Federer plays Roddick tonight

[Samarta]

Gonzo played as well as he could...Federer is simply that good. He served horribly in the first set. I think the # was 47%, but you still had the feeling he was in total control even when he was down 2 set points. 2nd and 3rd sets were just a lesson in precision. To go through a Grand Slam event without losing a set in todays game is simply unbelievable. I said it before and I'll say it again, I just hope that he can come through in Paris in the Spring. Guy is amazing.

[packerbacker7964]

Did you see Andy's interview after the match? He was a comic during the whole thing laughing and smiling all the while. I think the guy has been beat down so many times by this guy he's a huge disadvantage everytime they play now.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Samarta

Gonzo played as well as he could...Federer is simply that good. He served horribly in the first set. I think the # was 47%, but you still had the feeling he was in total control even when he was down 2 set points. 2nd and 3rd sets were just a lesson in precision. To go through a Grand Slam event without losing a set in todays game is simply unbelievable. I said it before and I'll say it again, I just hope that he can come through in Paris in the Spring. Guy is amazing.

No,Gonzo did not play nearly as well as he had been playing.He served for the 1st set,and what did he do? All of the sudden he started missing his 1st serves.I can tell you that guys who have won Grand Slams (and have fast serves,) don't choke like that.I am not gunna say he was gunna win,but he should have served that 1st set out.That was simply a choke.That is the difference between somebody like Safin,and Gonzo.When Safin is playing well,that serve of his is huge,and every time he needed a point against Federer, that ace was there.The way people beat Federer(off a clay court) is by having a very hard dominant serve.This guy is still inconsistent with his serve(it is not the weapon it needs to be.)It really is pretty fundamental.Guys like Safin and Ivanisovic have Grand Slam titles because they were able to serve aces CONSISTENTLY.Guys like Fernando and Roddick need to start right there.They both evidently have strong serves.......Oh really?? Come back when you can serve aces under pressure(when you have to have it.)Anybody who claims to want to beat Federer on a hard court needs to start right there.Because I have seen guys like Safin go to the well with 3 straight aces against Federer,and you don't really stand a chance if you are just getting your 1st serve "in." It needs to be a vicious weapon(or else you are S.O.L)

[Samarta]

All you have to do is serve aces under pressure. See that's a great idea until you are ahead 5 - 4 in the first set of your first major and you realize Roger Federer is on the other side of the net. The only way anyone is going to beat Federer at this point in his career is for him to have a bad a day and whoever is playing him to play the best match of their career. If any of the big servers bring their best day, (and let's be realistic, Roddick is the standard as far as big servers go) and Federer is playing his best, the servers got no shot. None. Nada. The only way anyone is going to beat him anytime soon is for him not to play well. Safin??? puhleeeze!

Originally Posted by Samarta

All you have to do is serve aces under pressure. See that's a great idea until you are ahead 5 - 4 in the first set of your first major and you realize Roger Federer is on the other side of the net. The only way anyone is going to beat Federer at this point in his career is for him to have a bad a day and forever is playing him to play the best match of their career. If any of the big servers bring their best day, (and let's be realistic, Roddick is the standard as far as big servers go) and Federer is playing his best, the servers got no shot. None. Nada. The only way anyone is going to beat him anytime soon is for him not to play well. Safin??? puhleeeze!

Federer is also very good at returning serve. Part of that is guessing like a hitter. A good serve does not have to be big. He can tell by the toss and the body set up which way a serve is to be placed. Placement and deception is much more important than pure velocity. And mixing it up. McEnroe did this.

I agree with Samarta. Federer has got to be bad. He continues to improve.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Every year,Gander says Federer is going to win the French Open.Gander,is this also your prediction this year?

[Samarta]

I'll take him....Actually as great as he is, it might actually be do or die time as far as the French goes for him. This is the one tournament that is so unpredictable and every year a Spainard or a South American seems to jump up and grab their 15 minutes. The reason why I say it might be do or die time is that at the moment, his game is so advanced that he needs to get it done now. Once he does that, he can relax and have fun on the clay, but until that happens, he is vulnerable. But like I said, I sure wouldn't bet against him.

[Gander]

Every year,Gander says Federer is going to win the French Open.Gander,is this also your prediction this year?

Yes Scuds. I think Federer wins the French this year. I'll go further and say he wins the French at least 2 times before he retires. It will be the tournament he wins the least amount of times but he will win it. He nearly did last year until Nadal got his head on straight. This year Fed is playing better and Nadal is in rocky form and who knows if he will even play in it this year with that injury of his.

Like somebody else on here said, Nadal has a style of tennis that leads to injuries.