2013 Swiss Indoors Basel 500 (19-27 October)

[Murat B.]

Nothing vintage about it , but Roger comes through.
Grigor had 3 break points which were also set points and went on to give away the set and the match. He needs to be more clutch.

In the meantime Roger still has a clean sheet against his 4th. generation of opponents (Tomic, Raonic, Dimitrov...)

 

[bobvance]

There were some points where Fed played like he used to, and then some points where he mistimed the ball or brainfarted. But overall, it looks like his game is improving from where it was for most of this year. Hopefully he can get more consistent.

 

[Srini]

In the meantime Roger still has a clean sheet against his 4th. generation of opponents (Tomic, Raonic, Dimitrov...)

Looked like Fed was determined to keep it clean, he looked very frustrated when he was down a break in the second set.

Its good he had to play a couple of tough matches, he needs some tough matches where he ends up winning.

 

[10isfan]

The GOAT sent Mr Pova home. What a relief!! I would be bummed beyond words if Fed did not make it to London.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Grigor gifts the game and back on serve. Grigor has to fix this issue...He has given away so many sets by not being able to close em out on his serve.

I didn't get to see the match. Did Grigor just happened to lose the second set or did he bow
to the aura?

 

[herios]

In the meantime Roger still has a clean sheet against his 4th. generation of opponents (Tomic, Raonic, Dimitrov...)

Looked like Fed was determined to keep it clean, he looked very frustrated when he was down a break in the second set.

His sheet vs. 4 generation is not clean. Murat forgot that Roger was defeated by Delbonis this summer.

 

[Moxie]

Grigor gifts the game and back on serve. Grigor has to fix this issue...He has given away so many sets by not being able to close em out on his serve.

I didn't get to see the match. Did Grigor just happened to lose the second set or did he bow
to the aura?

I think he was bowing to the aura so much as to the better tennis, in the end, however, he was too inconsistent. He led Roger a good deal of the 2nd set, but when Fed got his chance for 5-all he took it and didn't look back. TBH, Roger wasn't playing that well in the first half of that set, so maybe that's why Dimitrov held the lead as long as he did. But this is the knock on guys like Dimitrov and his generation, (Hi, Dude!): Grigor blew a lead in the set and was a total fade in the TB. I wanted Roger to win, but I have a hard time respecting Dimitrov for not forcing a 3rd, if he's got the ambition to match his hype.

 

[Murat B.]

In the meantime Roger still has a clean sheet against his 4th. generation of opponents (Tomic, Raonic, Dimitrov...)

Looked like Fed was determined to keep it clean, he looked very frustrated when he was down a break in the second set.

His sheet vs. 4 generation is not clean. Murat forgot that Roger was defeated by Delbonis this summer.

My bad...:blush: It is not a name that immediately comes to mind when talking about the young guns in the tour...

 

[Murat B.]

Grigor gifts the game and back on serve. Grigor has to fix this issue...He has given away so many sets by not being able to close em out on his serve.

I didn't get to see the match. Did Grigor just happened to lose the second set or did he bow
to the aura?

I did not think it was so much of the "aura" thing...more like Dimitrov tightening up in the worst moments. I have seen this before, against Novak, other top players. I mean, he had 3 set points on Roger's serve, wasted them all, and than totally gave away his serve, and that was all she wrote...He needs to get stronger mentally. Everyone has ups and downs but his downs are always at the business end of a set...:huh:

 

[Srini]

In the meantime Roger still has a clean sheet against his 4th. generation of opponents (Tomic, Raonic, Dimitrov...)

Looked like Fed was determined to keep it clean, he looked very frustrated when he was down a break in the second set.

His sheet vs. 4 generation is not clean. Murat forgot that Roger was defeated by Delbonis this summer.

My bad...:blush: It is not a name that immediately comes to mind when talking about the young guns in the tour...

Right. You were referring to Roger's dominance against players of different generations, and for 4th generation, you generally mean guys who seem to have the most upside among the young guns - Dimitrov/Raonic/Tomic/JJ. Otherwise Roger lost to Nishikori too. (I really like Nishikori but because of his physical issues and small stature, not sure how high he can go in rankings).

 

[herios]

In the meantime Roger still has a clean sheet against his 4th. generation of opponents (Tomic, Raonic, Dimitrov...)

Looked like Fed was determined to keep it clean, he looked very frustrated when he was down a break in the second set.

His sheet vs. 4 generation is not clean. Murat forgot that Roger was defeated by Delbonis this summer.

My bad...:blush: It is not a name that immediately comes to mind when talking about the young guns in the tour...

LOL The young generation is not a closed club, rather an always evolving one, with members in and out.
2 years ago was Raonic, Tomic, Dimitrov, Harrison, Goffin.
First Harrison, this year as of late Goffin fell through the cracks and cannot be really considered members of the club, they have been replaced by Janowicz and I would add Delbonis and Pospisil as well.
And yes, Nishikori is only 1 year older than Raonic or Delbonis and he might not be a future GS winner, but I think the fact that he has been a steady 11-20 top player for a year and he was ranked 11 at 23y is damn good. Especially these days when your top 10 is closing on 28y age average.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Grigor gifts the game and back on serve. Grigor has to fix this issue...He has given away so many sets by not being able to close em out on his serve.

I didn't get to see the match. Did Grigor just happened to lose the second set or did he bow
to the aura?

I did not think it was so much of the "aura" thing...more like Dimitrov tightening up in the worst moments. I have seen this before, against Novak, other top players. I mean, he had 3 set points on Roger's serve, wasted them all, and than totally gave away his serve, and that was all she wrote...He needs to get stronger mentally. Everyone has ups and downs but his downs are always at the business end of a set...:huh:

Well, at least he did not miss three set points on his serve. Given that he defeated
Djokovic this year, we know he can play against big guys without getting intimidated,
but still there will be some residual effect of playing against a legend that may cause
one to tighten up.

 

[Moxie]

Updated scores and tomorrow's order of player are here from the front page:

http://www.tennisfrontier.com/news/atp-tennis/valencia-and-basel-atp-latest-scores-friday-october-25/

 

[isabelle]

Same final than last year ? Same result ? Probably

 

[Murat B.]

I'd really like Roger to play well and build some confidence before the last two events of the season, but I find it very hard to root against my boy Popsicle. :blush: He has put together a very nice season for himself.:clap

 

[Riotbeard]

juan just gave away he second set after being up a break. Doesn't seem that into playing tennis today...

 

[herios]

Shockingly ,Delpo was up a set and break against unheralded Roger-Vasselin with 4-3 and according to the commentators he los his concentration, threw in some sloppy play and got broken twice ad lost the set. All eve now 6-4, 4-6.

 

[herios]

Now Roger-Vasselin gets sloppy and Delpo leads 3-0 2 break up.

 

[herios]

6-1 in the 3rd and Delpo is through.
I liked Roger-Vasselin tidy classical style, chip and charge, good volleys but not enough fire power from the baseline nor enough consistency.

 

[Riotbeard]

6-1 in the 3rd and Delpo is through.
I liked Roger-Vasselin tidy classical style, chip and charge, good volleys but not enough fire power from the baseline nor enough consistency.

Agreed. His move into the top 50 is no fluke, but even a lackluster delpo was too much.