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*Official* Tennis Thread

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
What's piss weak about Federer right now is his mental game.

Fair enough if your skills and fitness are on decline due to the nature of ageing. But his mental strength at times is awful.

I remember the Wimbledon 2007 final when he was seriously being challenged by Rafa in the 5th set and it looked like the impossible would happen. Twice down 15-40 on serve, and then he did some of the greatest clutch serving you'll ever likely to see. I remember sitting there in awe.

Bring that back Fed.
 
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vcs

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I couldn't disagree more. What looks like poor mentality, easily giving up and cheap unforced errors is purely due to the nature of his game and what has brought him success. He cannot play any other way. He cannot scrap and retrieve like Nadal does.

He still did some good clutch serving against Djokovic in the 3rd set. But his forehand is all over the place now. It is a high-precision, finely tuned shot (the most awesome destructive weapon I've ever seen in tennis) and the effects of age are showing on it.
 

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
His backhand was actually what was **** against Murray. Forehand kept him in the match considering he was a double break down in the first set at 0-3.


Agree that generally his forehand has fallen to pieces though. But it didn't vs. Murray and he was still mentally shot.

And I'm sorry but losing your serve at key moments when sets are being decided is mental weakness. So is playing drop shots which bounce before the net after you've just broken Murray back and he is killing himself for going from 0-3 up to 5-5.

I really think you should watch the 11th game of the first set against Murray in the Toronto final if you haven't already. Easily the worst I've seen him play. The commentators were in shock.

He did the same vs. Gulbis after breaking back and having the guy on the ropes, and then gifting back a break and then losing the match.

Agree that he was strong vs. Djokovic. But I'm talking over the journey of the last 6 months.
 

vcs

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His backhand was actually what was **** against Murray. Forehand kept him in the match considering he was a double break down in the first set at 0-3.


Agree that generally his forehand has fallen to pieces though. But it didn't vs. Murray and he was still mentally shot.

And I'm sorry but losing your serve at key moments when sets are being decided is mental weakness. So is playing drop shots which bounce before the net after you've just broken Murray back and he is killing himself for going from 0-3 up to 5-5.

I really think you should watch the 11th game of the first set against Murray in the Toronto final if you haven't already. Easily the worst I've seen him play. The commentators were in shock.

He did the same vs. Gulbis after breaking back and having the guy on the ropes, and then gifting back a break and then losing the match.

Agree that he was strong vs. Djokovic. But I'm talking over the journey of the last 6 months.
I saw that. He does have an unhealthy obsession with the forehand dropshot at the moment. Could be partly explained by the fact that he struggles to end points from that side with the ease he used to, though.

I'm also willing to forgive him his idiotic dropshots considering it made a big difference to his winning the French Open last year. :p
 

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Hahahahahahah! Forgot to add the key part of that question...

When is the last time there has been a mentally tough and 100% dedicated French tennis player?
 

vcs

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Hahahahahahah! Forgot to add the key part of that question...

When is the last time there has been a mentally tough and 100% dedicated French tennis player?
Haha.

Amelie Mauresmo for about 6 months in 2006, Tsonga for a couple of weeks in 2008. :ph34r:

Seriously, they have to be the biggest bunch of underachievers in tennis. Do you remember India beating France away in Davis Cup in 1993 (on clay)? One of India's most famous sporting victories ever.
 

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Haha.

Amelie Mauresmo for about 6 months in 2006, Tsonga for a couple of weeks in 2008. :ph34r:

Seriously, they have to be the biggest bunch of underachievers in tennis. Do you remember India beating France away in Davis Cup in 1993 (on clay)? One of India's most famous sporting victories ever.
Haha yep.

I made that post after Monfils put up the most pathetic effort ever, and Gasquet looked like he wasn't trying vs. Youzhny (and I had money on Gasquet).

But Gasquet ended up coming back to win in 3 :ph34r:

Still a waste of talent, alongside Monfils and Tsonga to an extent.

Simon's a confusing case though.
 

vcs

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Haha yep.

I made that post after Monfils put up the most pathetic effort ever, and Gasquet looked like he wasn't trying vs. Youzhny (and I had money on Gasquet).

But Gasquet ended up coming back to win in 3 :ph34r:

Still a waste of talent, alongside Monfils and Tsonga to an extent.

Simon's a confusing case though.
Simon is actually a limited player who makes the most of what he has. Tsonga, Mathieu, Gasquet are the worst offenders for me. Monfils is never going to win anything playing the way he does.
 

ohtani's jacket

State Vice-Captain
I think the point is that Federer had an 8-1 record against Berdych when he was close to his prime, winning the majority of those matches easily. Credit to Berdych, he's certainly a much-improved player but it cannot be denied that Federer is in his decline.

As for being unhappy that Federer is losing more, is that wrong if you're a Federer fan? :ph34r:
Federer has been on the decline ever since 2008. A Federer fan ought to understand that and not use his 2005-07 results against him when judging his present form. This is a different Federer and a different phase of his career. That may disappoint people who only want to watch a champion tennis player in his prime, but I don't think his decline has been anywhere near as sharp as former players and he hasn't given up the ghost yet. There's no disgrace in losing to Berdych on the current ATP tour.

As for mental toughness, let's not pretend that it's an endless reservoir. Form and fitness play a part too. Not to mention age and the fact that he has a young family now. You also have to factor in the changing attitude of his opponents and their mental tougheness. A guy like Berdych now believes that he can beat Federer and isn't satisfied when he loses a third set tiebreaker after failing to serve out the match.

Personally, I think it's an interesting stage in Federer's career.
 

vcs

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Federer has been on the decline ever since 2008. A Federer fan ought to understand that and not use his 2005-07 results against him when judging his present form. This is a different Federer and a different phase of his career. That may disappoint people who only want to watch a champion tennis player in his prime, but I don't think his decline has been anywhere near as sharp as former players and he hasn't given up the ghost yet. There's no disgrace in losing to Berdych on the current ATP tour.

As for mental toughness, let's not pretend that it's an endless reservoir. Form and fitness play a part too. Not to mention age and the fact that he has a young family now. You also have to factor in the changing attitude of his opponents and their mental tougheness. A guy like Berdych now believes that he can beat Federer and isn't satisfied when he loses a third set tiebreaker after failing to serve out the match.

Personally, I think it's an interesting stage in Federer's career.
Agree, especially the part about mental toughness. :)
 

ripper868

International Coach
Simon is actually a limited player who makes the most of what he has. Tsonga, Mathieu, Gasquet are the worst offenders for me. Monfils is never going to win anything playing the way he does.
Gasquet getting over Youhzny cost me money..Chardy getting up won me money however
 

Jono

Virat Kohli (c)
Nadal losing in straight sets to Benneteau will be so ****.

Rafa just saved match point.

Don't let it happen Rafa.
 

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