Roger's Quest for #1 (and Rafa's QF exit implications)

[Moxie]

Not sure if you're just being sarky here, but since he probably won't be playing until Wednesday, that gives him a clear additional 6 days of practice, and since he's never done the practice til you drop routine of at least one other player, I guess it will be enough - or to use your word "fine"

In truth, I'm being a little snarky. Fed fans complained endlessly that he didn't have enough prep before Montreal. I'm guessing it would have been similar to this. It could hardly have been less. And you can look at it one of two ways: after Wimbledon last summer he had a few weeks lay-off and so might have needed more time to get into match shape. As for Rotterdam, it's less time in between, and so he could be more match-ready, if he's rested enough.

 

[DarthFed]

In truth, I'm being a little snarky. Fed fans complained endlessly that he didn't have enough prep before Montreal. I'm guessing it would have been similar to this. It could hardly have been less. And you can look at it one of two ways: after Wimbledon last summer he had a few weeks lay-off and so might have needed more time to get into match shape. As for Rotterdam, it's less time in between, and so he could be more match-ready, if he's rested enough.

Well that's false, I think Roger admitted that Montreal was a last second decision and he had barely practiced after Wimbledon if at all.

 

[Moxie]

Well that's false, I think Roger admitted that Montreal was a last second decision and he had barely practiced after Wimbledon if at all.

You've always said that. I find it a bit unbelievable. But I'll go with what you say...you follow Roger, and I don't.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well that's false, I think Roger admitted that Montreal was a last second decision and he had barely practiced after Wimbledon if at all.

Well, even in that condition he managed to reach the finals (mostly due to aura). Now, he only needs to reach SF.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well that's good at least. It means they were likely leaning towards playing this for at least a few days now. I still don't like it as playing Dubai is "letting it come to him", no extra, meaningless tournaments like this. The problem I see is that if he doesn't get #1 here he will play Dubai for it and then we are talking a lot of tennis if he plays IW and Miami and still wants to try his luck on clay this season.

Come on this one is as meaningful as Dubai, if not more. Both Dubai and Rotterdam are 500 events and thus have the same status.
Further, Dubai has much weaker field due to the field splitting between two parallel 500 events. But, in Rotterdam there is no such
split and so the field is extremely strong.

 

[Moxie]

Well, even in that condition he managed to reach the finals (mostly due to aura). Now, he only needs to reach SF.

But isn't the point that he reached the final at the sacrifice of his back? NB: I don't think he reached the final due to his "aura" but a pretty favorable draw. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Rogers_Cup_–_Men's_Singles

 

[DarthFed]

Well, even in that condition he managed to reach the finals (mostly due to aura). Now, he only needs to reach SF.

Yeah he reached the final and yet we still can count that as the worst scheduling decision of his career. He went from clear if not heavy favorite at USO to a non-factor.

 

[DarthFed]

Come on this one is as meaningful as Dubai, if not more. Both Dubai and Rotterdam are 500 events and thus have the same status.
Further, Dubai has much weaker field due to the field splitting between two parallel 500 events. But, in Rotterdam there is no such
split and so the field is extremely strong.

Saying they're meaningless may have been an overstatement but it's really about the big events now and tournaments like Rotterdam and Dubai aren't prep for big events like Halle or Doha/Hopman Cup are. It also doesn't mean as much to him as Basel for obvious reasons. So normally this is as close to a meaningless tournament for Roger as you can get, but this year it clearly means the world to him as he can get back to #1. I just hope he comes in sharp and gets #1, otherwise this can quickly turn into a mess.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Yeah he reached the final and yet we still can count that as the worst scheduling decision of his career. He went from clear if not heavy favorite at USO to a non-factor.

Agreed. But, no point crying over spilt milk.

My point is different. Even without practice he reached finals. Here, he only needs to reach SF. So, it should be possible on
paper even if he did not practice. Even if he aggravates his body, there is no slam to mess up in the near future. But, he is
practicing and so neither bad event will happen.

 

[DarthFed]

Ain't about crying over spilt milk, it is about learning from a catastrophic error in judgment. Like you said it appears he has been practicing and was thinking about playing this for awhile and that separates this from Montreal. Obviously he can and should make at least the semis, what I don't like is what happens if he gets upset early. Then he plays Dubai and that's not good.

 

[Andy22]

Yeah he reached the final and yet we still can count that as the worst scheduling decision of his career. He went from clear if not heavy favorite at USO to a non-factor.

Federer would have still got ass kicked by del potro even if he did not play Montreal. Also del potro saved nadal from losing a another major to Federer

 

[Federberg]

Federer would have still got ass kicked by del potro even if he did not play Montreal. Also del potro saved nadal from losing a another major to Federer

I'm heartened that you think Rafa would have lost to Federer. I'm actually not so sure given his troubles with the likes of Youzhny and Tiafoe.

 

[Andy22]

Its going to be interesting to see how Federer play's first Time since AO if he gets to the SF Federer earned World number one. Hats off to Federer oldest 1no even if its just for a few weeks then Nadal gets it back.

 

[MartyB]

It's fairly clear that Rafa having YE#1 oldest bothers you guys, since Roger is the Old Man of tennis. You'll just gigolo all the records, no matter the cost? Both his weeks at #1 and consecutive weeks at #1 have to be safe for some long time. But I get it: even one week at #1 now, and he's the oldest #1, at least over Andre. I find it strange that you're gaming for it so hard right now. With the point spread between Rafa and Roger at the top, it seems just a matter of time. Do you really think it's wise for him to push it so hard immediately?

I'll admit that it does claw at me that Rafa ended the year at #1 fundamentally because with everything being equal Fed dominated Rafa the entire year. It was his decision not to play any clay but I don't think he every thought he could catch him. Now that he has the chance to grab it I say why not? No one knows what will happen in the future so if its a record Fed wants to have I say get it. He knows his body and mind better than we do and if he feels now is the time go for it.

 

[Andy22]

I'll admit that it does claw at me that Rafa ended the year at #1 fundamentally because with everything being equal Fed dominated Rafa the entire year. It was his decision not to play any clay but I don't think he every thought he could catch him. Now that he has the chance to grab it I say why not? No

I'll admit that it does claw at me that Rafa ended the year at #1 fundamentally because with everything being equal Fed dominated Rafa the entire year. It was his decision not to play any clay but I don't think he every thought he could catch him. Now that he has the chance to grab it I say why not? No one knows what will happen in the future so if its a record Fed wants to have I say get it. He knows his body and mind better than we do and if he feels now is the time go for it.

I think Nadal would get World number one back If Roger federer skips Dubai and Rafa wins Mexico title that would put nadal 100pts ahead even if Federer wins next week.?

 

[El Dude]

I think Nadal would get World number one back If Roger federer skips Dubai and Rafa wins Mexico title that would put nadal 100pts ahead even if Federer wins next week.?

No. If Roger wins Rotterdam he'll be 600 points ahead of Rafa going into Dubai/Acapulco (with those points taken off), which means he'll be #1 at least until Indian Wells.

So let's say Roger wins Rotterdam, skips Dubai, and Rafa wins Acapulco. Roger's +100 going into IW. After IW points come off, Rafa goes up +810 as Roger loses 1000 points and Rafa only 90. The differential increases by another 400 after Miami, so the gap would be +1210 to Rafa without new IW/Miami points. Of course then Raf has 4680 points to defend during clay season, so unless Roger struggles now and Rafa does at least as well as last year, Roger will almost certainly be #1 (again) during clay season, at least for parts of it.

But let's see how Roger does at Rotterdam first - there are some tough opponents and a title is not a foregone conclusion.

 

[Moxie]

I'll admit that it does claw at me that Rafa ended the year at #1 fundamentally because with everything being equal Fed dominated Rafa the entire year. It was his decision not to play any clay but I don't think he every thought he could catch him. Now that he has the chance to grab it I say why not? No one knows what will happen in the future so if its a record Fed wants to have I say get it. He knows his body and mind better than we do and if he feels now is the time go for it.

I find it kind of gratifying that Roger thinks enough about his rivalry with Rafa to go to such lengths to wrest the #1 away from him, even if for a short time. (Someone is going to try to tell me it has nothing to do with Nadal, but I doubt anyone believes that's 100% true.)

 

[Federberg]

I find it kind of gratifying that Roger thinks enough about his rivalry with Rafa to go to such lengths to wrest the #1 away from him, even if for a short time. (Someone is going to try to tell me it has nothing to do with Nadal, but I doubt anyone believes that's 100% true.)

Good grief! You would think Federer was the one chasing Nadal's achievements the way you go on. I don't even think Rafa makes decisions in the context of what Roger has done. These guys are champions and just want to win. Next you're going to suggest that if anyone else was no 1 at the moment Federer wouldn't even bother. FFS he's going for no 1 to pad his stats as the oldest no 1 ever, and I wouldn't be shocked if there were endorsement kickers involved as well. I don't agree with it, but it has absolutely nothing to do with taking the position from Rafa. Wow...

 

[MartyB]

I find it kind of gratifying that Roger thinks enough about his rivalry with Rafa to go to such lengths to wrest the #1 away from him, even if for a short time. (Someone is going to try to tell me it has nothing to do with Nadal, but I doubt anyone believes that's 100% true.)

Why on earth would Rafa play a 250 tournament in Mexico that he clearly doesn't need and just came off an injury at the AO? We know the answer to that..He doesn't want to lose the #1 ranking...I get it I'm not berating him but if Fed wants to play Rotterdam its seems a little desperate to you to get the #1ranking? We are talking about two extremely competitive champions..The #1 ranking does mean something very important to both of them. The two of them will be going at it all year but Fed wants that record...

 

[El Dude]

@Moxie, you are displaying previously unrevealed levels of Federer butthurt in this thread