French Open Final

[xXpOwerPlayXx]

you weren't french a view years ago?

[Moralspain]

You have to give it up to Nadal though, he has zero shame (and rightfully so IMO) in ruthlessly doing that play over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over. I think a lot of people would change it up if for nothing else than 'just for the hell of it' but why change, if Federer continually lets his ego get the best of him and refuses to run around his BH?

Not that it's as simple as running around his BH to hit FH's, cuz it's definitely not...but he should do it more often

what should he be ashamed? i mean if his opponent has a clear weakness what should he do?? hit to his FH?? it's ridiculous, if someone has to be ashamed that one should be Roger (he shouldn't btw but as i see everybody complaints about Rafa style), who with all the years he has been playing he can not hit high BHs well. Although he did well last time he beat Nadal, because when Nadal hit to Fed's BH he hit very good short cross court BHs

BTW Nadal has proved he can beat Roger on hard (Australia) not using that tactic, but on clay he knows this works well, what should he do for God's sake? hit to probably the best FH on the circuit just because you guys wanna have a good time???, seriously i don't get it.

PS: Jon this is not against you, i just quoted your post because you talked about it, that's all

[Moralspain]

It's true Rafael has beaten Roger 13 out of 15 matches on clay, but Fed (except for that RG final) was always there, he always was close to win the match. Federer almost always wins a set. If someone can win in straights due to whatever reason that one is Roger.
Imagine he hits 40-50 aces ( he did once at RG) and the FH works well and also Nadal makes many unforced errors, that would probably be the scenario where Fed will be winning the final in 3 sets.

[Mike Rotchtickles]

if someone has to be ashamed that one should be Roger (he shouldn't btw but as i see everybody complaints about Rafa style), who with all the years he has been playing he can not hit high BHs well.

It's a match-up issue that Fed has with Rafa. That's it.
You can't really say that Fed needs to improve his BH. Aside from somehow miraculously developing a double hander in the few hours before the final, how is it possible to combat those high bouncing shoulder/neck high balls with Fed's one handed stroke on that wing? He can't. He's got to do it in other ways. Getting a high % of first serves in and I guess running around that BH whenever possible. Getting into protracted FH to BH rallies with Nadal, is never pretty.

[jayl0ve]

The truth is nobody can really hit a BH that high up, and do it with control and/or power. Even FH's are really hard to hit when they're bouncing up around your shoulder/head area...that's not a fun area to hit the ball from, in fact that's like my Kryptonite, are high balls...I can keep the ball in play all day if I'm hitting from between my waist and shoulders, but higher than that and it becomes really difficult

[djarvik]

Its the toughest shot for one hander. It takes tons of energy and preparation and you have a bit of "lag" after hitting it to recover.

Roger tries to stay close to the baseline, that is why it is more apparent with him. But all one handers have issues with it. Most of them willing to move back a bit, Roger - moves forward.

[Moralspain]

so you're saying that when Rafa beats Gascquet and Wawrinka it's because like Federer they miss all those BHs??, in my opinion i agree it's the hardest shot (again it's not Nada's problem if the rival can't managed that shot), but i think Wawrinka and Gascquet can hit that shot pretty well, so it's not only the "shot" but the player skill as well

[VillaJ100]

It would have been hilarious if fed was asked the difference between him and djokovic and he said "14 grand slams".

I think nadal 4-6 6-3 6-3 7-6 but hope I'm wrong.

[fedfan]

Well I'm not watching, and I won't be looking here for updates. I cannot be watching Nadal grunting away while he hoists high balls up to Federer's backhand and most likely win doing so.

Also Nadal kiss assing Federer before the match, yes there is respect but it's getting to sound patronising when he has won 13 of 15 matches between the two in clay.

Btw I know Nadal is not meaning to be patronising and he is obviously absolutely right in how he chooses to play Federer.

Ill record the match and if Nadal wins ill just delete it, and leave the Federer semi as my last memory of RG 2011. If Federer wins and I really really hope he can put everything together to pull it off, then I'll watch the match later safe in the knowledge of what will come.

[Moralspain]

btw about Djokovic, Federer said this yesterday:

"Djokovic can't be compared to Rafa and myself, if you check his Grand Slams, he only has two"

[Coolhand Texas]

Well I'm not watching, and I won't be looking here for updates. I cannot be watching Nadal grunting away while he hoists high balls up to Federer's backhand and most likely win doing so.

Also Nadal kiss assing Federer before the match, yes there is respect but it's getting to sound patronising when he has won 13 of 15 matches between the two in clay.

Btw I know Nadal is not meaning to be patronising and he is obviously absolutely right in how he chooses to play Federer.

Ill record the match and if Nadal wins ill just delete it, and leave the Federer semi as my last memory of RG 2011. If Federer wins and I really really hope he can put everything together to pull it off, then I'll watch the match later safe in the knowledge of what will come.

where is the fun in that? its all about the excitement of the moment

[djarvik]

Well, you naming two players who trully have better BHs. But even then, Gasquet brefers his backhand on its way down, he rearly if ever hit it on the rise like Fed does. His BH aslo has tons of spin and clears the net higher, he has more magin for error. Waw is hits a bit flatter BH, he hits it mostly a few feet behind the line. Not as agressive as Fed, but not as far back as Gas. Waws BH is what Roger should be doing.


I find nothing wrong with Rafa going 100% of the time to Roger BH. It is a startegy that works, why should he not do it?

[fedfan]

Coolhand, on clay against Nadal I find it truly frustrating to watch, although I may well give in after half an hour and watch.

[Moralspain]

if the swiss wins i will put myself under a rock for a few days and won't be posting for a while

[Coolhand Texas]

fed strike first on his fourth break point, and takes a 2-0 lead

the crowd is already chanting roger, roger!