Federer vs Nadal

[Ashsaege]

I was hoping Fed would win, so close to breaking records. Maybe too hard for the champ to return to No.1 now.

 

[MRC & Co]

MRC did you put your bet in favour of Nadal or contacted the Indian bookies to make him winner

Well done on your firm conviction and wining prediction

I wish your stocks favour you similar way too

ha ha, no Indian bookmaker.

Put $150 on Nadal before the tournament.

Federer knew the magnitude of that match. After Nadal being punished around the court in the semi, this was the perfect chance for Fed to win.

Fed really needs to do well at Wimbledon and his favourite, the US open. Still think he will break the Sampras record, but no doubt, Nadal will be right on the heels of that in a few years time! Fantastic time in the sport.

 

[tigerboi]

Re:Nadal will win his 1st US

Nadal is just too strong for the fed,nadal now going for the last slam he hasnt got...the US...

other than our own rocket rod laver in 69(open era) also in 62(pre open)what a champion...no one has won the grand slam or any 4 in a row that i know of?

ill call it the rafa slam if he wins the US as hes won the last 4 french,08 wimbeldon,09 aussie...

Q...who is the only other player to win the 4 since 69(not a slam)??

the hardest title to win?...newcombe,ashe,connors,mcenroe,becker,edberg,sampras,FEDERER!(NOT YET)couldnt win this...

nadal has a great forehand that fed just cant hold off,watch how nadal puts extra topspin on it...his rpm is 320 per min v feds 270 revs per min...thats a big diff between 2 champs...

But never write a champ off...only way to beat nadal is get to the net more like a cash,becker,mcenroe...tb

 

[Happy]

Before almost every serve Rafa has ritual

Almost compulsive behaviour to me.

 

[MRC & Co]

Tiger, Laver is the only man, other than Budge to win a calendar year grand slam.

Quite a few have won a career grand slam though.

To be fair to Fed though, he would have taken the French open if it wasn't for Nadal, he is the second best on clay but Nadal is probably the best clay courter ever.

It's not just the forehand of Nadal that Federer can't handle. It's the consistency of Rafa, the speed at which he hits the ball, his speed and tenacity on the court. These combined, IMO, make Rafa the best baseline player ever. No doubt, Fed is more complete (better at the net, better serve, better at drop shots), so he can mix it up more, but the best way to beat Nadal is by just blowing him off the court. Fed doesn't have the power to do this, so if Rafa is on, it makes it very tough for Fed, he has to mix things up, but even then, he still probably won't win (and not on clay).

Onto the French, and Nadal is as sure bet for the house as any!

US open will be hard for Nadal to win, it's the fastest surface of any of the slams these days. Unlucky for Fed that Wimbledon changed, or he would no doubt, have Rafas number there too!

 

[Pat]

I've been thinking bout poor old Roger since last night, I shed a tear, the crowd cheering him on just got to me...

I would love to see him win 15 slams, go down in history as one of the greatest champs the tennis world has seen, he certainly deserves it. (so did Sampras) IMO Federer has the most refined tennis I have ever seen, though he needs confidence now, more than ever.

Nadal is awesome and is obviously Rogers nemisis so to speak, though from fridays match Verdasco seems to want to play that role for Nadal.

Good times ahead for tennis, I can't wait.

 

[jersey10]

I still think Federer is the best player in tennis. As others have pointed out Federer has a better all round game. I think Federer will spend more time at number one than Nadal over the next 2 years. Federer is only 27 i think so it is not as if his body has had it. I haven't seen the stats but i thought Federer made a lot more unforced errors during the match which contributed to him losing some crucial games during the match.

What was the reason for Federer's emotion during the presentation? Some people have said it had something to do with Rod Laver being there? I thought it was a combination of losing such an intense match coupled with the fact that he was yet again unable to beat Rafa on the big stage.

 

[Pat]

I still think Federer is the best player in tennis. As others have pointed out Federer has a better all round game. I think Federer will spend more time at number one than Nadal over the next 2 years. Federer is only 27 i think so it is not as if his body has had it. I haven't seen the stats but i thought Federer made a lot more unforced errors during the match which contributed to him losing some crucial games during the match.

What was the reason for Federer's emotion during the presentation? Some people have said it had something to do with Rod Laver being there? I thought it was a combination of losing such an intense match coupled with the fact that he was yet again unable to beat Rafa on the big stage.

I agree jersey.
I think the battle for Federer is a mental one when he plays Nadal. Hence the unforced errors, Rogers serve was way off last night which let him down alot.

I think his emotion was a combination of things. As you said playing Nadal and Laver being there. I also think he is battling to keep number one, to match and beat Sampras's 14 slams. I can almost imagine dominating for years, then having to give your supreme postion up, it can't be easy, but Federer is a true sports man who respects his competition, he just felt the pain of losing, and the prospect of losing his dominance.

 

[MRC & Co]

I think if you look at the stats, Federer will make more unforced errors from the baseline than Nadal. That is Nadals game, though Federer is excellent there also.

27 is getting on for a tennis player, after 28, your past your prime. Only a man with the free hitting of Agassi has shown great form into his early 30s.

Nadal is miles ahead in the rankings now, so will take Federer a long time (if ever) to get back on top. Perhaps other than injury to Nadal. This is probably one reason for his emotions, along with the fact he was trumped by a tired Nadal on a surface Nadal has never previously performed well, and this shows a huge dent to his all-time record challenge!

 

[cashcow]

I didn't get to see the match but, having watched in the past, it always strikes me how articulate, polite and sportsman-like Roger is. Those attributes, combined with formidable skill and athleticism, are all too rare in the sporting elite.

Interestingly, I heard the court staff (ball kids, umpires, etc), think he's one of the best in this regard too, in that he doesn't treat them poorly by throwing towels and scowling at them, etc.

I like Nadal's raw power and speed, but I hope Fed has more years in him yet as he seems the more complete package.

 

[grace]

MRC & Co, perhaps you need to look at the way some of the production was done so that images of Nadal and his tugging were avoided, it bothers more than just people chatting on the internet forum by the way but hey, whatever.

I watched him last week on Rod Laver (unfortunately I was very close court side), and he just didn't stop.....it is a strange habit that one.

Fantastic final play off. Amazing level of tennis played by both. Either one could have won. A mental game in the end.

It was nice to see a man cry actually. I was moved to tears myself.

 

[Pat]

I think if you look at the stats, Federer will make more unforced errors from the baseline than Nadal. That is Nadals game, though Federer is excellent there also.

27 is getting on for a tennis player, after 28, your past your prime. Only a man with the free hitting of Agassi has shown great form into his early 30s.

Nadal is miles ahead in the rankings now, so will take Federer a long time (if ever) to get back on top. Perhaps other than injury to Nadal. This is probably one reason for his emotions, along with the fact he was trumped by a tired Nadal on a surface Nadal has never previously performed well, and this shows a huge dent to his all-time record challenge!

The thing with Nadal is he is yet to show how he performs over time. Don't get me wrong, I love Nadal and his pure power style, but the ability to be consistant over years is what makes a true champ. I hope to see Nadal stay up there, just for the entertainment, but I think Federer will come right back to number one, all it would take is an out of form Nadal, and a mentally strong Federer.
I honestly feel Roger should of one last night, he has the body and soul, just his mind let him down. He's not too old at all, I'm 27 too

 

[gordon2007]

Before almost every serve Rafa has ritual

YES, it's called picking your ass!

It was a great match and he is a great tennis player, who picks his ass

Surely someone in his inner circle would of told him. I'm serious though it really could be OCD. Which, if that is the case, it's my believe he should go public with it and be a poster boy for a good cause. Basically showing that even people with OCD can and do succeed in life. And that men can even be masculine with OCD.

It's funny, if say he was a person who stutters, I'm sure the press would be all over him making him a hero to other sufferers of stuttering.

 

[gordon2007]

Or maybe I'm just over infactuated with his asspicking prowness?

 

[Pat]

Or maybe he is a normal guy who is prone to wegies. You don't want to be running and jumping around with a wegie.

 

[Pat]

Or maybe I'm just over infactuated with his asspicking prowness?

Would you settle for 'infactuated'?

 

[white_crane]

Before almost every serve Rafa has ritual

Almost compulsive behaviour to me.

You will see many athletes doing these kinds of things. It's a deliberate process they go through to help their mental preparation, to get them in 'the zone'. After a time it becomes automatic behaviour.


BTW: It was a great match and the best man won on the night. There aren't too many blokes who are at the level of these two.

 

[Mickel]

WOW, BRILLIANT, ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree . And it was great that it was a final. I was at the Semis and Finals of Aust Open from 2004-6 and the best 2 matches were-

2004 Semi Safin d Agassi 7-6(6) 7-6(6) 5-7 1-6 6-3 and
2005 Semi Safin d Federer 5-7 6-4 5-7 7-6(6) 9-7

Federer defeated Safin in the 2004 Final 7-6 6-4 6-2.

However the 2009 final was a class above those matches. I thought Federer would win as he appeared to be back to his best after a below par 2008 (for him). It is clear that Rafa is superior at the moment-physically, mentally and with his array of shots.

Roger would benefit from appointing a top coach and a sports psychologist IMHO.

Bring on Wimbledon.

PS For any Tennis lover wanting a good read, Hugh Lunn's book about his mate Ken Fletcher is a bottler ! It's titled " The Great Fletch".

 

[tigerboi]

Tiger, Laver is the only man, other than Budge to win a calendar year grand slam.

Quite a few have won a career grand slam though.

To be fair to Fed though, he would have taken the French open if it wasn't for Nadal, he is the second best on clay but Nadal is probably the best clay courter ever.

It's not just the forehand of Nadal that Federer can't handle. It's the consistency of Rafa, the speed at which he hits the ball, his speed and tenacity on the court. These combined, IMO, make Rafa the best baseline player ever. No doubt, Fed is more complete (better at the net, better serve, better at drop shots), so he can mix it up more, but the best way to beat Nadal is by just blowing him off the court. Fed doesn't have the power to do this, so if Rafa is on, it makes it very tough for Fed, he has to mix things up, but even then, he still probably won't win (and not on clay).

Onto the French, and Nadal is as sure bet for the house as any!

US open will be hard for Nadal to win, it's the fastest surface of any of the slams these days. Unlucky for Fed that Wimbledon changed, or he would no doubt, have Rafas number there too!

mate im aware of budge(about 1938) but i did ask SINCE the open era ONLY 2 players have won the 4 slams(as i said laver of course),hard to win the 4 in a career let alone in the calender year...

who is the ONLY other player to win the 4 slams?

already told you its not...newcombe,ashe,connors,mcenroe,becker,edberg ,sampras,FEDERER

wilander got beat at wimbeldon by edberg i think after winning the first 3 in 88...closest since laver...

this guy won the 4 in different years...

 

[spooly74]

mate im aware of budge(about 1938) but i did ask SINCE the open era ONLY 2 players have won the 4 slams(as i said laver of course),hard to win the 4 in a career let alone in the calender year...

who is the ONLY other player to win the 4 slams?

already told you its not...newcombe,ashe,connors,mcenroe,becker,edberg ,sampras,FEDERER

wilander got beat at wimbeldon by edberg i think after winning the first 3 in 88...closest since laver...

this guy won the 4 in different years...

Fred Perry