jmk says:
You don't look ahead on the finals on a premier stage like RG.  He got handled by Nadal. There was very little surprise that these two would be standing in the end to battle it out for the title and Roger knows facing Nadal, a tougher than nails opponent was exactly what he needed to kill any doubt that he lost his step.  He was more than ready for this match up and everyone knows this stage was more important for Federer than Nadal, Nadal has already won this multiple times.  Just imagine if he had won, it would actually have been a huge achievement at a time he is more vulnerable than ever defending his spot as number 1 and earning the one title he is yet to win. Everybody is making excuses for this guy..  Screw the case of mono, looking ahead, even during his interview after the match when asked if he was just fatigued, he admitted he was fine.  On the hand, he's still among the best, but he can be beaten very easily as we just witnessed.  He reminds me of Brett Favre and Shaq, some of the greatest atheletes ever, and people will always defend them as they should because their "Hall of Famers' and they've earned the respect but sometimes the excuses  sound like words that come from a true fposseseed fan regardless of how they perform.

He's still great but he is not the same and the more time he remains the more time the young blood will expose him and he will struggle.  He'll win more championships and he has more years than some of these "has beens" you see that hang around but he''ll always be a target and judged critically which makes it harder because its obvious outside of his game on the court, his opponents are now getting in his head. 

jmk says:
Good point, he needs a coach. Even better, he should go hang out with the freaks on Tony Robbins and get some fire under his belly, whatever it takes to get this guy to not look ahead no matter which event is in front of him.  No reason to give up on a match televised all over the world, every fan in the crowd felt his pain and if you watched it, most of the crowd was cheering for him to not give up but it wasn't enough, and that's strange to me.  The last thing you want to see during a championship game is for your opponent to start feeling for you lke Nadal did.  I know their buds now but Nadal felt sympathy for the guy and so did McEnroe who was not only a believer but he was at a true lost of words when he interviewed him and in a nut shell was trying to ask him why he looked so awful.  Like I said I like Federer but something is seriously wrong on how he lost the game, tough game for me to watch and I had a nice wager on Nadal but i was comfortable enough to see this match go 4 sets, not many times I can honestly say that I am comfortable enough to see my wager at risk just so I can see a competitive game. 

Chase_Beaverman says:
Personally, I think Federer should put the French Open, and his burning desire to win it, out of his mind.

 

Nadal is just too good on clay right now, period. I think Federer needs to flush that flogging he recieved because if he dwells on it, it's the kind of thing that could really erode his confidence and affect him at Wimbledon and beyond.

 

Basically the whole world is going to have to play the waiting game with Nadal and the FO, because until Rafa's game drops a level or two, nobody is going to take that title off of him imo.

 

At 26, Federer has no reason to begin his downward spiral yet, because physically he's still in a peak period. It's clearly a mental issue with him, hell, maybe he got bored with how easy he was doing it for 50 of the 52 weeks during the year ?

 

Somebody mentioned Tony Robbins as an avenue Federer should pursue, after seeing this clip, I'm not so sure he's the answer  

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQnOC0L8pWc&NR=1

 

 

 

 

PhantomFlag says:
So you're telling me Marcos +1100 is not going to happen Friday in the Gerry Qs?? 

 

I was honestly looking real hard at this lottery type underdog, Marcos against a tired uninspired Fed, and lose for the first time

to Baghdatis who I believe is another contender to come soon...0-5 against Fed all on the Hard.

 

But then he is God of the grass...

 

100 to win 1100 is awfully tempting!

jmk says:
Claycourt, I think the question is whether Fed has a lost a step, not whether he's accomplished what 99% of the other competitors haven't. Everyone agrees he's one of the best, but he's lost matches he suppose to win because he's no longer the same.  

I'll find you after a few more worthy tourney's and we'll figure out whose got it right. Too much commentary with nothing to measure against gives us nothing to determine who is right or wrong.  You'll feel the same soon enough, maybe not, we'll see.

bloodypeach says:
Any plays you like on the up coming matches today? What's your say on Gulbis vs Murray? Gonzo and Karlo? I'm also leaning towards Gasquet. What's your opinion?

icecoldkidd says:
I am a Nadal fan and I must admit that I may be biased in some of my views.

 

I think Federer would have a harder time winning Wimbledon this year. In saying this, I am definitely admitting that he is not the same Roger Federer three or four years ago. Just look at what happened last year in Wimbledon, Rafa almost took the championship if he just cashed in in one of the two double break points he was given in the fifth set. Roger's serve is not as good as it was years ago. He got a set in the 2006 and 2007 RG because of the aces he usually gets but not this year. His serve was sharp but not as good as before. And service is a really good weapon in Wimbledon. Finishing a point as fast as you can is vital. Therefore, if Roger lost that "golden" serve of his, he is really in trouble come the time that he again has to face Nadal in the Finals. Instead of an easy ace or a serve and volley combo, the passing shot of Rafa just might be able to push Roger out of the net. And in anticipating passing shots Roger might have to settle for long rallies and we know who is favored in long rallies. My man, Rafa!

 

Also, the winner in this Artois Championship would have an edge in Wimbledon. If Nadal wins, I am betting that he wins the Wimbledon. If Djoko wins, whoever he faces in the semis (be it Roger or Rafa) would have to play their best tennis in order to beat him! I hope Roger plays him though.

 

Roger is still the favorite in Wimbledon but not an overwhelming faovrite just like before. If I am to divide the chances of winning Wimbledon between the top three ranked players, it would be like this. (Roger-40%, Rafa-35%, Djoko-25%)

 

Rafa has been on a steady rise in four of these grandslams especially in Australian open and Wimbledon. I am looking forward to seeing him win his first ever back to back grandslams this end of june!

esplanade says:


Ramble much??

Sorry just had to say it.