Is Federer safe for London (WTF)?

[Kieran]

Crowd support helps. Generally. There are exceptions of course, and those exceptions are a bit more frequent in individual sports. So your buddy is making a fool out of himself by saying that crowd support never helps.

First off, he didn't say it "never helps." Secondly, I don't know why everyone is attacking him on this. It's actually an interesting topic in itself. I remember at the last Olympics the British swimmer Rebecca Adlington said she felt too much pressure in the home pool, and she got bronzes this time whereas in Beijing she nabbed two gold in the same events.

Then there are guys like Rafa and Roger who you'd expect don't mind a crowd being against them, they get on with the business anyway. I don't think Nole likes to be cast in the role of villain, and I imagine home advantage is great for him in DC. These things are arbitrary, I suppose, and even more so in individual sports...

She swam faster to get the Bronze than she did to get the gold though.

She possibly did, brother, but I'm only going by her post-race distress. The occasion got to her, swimming in the home pool...

 

[Kieran]

He did say that crowd support never helps: 'I don't see how a vocal, passionate home crowd is great for ANY player.'

In other words, not for one single player is crowd support great.

Anyway, good luck with spinning it.

The topic crowd support is of course interesting. That is: you need people to debate it with. Your friend is not open to reason, only to Nadal-worshipping in a distasteful way.

He used the words "any player" to quote Iona. Look further up.

As for the topic, yes it's interesting. I know Connors used relish the whole beer and chips floodlit matches at Flushing Meadows. It took a long time before Pete warmed to that. He didn't like overly distracting crowds. And they probably didn't warm to him so much either...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well, it almost looks like WTF field and seedings are set, although nothing is official.

But, let me take the liberty to jump the gun.

I want Fed's group to be the following.

Rafa, Ferrer, Federer and Gasquet.

Then, there is a good chance that Fed can beat all three of them and get 600
points, even if he loses in SF.

Note that the above group is a possibility as Rafa and Novak will be in different groups,
Ferrer and Delpotro will be in different groups, Federer and Berdych will be in different
groups and Gasquet and Wawrkinka will be in different groups, assuming the standing
among them remain the same.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

I want Naderer to meet twice, so that group would work for me.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well, it almost looks like WTF field and seedings are set, although nothing is official.

But, let me take the liberty to jump the gun.

I want Fed's group to be the following.

Rafa, Ferrer, Federer and Gasquet.

Then, there is a good chance that Fed can beat all three of them and get 600
points, even if he loses in SF.

Note that the above group is a possibility as Rafa and Novak will be in different groups,
Ferrer and Delpotro will be in different groups, Federer and Berdych will be in different
groups and Gasquet and Wawrkinka will be in different groups, assuming the standing
among them remain the same.

Continuing the wishful thinking (and at the same time looking at plausible things),
I want Fed to finigh #1 and Rafa as #2. Then I want Wawrinka to finish #2 in the
other group. Then I want Fed to defeat wawrinka in SF and Rafa to defeat winner
of other group.

Then I want Fed to defeat Rafa to finish the year with a bang.

 

[DarthFed]

Well, it almost looks like WTF field and seedings are set, although nothing is official.

But, let me take the liberty to jump the gun.

I want Fed's group to be the following.

Rafa, Ferrer, Federer and Gasquet.

Then, there is a good chance that Fed can beat all three of them and get 600
points, even if he loses in SF.

Note that the above group is a possibility as Rafa and Novak will be in different groups,
Ferrer and Delpotro will be in different groups, Federer and Berdych will be in different
groups and Gasquet and Wawrkinka will be in different groups, assuming the standing
among them remain the same.

Roger needs Ferrer in his group for any prayer of advancing. Maybe he can eek out a win over Gasquet or Wawrinka and get to the semi with 2-1. It's good that he can't meet Berd as that would figure to be a sure loss right now.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well, it almost looks like WTF field and seedings are set, although nothing is official.

But, let me take the liberty to jump the gun.

I want Fed's group to be the following.

Rafa, Ferrer, Federer and Gasquet.

Then, there is a good chance that Fed can beat all three of them and get 600
points, even if he loses in SF.

Note that the above group is a possibility as Rafa and Novak will be in different groups,
Ferrer and Delpotro will be in different groups, Federer and Berdych will be in different
groups and Gasquet and Wawrkinka will be in different groups, assuming the standing
among them remain the same.

Roger needs Ferrer in his group for any prayer of advancing. Maybe he can eek out a win over Gasquet or Wawrinka and get to the semi with 2-1. It's good that he can't meet Berd as that would figure to be a sure loss right now.

Yes, Ferrer is crucial. Given the current condition Fed will probably lose to
both Rafa and Djokovic and so it does not matter which one of them is in his group.
Similary, Fed will probably win against either Gasquet or Wawrinka and so it probably
does not matter which one of them is in his group. But, there is a ocean of difference
between Ferrer and Del Potro.

Having said that WTF may be Ferrer's moment just like USO was Robredo's.
We never know.

 

[tented]

GSM inspired me to figure out all possible groups, assuming their standings remain the same (I hope this is right. Let me know if I screwed up something). There are some interesting combinations:

Nadal
Ferrer
Berdych
Gasquet

Nadal
Ferrer
Federer
Gasquet

Nadal
Ferrer
Berdych
Wawrinka

Nadal
Ferrer
Federer
Wawrinka

Nadal
JMDP
Berdych
Gasquet

Nadal
JMDP
Federer
Gasquet

Nadal
JMDP
Berdych
Wawrinka

Nadal
JMDP
Federer
Wawrinka

*****

Djokovic
Ferrer
Berdych
Gasquet

Djokovic
Ferrer
Federer
Gasquet

Djokovic
Ferrer
Berdych
Wawrinka

Djokovic
Ferrer
Federer
Wawrinka

Djokovic
JMDP
Berdych
Gasquet

Djokovic
JMDP
Federer
Gasquet

Djokovic
JMDP
Berdych
Wawrinka

Djokovic
JMDP
Federer
Wawrinka

 

[Kieran]

Thanks T! Obviously the first group is best for Rafa, but there are many interesting scenarios. I think DP might have overcooked his schedule to be able to peak at the WTF. He might be a victim of his own success. And if Roger doesn't finish the season strongly, obviously his ranking at Oz could be perilous...

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Nice change to see Nadal physically fresher than the other big guns. And this is despite winning 10 titles! What a perfect year. If Nadal's goal was to win the World Tour Finals, congrats to him on scheduling to perfection (and avoiding marathons).

 

[GameSetAndMath]

GSM inspired me to figure out all possible groups, assuming their standings remain the same (I hope this is right. Let me know if I screwed up something). There are some interesting combinations:

Nadal
Ferrer
Berdych
Gasquet

Nadal
Ferrer
Federer
Gasquet

Nadal
Ferrer
Berdych
Wawrinka

Nadal
Ferrer
Federer
Wawrinka

Nadal
JMDP
Berdych
Gasquet

Nadal
JMDP
Federer
Gasquet

Nadal
JMDP
Berdych
Wawrinka

Nadal
JMDP
Federer
Wawrinka

*****

Djokovic
Ferrer
Berdych
Gasquet

Djokovic
Ferrer
Federer
Gasquet

Djokovic
Ferrer
Berdych
Wawrinka

Djokovic
Ferrer
Federer
Wawrinka

Djokovic
JMDP
Berdych
Gasquet

Djokovic
JMDP
Federer
Gasquet

Djokovic
JMDP
Berdych
Wawrinka

Djokovic
JMDP
Federer
Wawrinka

You should get a life. :

 

[tented]

You should get a life. :

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Eight were in the running for WTF spot at the beginning of Paris.

7 Roger Federer 3,445
8 Stanislas Wawrinka 3,150
9 Richard Gasquet 3,120
10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3,055
11 Milos Raonic 2,770
12 Tommy Haas* 2,425
13 Nicolas Almagro* 2,200
14 Mikhail Youzhny* 2,135

Now, only four are left in the running for the 3 slots. The ohter 4 were
mathematically eliminated. Latest victim is Haas with first round loss.

Fed, Wawrinka, Gasquet and Milos.

These are the only 4 left and Milos needs to reach finals of Paris to stand
any chance of qualifying.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

If he makes it, Raonic will be the most poorly skilled player ever to qualify for the World Tour Finals.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

If he makes it, Raonic will be the most poorly skilled player ever to qualify for the World Tour Finals.

...and your qualifications to have a judgment on that subject are...?

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Original Poster,

Your question is answered now. Fed is safe for London.

Sorry it took so long to answer.

 

[tented]

Im considering flying over and getting tickets, but i'll only go if The Great Maestro is there. Can anyone lay out the different scenarios?

Book your flight, Coban. He'll be in London.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Im considering flying over and getting tickets, but i'll only go if The Great Maestro is there. Can anyone lay out the different scenarios?

Book your flight, Coban. He'll be in London.

The cost of flight would have been quadrupled for Coban

 

[Denis]

The group I am hoping for if Nadal loses before the finals in Paris:

Nadal
JMDP
Berdych
Gasquet

If Nadal makes the finals, I couldn't care less about the group, then I'll just be hoping for a Nadal Djokovic final.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Just thought I will bring it to people's attention. Fed qualified for the 12th straight
year. That is again a record. Tying with Lendl for most consecutive appearances.

For most non-consecutive appearances, Agassis holds the record with 14 appearances.
Both of these info are found in the article on ATP website about Fed qualifying.