tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205695212026339818.post1019071551147167169..comments2024-03-24T00:16:13.978-07:00Comments on The Fan Child's Two Cents: Federer's Race Against TimeThe Fan Childhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06910420047118245818noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205695212026339818.post-69561443384012085332011-03-26T20:43:30.400-07:002011-03-26T20:43:30.400-07:00Related to a recent Tweet of yours, the "Fed&...Related to a recent Tweet of yours, the "Fed's dead" story is bizarre. I was curious, so I looked up his results in the past eight months. Since Wimbledon 2010, his only losses have been: 1) to Murray in two Master's Finals, 2) to Monfils (in Paris), and four times to Djokovic. Meanwhile, he won Cincinnati, won Stockholm & Basel (over Novak), won the World Tour Finals (beating Murray, Novak, and Rafa), and won Doha.<br /><br />So while I agree that the shanks against Djokovic are jarring to see, it's not as if he's losing to bad opponents (a la Murray).<br /><br />I maintain that Djokovic will come back to earth after the spring hardcourt season is over. Fed will contend in Roland Garros and Wimbledon again.alexduffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080439935800984053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205695212026339818.post-63570085901155711592011-03-02T12:22:02.599-08:002011-03-02T12:22:02.599-08:00Alex -- I guess I have to apologize -- I couldn...Alex -- I guess I have to apologize -- I couldn't come up with anything definitive on Fed. Will he? Won't he? <br /><br />I think it's a free-for-all in the top-10 right now, and Fed's chances of coming out on top in a Slam are still good. I think Fed is a different player when his backhand is a weapon. It was a huge liability against Novak in Dubai, and it was a huge weapon at the WTF's in London last year. <br /><br />Maybe that will be the key ingredient for Roger going forward? Everything else seems to be pretty spot on, but when the backhand looks weak, black clouds move in.The Fan Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06910420047118245818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205695212026339818.post-76608952282510264172011-03-01T18:41:56.039-08:002011-03-01T18:41:56.039-08:00I prodded you on Twitter to write "The Defini...I prodded you on Twitter to write "The Definitive Guide to Whether Federer Will Win Another Major", so thanks for this post.<br /><br />Couple of thoughts:<br />1) Right now it seems like Djokovic's got his number, but it also seems like Nole is playing out of his mind, not sure how long he'll keep it up.<br />2) Back in April '09, Fed was so frustrated with all the forehand errors that he broke his racket during a match in Florida.<br />3) Presently, I'm still optimistic for Fed given Nadal's propensity for injuries and the fact that Fed can definitely beat every other guy on the tour.<br />4) Check back with me on the afternoon of 7/3 to see if I'm still feeling optimistic after the Spring season, Roland Garros, and Wimbledon are over.alexduffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15080439935800984053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205695212026339818.post-17742102337683107092011-03-01T12:22:29.969-08:002011-03-01T12:22:29.969-08:00How depressing .. but perhaps true.How depressing .. but perhaps true.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205695212026339818.post-9894778177377788842011-03-01T11:40:48.550-08:002011-03-01T11:40:48.550-08:00I'm not writing him off Yolita, but I am worri...I'm not writing him off Yolita, but I am worried that if he doesn't get results this year, he'll be tempted to start looking for an exit strategy. <br /><br />I totally agree about Novak deserving so much credit at the moment -- I look forward to getting to that in future posts.The Fan Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06910420047118245818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4205695212026339818.post-78037025355071758792011-03-01T11:26:45.366-08:002011-03-01T11:26:45.366-08:00I think you're being too quick in writing Fede...I think you're being too quick in writing Federer off. Let's remember Federer's performance in the WTF in London only 3 months ago. It was brilliant.<br /><br />And since then Roger has only lost to one player: Novak Djokovic. And he's not any player, he's a player that has always refused to be intimidated by Federer, even when Federer was "the threat" as you put it.<br /><br />I remember Novak, at the age of 19, commenting on how surprised he was that all players seemed resigned to lose to Roger and some even considered it an honour. Not him. He managed to beat Federer at his peak, in a Masters final, in 2007.<br /><br />What's admirable, I think, is that Novak was not discouraged to face Rafa and Roger in their devastating domination, and managed to stay as #3 for 4 years, waiting for his chances. <br /><br />How big are his chances now? Too early to say. He's playing brilliantly. But I wouldn't rush to any conclusions regarding Federer's form just yet.Yolitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02115609535199782762noreply@blogger.com