Whassup with Federer?

[stumphges]

Great comments on the superior movement. I would add that he always looks balanced. No matter how fast he is moving it looks like he could have a cup of water on his head and never spill a drop. Also, did he not turn the Davydenko match around by suddenly hitting some really hard flat shots reminicent of Del Po at the U.S. Open ? I think he won the Aussie open at that moment. Everything else was a foregone conclusion after that. Is it possible that he went back and retooled his famous forehand after the Del Po loss ?

Geoff MacDonald, blogger for the NYTimes "Straight Sets" Grand Slam blog series says that he did, here: http://straightsets.blogs.nytimes.co...rer-vs-murray/

"Many consider Federer’s forehand the best in the game, and how well he’s dictating play with it will be important to watch. The late David Foster Wallace called Federer’s forehand “a great liquid whip,” and it may be even better this year, as apparently Federer spent much of the off-season tinkering with it. He looks to be taking the ball earlier, hitting a bit flatter with less margin and lower net clearance. This hurries the opponent and takes time away."

I haven't read about this offseason forehand tinkering from any other source.

[stumphges]

Regarding the two clips and pics put up by oliensis, the difference is stark, even shocking. I think that batch of '09 fed videos was done at Indian Wells where he wasn't in good form and looks a bit tired and haggard. Though his change in technique/explosiveness over the years may be down mainly to lost tendon spring and a desire to play with more efficiency, it would be interesting to have some more recent high-speed to compare (like during US Open series or at this AO Open). I wouldn't be surprised to see some added pop in his game more recently.

[oliensis]

Good link posted above.
I especially think the comment about Federer playing a few well-honed patterns is on the mark. I think he's clearer and clear about that nowadays. In the Coria match from '04 French, there was incredible variety of point configurations. Now it seems Federer is much clearer about the patterns he wants to play, and less often is there as prolonged an improvisational point.

I'll be 50 yrs old next month...I know that things change as we age...and we try to accentuate the virtues of what we must embrace, or else we'll spend all our time mourning what we have lost...

I agree that Federer is moving better now than in the spring '09 footage.

But I get the same feeling looking at his '04 footage that I get when I see pictures of my old girlfriend and me in college. Would not trade those times for these...but it does bring on a pang.

[stumphges]

But I get the same feeling looking at his '04 footage that I get when I see pictures of my old girlfriend and me in college. Would not trade those times for these...but it does bring on a pang.

It does indeed.