yeah, I don't think the locker room is going to suddenly figure he's a pushover on grass.

 

[DarthFed]

He's won Stuttgart and in the semis of Halle. Not much else he can do results-wise. He doesn't need to produce a virtuoso performance every time he steps on court.

It's not about that Baron. The guy is going on 37 and playing too much tennis before the big one is a recipe for disaster. He looked weak and out of sorts at YEC a week after the Shanghai and Basel double which took a lot out of him.

I wasn't at all worried about him overplaying before Wimbledon...as long as he didn't get stuck in a lot of long, tight matches. I'm just glad he got this done in 2. He can put my mind at ease by truly taking care of business this weekend. No 3 setters would be nice.

 

[MartyB]

Yeah, I don't think the locker room is going to suddenly figure he's a pushover on grass.

Thanks Moxie for stating the obvious for Fed Fans..LoL

 

[DarthFed]

One thing I like is that he's being pushed into driving his backhand returns. None of that passive blocking nonsense. He'll definitely need to be tuned into doing that in bigger matches

Agreed. Fed has been returning very well, but the rest of his game needs to sharpen up and hopefully it will when it matters most. Getting broke a combined 6 times by Ebden, Paire, and Mischa is crazy but rust is to be expected.

 

[monfed]

Those last 2 games of the 2nd set is the first sign of Grasserer we all know and love.

 

[Federberg]

Those last 2 games of the 2nd set is the first sign of Grasserer we all know and love.

he's had his moments. It's clear he can raise his level. I just think he wants to do this with minimum effort. Injury avoidance. Eyes on the prize

 

[DarthFed]

Those last 2 games of the 2nd set is the first sign of Grasserer we all know and love.

Roger was very good against Milos in the final last week.

 

[kskate2]

I think it all depends on who his opponent is. He knew he had to raise his level against Nicky and Milos because he's lost to them before. He may have taken this tourney's field a little for granted.

 

[DarthFed]

I think it all depends on who his opponent is. He knew he had to raise his level against Nicky and Milos because he's lost to them before. He may have taken this tourney's field a little for granted.

If he gets past Kudla whoever he faces in the final (Coric or RBA) is a very large step up in opposition. Feels crazy to type that but there it is...

 

[Federberg]

If he gets past Kudla whoever he faces in the final (Coric or RBA) is a very large step up in opposition. Feels crazy to type that but there it is...

Come on man You're creating phantom threats now