Why's Federer on such a tear?

First topic message reminder :

It's very odd this, isn't it? Certainly when he blew it against Djokovis in the USO I didn't expect this. Of course he's lost the biggest match he played in the intervening period, to his greatest rival, so let's stay in proportion but he does appear to be making serious inroads into the gap to the top two. Apart from the French, where he defends a final, pretty much all the other tournaments are opportunities for him (and risks for the top pair) up to and including the USO.

Why is this happening?

My own opinion is that he's finally got his game reorganised under Annacone; when Paul first came in Fed started to look like a chip-charger, and that's never going to work in today's conditions. Now he's integrated that as a tool in his game, a bit like how he built the dropshot into his game in 2009, making such a difference for his French. The whole thing seems to have made him feel like he has options again.

I also think his backhand is brilliant; I've never seen him handle Nadals forehand like he did last night, but that can be patchy under extreme pressure.

It's premature to consider a run for #1; the top two are still the boys to beat (or are they off their best too?) but much more of his and we might have an Indian Summer. Is it circumstances, a bit of good luck and momentum that'll fade, is it the real thing, or is it that the top boys are slipping a bit?

Incrediblexman wrote:Excellent performance from Federer he really has found something in the last 6 months. It seems as if he lost his way slightly from 2008 to early 2011, losing matches he should have won and generally putting in indifferent performances at times. He still needs to work on his tactics and his mental game, especially at the slams. This really could be the start of an unexpected Indian summer.

federer lost his way for 3 years??? he still accumulated 4 slams in that time.

One of Shuggie's gifts...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENESNTg73i4&feature=related

whos shuggie?

LuvSports! wrote:whos shuggie?

click on any of those two links in my post further up (previous page) and you'll find out

Yes he did win 4 slams in that time but should have won a few more. He did not have the best attitude towards the smaller tournaments and perhaps lost a bit of self belief against the top guys.

noleisthebest wrote:One of Shuggie's gifts...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENESNTg73i4&feature=related

Yes pretty funny but what an arrogant pig this McEnroe was then. I am glad players behave with a tiny bit more respect nowadays....like they did before the Connors and Mc.

Imagine Federer talking like this to a referee. Surely those who don't like him would have a good reason to support their case.

for those who missed it heres the semi vs rafa
enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq8ZEpDCrEg&hd=1

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:One of Shuggie's gifts...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENESNTg73i4&feature=related

Yes pretty funny but what an arrogant pig this McEnroe. I am glad players behave with a tiny bit more respect nowadays....like they did before the Connors and Mc.

Imagine Federer talking like this to a referee. Surely those who don't like him would have a good reason to support their case.

Yes, he was appalling. However as so often in his antics he was in part right. The refusal of the referee to talk to him properly must have been infuriating.

But yes, a right brat for sure.

At least we know it's ANnacone. For once he is sick and absent all week, Fed wins his first Master in a long time.

bogbrush wrote:

Tenez wrote:

noleisthebest wrote:One of Shuggie's gifts...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENESNTg73i4&feature=related

Yes pretty funny but what an arrogant pig this McEnroe. I am glad players behave with a tiny bit more respect nowadays....like they did before the Connors and Mc.

Imagine Federer talking like this to a referee. Surely those who don't like him would have a good reason to support their case.

Yes, he was appalling. However as so often in his antics he was in part right. The refusal of the referee to talk to him properly must have been infuriating.

But yes, a right brat for sure.

Having said that we need to put things in perspective. It was a time when behaviours like that were more common and I am sure if McEnroe were to watch that bit he woudl be the first to recognise his arrogance.

Tenez wrote:At least we know it's ANnacone. For once he is sick and absent all week, Fed wins his first Master in a long time.

He won the last one! I know what you mean though, Paris is not the biggest and the other big 3 tanked or didn't turn up or were injured or knackered.

Yeah, reredaing my post I was meant to say "it's not Annacone".

But regardless, I always felt that Fed knows better what he needs to do and his success depends so much on his timing which clearly no coach can improve, that Annacone is more an subtle adviser and maybe friend than the real reason for Fed's renaissance.

Annacone is helping Federer bring together elements of his game that he already had I believe. A more strategic intervention rather than technique, etc. A focus on the big picture of what elements to use and when.
And like Henman/Sampras...he making him a more aggressive player again with focus on serve and attack...attack - even more so than before. And this approach is reaping good reward. I wouldnt underestimate Annacone's involvement in all this - being absent for one week doesnt undo months of work together behind the scenes.