Hamburg

[DarthFed]

Speechless, I just don't think Roger should be this bad yet. 32 in a month means he is ancient for tennis but he was at a very high mountain and still showed he could play well just a year ago.

Delbonis played incredible and has a game that can hurt federer, so give him some credit. Federer is in a slump. I think he will resurge, but it will take a little while.

The thing is at some point it fails to become a slump and just becomes the norm. Roger has been bad all year. Some might chalk this up to the new stick, some might chalk it up to a young player looking "incredible" after punishing short returns and weak backhands. But I think there is a bigger problem at hand. I'm glad Roger switched racquets as power is becoming more of a factor. Now I think he needs to change coaches.

 

[Front242]

Shanks on both wings are nothing new so I'm not putting it just down to the new racquet. The worst thing about the errors though is when they appear. Not just at inopportune times to dump serve but at crucial junctions in tiebreaks. When he hit a routine shot wide to go down 4-5 in the 2nd set TB there I was already thinking game over and then another 2 poor errors and it was game over. Against Stakhovsky it was the same. Granted both he and today, Delbonis, played really great matches but again the times when Fed hit the errors were extremely inopportune. Points to go down a mini break at the tail end of the TBs, routine BH errors to lose. It's painful to watch as a fan. It's nice to see new young players playing so well but such a disappointment to see a former champion so poor and a mere shell of his former self. No glowing aura of supremacy even against low ranked players, way too many errors at poor times, low first serve %, and a total lack of confidence and self belief from winning just one title in over a year, and that's why guys are taking it to him. They know he's not what he used to be and deep down many probably really fancy their chances against him, despite what they tell the press. They watch his matches like we do and know sloppy games will appear and bring about chances. Just have no idea what to expect from Fed for the rest of the year really.

 

[Srini]

I hope Delbonis keeps playing at this level in future too, he played bold tennis against the top seed. Hoping for a good final.

For Fed, I felt this got very little to do with his new racquet. Its more to do with his game and his state of mind. He just cannot hold any lead these days, he breaks and then gets immediately broken. And he seems to be under immense pressure serving second.

 

[Front242]

I hope Delbonis keeps playing at this level in future too, he played bold tennis against the top seed. Hoping for a good final.

For Fed, I felt this got very little to do with his new racquet. Its more to do with his game and his state of mind. He just cannot hold any lead these days, he breaks and then gets immediately broken. And he seems to be under immense pressure serving second.

Yeah everytime Fed breaks there's a 50/50 chance he throws the lead right back these days. Such a disappointment for fans and mostly himself.

 

[reddy]

Fed lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 once in the ten years from 2003-2012. In the past month he lost twice.

BTW Fed draws Brands again in the 2nd round in Gstaad. :nono

 

[I.Haychew]

Why isn't Fognini a top 20 player? He looks like he could hang with the likes of Simon, Dolgopolov, Monaco, and Nishikori.

My opinion...

1) Serve is average at best. Not many "cheap" points".
2) Lacks confidence. Comes off as cocky/arrogant. But, I think it's a front for his LACK of confidence.
3) Expectations too low because of his lack of confidence. Ditch all the theatrics (because of lack of confidence) and just play.

Just my opinion...


...or maybe he just isn't all that good?

Plus...
...Kevin Anderson, another one of my faves, is doing well in Bogota. However, for whatever reason, I can't create a "Bogota thread". Why is that, and who can either help me out, or do it for me?

Haychew, I manufactured the Bogota thread, I was shaking actually my head, that the Cincy and Cahada masters thread already showed up and nobody cared for the current HC event...

About the 3 reasons you mentioned for Fabio being an underperformer, those "were" valid indeed before he won last week his first event, but from here on, the 2 and 3 point you may forget, they are addressed thus mute going forward.
People forget how big of a monkey is for each player to get his first ATP main tour title, and it could be hurting big time their confidence. Once they do get it, they could suddenly raise their level and fly as high as their talent takes them.
Do you see how well he is playing this week?
I was almost sure that this will happen with him, after his first win.
He'll be knocking off milestones from here on.
Go Fabio!!

Thumbs up!
Hope you're right.

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However, for whatever reason, I can't create a "Bogota thread". Why is that, and who can either help me out, or do it for me?

I'm not sure what you mean by you can't create a thread. I know you've created one before:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=305

And you're not blocked from being allowed to.

Go to the main page of the forum:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=3&page=6

Near the top right you'll see a button called "New Thread" -- it's just like creating a post at that point. Send me a PM if you're still having problems.

(I'm posting this in case others have the same question.)

Thanks, tented. Not sure how I missed that. But, somehow, I did.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I have been impressed with The Fog getting to the final without dropping a set...defeating Haas and Alamgro along the way.
Even though Delbonis has played well I think he might have a let down in tomorrow's final.Credit to him for playing well against
Federer and also being a qualifer in this tournament.
I will pick The Fog in straight sets.

 

[kskate2]

On serve early 2-2 in 1st set

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Sweet passing shot by Fog brings this Del service game back to Deuce

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Still on serve 3-3

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Some errors from F3 in the critical 10th game and Del breaks to take the opener 6-4

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Fabulous is not so much right now. Having a meltdown on court w/ Lars Graf and drops serve in the 2nd set. Del is 3 games away 3-1

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F3 snaps out of the funk and breaks back. On serve 4-4

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We are in a 2nd set breaker.

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3-3 at the changeover

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MP for Del 6-5

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oops on an easy volley. 6-6 at the 2nd changeover

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Easiest point he had to play all week at match point and he misses it...Pressure man...

 

[kskate2]

BH error gives 2nd MP

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Save. good serve from F3 and easy putaway

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another error from F3 and it's MP #3

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Del too aggressive on a FH kicks it wide. 8-8

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Del too aggressive on a FH kicks it wide. 8-8

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Long rally and Del blinks on a BH error. SP for F3 9-8

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another tight error from Del and Fog takes the TB 10-8. Big comeback from F3. He was down and out in this set w/ a funky tude earlier.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

We'll see what this kid is made of now, in the third. Will he be able to move on after that missed volley at match point? Closing is a different talent all together.

 

[kskate2]

You've got to think he will have a letdown. Although he came good against Fed yesterday.

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Meanwhile Fog is quietly going about his business. Holds and gets the early break in the decider 2-0

 

[tented]

Come on, Delbonis! It's not over. It's only one break.

 

[kskate2]

he's thinking about those MP's T.

 

[tented]

he's thinking about those MP's T.

You're exactly right.

Well, credit to Fognini if he wins, but I'll be disappointed in Delbonis.

 

[tented]

Interesting ... one break back. But will he be able to hold serve?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Fognini reminds me of Agassi when he takes balls on the rise. He should do that more often.

 

[tented]

Congrats to Fognini (and Haychew!) Great job to get through that after saving three championship points.

I'm disappointed in Delbonis, but I hope to see much more of him in the future.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Well done the fabulous one. Delbonis was a simple put away from the title, but sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles. Closing is an art. Great week from Delbonis though, he has nothing to be ashamed of.

 

[kskate2]

Great job F3. Well done on a terrific comeback, his 2nd consecutive title and his first ATP 500. Good week for Del. Hopefully he'll learn from this and move onward and upward.

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They do more talking in this award ceremony than a slam final does. Geez.