Shanghai Masters ATP 1000

[mrzz]

Fairly incredible result for Roger today. Totally surprising, not because of any other reason than I think Nole should be dispatching a 33 year old routinely by now. But obviously Roger is playing at levels unknown to old geezers from previous eras. He must have been exceptional today, to sweep aside Novak in straights... :clap

That's because he's the GOGOAT (Greateast Old Geezer Of All Time).

 

[brokenshoelace]

That was some performance by Federer. Serve and forehand clicking, and the backhand held its own. That was complimented by a really good performance at the net. Not much anyone can do when all of that comes together.

Ironically, I wasn't a fan of the continuous chip and charge (I really think this tactic is dead in today's game). I understand the logic: Roger doesn't aim to win every point when he does that. But it's a long haul thing: When he chips and charges on a few points, even if he loses them (and he did, for the most part), it puts the idea in his opponent's head, who now expects it, and maybe feels like he needs to do something extra on the second serve or look for Roger to come in behind the slice. That said, I still think guys like Nadal, Murray and Novak are too good on the pass, especially if you're just floating a ball back in play and rushing the net. The return needs to be really deep and low for that to work. Even when Roger was winning points after a chip and charge, it had more to do with some unbelievable reflexes at the net rather than a good approach.

On his own serve though, his decisions to attack the net were generally spot on, as was the execution. As a matter of fact, the shot selection on the whole was quite spectacular. Great performance.

 

[Federberg]

I agree BS. I would add though that some of the approaches that looked really hopeless were actually mistimed shots. You could see that he was somewhat disappointed with them, and they hadn't come off quite as well as he hoped. If he keeps doing this, he'll get used to what he has to do and he'll be even more of a threat. For me, it was far and away the most encouraging tennis I've seen him play in a few years. Perhaps it's taken all this time for him to get comfortable executing what Stefan wanted him to do. There is no reason at all for this guy to stop playing anytime soon. Particularly as I think this type of tennis will be far too much for anyone.. anyone apart from Novak and Rafa of course. If he can cut through the field more easily he might even be able to consistently present both of those guys with more of a challenge, you never know

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I have set my watch for Cali to come and tell us how Roger is getting younger everyday, but I guess he is busy...

It did look like the TMF here and there today though, no?

 

[britbox]

That was some performance by Federer. Serve and forehand clicking, and the backhand held its own. That was complimented by a really good performance at the net. Not much anyone can do when all of that comes together.

Ironically, I wasn't a fan of the continuous chip and charge (I really think this tactic is dead in today's game). I understand the logic: Roger doesn't aim to win every point when he does that. But it's a long haul thing: When he chips and charges on a few points, even if he loses them (and he did, for the most part), it puts the idea in his opponent's head, who now expects it, and maybe feels like he needs to do something extra on the second serve or looks for Roger to come in behind the slice. That said, I still think guys like Nadal, Murray and Novak are too good on the pass, especially if you're just floating a ball back in play and rushing the net. The return needs to be really deep and low for that to work. Even when Roger was winning points after a chip and charge, it had more to do with some unbelievable reflexes at the net rather than a good approach.

On his own serve though, his decisions to attack the net were generally spot on, as was the execution. As a matter of fact, the shot selection on the whole was quite spectacular. Great performance.

Good post and agree on the chip and charge.

While Federer's volleying was the best I've seen from him since his early Wimbledon days - it was his forehand that was the real game changer for me. Real bite with great depth on the shot. Great all round performance.

 

[Tennis Miller]

I just hope he can keep this up going into Australia. Fingers crossed he secures number 2 so he's got his own half there. Then we can only hope Rafa and Novak face each other!

I feel it's difficult to draw any conclusion from this match as far as Majors are concerned. Nole is a different animal in best of five format.

It's less about how he matches up to Novak in a slam, and more about his general performance. If he builds up a lot of confidence, then he will get deep. Then anything can happen

This was not only 2/3 set format, but also indoors. Roger's 2 best conditions at this point in his career. Time of the match was only 95 minutes. Outdoors, in the AO sun, I can't see him redlining 3/5 sets vs Novak like he did today. Still, a great performance, but not one that provides any really good tea leaves for predicting the 2015 majors.

Cheers
TM

 

[britbox]

Fairly incredible result for Roger today. Totally surprising, not because of any other reason than I think Nole should be dispatching a 33 year old routinely by now. But obviously Roger is playing at levels unknown to old geezers from previous eras. He must have been exceptional today, to sweep aside Novak in straights... :clap

I wouldn't say the result was incredible - he'd beaten Novak twice already this year and they generally have good matches which swing one way or another on a selection of big points.

The way he played was incredible however, mixed things up well, combined with superb execution.

Plenty of old geezers have done well in their thirties - Pancho G, Laver, Rosewall, Agassi... to name a few. It's probably helped Federer's longevity and career that he generally doesn't win matches via wars of attrition from the baseline.

 

[Federberg]

I just hope he can keep this up going into Australia. Fingers crossed he secures number 2 so he's got his own half there. Then we can only hope Rafa and Novak face each other!

I feel it's difficult to draw any conclusion from this match as far as Majors are concerned. Nole is a different animal in best of five format.

It's less about how he matches up to Novak in a slam, and more about his general performance. If he builds up a lot of confidence, then he will get deep. Then anything can happen

This was not only 2/3 set format, but also indoors. Roger's 2 best conditions at this point in his career. Time of the match was only 95 minutes. Outdoors, in the AO sun, I can't see him redlining 3/5 sets vs Novak like he did today. Still, a great performance, but not one that provides any really good tea leaves for predicting the 2015 majors.

Cheers
TM

I think this was played outdoors actually. I could be wrong...

As for the AO. He gets consistently deep in that tournament. More so than any other slam I believe, has he failed to get to a semi there in the last 10yrs? Anyway.. my point is that if he keeps playing with confidence then there is a chance he cuts through the field easier than in recent times. If he's fresh, anything can happen. Let's see

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

world no1 mr djokovic had his bottom handed to him on a golden platter by mr Federer.

 

[brokenshoelace]

That was some performance by Federer. Serve and forehand clicking, and the backhand held its own. That was complimented by a really good performance at the net. Not much anyone can do when all of that comes together.

Ironically, I wasn't a fan of the continuous chip and charge (I really think this tactic is dead in today's game). I understand the logic: Roger doesn't aim to win every point when he does that. But it's a long haul thing: When he chips and charges on a few points, even if he loses them (and he did, for the most part), it puts the idea in his opponent's head, who now expects it, and maybe feels like he needs to do something extra on the second serve or looks for Roger to come in behind the slice. That said, I still think guys like Nadal, Murray and Novak are too good on the pass, especially if you're just floating a ball back in play and rushing the net. The return needs to be really deep and low for that to work. Even when Roger was winning points after a chip and charge, it had more to do with some unbelievable reflexes at the net rather than a good approach.

On his own serve though, his decisions to attack the net were generally spot on, as was the execution. As a matter of fact, the shot selection on the whole was quite spectacular. Great performance.

Good post and agree on the chip and charge.

While Federer's volleying was the best I've seen from him since his early Wimbledon days - it was his forehand that was the real game changer for me. Real bite with great depth on the shot. Great all round performance.

Yes. I really think for anyone who doesn't fully remember Fed in his prime, or has watched him so much over the past few years that they're used to his current level and forgot about his peak years, watch videos of his 2006 days and see how "Federer running around his forehand = rally over." I mean, it almost happened without fail. The inside out forehand was a killer, and it was refreshing to see it look so sharp again today. I also thought he was changing direction and going up the line from his actual forehand side really well, better than I've seen him in forever.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I just hope he can keep this up going into Australia. Fingers crossed he secures number 2 so he's got his own half there. Then we can only hope Rafa and Novak face each other!

I feel it's difficult to draw any conclusion from this match as far as Majors are concerned. Nole is a different animal in best of five format.

It's less about how he matches up to Novak in a slam, and more about his general performance. If he builds up a lot of confidence, then he will get deep. Then anything can happen

This was not only 2/3 set format, but also indoors. Roger's 2 best conditions at this point in his career. Time of the match was only 95 minutes. Outdoors, in the AO sun, I can't see him redlining 3/5 sets vs Novak like he did today. Still, a great performance, but not one that provides any really good tea leaves for predicting the 2015 majors.

Cheers
TM

I think this was played outdoors actually. I could be wrong...

Yeah Shanghai is outdoors.

 

[TsarMatt]

Good stuff, Federer!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Fed is present day Rasputin, the man will not go away..Only Rafa is his Kyptonite, unbelievable.

 

[Tennis Miller]

I feel it's difficult to draw any conclusion from this match as far as Majors are concerned. Nole is a different animal in best of five format.

It's less about how he matches up to Novak in a slam, and more about his general performance. If he builds up a lot of confidence, then he will get deep. Then anything can happen

This was not only 2/3 set format, but also indoors. Roger's 2 best conditions at this point in his career. Time of the match was only 95 minutes. Outdoors, in the AO sun, I can't see him redlining 3/5 sets vs Novak like he did today. Still, a great performance, but not one that provides any really good tea leaves for predicting the 2015 majors.

Cheers
TM

I think this was played outdoors actually. I could be wrong...

Yeah Shanghai is outdoors.

I, Tennis Miller humbly stand before you, corrected. I will await my fate.

Cheers
TM

 

[brokenshoelace]

It's less about how he matches up to Novak in a slam, and more about his general performance. If he builds up a lot of confidence, then he will get deep. Then anything can happen

This was not only 2/3 set format, but also indoors. Roger's 2 best conditions at this point in his career. Time of the match was only 95 minutes. Outdoors, in the AO sun, I can't see him redlining 3/5 sets vs Novak like he did today. Still, a great performance, but not one that provides any really good tea leaves for predicting the 2015 majors.

Cheers
TM

I think this was played outdoors actually. I could be wrong...

Yeah Shanghai is outdoors.

I, Tennis Miller humbly stand before you, corrected. I will await my fate.

Cheers
TM

Well, you were officially designated as Hitler in another thread, so I think cyanide would be appropriate.

 

[Kieran]

Plenty of old geezers have done well in their thirties - Pancho G, Laver, Rosewall, Agassi... to name a few. It's probably helped Federer's longevity and career that he generally doesn't win matches via wars of attrition from the baseline.

Comparative to Pancho, and even Pete, he does. For Pete, a lengthy rally consisted of him having to hit a second serve.

Tennis in Laver's day was nowhere near as demanding physically as it is now. Agassi endured but mainly due to a mid-career hiatus. Even connors only played 3 slams for most of his peak - and often only two. Federer's career is best compared with similar high achievers like Pete, Bjorn or Rafa, each of whom have shown signs of physical and mental decline at a certain point, skipped slams, even jacked it in early.

Federer is a remarkable exception.

And I'm glad to see he's working shorter rallies now, hopefully this will catch on, although like Broken somewhere else in the thread, I have doubts about the quality of his approaches. But players are finding it irritating to be disturbed this way, it upsets their rhythm. They're not used to it. I think he'll beat Simon quite handy today, and give the French a bit of a selection headache for the DC...

 

[Federberg]

I just hope he can keep this up going into Australia. Fingers crossed he secures number 2 so he's got his own half there. Then we can only hope Rafa and Novak face each other!

I feel it's difficult to draw any conclusion from this match as far as Majors are concerned. Nole is a different animal in best of five format.

It's less about how he matches up to Novak in a slam, and more about his general performance. If he builds up a lot of confidence, then he will get deep. Then anything can happen

This was not only 2/3 set format, but also indoors. Roger's 2 best conditions at this point in his career. Time of the match was only 95 minutes. Outdoors, in the AO sun, I can't see him redlining 3/5 sets vs Novak like he did today. Still, a great performance, but not one that provides any really good tea leaves for predicting the 2015 majors.

Cheers
TM

Another thing to bear in mind TM... Novak will be a daddy for the first time in the AO. I'm not sure how well he'll be performing. If he's not a factor (IF)... you see where I'm going?

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

lets see the fedster destroy Gillian pushon.

 

[tented]

If anyone needs a link, ESPN3 will be showing it:

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/index#sport/tennis/channel/espn3

 

[tented]

I think this was played outdoors actually. I could be wrong...

Yeah Shanghai is outdoors.

I, Tennis Miller humbly stand before you, corrected. I will await my fate.

Cheers
TM

They closed the roof for the final -- it's now an indoor event.