What Next for Federer? 2017 in Review, and a look ahead

[GameSetAndMath]

it is always fun to play the "what if "games for our favorite players I thought it was fair to wish for just one grass Masters, not only as a Fed fan, but as a guy who grew up idolizing guys like Edberg, Sampras, etc...attacking tennis. Homogenization may work for milk, but it sucks for tennis.

A grass masters will never happen, imo. Forget masters, we did not even have a ATP 500 grass tourney until recently. I am thankful that at least they made Queens and Halle 500. Apparently, Queens does not have enough facilities infrastructure to make it a 1000. Halle has. However, if Halle is made a Masters event, Queens will lose it mojo. So, Queens would want to prevent it. Also, they have a clout being from the same country in which Wimby is held. Also, I don't think players want another mandatory ATP 1000.

Perhaps, they should create a grass ATP 1000. Remove the special non-mandatory status for MC. Then there will be 10 ATP 1000 events.
As that is too much, they should simply change the rule saying every commitment player who does not have special exemption should play in any eight of these 10 Masters Events. This idea would sit well with the players.

 

[DarthFed]

I get everyone's argument that he shouldn't play Montreal, only Cincy, though @mrzz makes a good argument that, if he plays Montreal he more controls his own destiny before the USO. If he's doing well in Canada, but sees no decent line to the finish, he can always bail. It's not like it never happens. He's got 4 little kids and can always say he's got a cold. Then he also controls Cincy, and how much he wants to play there. If he rolls the dice with Cincinnati, and gets dumped out early, he's got no match prep before the NY. Which could be fine, but it's riskier, and leaves him more at the fortunes of the draw there, and the notion that he'll play himself in.

If he plays just Cincy it's tough picturing him having any problems before the QF, and honestly 3 matches is fine for match practice leading up to the USO. It's not ideal...ideal would be playing just Cincy and winning it easily and that's doable if not likely.

It's less than 1.5 months from the end of Wimbledon to the start of USO, people are making too big of deal of match practice right now.

 

[Moxie]

If he plays just Cincy it's tough picturing him having any problems before the QF, and honestly 3 matches is fine for match practice leading up to the USO. It's not ideal...ideal would be playing just Cincy and winning it easily and that's doable if not likely.

It's less than 1.5 months from the end of Wimbledon to the start of USO, people are making too big of deal of match practice right now.

It's a fair point you make, and Roger has been having a fine year. I have no horse in the race, in terms of Roger, just enjoying the gaming of what he should or shouldn't do. He's often proven that it doesn't take him much to work himself into a tournament, and he has also shown that he knows when to take a break. So, I guess you trust what Roger decides to do.

 

[Ricardo]

I would debate that grass is Roger's lone best surface. He's won 9 Majors on HCs and countless other prestigious titles on them. As I've mentioned before, clay is fully 1/3 of the ATP calendar, so having it be 1/3 of the MS is appropriate. We've all bemoaned that there isn't a grass 1000 event, and debated where and how it might be arranged. I'm fully in favor. Perhaps add a 10th and make it non-mandatory, like Monte Carlo. You're whinging that surfaces are unfair towards fast court players, but then you want to take away a clay MS? Unfair towards slower court players. See how that goes? As far as proportionate to the schedule, the MS is pretty representative. If you're unwilling to add 1 to MS, then a grass one should replace a HC one.

i said nothing about taking away clay MS1000, but adding two grass MS1000 or at least one could possibly be proportional to the historical importance and prestige. You are the one being unfair again, saying it is fine without grass MS1000. Now if you really go by importance of events (where Wimbledon > USO > RG > AO) then the reasonable thing to do would be, have 3 MS1000 as lead up for Wimbledon, 3 MS1000 for USO, 2 for RG and 1 for AO. As it stands, it is unfair to grass court players (not just Federer) that you cannot deny.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed still has not made any announcement.

However, I saw this on news today.

"Next week is shaping up to be another phenomenal week of tennis in Montreal,” said Eugene Lapierre, Rogers Cup Montreal tournament director. “We look forward to seeing the best men’s tennis players in the world visit Uniprix Stadium once again, from the top stars like Rafael Nadal, Canada’s own Milos Raonic, and next generation talent such as Alexander Zverev. We are down to the last preparations of what will be a world-class experience for all of our players and guests.”

Is anybody conspicuous by absence?

 

[Busted]

Fed still has not made any announcement.

However, I saw this on news today.

"Next week is shaping up to be another phenomenal week of tennis in Montreal,” said Eugene Lapierre, Rogers Cup Montreal tournament director. “We look forward to seeing the best men’s tennis players in the world visit Uniprix Stadium once again, from the top stars like Rafael Nadal, Canada’s own Milos Raonic, and next generation talent such as Alexander Zverev. We are down to the last preparations of what will be a world-class experience for all of our players and guests.”

Is anybody conspicuous by absence?

Andy Murray? OK...so Roger hasn't confirmed...but he hasn't officially announced that he's not playing either. Ditto for Murray. If neither play - what are the chances of Stan making it to the final because he'll be the #2 seed? I'm going to say slim and none. He'll manage to lose to someone he shouldn't be losing to. He's got bigger problems - trying to figure out a way to at least make it back to the US Open final so he doesn't lose 2,000 points and fall to #7.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Roger has confirmed that he will be playing in Montreal.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The seeds for Montreal were announced today. Poor Milos, he is seeded 9th despite Novak being absent. This would mean Milos won't get a first round bye, as only the top 8 get byes. Well, local crowd can now get to see local player playing more.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Andy Murray? .

You may be (untintentionally) right. Even though Roger has confirmed, there is still some doubt lingering over Andy's participation in Montreal.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

So, now the uncertainties about Fed's schedule this year are almost over.

Definite Yes: Montreal, Cincy, USO, Shanghai, Basel, WTF

May be: Tokyo, Bercy

Definite No: All other tourneys.

I guess he would have less than 5% chance of playing in Tokyo. The only reason to play there is if he seems behind in the
#1 race (but not too behind to give it up). But, my feeling is that he would be in a comfortable position in that race by the end of
USO, independent of whether he wins USO or not.

I guess he would have more than 80% chance of playing in Bercy. The race for #1 would not be a walk in the park.
Roger would be forced to play in Bercy, if he does not want to risk losing the YE #1 ranking.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The seeds for Montreal were announced today. Poor Milos, he is seeded 9th despite Novak being absent. This would mean Milos won't get a first round bye, as only the top 8 get byes. Well, local crowd can now get to see local player playing more.

With Waw's withdrawal, two big servers benefit. Milos becomes the eighth seed now and will get a first round by. Isner becomes the 16th seed now and will get couple of easy matches to begin with.

 

[El Dude]

I really don't see Tokyo happening, even if the points are close. I think Roger will focus on trying to win as many of Basel, Paris, and the WTF to make up for any deficit.

 

[Busted]

You may be (untintentionally) right. Even though Roger has confirmed, there is still some doubt lingering over Andy's participation in Montreal.

Murray has withdrawn. As has Cilic. Wawrinka withdrew yesterday. It's like a nightmare game of Last Man Standing...

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Factoid: Of the last four times Fed played in Canada, he lost to Tsonga three times, including the most recent appearance in 2014 when he lost to Tsonga in finals. Watch out for Tsonga folks.