Indian Wells

[Front242]

I'm beginning to wish Roger had changed racquets 3-4 years ago.

No kidding, the only good thing about 2013 is that it was so bad that he felt compelled to change something. Fed mentioned before he had thought about changing racquets but he was still winning his fair share of majors or was at least in the picture until last year.

Well I know the back issues contributed a lot to his poor play last year but he's definitely shanking a lot less right now and that's something that would've definitely benefitted him even when he was still winning majors. I can see why he didn't of course when he was still winning majors but equally if he watched some youtube clips of some horror shankfests he may think maybe he should've reconsidered it.

Anyway, delighted he's playing so well and I'm definitely gonna watch set 2 when it's online.

 

[Front242]

I'm beginning to wish Roger had changed racquets 3-4 years ago.

The man is resistant to change. Just be glad he finally warmed up to this one.

Sure am. No point having a smaller racquet than all the younger guys and taking those shanks with him to the grave. Shanks but no shanks, shank you very much Plus, for years they've had extra power he didn't due to bigger/better racquet heads.

 

[Moxie]

I'm beginning to wish Roger had changed racquets 3-4 years ago.

No kidding, the only good thing about 2013 is that it was so bad that he felt compelled to change something. Fed mentioned before he had thought about changing racquets but he was still winning his fair share of majors or was at least in the picture until last year.

That's kind of what I was saying above. Because Roger has always been so good, and so confident in his weapons, he's been very reluctant about change or adjustments, somewhat to his detriment. I agree he probably needed a year without any real rewards to make him see that something had to change.

 

[DarthFed]

Yes, Roger has been a lot better this year but you have to enjoy matches like these as much as possible because it's rare.

 

[Front242]

He was great yesterday too. That's two in a row!

 

[DarthFed]

I think he was quite a bit better today though it is a different opponent - worse mover and worse baseline play but better serve.

 

[Moxie]

I'm beginning to wish Roger had changed racquets 3-4 years ago.

No kidding, the only good thing about 2013 is that it was so bad that he felt compelled to change something. Fed mentioned before he had thought about changing racquets but he was still winning his fair share of majors or was at least in the picture until last year.

Well I know the back issues contributed a lot to his poor play last year but he's definitely shanking a lot less right now and that's something that would've definitely benefitted him even when he was still winning majors. I can see why he didn't of course when he was still winning majors but equally if he watched some youtube clips of some horror shankfests he may think maybe he should've reconsidered it.

Anyway, delighted he's playing so well and I'm definitely gonna watch set 2 when it's online.

You missed it because you lost your stream, right? I think you'll be well pleased. No real shanks to speak of, and his anticipation on such a good server as Anderson was especially good. He's looking a little scary again, at the moment. (Don't think I'm happy about that.)

 

[Front242]

Well from what I was able to see ('cos my stream died and I missed all set 2), his ROS was outstanding against a guy with such a big serve. Not counting the ones that Kev splat into the middle of the net obviously

 

[Moxie]

Well from what I was able to see ('cos my stream died and I missed all set 2), his ROS was outstanding against a guy with such a big serve. Not counting the ones that Kev splat into the middle of the net obviously

Anderson was trying hard to hang in with Fed in the beginning of the second set. But Roger was even in on his first serves, often. That through Kevin off, and then that was pretty much the end of it.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I think he was quite a bit better today though it is a different opponent - worse mover and worse baseline play but better serve.

Actually, he improved quite a bit in 3rd and 4th matches in comparison to 1st and 2nd.
In both 1st and 2nd matches, he faltered while serving to finish out a set. Against PHM,
it was actually in the second set when serving for the match.

But, Fed's serve is always well known (although sometimes MIA). But, his ROS
has definitely improved considerably.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Did you all hear Fed singing,

"Used to be my playground ...... It is all coming back to me".

 

[Front242]

Well from what I was able to see ('cos my stream died and I missed all set 2), his ROS was outstanding against a guy with such a big serve. Not counting the ones that Kev splat into the middle of the net obviously

Anderson was trying hard to hang in with Fed in the beginning of the second set. But Roger was even in on his first serves, often. That through Kevin off, and then that was pretty much the end of it.

Yeah, take away a big server's main weapon and it's a bit like Samson with a wet shave all over. Nothing left.

 

[Moxie]

Well from what I was able to see ('cos my stream died and I missed all set 2), his ROS was outstanding against a guy with such a big serve. Not counting the ones that Kev splat into the middle of the net obviously

Anderson was trying hard to hang in with Fed in the beginning of the second set. But Roger was even in on his first serves, often. That through Kevin off, and then that was pretty much the end of it.

Yeah, take away a big server's main weapon and it's a bit like Samson with a wet shave all over. Nothing left.

Exactly. For all that Roger did very nicely, the most important thing he did was neutralize Anderson's serve. After that, the rest was rather window dressing. I didn't see the stats, but I'm pretty sure Roger was the finer server in that 2nd set. Not going to get it done for Anderson.

 

[Front242]

Nope. No chance for a big server to win against a top player if they're not at least holding their own serve.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well from what I was able to see ('cos my stream died and I missed all set 2), his ROS was outstanding against a guy with such a big serve. Not counting the ones that Kev splat into the middle of the net obviously

Anderson was trying hard to hang in with Fed in the beginning of the second set. But Roger was even in on his first serves, often. That through Kevin off, and then that was pretty much the end of it.

Yeah, take away a big server's main weapon and it's a bit like Samson with a wet shave all over. Nothing left.

I remember a few years ago (have to look up to see exactly which year). Novak won the
IW and then moved on to Miami. He drew Anderson for the 1st match that he has to play.
Anderson promptly dismissed Novak with his missiles in straight sets.

I think Murray is better than Novak in handling big servers.

 

[Front242]

^ Quite possibly alright. Novak had no answer for Isner either also at IW I believe. Has he ever played Janowicz? Late and too lazy to check.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Roger always says that the most important thing to do when playing against a big server
is to protect your own serve very carefully. This is because of the expectation that you are
not going to get very many chances to break.

See, Roger got broken at least once in all of his previous matches. Today, he was not
broken even once. In fact, there was only one break point KA had and he could not convert.

This is the real key to playing against a big server.

 

[jhar26]

I'm beginning to wish Roger had changed racquets 3-4 years ago.

The man is resistant to change. Just be glad he finally warmed up to this one.

Yes, although it's understandable that he didn't want to change anything while he was going strong. Three or four years ago Fed was no longer dominating the tour, but he was still very much in the mix. Still, it makes one wonder about what could have been. But I suppose that there are ifs and buts about anyone's career.

 

[ftan]

Goodbye Mr Anderson.

Great play by Roger. I hope he can keep this up for another, uhm, 4-5 years or so...:snigger

All I can say is .. Amen!!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I'm beginning to wish Roger had changed racquets 3-4 years ago.

The man is resistant to change. Just be glad he finally warmed up to this one.

Yes, although it's understandable that he didn't want to change anything while he was going strong. Three or four years ago Fed was no longer dominating the tour, but he was still very much in the mix. Still, it makes one wonder about what could have been. But I suppose that there are ifs and buts about anyone's career.

Pete Sampras regretted aloud that he wished he moved to bigger racquets before retiring.
He indeed uses bigger ones in the senior circuit.