TWM-Fox wrote:Elias (Simon) vs. Fox (Federer) 7-5 7-6(4)
Lost yesterday my final against Elias. Well felt very disappointed cause i didnt really know what i could do more in order to beat Elias, i really felt i was that time at an upper level.
I would not have bet on my win against Elias at the Olympics especially after 2 wins in a row widely by Elias. But as i said i was ready to fight. But in that match i was not only ready to fight but i was ready to win.
80% first serve, big rallies on both side. I think i could not give better engagement en serve and better defense during points, i was pretty happy with my offensive tactic but indeed the score isn't on my favour.
I think i should watch the match in order to point my weakness, my mistake in this match, but really didn't understand.
I could not say the same thing in our previous matchs as i accepted the dominance of Elias, but this time kind bitter cause i always thought match was on my hand especially i managed to get early break which i wasn't able to keep them.
Anyhow Elias hits against, and i could only congratulate him for that, big improvement since few weeks, very impressive, he is a true top player. I still need to improve hoping that i could increase again my level.
Seeking for my rematch, i won't stay on that loose
Thanks for your kind & humble comments Fox. I was so lazy to post a comment yesterday 'coz of the heat over here and my mind was much busy with roster testing & balance.
I was looking forward to see the results for both Simon-Federer match-ups, ours and the second one you played vs. Vmoe, because after my loss against Vmoe/Simon i started to have some doubts about our counter again.
In some way those matches are confirming my thoughts. We can tell those matches were close, thus balanced, but i think Simon is still not, balanced, he can no match in good hands any character wich doesnt have one great shot (like federer, berdych) to outpace him, because he's fast and the counter stamina management is a bit ridiculous (almost doesn't exists compared to other chars, pretty simple). He has still great shots with a high counter stat, despite a low power (62 on wings..), and can just hit those continually, even outlasting the thougher defenders like ferrer.
What does'nt work is a combination of things, mostly the counter style trying to building a char like Simon. The counter style has some critical advantages wich leads me to think it would only be suited for a slow character in TE. Because as soon as the counter is able to sustain long rallies, then he's outlasting a though defender, even having a lower stamina stat (or you have really to make him 30% lower iin stamina). Only a very aggressive char wich allows to hit thru the counter can compete. Also Simon anims are an issue, he's using some default anims with a very short preparation and it's also what makes for this crazy unrealistic rythm (not much enjoyable to play from both sides, too much arcadish feelings).
I tested a bit Simon with current stats, with anims 12/9 for FH/BH, slower preparations, and this brings a more realistic rythm to the rallies. Though the stamina issue remains.
So i think as we discussed it with Vmoe, we'll make Simon a good defender with a high counter stat, to keep it simple, cause for now it's too much of a nightmare to play against, and to balance properly.
Still about our match it really needed to play at 100% to beat you. And i agreee that you played exteremely well with Federer during this match, you couldn't do better i think, i was down two times for a break and could catch-up and win this, i doubt i would have been able to sustain your current level using Djokovic, 'cause you played i think a higher level overall than in the Olympics Final, and this forehand is clearly more dangerous now.
So i guess it's a "sorry for your loss" wich feels a bit like a steal, but well, that's the drawbacks of having a young Tour & roster, and balance surprises, we'll probably have some more of those in the future on our way to balance it better.
As in my last matches i can lost a set without give my opponent one break point, in the first i give him no break points and i was in some games on 15-30 and have 3 break points and some set points in tie break that Robbin played incredible good. In the second i had soon 2 break points and in my serve games i won easy but on 5-4 for him i was on 40-0 , then i lost the game and the match with one break point for my opponent in the whole match. i need some practice because in this weeks i was very busy.
At least I avoided a bagel, I even won a set against Elias in exhibition hangover mode. 
