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

[zalvar]

GAH. Rafa is last match again ;__; can;t watch.

Ooo, DelPo had a toughie.

 

[Front242]

Well there's always the possibility of playing into form over best of 5 at the AO but even if he does ok in week one and makes week 2, it's a whole different ball game against top players with an unfamiliar racquet. Maybe he could play Abu Dhabi end of Dec as well for more practice and Brisbane eventhough it'll be his first time playing as a tune up for AO is basically a mickey mouse tournament so that = more practice with the new stick should he choose to permanently switch.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Well there's always the possibility of playing into form over best of 5 at the AO but even if he does ok in week one and makes week 2, it's a whole different ball game against top players with an unfamiliar racquet. Maybe he could play Abu Dhabi end of Dec as well for more practice and Brisbane eventhough it'll be his first time playing as a tune up for AO is basically a mickey mouse tournament so that = more practice with the new stick should he choose to permanently switch.

Nowadays, Fed is focussing on reducing his schedule, naturally. Hence, he will not
play events that won't count (such as Abu Dhabi exo, AAMI classic etc) unless they
him a million bucks to show up.

If he reaches second week at AO, that is already a step up (from last two GSs).
I am confident that Fed will switch the racquets again.

Also, in Brisbane he will get to play Andy assuming they both reach finals.
That will be a big match experience.

Finally, people talk as though he has used the same racquet for the last 10 years.
That is not true. There had been a few changes in his racquet over the years, but
none that affected head size.

So, he can indeed adapt.

 

[tented]

Finally, people talk as though he has used the same racquet for the last 10 years.
That is not true. There had been a few changes in his racquet over the years, but
none that affected head size.

So, he can indeed adapt.

I remember he played the '07 AO with a new racquet, but it was kept secret until the tournament was over in case he lost. (For those who don't remember, not only did Roger win, but he was first person to win a Slam without dropping a set since Borg in (I think) 1979.) So, the new racquet was a success.

 

[Front242]

The head size is biggest change alright and the biggest obstacle but if he chooses to go that route, the bigger sweet spot and added power can surely only help as he gets older. PS: you can bet any exhibition tournament will pay him at least 1 million to show up, especially a rich place like Abu Dhabi.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

For the evolution of Fed's racquets over the years see the following blog site.

http://federernews.rogerfedererfans.com/roger-federers-winning-tennis-racquets

This is a blog by a fan and so I cannot vouch for accuracy of the information
in there. Having said that, everything in there appears to be correct at least as
far as I could remember.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

World Number One Nadal working 9 (aces) to 5 (unforced errors), turning back the clock to 2010 in a straight sets demolition of the Ukraine in 59 minutes.

 

[Moxie]

World Number One Nadal working 9 (aces) to 5 (unforced errors), turning back the clock to 2010 in a straight sets demolition of the Ukraine in 59 minutes.

You've been aching to say that for weeks!

Dolgopolov provided a certain amount of irritation for a short time. (Mostly before Nadal pulled up his first serve percentage. D-love was all over the 2nd at the start.) But he was also spraying the ball all over the place. His "quirky" game has become less interesting as he fails to do much with it. I think he's another of Dude's "lost generation."

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I must also mention that Fed switched from a racquet head size of 85" to 90"
starting from Hamburg 2002. Since then even though there has been many changes
to his racquet, the head size did not change.

Incidentally, Pete used the same 85" racquet (that Fed was using) until
Pete retired. Also, Pete was known to repent for not having made an upgrade
to 90" during his pro career. Pete did however switch to 90" in the senior
ciruit and exo matches after retiring.

Anyway, the point is that Roger has made significant head size changes also
before (although none after winning his first slam).

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

For the evolution of Fed's racquets over the years see the following blog site.

http://federernews.rogerfedererfans.com/roger-federers-winning-tennis-racquets

This is a blog by a fan and so I cannot vouch for accuracy of the information
in there. Having said that, everything in there appears to be correct at least as
far as I could remember.

GSM, after the switch from 85 pro staff to the first sixOne, every change was almost always cosmetic. He has been playing with pretty much the same stick since 2004.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

For the evolution of Fed's racquets over the years see the following blog site.

http://federernews.rogerfedererfans.com/roger-federers-winning-tennis-racquets

This is a blog by a fan and so I cannot vouch for accuracy of the information
in there. Having said that, everything in there appears to be correct at least as
far as I could remember.

GSM, after the switch from 85 pro staff to the first sixOne, every change was almost always cosmetic. He has been playing with pretty much the same stick since 2004.

While the head size and length remained the same and there has only been
minor variation in weight of the racquet, I believe the major change apart from
cosmetics was that of guts (natural vs. artificial).

At any rate, he has prior experience of making major changes (as evidenced
by switching from 85 to 90). So, there is no reason to believe that a change
this time will be a traumatic experience for him.

Finally, among all players Roger is the least superstitious. His water bottles
do not need to be aligned like that of Rafa. He does not have to eat the same
food everyday like Borg etc. He is probably the player most open to change.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

^ He does use a Natural Gut/ Luxilon hybrid these days, as far as I know.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

atp site says del potro 'won' against tommy haas,

no info why tommy didn't play though.

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Monfils visibly playing hurt in this 2nd set.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Very Bad service line calls by the linesman and the umpire.. Monfils should be up 5-4 and serving for the match

 

[the AntiPusher]

Monfils should take this match 5-4 in tiebreaker

 

[the AntiPusher]

What a complete Choke job by Monfils.. I give Fed credit for stepping up because Monfils didn't want to win the tiebreaker

 

[the AntiPusher]

This is out right cheating by the linesman and the chair umpire.. Extraordinary unfair treatment to Monfils

 

[NADAL2005RG]

Federer/Monfils are both great talents, but despite being horrendously injured Monfils showed more grit which got him over the line. Once again Federer falls one round short of facing a top tier player.

 

[britbox]

Bad loss for Fed. Shows where he is right now. At his nadir.