2019 Miami Open...ATP 1000...Miami, Florida USA

[nytennisaddict]

agreed. 2 things i'm taking from NK (and hseih!) in my own development
1. serve
2. touch
timely (for me) are the open the court patterns: 13 & 14

RBA makes everyone work but ND should get through that comfortably.
looking forward to the "young vets" coric/nk... but like you said, NK you never know what you'll get... (ie. is Coric a big enough name for NK to get out of bed?)
goffin v tiafoe... the runner vs the basher (david v goliath?)
shap v tsit... feels like a preview of what future GS slams will look like :P

oops... goes to show what i know about rba v nd... i thought nd was gonna cruise.
nk vs. coric... was nk even trying?
tiafoe!
shap v tsit - wow, what a match!

[nytennisaddict]

What about Canada as the up and coming powerhouse? We have Robapolov with his repeatable speed. Makes tennis look like ping pong. Then FAA who is like a glider moving around the court. I mean so smooth and an all court game. Great volleys and touch.

Tiafoe keeps moving up too! I am not as high on him as I am on Roboman and FAA. But he seems to be developing into a very solid player.

The next gen might be here already. Maybe we are back to the way things were when the 20 year olds took over earlier and not later as happened with what is now the middle gen.

at this point, i'm looking forward to a final of either:
* (w) faa v shap ## i like'm both, but give the nod to faa.... though his all court style, might take longer to develop (like it did for fed)
* (w) faa v fed ## at this point, i only care about fed winning slams... let the young'uns have the "smaller" tourneys :P

[don_budge]

Roger Federer versus Anybody...Daniil Medvedev

Another routine amazing performance by only tennis player existing in the world...the tennis world. Well what's the problem? Daniil Medvedev...how is he different from any of the other modern players? He's not. He's a poster boy of the cookie cutter generation. Obviously Federer has this one figured out. Trade a couple of service games. Slug it out for a few games...half a set or so. Then go to work. Slice and dice. Open up the court...get the opponent to hit up to you. Then he is waiting like a coiled serpent ready to strike.

For Roger now it is all about the serve. If the serve is on he knows how to take the two-handed game apart with his tactics. Once he is on that roll he goes to work on the opponents serve...making him work. Applying the pressure. Changing the tempo of the match from a slugfest to a surgical operation. Over and over he works this "magic" on the poor unsuspecting dolts. With two-handed backhands.

[stroke]

Roger Federer versus Anybody...Daniil Medvedev

Another routine amazing performance by only tennis player existing in the world...the tennis world. Well what's the problem? Daniil Medvedev...how is he different from any of the other modern players? He's not. He's a poster boy of the cookie cutter generation. Obviously Federer has this one figured out. Trade a couple of service games. Slug it out for a few games...half a set or so. Then go to work. Slice and dice. Open up the court...get the opponent to hit up to you. Then he is waiting like a coiled serpent ready to strike.

For Roger now it is all about the serve. If the serve is on he knows how to take the two-handed game apart with his tactics. Once he is on that roll he goes to work on the opponents serve...making him work. Applying the pressure. Changing the tempo of the match from a slugfest to a surgical operation. Over and over he works this "magic" on the poor unsuspecting dolts. With two-handed backhands.

Roger is the best tennis player out there whether he is playing against a 2 hander or a 1 hander. Broken record, but there has never been and there may not ever be another Roger. Nick at his best can go shot for shot with him on a hard court. Novak obviously matches up well also with Roger. Roger takes the ball so early off both sides but to me, uniquely so on the 1 handed backhand. And his slice backhand is the best out there also. His forehand on the hard courts is the best out there also.

[don_budge]

Roger is the best tennis player out there whether he is playing against a 2 hander or a 1 hander. Broken record, but there has never been and there may not ever be another Roger. Nick at his best can go shot for shot with him on a hard court. Novak obviously matches up well also with Roger. Roger takes the ball so early off both sides but to me, uniquely so on the 1 handed backhand. And his slice backhand is the best out there also. His forehand on the hard courts is the best out there also.

I received a call in what amounts to the middle of the night here in Sweden from The Ugly American in Hawaii. The time difference is currently 13 hours and tomorrow it will be 12 when we go on summer time here. He left a voice mail since I didn't answer...he asked if I was watching Roger Federer versus Denis "The Menace" Shapovolav. You will have to pardon me but a good nights sleep trumps a Roger Federer match these days. Regrettably in some sense but necessary for my own performance the next day. My performance trumps anybody else's from here on in...to the finish line. Grand Slams excluded. Roger only.

Mr. Ugly was telling me this morning when I called him back at 6AM this morning when it was 7PM there yesterday evening...he told me that Federer schooled little "Denis The Menace". I watched the highlights and that is exactly what it was. Federer is almost twice as old as "The Brat" yet he just glided through this semifinal as if he was riding on a well oiled rollercoaster track to the finals. It was virtually frictionless.

I know all about the wonderful technique and mechanics of Roger Federer. I know that he beefed up his backhand in the past couple of years with the addition of some square footage in the racquet department. I know that his forehand has certainly prospered from the change as well. I would say by at least a coefficient of what ever the difference is in the area of the new versus the old racquet. His entire game benefits equally in every single aspect of his game. A scary thought for the rest of the field because he so outclasses everyone because of the fact that the tactics benefit logarithmically with the enhance technique. This ball is rolling down hill with a lot of inertia.

The Ugly American told me that the broadcast he was watching was being commentated on by Brad Gilbert and Patrick McEnroe...the lesser of the two McEnroe's. Gilbert said that he was really high on "The Menace" and foresees top five potential in the young Canadian. But Patrick was also high only now as much so...he cited a lack of consistency in the play of Denis Shapovolov. Well consistency is an interesting aspect of the game and who better to be the poster boy than Roger. His consistency in the tournament alone suggests that he has this stuff all down by numbers. The takedowns of some of the more promising youth in the game in Daniil Medvedev and Denis Shapovolav was super impressive. He just sliced and diced these two into little tiny, teeny bit before he just absolutely lowered the boom on them to send them home with tails tucked securely between their legs.

It all boils down to the tactics. The tactics are enabled by his technique...not to mention his experience. But the game that Federer is playing is a game that seems to be totally foreign to every single tennis players that takes the opposite side of the court against him nowadays. It has actually been this way for some time now. If you have a long enough memory to remember the days of John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg you know that every single player in the draw used to play this game. If you remember the likes of more recently Pete Sampras, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg to name just a few you realize that the game has seismically shifted...to the left as it is. It is as if a Socialism or Communism has somehow creeped into the game where everyone plays as if brainwashed by a hypnotising illusion of a promise for a brighter and better tomorrow if you will just please not ask any questions and accept what you are told.

Roger Federer is the last remaining tennis player in the world...the tennis world. He put it on full display yesterday in Miami as he surgically removed Denis Shapovolav from the tournament. Next up...John Isner. Any questions?

[klacr]

Roger is the best tennis player out there whether he is playing against a 2 hander or a 1 hander. Broken record, but there has never been and there may not ever be another Roger. Nick at his best can go shot for shot with him on a hard court. Novak obviously matches up well also with Roger. Roger takes the ball so early off both sides but to me, uniquely so on the 1 handed backhand. And his slice backhand is the best out there also. His forehand on the hard courts is the best out there also.

Let's enjoy it while it lasts.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[gzhpcu]

It has been lasting much longer than expected, thank goodness. Hope the new generation will learn and emulate his attacking style.

[stroke]

db, you mentioned some great players in tennis but to me, Pete comes the closest to his game of all those players. Pete to me did not play every point to the extent of Roger, but he was certainly one of the best of all time. His FO record is certainly a bit of a hole. Andre summed it up best one time to me when asked to compare them. Andre obviously played both in their prime and was always a good interview about stuff like this. As I remember, he pretty much said Pete had a slightly better 1st and 2nd serve, and Roger was better at everything else. I think he even mentioned other players wanted to play Pete on clay, but not Roger.

[don_budge]

db, you mentioned some great players in tennis but to me, Pete comes the closest to his game of all those players. Pete to me did not play every point to the extent of Roger, but he was certainly one of the best of all time. His FO record is certainly a bit of a hole. Andre summed it up best one time to me when asked to compare them. Andre obviously played both in their prime and was always a good interview about stuff like this. As I remember, he pretty much said Pete had a slightly better 1st and 2nd serve, and Roger was better at everything else. I think he even mentioned other players wanted to play Pete on clay, but not Roger.

Great players! What separates them...one from the other. Not much on any given day. The problem is that you cannot realistically compare the modern players to the classic era because of the equipment. We saw what a huge difference the seven additional square inches made to Roger's game. What do you think an additional twelve square would have made to Sampras'? I would think it would have made a huge difference. Speaking of Andre...the little skunk. He was playing with 108 square. There is the problem when comparing players.

If you would have looked at Roger Federer just before he switched to the new equipment he was sort of becoming a bit ordinary. He really struggled against his two main nemesis'. But after the change he was competitive...he has beaten the modern skunk five times running. I believe that both McEnroe and Borg would have been a handful for any of the modern players given equal equipment.

If only we could put them all in a tournament with all wooden racquets on some of the medium fast courts of the seventies. The grass too! Then we would have something to think about. A series of tournaments...all Grand Slam format. Throw in Lendl, Gonzales, Rosewall, Laver and Hoad. Give me about thirty-two of the greatest ever. One summer of a series of a dozen tournaments. A real "Field of Dreams"!

The bigger racquets create an unreal illusion. They make the game look easier. I guess Djokovic once tried to hit with a wooden racquet and he really struggled. Just imagine Johnny Mac on the other side of the net with his Dunlop Fort or his Wilson Pro Staff licking his chops against a guy who has no net game. No game plan B. The equipment cannot be under estimated or over estimated as it is. I saw a video of hockey players who were trying to play with the old wooden sticks instead of the suped up graphite jobs they use now. They couldn't handle it.

I certainly understand and actually appreciate what you are saying about Federer but I have a hard time handing over the GOAT to anyone without some actual proof. No speculating for me. That might be disrespectful to the older times. It certainly isn't easy these days to make the argument that I am making but I think the game has actually devolved and my "Living Proof" is you know who. Here he is at 38 years old and making the rest of the field look silly. Don't look now...he is taking the court against John Isner as I type.

[stroke]

db, you make a great argument, and no doubt the 7 or so inch bigger racquet has enhanced Roger's game, particularly the backhand. I just see Roger as unique in this regard. His overall technique is just in a different world to me than great players like McEnroe, Lendl, and Sampras.

[gzhpcu]

Beating Isner first 6-1 is just incredible. Isner had won all rounds with tie-breaks. Felix came close but choked.

[arturohernandez]

at this point, i'm looking forward to a final of either:
* (w) faa v shap ## i like'm both, but give the nod to faa.... though his all court style, might take longer to develop (like it did for fed)
* (w) faa v fed ## at this point, i only care about fed winning slams... let the young'uns have the "smaller" tourneys :P

Not quite there yet. But hopefully soon.

[arturohernandez]

db, you make a great argument, and no doubt the 7 or so inch bigger racquet has enhanced Roger's game, particularly the backhand. I just see Roger as unique in this regard. His overall technique is just in a different world to me than great players like McEnroe, Lendl, and Sampras.

The tricky part is that Federer built his game on the 85 used by Sampras. So he is like what the natural evolution of those players would be if they had had a chance to keep using larger rackets.

https://www.perfect-tennis.com/the-many-racquets-of-roger-federer/

No other player today grew up playing with these "tiny" rackets and then had the luxury of living in the large racket world.

Maybe that is what makes him so different. He is like Bruno Mars, old but new, all at the same time.

[nytennisaddict]

Beating Isner first 6-1 is just incredible. Isner had won all rounds with tie-breaks. Felix came close but choked.

yeah, i was surprised by that... mainly because i'm so used to the top guys "routinely" holding to serve out a match... (there are exceptions of course... but for the most part, seems true).
i think that faa's serving consistency will come with time, some tweaks, add a routine (mental/physical), and familiarity with pressure situations and he'll iron out the kinks in his serve under pressure.

was watching faa at the quallies of us open last year, and he had a similar issue... his serve left him during big moments.

[stotty]

Roger is the best tennis player out there whether he is playing against a 2 hander or a 1 hander. Broken record, but there has never been and there may not ever be another Roger. Nick at his best can go shot for shot with him on a hard court. Novak obviously matches up well also with Roger. Roger takes the ball so early off both sides but to me, uniquely so on the 1 handed backhand. And his slice backhand is the best out there also. His forehand on the hard courts is the best out there also.

It's easy to see why people worship Roger because his game is so pretty. He takes players out ranked below him so much easier than Rafa and Novak. Novak has to work hard to beat RBA (a player who gets stuck on your shoe and hard to get rid of) every time whereas as Roger can pull him apart.

That said, Novak plays better than Roger. He has quietly dominated Roger since 2011, including beating him twice in Wimbledon finals. He is technically just as good if not better from the baseline. How could he beat Roger otherwise if he weren't technically better from the baseline? Novak's forehand is underrated and Rafa finds it harder to deal with than Roger's. That hooking crosscourt forehand he employs gets Rafa every time.

I have to stand up for Novak because no one else does. The great thing is the stats and facts don't lie and easily back up me up. I am happy to give Roger the GOAT trophy but Novak is the best of the big four. He has proved it beyond doubt even though most couldn't bear to concede it.