McEnroe on Federer's chances at #18

[DarthFed]

Actually, if Fed won this uso, I wouldn't be surprised. He is not old enough to be written off.

I wouldn't write him off due to his age, I'm writing him off due to him being awful all season long. Not even Roger is going from dud to beast in one tournament, coming back strong will take some time.

You never know, Darth! A man like him is so experienced that once he clicks he could be on fire in an instant...

And it will last a set or 2 at most as we saw in Cincy

 

[DarthFed]

Eh, I think your point about 2002 required a bit of balancing, not being touchy at all, my friend! It was great seeing the crocked 'Dre give Federer the shivers in 2004 and 2005. At his peak, he didn't quite do that to Pete in NY, but then, Pete wasn't one to take much guff from Agassi...

6-1 in the 4th was a lot of shivers? Pretty sure Agassi gave tougher matches to Pete at USO than that one.

I think Dre was up a break in the 3rd before 3 successive five-setters caught up with him....

He was up a break in the 3rd until Roger woke up and completely demolished him. Hardly much of a scare when it didn't go 5 and the last set was 6-1. 2004 was a scare and wind was the equalizer in that match, the windiest conditions I can remember, and Andre handled them better.

 

[Kieran]

Yeah, the pop certainly went out of Agassi in that 3rd set.

We'll see on Fed. I think you're being unnecessarily too harsh, but I wouldn't have him as favourite either. He's 32 and the draw is loaded. However, if Rafa doesn't make the QF, there's not much there to trouble a Fed-march to the final...

 

[tented]

Yeah, the pop certainly went out of Agassi in that 3rd set.

We'll see on Fed. I think you're being unnecessarily too harsh, but I wouldn't have him as favourite either. He's 32 and the draw is loaded. However, if Rafa doesn't make the QF, there's not much there to trouble a Fed-march to the final...

Exactly. That's really the only guy who can pose a serious threat to Roger in the bottom half. The top half would be a nightmare for him (JMDP, Berdych, Murray, Djokovic, etc.), but Fed could handle Ferrer and Gasquet with one hand tied behind his back.

 

[DarthFed]

Rafa isn't losing before the QF and unless Roger seriously turns back the clock he isn't making it a real contest. And Roger just lost to a guy who will only be the answer to a trivia question at Wimbledon. I don't think he is guaranteed to beat everyone but Nadal in the bottom half

 

[britbox]

And Darcis won't be a trivia question?

You go in too hard on Federer buddy.... he'll make the QF.

 

[DarthFed]

And Darcis won't be a trivia question?

You go in too hard on Federer buddy.... he'll make the QF.

Good point but Rafa seems to have righted the ship and this isn't a nightmare surface for him.

I expect Roger to make the QF too but it isn't a slam dunk like it was the last 9 years

 

[tented]

This isn't 2002. There isn't a never-won-a-major young Andy Roddick in the quarters, and no Scheng Schalken in the semis. There's no chance of 32-year old Roger pulling a USO title out of a hat.

Luckily for him, given the form of Agassi that year, because he battled hard to beat a 35 year old crocked Agassi in 2005, after the veteran had just finished 3 five setters.

I'm thinking the negativity of Fedfans is a ploy to cushion the blow if he loses, or raise the roof if he wins. He's Federer! Of course he has a chance, even against Nadal. And most especially if he's gone that far in the first place...

I'd still feel better if Nadal was on the other side of the draw.

I really think the Nadal losses are in his head.....he is basically down a set before he even takes the court it seems.

Welcome to Tennis Frontier, Star!

There's something to this notion of already being down upon taking court. I'm half joking and half serious, but if we could somehow set it up so that Roger's playing Rafa, but doesn't know it, I suspect the results could be different than if he knew for certain he was playing Rafa. Unrealistic, of course, but it's an interesting thought experiment.

 

[ClayDeath]

roger will be in the quarters.


I think that is where the buck stops.

 

[Tennis Miller]

Yeah, the pop certainly went out of Agassi in that 3rd set.

We'll see on Fed. I think you're being unnecessarily too harsh, but I wouldn't have him as favourite either. He's 32 and the draw is loaded. However, if Rafa doesn't make the QF, there's not much there to trouble a Fed-march to the final...

It'll be interesting to see how the odds makers set the line for the Fedal quarter if it happens. I don't imagine many of us would put a dollar on Roger over Rafa even at 100-1.

By the way, Keiran, I like your avatar!

Cheers
TM

 

[Tennis Miller]

Rafa isn't losing before the QF and unless Roger seriously turns back the clock he isn't making it a real contest. And Roger just lost to a guy who will only be the answer to a trivia question at Wimbledon. I don't think he is guaranteed to beat everyone but Nadal in the bottom half

Seeing how easily Federer is taking care of Robredo, it's clear Rafa won't have much of a chance of stopping Roger's march to the final "with one hand tied behind his back".

That was sarcasm.

Cheers

TM

 

[Fiero425]

Rafa isn't losing before the QF and unless Roger seriously turns back the clock he isn't making it a real contest. And Roger just lost to a guy who will only be the answer to a trivia question at Wimbledon. I don't think he is guaranteed to beat everyone but Nadal in the bottom half

Seeing how easily Federer is taking care of Robredo, it's clear Rafa won't have much of a chance of stopping Roger's march to the final "with one hand tied behind his back".

That was sarcasm.

Cheers

TM

I knew it had to be something! lol! :laydownlaughing Roger looking old and haggard out there! He's missing by so much! Reminds me of Navratilova in her last year; OMG! :nono :nono :nono