Hamburg

[DarthFed]

Good start for Fed so far. He shouldn't have as much trouble holding serve today I would think.

 

[tented]

^ And he gets broken right back. :s

 

[tented]

Easy hold at love to get to 3-3.

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Easy hold for Delbonis to get to 4-3.

 

[El Dude]

I keep waiting to see Federer up it a notch and look like some degree of his former self, but I don't see it. He looks like a much reduced player - someone more on the level of a Nishikori, Simon, etc - a top 10-20 player.

 

[tented]

Impressive: Delbonis wins the first set in a tiebreak.

 

[El Dude]

I don't know whether to be impressed or not. Lesser players keep having "impressive" outings against Federer. But are they magically upping it a notch or is Federer just not playing very well?

 

[DarthFed]

A new racquet alone will not cure all that ails Federer. The most important thing is how badly he wants it at this point. Players now look at him as just an opportunity to beat a huge legend who isn't that good anymore. Federer seems to be out there with the idea that life is still great if he loses that day. Understandable...yet detrimental.

 

[herios]

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!!

 

[Srini]

Fed is getting all the practice he wanted. He needs to work hard to be in the finals now.

 

[DarthFed]

I don't know whether to be impressed or not. Lesser players keep having "impressive" outings against Federer. But are they magically upping it a notch or is Federer just not playing very well?

You're noticing that trend too It's a little of both. DelBonis plays decent aggressive tennis but Roger's return is so utterly pathetic that it's hard not to stay with him in sets. And if it's close at the end anyone can win.

 

[tented]

I don't know whether to be impressed or not. Lesser players keep having "impressive" outings against Federer. But are they magically upping it a notch or is Federer just not playing very well?

I'm mostly impressed with Delbonis going up against the GOAT (for the first time, no less), and winning the set in a tiebreak, after having already blown two set points. A lot of players ranked that low wouldn't be up a set against Federer.

At the same time, Federer is not "Federer" right now, either.

 

[El Dude]

Right, I think that's the point - this doesn't look like the GOAT, even the slightly diminished 2010-12 GOAT.

That said, those last two points in the first game of the second set looked like vintage Federer.

 

[herios]

I don't know whether to be impressed or not. Lesser players keep having "impressive" outings against Federer. But are they magically upping it a notch or is Federer just not playing very well?

IMO it is a very simple explanation to this, everybody and his brother on tour know that the GOAT is not what he used to be, so why not score a win against him before he retires so I will have a memory to cherish and tell that story to my grandkids when I get old?
they might not get a second chance, so let's make the most of it!

 

[tented]

They both need to quit trying drop shots

 

[El Dude]

Fed's having to dig deep for each game, while Delbonis seems to win his serves relatively quickly.

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I don't know whether to be impressed or not. Lesser players keep having "impressive" outings against Federer. But are they magically upping it a notch or is Federer just not playing very well?

IMO it is a very simple explanation to this, everybody and his brother on tour know that the GOAT is not what he used to be, so why not score a win against him before he retires so I will have a memory to cherish and tell that story to my grandkids when I get old?
they might not get a second chance, so let's make the most of it!

That's sort of sad. I'm reminded of the older, once dominant, male lion in a pride that the younger, stronger lions beat up on before the older lion finally calls it quits.

---

Wow, there's some rare visible frustration from Federer.

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Maybe that helped him - what a great point right there (to go 15-30).

 

[kskate2]

I just rolled out the bed. What? Say it ain't so? Fed struggling w/ the Verdy slayer?

 

[DarthFed]

I just rolled out the bed. What? Say it ain't so? Fed struggling w/ the Verdy slayer?

Your eyes sadly don't deceive you. If he hadn't just lost in the 2nd round of Wimbledon I'd call this potential loss his worst in over 10 years.

 

[kskate2]

That was a better return Darth. It earns him a BP

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Saved. Del has a answer on the slap volley

 

[Riotbeard]

Delbonis is playing great to be fair. He hasn't been one of the players who upsets one seed then falls apart.

 

[Srini]

A new racquet alone will not cure all that ails Federer. The most important thing is how badly he wants it at this point. Players now look at him as just an opportunity to beat a huge legend who isn't that good anymore. Federer seems to be out there with the idea that life is still great if he loses that day. Understandable...yet detrimental.

True. These days Fed is too comfortable losing. He is too gracious after defeats (by his standards), smiles after losing and doesnt show that arrogance. Thats not a good sign for him, thats not what he is. I feel good when he looks and talks arrogant, being not too gracious after defeats - that shows he still wants to win.