| p>There are several elements to consider, Roger is | | | | pressure on Roger Federers second service, either by |
| indeed a very talented player, an excellent athlete and | | | | getting inside the court and attacking down the line or |
| there is a list of things he does ultimately better then | | | | by hitting a deep heavy topspin high bouncing shot, |
| his present opponents; | | | | especially to the backhand side and putting Roger |
| 1- All the necessary shots to attack and defend from | | | | immediately on the run or defense! |
| any position on the tennis court. Even though he has | | | | 6- Barring Davidenko and perhaps Tommy Haas, no |
| some quirkiness about his movement, in general, he | | | | one hits down the line firm, fast ground strokes, that |
| moves quite well. | | | | can take reaction time away from Roger consistently |
| 2- With a service that many could consider "weak" in | | | | enough. Also when pulled wide out of the court by |
| power and speed, he compensates by varying, with | | | | Federer everyone goes for impossible cross court |
| precision (great placement) and consistency by serving | | | | passing shots right at Federer who is waiting in the |
| a very high percentage of 1st serves in. | | | | middle of the court, when to go for broke with a |
| 3- He knows how to attack and when to attack. | | | | screaming down the line passing is the shot to play! |
| 4- In the middle of the court with short balls, he is | | | | 7- Zero players on the ATP tour can hit technically |
| unforgiving and merciless, he either puts those balls | | | | sound enough slice backhands and stay in on a battle |
| away or attacks and follows them to the net with the | | | | with Roger to the point of forcing him to be the first |
| right shot. | | | | one to change to a topspin shot and therefore be |
| 5- Federer can trade shots from both wings at great | | | | challenged to get under a low ball resulting very likely |
| pace and all of a sudden totally change from topspin | | | | on a weaker, slower, waist high punishable short ball! |
| to slice low, long or short, with or without pace. | | | | 8- With so many pushed and floating returns from |
| 6- Even though Roger does not use it often enough, | | | | Federer no one serves and volleys, not even as a |
| he can serve and volley well. | | | | surprise! |
| 8- The backhand is sometimes prone to mistakes but, | | | | 9- Very few are able to or know how to go to the net |
| often so varied that opponents with weak backhand | | | | on a short ball, with most either over hitting with fast |
| slices or hard topspin shots can hardly bother him. | | | | topspin shots cross court right into Rogers favorite |
| 9- Can generate great angles and passing shots out | | | | waist level target zone and leaving themselves in |
| of nowhere. | | | | no-mans land, open to easy passing shots to either |
| Rarely uses the drop-shot, drop volley or lob but, has | | | | side. Instead of attacking 95% of the times up the alley |
| the ability to do it well if necessary. | | | | with a sharp low slice that would enable them to get in |
| 10- Returns very well off both wings. Since opponents | | | | closer to the net either for a put away volley or a |
| do not know how to press him, sometimes he limits | | | | placement volley for the kill on the next! |
| himself to just pushing the ball back deep into play and | | | | 10- Rarely do they try to counter the short backhand |
| gets into the rally from there. | | | | slice from Federer with a drop-shot or short sliced ball |
| 11- Has an excellent inside out and inside in forehand, | | | | up the line. The volleys on the stretch, particularly the |
| that can spray winners to any corner of the court. | | | | forehand volley are very suspicious and prone to |
| 12- Generally Roger seeks control of the center of the | | | | mistakes, especially when the shot is hit up the line. |
| court and often tries to stay close to the baseline or | | | | 11- Seldom does anyone try to bring Roger unwillingly |
| inside of the court. Once inside of the court all hell | | | | to the net and then pass or lob him! |
| breaks loose for his opponents and he rarely loses a | | | | 12- Practically noone gets close or inside the baseline |
| point from that position, neither will he concede an inch | | | | at rallies, with a large majority running 6, 8, 10 feet and |
| gained inside the court. | | | | more behind the baseline hitting impossible ground |
| Now why does he win most of his matches so easily? | | | | strokes on the run, while Roger instead, steps inside |
| How do his opponents contribute to their own demise? | | | | the court and dictates the point! |
| 1- About 95% of his ATP opponents, have no idea | | | | There is plenty more but, if ATP players did in their |
| how to handle a backhand slice of any nature | | | | matches on a consistent basis, only half of what I just |
| especially the short slice to the backhand or forehand. | | | | wrote, against Roger Federer, professional tennis |
| 2- Most of the ATP players clearly do not know how | | | | would be one hundred percent more interesting; Roger |
| to attack with percentage play, let alone have a plan | | | | would have a true challenge and we all would win! |
| of attack to speak of! Exceptions; Tim Henman , Greg | | | | Instead we are all condemned to further drubbings of |
| Rudzesky , Jiri Novak, Tommy Haas, David Nalbanian | | | | Rogers opponents (should I say friends?) and more |
| (all handicapped by injuries or old age), Ancic, Murray, | | | | boring one-sided matches with yet additional |
| Gasquet, Bagdahtis, Dyokovic young lads developing. | | | | unintended hilarious thank you comments to the other |
| 3- A majority of Rogers adversaries (exception | | | | players and their "teams" by Roger Federer at the |
| Nadal), take on too much of Rogers "nice guy image" | | | | trophy presentations! |
| and are not pugnacious enough against him, turning | | | | Just a short note to end, do not take me wrong! I do |
| what should be a boxing match into a social tea party. | | | | not want Roger Federer beaten, I want him challenged |
| This culminates with Roger being so gracious at the | | | | to see his true best! I love his game and style of play |
| Trophy awards ceremony, as to thanking his opponent | | | | like I did from; Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, John Newcombe, |
| and his camp (coach, agent, physiotherapist, etc...) for | | | | Pat Cash, John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Michael Stich, |
| the "Good work"! Oh boy, in Pancho Gonzales, Ion | | | | Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras and others. Roger |
| Tiriac, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors or John McEnroe's | | | | Federer is the last player that is playing the all round |
| days, would Roger dare to say anything like that and | | | | game so called "old fashion tennis" and proving |
| they would all have beaten him up with the umpire | | | | everyone how effective this style of play can be, |
| chair! | | | | instead of the hard-hitting at all times mindless baseline |
| 4- They often overlook the fact that Roger is not as | | | | game of many pros of today. |
| strong and loose under pressure as it seems. A good | | | | In all honesty I hope that Federer will continue to |
| observer of the game will notice that Roger does not | | | | dominate for at least another 3 to 6 years. That will |
| like to have his "feathers" ruffled and once that | | | | help tennis as a whole because it will force teachers |
| happens, he is prone to very average mistakes. As | | | | to teach the one handed backhand, topspin and the |
| was the case in the Australian open final against | | | | slice. On the other hand as Roger gets older the |
| Francisco Gonzales at 4/3, 5/4 with Gonzales not | | | | greater will be his need to go to the net to finish points |
| being able to capitalize! Those shaky moments on | | | | quicker, this once again will force myopic teachers to |
| Rogers part happen pretty often under pressure and I | | | | teach the volley better and the serve and volley |
| have seen them against Nalbandian, Novak, Nadal, | | | | combination, which will lead to the all round game |
| Murray, Baghdatis, Davidenko, Henman and others. | | | | having future successors! |
| 5- Except Rafael Nadal and perhaps Davidenko or | | | | So, long live King Roger! |
| Nalbandian, no player on the ATP tour puts consistent | | | | |