2017...The Match of the Year

[don_budge]

Roger Federer vs. Not Just Anybody (Nick Kyrgios)...Semifinals in Miami 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcnN7nYxZ2M

Without a doubt. The match of the year. Rarely if ever will you see two players "maintaining pressure on their opponents" like these two do in this semifinal contest in Miami. It was riveting from bell to bell. Total heavyweight stuff as Federer and Kyrgios go toe to toe and neither giving an inch. No backing down here. Just looking your opponent square in the eyes and delivering blow after blow. Jabbing...jabbing...haymaker. Over and over.

Three sets...three tiebreakers. 7-6, 6-7, 7-6. Bing bang bye. Kyrgios may never be the same. He couldn't do any better and he still came out on the short end. Federer beat Nadal in the finals the next day. Still not certain how he did it. How did he recover from this slugfest. He didn't look all that good but found a way to take the title.

Unbelievable match. This is just a highlight clip but the whole match was much the same. It was a highlight video from bell to bell. Whew!

Classic good guy versus bad guy to boot. The perfect protagonist versus the perfect antagonist.

[don_budge]

Roger Federer vs. Not Just Anybody (Nick Kyrgios)...Semifinals in Miami 2017

Federer beat Nadal in the finals the next day. Still not certain how he did it. How did he recover from this slugfest. He didn't look all that good but found a way to take the title.

Speaking of classic good guy versus bad guy. Two days in a row Roger defeats the Nemesis. Here is Roger completing what they are calling the "Sunshine Double"...Indian Wells and Miami.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM7Gzhout_g

Everyone is talking about the retooled backhand but the whole game is on steroids. The forehand is just a wrecking machine in this match. The serve keeps him out of trouble. He is dominating his service game putting extreme pressure on Nadal to hold his. Maintaining pressure on your opponent...where have I heard that before. The extra real estate in the racquet is all that needs to be said. How many Slams did he hand over to the opposition by stubbornly refusing to switch to equipment commensurate with his opposition's. I remember years ago talking about his equipment...and his backhand for that matter. Oh well. You guys were listening. There's the consolation.

[gzhpcu]

Roger is like a fine wine:gets better with age…

[don_budge]

Like a Fine Wine...Roger Federer 2017

Roger is like a fine wine:gets better with age…

An all Swiss match high up on the best matches of 2017. Roger Federer versus Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals of the Australian Open that started the Federer resurgence. A great match featuring the two great Swiss one hand backhands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL6ZBa4X1a0

[klacr]

Like a Fine Wine...Roger Federer 2017



An all Swiss match high up on the best matches of 2017. Roger Federer versus Stan Wawrinka in the semifinals of the Australian Open that started the Federer resurgence. A great match featuring the two great Swiss one hand backhands.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL6ZBa4X1a0

Tennis Channel must have read your post. They are playing that match today.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal...semifinals at Indian Wells

Tennis Channel must have read your post. They are playing that match today.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

They must have read my post klacr...truly a great, great match and a match that led Federer to believe he could actually win the thing. Remember his match with Berdych...Tomas was just shaking his head at the level he was facing. Stan Wawrinka was coming up big in spots but it wasn't enough as Roger just kept upping the ante.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyiWYu4ROT0

Here's another vintage 2017 Roger Federer match...this time against Rafael Nadal at Indian Wells. Roger just was having a field day in showing Nadal who is actually Boss.

[klacr]

Yes, I remember the Berdych match. I don't want to. But I do. Berdych gave him his toughest match at Wimbledon this year as well.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[don_budge]

Yes, I remember the Berdych match. I don't want to. But I do. Berdych gave him his toughest match at Wimbledon this year as well.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

It wasn't as if Berdych played badly...6-2, 6-4, 6-4. But it was the level of Federer from start to finish. This match really gave the Swiss Maestro the needed confidence to proceed with impunity. Not only for the tournament but for the entire year. He must have ran out of gas in London. That match against Goffin was a "stain" on his year. Hard to imagine.

Berdych did play him tough at Wimbledon. That match will make the "2017...Match of the Year" thread as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_cXyiCDt7Y