Hamburg

[Johnsteinbeck]

Fed is playing his best tennis in MONTHS today. I think Delbonis should be a top 50 player. His forehand and serve should translate to every surface, and his backhand is solid, but I don't see him being consistently in the top 30. Verdasco should have won that match in the second, but delbonis made him play well, and when it mattered nando cracked.

It was a tough first set for Federer but he eked it out; maybe they have never played before and Roger has not figured him out yet.

five times, Mayer never got a set.

 

[Riotbeard]

Fed is playing his best tennis in MONTHS today. I think Delbonis should be a top 50 player. His forehand and serve should translate to every surface, and his backhand is solid, but I don't see him being consistently in the top 30. Verdasco should have won that match in the second, but delbonis made him play well, and when it mattered nando cracked.

It was a tough first set for Federer but he eked it out; maybe they have never played before and Roger has not figured him out yet.

The closeness though from what I saw had more to do with mayer (a very tricky player) playing quite well. Fed's ballstriking toward the end was the best I have seen by him in some time.

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Fed is also rocking a sweater vest today. Old school, I like it.

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Commentors curse on me, as fed shanks some backhands.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

who knows, that might change today

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Fed is also rocking a sweater vest today. Old school, I like it.

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hehe, i wanted to mention that as well. looks rather awesome, i must admit. very casual.

 

[kskate2]

Sweater vest or not he's down a break in the 2nd 1-3 and trying to hold serve at 30-30.

 

[Riotbeard]

Fed's level has dropped a bit, but Mayer is playing great tennis.

 

[Chelsia16]

Federer's game is slumping, down a break already in the 2nd set and about to go down another break.

 

[DarthFed]

Fed is playing his best tennis in MONTHS today. I think Delbonis should be a top 50 player. His forehand and serve should translate to every surface, and his backhand is solid, but I don't see him being consistently in the top 30. Verdasco should have won that match in the second, but delbonis made him play well, and when it mattered nando cracked.

That's an exaggeration. Roger had a couple good matches in Rome and Halle. And unfortunately for him it was just 1 set. He is on the verge of a 6-2 2nd set loss to Mayer.

 

[tented]

Roger looks very uncomfortable. I think his back is bothering him quite a bit.

 

[Riotbeard]

It's a real live set again, as Fed gets one break back.

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I would like to retract my statement about fed playing well. One pretty darn good set, one atrocious one.

 

[DarthFed]

Now that was pathetic. Hopefully he digs deep in the 3rd.

 

[sid]

Fed drops second set 6-3 into a final set we go.

 

[tented]

And Federer loses the second set to Florian Whirligig.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

up a break in the third.

one bh rally flick almost behind his back, quite something. anyway, this is far from over, Fed still hasn't got the kinks fully out, and Mayer is playing some inspired stuff at times (and throwing it away at others).

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and Fed misses a smash to give Flo a bp.

 

[tented]

Wow! That was a Djokovic-like overhead.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

and a runaround fh to give him another.

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mayer breaks after running down a stop that clipped the net cord. well well.

 

[Riotbeard]

Fed needs to remember that its not only about wand size

 

[tented]

Crazy point to break back.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

damn, i think i got the wrong stream. this must be Bad Gastein - three breaks in a row

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and a mishit on the third bp gives Mayer another break back.

 

[Riotbeard]

I hope Mayer wins, Roger has not played well enough to deserve a W, and believe it or not, I did not come in rooting against rog.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

a big ROAR from Fed as he gets the BPs, and Mayer gives it to him on the second.

we'll see if Fed can hold serve for the... 3rd time? this set.

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alright, it's a wrap. weird match. seems like Fed's play hasn't exactly improved over the course of those three matches. but a W is a W, and most of all, it's another match under the belt with the new stick. good stuff.