| p>Many experts think so! But we got to go easy on | | | | topspin on the ball (making it easier for Federer to |
| Roddick, he did try his best, but he was facing an | | | | pass). |
| opponent that is playing excellent tennis and is at the | | | | - Because he strikes the ball later he is also less |
| peak of his career. I do not say awesome because I | | | | accurate by virtual loss of the angle of attack. |
| always think that no matter how good your opponent | | | | - Running around the backhand, places himself at the |
| is playing, 30 to 40% of how good or how bad he | | | | extreme left side of the court, no matter how he will |
| plays depends on you. | | | | attack, cross court or down the line, he is left with so |
| Some of you will say, but Sergio, you must be kidding | | | | much open court to cover that getting to a volley is |
| Roger Federer is fantastic! I nod my head to that, but I | | | | turned into mission impossible. On the other hand if he |
| go on to a short analysis of Roddick's play and find the | | | | had attacked the ball directly using the shortest |
| 30 to 40% increase on his performance in order to | | | | distance between him and the ball with the backhand |
| win. | | | | slice down the line, he would have taken the ball earlier |
| Mistake #1: During an interview with the press Roddick | | | | and at a higher point (better angle of attack [make the |
| said, "If I am going to attack Roger my approaches will | | | | ball move away from his opponent]). Also, he would |
| have to have stick" Roddick's interpretation of this on | | | | have been earlier at the net (taken away time for |
| the court was to hit the ball hard as he came in. We all | | | | Roger to reposition himself) get in further into the court |
| know what happened with that! Why does this tactic | | | | and he would have been in a prime position to volley, |
| not work for Roddick against Federer? | | | | not to mention that he would've been correctly placed |
| Andy is a big man and relatively slow in comparison to | | | | at the net. |
| Roger, this means the quicker he hits the approach | | | | Mistake #3: Roddick ran systematically around the |
| shot the less time he will have to get to the net in a | | | | backhand at the baseline to hit the forehand. This |
| favourable volleying position. In this match it meant | | | | means he was leaving more then 3 quarters of the |
| getting passed 90% of the times because most of the | | | | court open for Federer to make him pay. And pay he |
| time he barely made it to the service line or struggled | | | | did! |
| to volleying from his shoe laces and getting passed. | | | | You do not run around the backhand and put yourself |
| What should Roddick have done then? | | | | out of position to hit a puffer ball! If you do that you |
| Simple, instead of charging blindly into a trap like | | | | have to hit a flatter penetrating shot that either will be |
| General Custer once did, Roddick had to have been | | | | a winner or a power shot that will handcuff your |
| more relaxed and with clearer vision, therefore mixing | | | | opponent into the defence until you can hit the winner. |
| up the attacks with medium pace deep low balls, hit | | | | Roddick, did not do either and it got to be so |
| short balls at the right time and the eventual drop shot | | | | embarrassing that when he hit inside in, down the line, |
| when the occasions arose. | | | | Roger would go cross court with the forehand and |
| The reason for using low bouncing, deep medium pace | | | | draw a mistake on a scrambling Andy. If he went |
| attacks is very simple; while the ball travels, no matter | | | | cross court inside out, Roger took a step into the ball |
| how fast Federer can be, he can only strike the ball | | | | and drove it for backhand winners with a smile; "Thank |
| after the ball has bounced, and if the ball stays low | | | | you for the opening A-Rod". |
| and deep it will be difficult to lift it without risk. | | | | Mistake #4: Andy Roddick was, hyper-motivated, |
| For a relatively slow man like Roddick this would have | | | | super concentrated and as tight as a bow ready to |
| given him the chance and time to get closer to the net | | | | bust! Is this good? No! |
| and perhaps finish the point. That task accomplished | | | | In tennis you need to have a certain amount of positive |
| with success once or twice, than he should've used | | | | tension, but you need to be relaxed as well and this for |
| the other options to keep Roger guessing and off | | | | many reasons, but I am going to just focus on two: |
| balance. | | | | - Relaxation - Mental, allows you to think better, more |
| Mistake #2: Roddick did not use the slice once on the | | | | clearly, see and react faster, stay focused as well as |
| attack, instead he used the topspin which in 95% of | | | | easier problem- solving. (No panic, no fear, no |
| the cases had too little bite on his shots, gave too | | | | blockades to overcome) |
| much air time for Roger to get there, most attacks | | | | - Relaxation - Physical, allows you to move more fluid, |
| were not deep enough and bounced exactly into | | | | to stroke the ball more efficiently and make the ball |
| Federer's striking zone for picture perfect passing | | | | move faster, recover faster and save energy. |
| shots. | | | | (Anticipation, reactivity, effectiveness) |
| The slice, especially on the backhand side, is a great | | | | Mistake #5: Andy did not vary enough, stuck himself |
| weapon. Roddick had several opportunities at very | | | | into a single mode of play and plan B or C did not exist. |
| important points to attack that way, but he chose to | | | | In tennis variation is the name of the game. If you do |
| run around the backhand and attack with the forehand | | | | not vary, if you do not mix up your shots, if you do not |
| topspin either down the line or cross court, which lead | | | | change what is not working into new tactics that work, |
| to humiliating passing shots. | | | | you might as well just hit your head against a wall! |
| Here are some of the reasons why: | | | | Finally, in all honesty, I have sympathy for Andy and I |
| - I mentioned Andy is pretty slow moving, therefore | | | | have no doubt he gave it his all and put his whole heart |
| the time he takes to run around Federer's short ball is | | | | into it. He certainly deserved to win one set, but it just |
| time lost that goes in Roger's repositioning favour. | | | | wasn't enough! He could have done and he can do 30 |
| - By doing that, Andy will strike the ball at a much | | | | to 40% better using his abilities in a different way. |
| lower point. As a result, he will have to impart more | | | | |