HALLE - ATP 500 - June 13th to 19th 2016

[Front242]

This is a lost season. If he can't beat Thiem or Zverev on grass it's time to pack it in for awhile. At this rate he will be bounced before the 4th round at Wimbledon. Get healthy and have one last chance for a legit swan song in 2017.

Yeah, looking like massive points lost after Wimbledon and ranking will plummet. Completely lost season.

 

[herios]

Just saw the score. Roger, ouch

 

[pavlik89]

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

 

[lacatch]

Well just having watching the highlights, looks like Federer got manhandled by Zverev due to the former's hampered movement. I agree that Roger doesn't have a prayer at Wimbledon this year unless his back miraculously heals between now and then.

 

[DarthFed]

Sadly looking more and more like 2012 was the last greatness we will see from him. Hopefully he doesn't totally limp to the finish line, wouldn't feel right.

 

[herios]

Sadly looking more and more like 2012 was the last greatness we will see from him. Hopefully he doesn't totally limp to the finish line, wouldn't feel right.

Aging is a sad thing. Flu, meniscus, stomach flu, back, one after the other. He cannot catch a break.

 

[19USC66]

This is a lost season. If he can't beat Thiem or Zverev on grass it's time to pack it in for awhile. At this rate he will be bounced before the 4th round at Wimbledon. Get healthy and have one last chance for a legit swan song in 2017.

Yeah, looking like massive points lost after Wimbledon and ranking will plummet. Completely lost season.

There is definite decline in the Fed game. He struggles going to his right and hitting a forehand consistently across court, and frankly Federer has a real problem showing up every day with the proper mindset. I had the same surgery Roger had and it takes about a year to get back and I don't have to play tennis for a living. The man is going on 35 years old for Heaven sake. Nevertheless, I don't see anyone stepping up to challenge the "big four." If this continues those four guys are going to be playing until they are into their fifties. Roger Federer is still number three in the world and he has missed half the year. What does that say about the competition? Where is the up and coming talent? The ATP has a huge problem with no fresh faces on the horizon with number one potential. Watching Djokovic play is like watching a rock throwing contest and every one plays the same against him. Does anyone get as bored watching these players as I do? Murray is a head case and Wawrinka shows up once in awhile in big matches. The tour needs new blood. Maybe Muguruza should be playing against men. At least she is a new face.

 

[19USC66]

Sadly looking more and more like 2012 was the last greatness we will see from him. Hopefully he doesn't totally limp to the finish line, wouldn't feel right.

Aging is a sad thing. Flu, meniscus, stomach flu, back, one after the other. He cannot catch a break.

To be fair he was healthy when it mattered in his prime years. Life is the big equalizer, Things have a way of coming around eventually.

 

[herios]

Even more surprising now than Roger's defeat, is that Dominic Thiem is sent packing in straight sets by Florian Mayer.
While Mayer is a former QF-ist at Wimbledon, he was mainly absent in the recent years due to injuries.
Basically he comes back out of nowhere.
There will be an all german final now Zverev - Mayer.

 

[Front242]

This is a lost season. If he can't beat Thiem or Zverev on grass it's time to pack it in for awhile. At this rate he will be bounced before the 4th round at Wimbledon. Get healthy and have one last chance for a legit swan song in 2017.

Yeah, looking like massive points lost after Wimbledon and ranking will plummet. Completely lost season.

There is definite decline in the Fed game. He struggles going to his right and hitting a forehand consistently across court, and frankly Federer has a real problem showing up every day with the proper mindset. I had the same surgery Roger had and it takes about a year to get back and I don't have to play tennis for a living. The man is going on 35 years old for Heaven sake. Nevertheless, I don't see anyone stepping up to challenge the "big four." If this continues those four guys are going to be playing until they are into their fifties. Roger Federer is still number three in the world and he has missed half the year. What does that say about the competition? Where is the up and coming talent? The ATP has a huge problem with no fresh faces on the horizon with number one potential. Watching Djokovic play is like watching a rock throwing contest and every one plays the same against him. Does anyone get as bored watching these players as I do? Murray is a head case and Wawrinka shows up once in awhile in big matches. The tour needs new blood. Maybe Muguruza should be playing against men. At least she is a new face.

He's been slow running to his forehand side for a long time now and his forehand down the line has been awol for a long time as a result. Not being able to run after balls now makes it even worse and his hampered movement is resulting in more shanks as he either doesn't get to the ball in time or doesn't bother/can't make it to hit them. Wondering if it's mostly his knee rather than his back or a good dose of both. Either way it plain sucks :nono But clearly, yes, very weak competition for Federer to still be number 3 having played hardly any matches this year.

 

[Front242]

Even more surprising now than Roger's defeat, is that Dominic Thiem is sent packing in straight sets by Florian Mayer.
While Mayer is a former QF-ist at Wimbledon, he was mainly absent in the recent years due to injuries.
Basically he comes back out of nowhere.
There will be an all german final now Zverev - Mayer.

Hadn't even seen the result but I'm actually not surprised at all and was expecting Mayer to win. Happy for him as he's a true veteran at this stage.

 

[nehmeth]

Even more surprising now than Roger's defeat, is that Dominic Thiem is sent packing in straight sets by Florian Mayer.
While Mayer is a former QF-ist at Wimbledon, he was mainly absent in the recent years due to injuries.
Basically he comes back out of nowhere.
There will be an all german final now Zverev - Mayer.

One of the commentators was mentioning Thiem was having a physical problem with his hip??

 

[19USC66]

Sadly looking more and more like 2012 was the last greatness we will see from him. Hopefully he doesn't totally limp to the finish line, wouldn't feel right.

 

[19USC66]

Sadly looking more and more like 2012 was the last greatness we will see from him. Hopefully he doesn't totally limp to the finish line, wouldn't feel right.

Players have to know when to quit. Today Roger is third in the world. Why quit? If anyone was going to make a move to pass him they would have done so. What does this say about the present players on the ATP tour? Answer, it isn't good. Federer is playing with house money. He has done the heavy lifting in his career. Federer does NOT NEED to accomplish anything. Been there done that so to speak. Today in Halle is the first time he has played back to back four days in a row since his return. Thus, he needs the work. His opponent did not beat him today. Fed stunk. Roger will improve. Why? Because his fundamentals are so good. It's like Larry Bird shooting foul shots. Reportedly Bird can still shoot 90% fooling around. Federer's strokes will return. He only knows the correct way to hit the ball. Excellent fundamentals don't just happen. Many of his shots today in Halle he was falling backwards and hitting off his back foot. That will change. He just had a bad day hitting the ball or he got out of bed on the wrong side. You don't play consistently for five months negative things happen. Is he going to be the Federer of 2006 again? Of course not, but he is still a top 5 player. I would not retire if I were him either. Where else will he make this kind of money and have so much fun?

 

[Front242]

Even more surprising now than Roger's defeat, is that Dominic Thiem is sent packing in straight sets by Florian Mayer.
While Mayer is a former QF-ist at Wimbledon, he was mainly absent in the recent years due to injuries.
Basically he comes back out of nowhere.
There will be an all german final now Zverev - Mayer.

One of the commentators was mentioning Thiem was having a physical problem with his hip??

I'm not even a doctor and can tell you the symptoms. It's known in the tennis world as David Ferrer syndrome and is caused by playing every single tournament in the tennis calendar week in, week out.

 

[lob]

This is a lost season. If he can't beat Thiem or Zverev on grass it's time to pack it in for awhile. At this rate he will be bounced before the 4th round at Wimbledon. Get healthy and have one last chance for a legit swan song in 2017.

Yeah, looking like massive points lost after Wimbledon and ranking will plummet. Completely lost season.

Sampras had a miraculous 2002 USO. But Sampras' game was all about that insane serve.
He was not injured. Still, he was extremely lucky to pull that off.

Federer will need a miracle from hereon.. a miracle on the lines of what Vatican would be willing to accept for beatification.

 

[Front242]

Sadly looking more and more like 2012 was the last greatness we will see from him. Hopefully he doesn't totally limp to the finish line, wouldn't feel right.

Players have to know when to quit. Today Roger is third in the world. Why quit? If anyone was going to make a move to pass him they would have done so. What does this say about the present players on the ATP tour? Answer, it isn't good. Federer is playing with house money. He has done the heavy lifting in his career. Federer does NOT NEED to accomplish anything. Been there done that so to speak. Today in Halle is the first time he has played back to back four days in a row since his return. Thus, he needs the work. His opponent did not beat him today. Fed stunk. Roger will improve. Why? Because his fundamentals are so good. It's like Larry Bird shooting foul shots. Reportedly Bird can still shoot 90% fooling around. Federer's strokes will return. He only knows the correct way to hit the ball. Excellent fundamentals don't just happen. Many of his shots today in Halle he was falling backwards and hitting off his back foot. That will change. He just had a bad day hitting the ball or he got out of bed on the wrong side. You don't play consistently for five months negative things happen. Is he going to be the Federer of 2006 again? Of course not, but he is still a top 5 player. I would not retire if I were him either. Where else will he make this kind of money and have so much fun?

It's not fun losing to players you should beat and it's not fun for fans to watch either. Hopefully his movement will improve because, right now, if he's this poor in best of 3, best of 5 doesn't bode too well :nono

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Sadly looking more and more like 2012 was the last greatness we will see from him. Hopefully he doesn't totally limp to the finish line, wouldn't feel right.

Players have to know when to quit. Today Roger is third in the world. Why quit? If anyone was going to make a move to pass him they would have done so. What does this say about the present players on the ATP tour? Answer, it isn't good. Federer is playing with house money. He has done the heavy lifting in his career. Federer does NOT NEED to accomplish anything. Been there done that so to speak. Today in Halle is the first time he has played back to back four days in a row since his return. Thus, he needs the work. His opponent did not beat him today. Fed stunk. Roger will improve. Why? Because his fundamentals are so good. It's like Larry Bird shooting foul shots. Reportedly Bird can still shoot 90% fooling around. Federer's strokes will return. He only knows the correct way to hit the ball. Excellent fundamentals don't just happen. Many of his shots today in Halle he was falling backwards and hitting off his back foot. That will change. He just had a bad day hitting the ball or he got out of bed on the wrong side. You don't play consistently for five months negative things happen. Is he going to be the Federer of 2006 again? Of course not, but he is still a top 5 player. I would not retire if I were him either. Where else will he make this kind of money and have so much fun?

Your analysis is totally off. Federer's strokes is not the problem. His hampered movement is the problem.

Also, the movement problem is not going to change overnight by simply getting out on the right side of bed. I am not saying his movement will never improve again. But, it will be long and slow process as he needs to heal. It is not going to magically happen in couple of weeks. We are talking at least a few months here for Fed to get respectable movement on the court.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Zevrev is the first teenager to beat Fed in about 10 years. The last time it happened was when Andy Murray defeated Federer in Cincy in the 2nd round in 2006.

Somehow I think Zevrev will go to greater heights than Thiem (when both these young fellows hang up).

 

[Front242]

Zevrev is the first teenager to beat Fed in about 10 years. The last time it happened was when Andy Murray defeated Federer in Cincy in the 2nd round in 2006.

Somehow I think Zevrev will go to greater heights than Thiem (when both these young fellows hang up).

He has a much, much better serve (for now anyway) which goes a long towards winning more matches so I agree.