SHANGHAI ROLEX MASTERS - ATP-1000 - OCT. 6 to 13, 2013.

[Moxie]

Rafa's 1st serve pct. picked up after the beginning of the first. I thought that was the downside of his play last week.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Have a day off here but got up late and missed Roger's match (didn't even check to see what time it was on tbh). Is he using the new racquet or back to the old one?

Old one Front.

Doh. thanks, Murat. not sure how I feel about that tbh. Stubborn old Roger. I personally wish he'd ditch it and move on. Once he gets used to the new racquet he'll benefit from the added power. Sure, intricate volleys and soft touches may take quite some time to adjust to, but he'll be able to hit with more authority and end rallies sooner with winners.

That issue is a tough one. We all have an idea about what the benefits of the new stick could be, but he is the one swinging it. Pete was stubborn too and there is a reason for it: You don't really want to change something that got you so many wins. It is not just about getting a bigger sweet spot for them...it is an extension of themselves. Like you mentioned, the touches, the feel at the net...it is not something you can get used to with a new stick in a limited amount of time, after using the same thing for years.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Milos -Nando at one set all. I wish I could watch that one but no streams and the tv is showing David-Rosol.

 

[Moxie]

Milos -Nando at one set all. I wish I could watch that one but no streams and the tv is showing David-Rosol.

I wanted to watch that one, too. I guess there's no TV coverage on that court.

 

[Front242]

Have a day off here but got up late and missed Roger's match (didn't even check to see what time it was on tbh). Is he using the new racquet or back to the old one?

Old one Front.

Doh. thanks, Murat. not sure how I feel about that tbh. Stubborn old Roger. I personally wish he'd ditch it and move on. Once he gets used to the new racquet he'll benefit from the added power. Sure, intricate volleys and soft touches may take quite some time to adjust to, but he'll be able to hit with more authority and end rallies sooner with winners.

That issue is a tough one. We all have an idea about what the benefits of the new stick could be, but he is the one swinging it. Pete was stubborn too and there is a reason for it: You don't really want to change something that got you so many wins. It is not just about getting a bigger sweet spot for them...it is an extension of themselves. Like you mentioned, the touches, the feel at the net...it is not something you can get used to with a new stick in a limited amount of time, after using the same thing for years.

Can only hope his feel for the ball returns in that case. Seeing as the decline from his great 2012 was so sudden and extreme I'm hoping much of it was back related. What I mean is, he wasn't able to train at proper intensity so his timing was probably off a lot and now hopefully as he claims his back is ok, he may be able to train properly and cut out a good amount of the shanks.

Murray too has been unable to train properly and hopefully he'll be better prepared now in the same way. Fed noticeably packed on a bit of muscle on his chest last year so maybe he could do a bit of strength training on his arms in that case to add a bit more power if he's sticking with the old racquet. While it's mostly down to technique in generating power, as he's pushing on a bit of extra muscle may definitely help a bit as the new guys are just getting stronger physically. Older players like Tsonga and Berdych too are muscling him off the court a lot the last few years and he needs to somehow counter this. He owned guys like that before and his arms definitely look a bit more wirey and weedy now to me at least.

Important edit: I had initially typed "Seeing as the decline from his great 2013 was so sudden and extreme" instead of 2012. Let's hope that's not the case next year that 2014 is worse than 2013! Highly doubt it

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I agree Front, but also, the biggest issue he had was not getting his weight behind the ball and arming a lot of shots. That racket is not forgiving if you are not putting your body behind the ball. Arming won't cut it...and it all goes back to the issue of losing half a step...and I am not sure what can be done about that.:blush:

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Milos closes Nando out in the third, 6-3. Well done.

 

[kskate2]

Milos comes through 6-3 in the decider.

 

[kskate2]

Fog/Seppi overcome a bagel in the 2nd set to dismiss the Chinese doubs team 10-4 in the super tie breaker.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

Have a day off here but got up late and missed Roger's match (didn't even check to see what time it was on tbh). Is he using the new racquet or back to the old one?

Old one Front.

Doh. thanks, Murat. not sure how I feel about that tbh. Stubborn old Roger. I personally wish he'd ditch it and move on. Once he gets used to the new racquet he'll benefit from the added power. Sure, intricate volleys and soft touches may take quite some time to adjust to, but he'll be able to hit with more authority and end rallies sooner with winners.

roger was abysmal at the start and was broken, but after about 15mins he improved a lot, ended up breaking seppi twice in that set..

he is coming into the net a lot, crisp volleys and one running down the line forehand which could be added to the fed career highlights reel a good start considering he hasn't played since the end of august.

 

[Front242]

Have a day off here but got up late and missed Roger's match (didn't even check to see what time it was on tbh). Is he using the new racquet or back to the old one?

Old one Front.

Doh. thanks, Murat. not sure how I feel about that tbh. Stubborn old Roger. I personally wish he'd ditch it and move on. Once he gets used to the new racquet he'll benefit from the added power. Sure, intricate volleys and soft touches may take quite some time to adjust to, but he'll be able to hit with more authority and end rallies sooner with winners.

roger was abysmal at the start and was broken, but after about 15mins he improved a lot, ended up breaking seppi twice in that set..

he is coming into the net a lot, crisp volleys and one running down the line forehand which could be added to the fed career highlights reel a good start considering he hasn't played since the end of august.

Niceone. Sharp net play and lots of it is what I like to see most from him this part of the season and it's encouraging to hear he's played a good running DTL FH as that's been a shot he's been missing a lot lately, mostly 'cos he doesn't run them down in time.

 

[Kieran]

Glad to hear Roger found a bit of form. These next few weeks should be his best of the year, if that's the case...

 

[Mog]

Have a day off here but got up late and missed Roger's match (didn't even check to see what time it was on tbh). Is he using the new racquet or back to the old one?

Old one Front.

Doh. thanks, Murat. not sure how I feel about that tbh. Stubborn old Roger. I personally wish he'd ditch it and move on. Once he gets used to the new racquet he'll benefit from the added power. Sure, intricate volleys and soft touches may take quite some time to adjust to, but he'll be able to hit with more authority and end rallies sooner with winners.

I see what you are saying Front. He could be stubborn like Pete. But I think it a very delicate stage and there is never the best time to switch. He probably thinking to play with the old to make sure he gets into WTF/YEC. He might be not comfortable to risk not to qualify to top 8. I could be wrong. I think after WTF he should give the new one a complete try.

 

[Front242]

Have a day off here but got up late and missed Roger's match (didn't even check to see what time it was on tbh). Is he using the new racquet or back to the old one?

Old one Front.

Doh. thanks, Murat. not sure how I feel about that tbh. Stubborn old Roger. I personally wish he'd ditch it and move on. Once he gets used to the new racquet he'll benefit from the added power. Sure, intricate volleys and soft touches may take quite some time to adjust to, but he'll be able to hit with more authority and end rallies sooner with winners.

I see what you are saying Front. He could be stubborn like Pete. But I think it a very delicate stage and there is never the best time to switch. He probably thinking to play with the old to make sure he gets into WTF/YEC. He might be not comfortable to risk not to qualify to top 8. I could be wrong. I think after WTF he should give the new one a complete try.

Was thinking that too, Mog. But then there's no proper time really to try as after this he has the start of 2014 to contend with and the AO isn't a good place to practice. If he didn't have the problem of qualifying for the WTF because of his current low ranking I believe he'd be trying out the new one now, but as you say he's sticking with what he feels most confident with now to make sure he does well.

 

[kskate2]

Rafa's 1st serve pct. picked up after the beginning of the first. I thought that was the downside of his play last week.

He actually had 9 aces today.

 

[Mog]

Pete was too stubborn to adopt a change and now he thinks he should have done it then.
Roger should go all out to try and that could benefit him. He is too relentednot to try.

 

[Ricardo]

I am sure Pete tried and didn't like it then, so decided not to change..... Fed looks like going the same route, though he tried it in several real matches but got burnt.

 

[DarthFed]

He should switch, and now would have been the perfect time. Roger would get a lot of match play in before Australia and would likely be fully adjusted to the new racquet. What Roger did with the old racquet 5-10 years ago and even last year is irrelevant. Roger did all those things with better movement, stamina, confidence, etc.

Times have changed and he moves poorly to the forehand and can't turn defense to offense anywhere near as well. More power and more bite on the slice are things that can really help. Aside from that it is about whether he finally decides to take a few steps back on the return and whether the fire still burns in him to prove something to himself.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Isner, goes out already. I was hoping he will stay around take out Nadal.
Now, no one will give trouble to Nadal until he runs into Del Potro in Semi Finals.
I hope Delpo makes it there at least.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Have a day off here but got up late and missed Roger's match (didn't even check to see what time it was on tbh). Is he using the new racquet or back to the old one?

Old one Front.

Doh. thanks, Murat. not sure how I feel about that tbh. Stubborn old Roger. I personally wish he'd ditch it and move on. Once he gets used to the new racquet he'll benefit from the added power. Sure, intricate volleys and soft touches may take quite some time to adjust to, but he'll be able to hit with more authority and end rallies sooner with winners.

I see what you are saying Front. He could be stubborn like Pete. But I think it a very delicate stage and there is never the best time to switch. He probably thinking to play with the old to make sure he gets into WTF/YEC. He might be not comfortable to risk not to qualify to top 8. I could be wrong. I think after WTF he should give the new one a complete try.

Was thinking that too, Mog. But then there's no proper time really to try as after this he has the start of 2014 to contend with and the AO isn't a good place to practice. If he didn't have the problem of qualifying for the WTF because of his current low ranking I believe he'd be trying out the new one now, but as you say he's sticking with what he feels most confident with now to make sure he does well.

Hey, I too am in support of Fed switiching to the bigger racquet. He has time to do that
after WTF also. He can switch during the off-season training block and then get match
practice with the new racquet in Brisbane and then head to AO already battle tested
with the new racquet.

We should realize that the new racquet is not a fundamentally different weapon
and Roger is not a novice either. There is no reason to think that he should not be
able to adapt during the off season.

The last time it did not work out due to combination of factors; new racquet,
back pain and low confidence. That's all. That is no reason to shun new racquet
and Fed knows that.