2018 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[Federberg]

In the second set Roger was getting good bite on the slice and it was hurting Struff. This set it's just sitting up

he's only uses slices to stay in points in this set, that's the difference

 

[DarthFed]

Bad TB from Struff thankfully, hope Roger improves a lot from here

 

[DarthFed]

he's only uses slices to stay in points in this set, that's the difference

That's true for the most part but even the few he's hit from neutral positions sat up

 

[Federberg]

That was a good workout. He'll know that he has to step up mentally in the coming rounds

 

[britbox]

Gasquet next up.

 

[Federberg]

apparently Novak requested the day session. Guess he was betting on Monfils wilting in the heat. Genius...

 

[Denis]

apparently Novak requested the day session. Guess he was betting on Monfils wilting in the heat. Genius...

Good call. Now he has more time to prepare for the next match too.

 

[atttomole]

Roger's patchy play is a bit worrying. Struff was hitting heavy shots, but I felt Roger wasted so many breakpoints, something he can not afford to do if he ends up facing Del Potro in the quarterfinal. His serve mysteriously deserted him midway in the third set, and there were many shanks. I also think he was slicing the ball too much, in the hope that Struff misses. He does that with many tall players, but Struff was gobbling up many of those slices, producing beautiful screamers. Roger will have to step up if he want to reach the semifinal/final.

 

[DarthFed]

Roger's patchy play is a bit worrying. Struff was hitting heavy shots, but I felt Roger wasted so many breakpoints, something he can not afford to do if he ends up facing Del Potro in the quarterfinal. His serve mysteriously deserted him midway in the third set, and there were many shanks. I also think he was slicing the ball too much, in the hope that Struff misses. He does that with many tall players, but Struff was gobbling up many of those slices, producing beautiful screamers. Roger will have to step up if he want to reach the semifinal/final.

Agreed. With the way the draw worked out the winner of Berd-DP will be in the QF as there is no way Fog or Benneteau is beating either of them. And if Roger makes the QF and plays like today he'd lose to either. I think he will step up the aggression though, easy to forget that he looked pretty bad the first couple rounds last year too.

 

[Federberg]

Agreed. With the way the draw worked out the winner of Berd-DP will be in the QF as there is no way Fog or Benneteau is beating either of them. And if Roger makes the QF and plays like today he'd lose to either. I think he will step up the aggression though, easy to forget that he looked pretty bad the first couple rounds last year too.

I'm not worried at all. This is what happens as you move through the draw. It became evident when Courier was interviewing him on court that he was prepared for Struff to go for his shot. Clearly Roger was just trying to wait him out and let him miss. Given the extreme heat he was clearly just trying to minimise the energy expenditure. Notice how when things got tough he reacted properly. Look at the break back game, and how he just shut things down in the tie- break. Clearly he has higher gears to use for later

 

[DarthFed]

Was it still that hot out late at night? I agree though that he stepped up immediately after getting broken. The TB was alright too, mostly bad misses from Struff though

 

[Federberg]

Was it still that hot out late at night? I agree though that he stepped up immediately after getting broken. The TB was alright too, mostly bad misses from Struff though

Courier commented on it. It was still over 30 degrees out there

 

[mrzz]

asy to forget that he looked pretty bad the first couple rounds last year too.

Did he? Without checking, I guess I recall it differently. For sure from R3 -- Berdych -- he was already playing extremely well.

 

[Federberg]

Really didn't know where to put this. Perhaps someone can move this to somewhere more appropriate? But this is an absolutely fascinating video which largely argues that athletes aren't really getting better, just that technology is aiding improved performance...

 

[El Dude]

I'm looking forward to the Dimitrov-Rublev match. I would think Grigor would win, but this has some upset potential - especially seeing Grigor's last result.

 

[Busted]

apparently Novak requested the day session. Guess he was betting on Monfils wilting in the heat. Genius...

On ESPN they were saying that Agassi also suggested the day session...because that's what he liked to do to his opponents at the AO - wear them down in the heat. Novak wasn't looking all that great either but luckily for him he was playing Monfils...who apparently only ever trains for 80 degree F weather. I don't think I've ever seen him NOT wilt in the Aussie or US Open heat. What was it - 2014 when he was 2 sets to 0 up on Roger and couldn't win it? And that was a muggy NIGHT match...

 

[Busted]

Roger's patchy play is a bit worrying. Struff was hitting heavy shots, but I felt Roger wasted so many breakpoints, something he can not afford to do if he ends up facing Del Potro in the quarterfinal. His serve mysteriously deserted him midway in the third set, and there were many shanks. I also think he was slicing the ball too much, in the hope that Struff misses. He does that with many tall players, but Struff was gobbling up many of those slices, producing beautiful screamers. Roger will have to step up if he want to reach the semifinal/final.

I haven't seen the match yet. Won't get to watch it for a few more hours...but I did see the highlights. From the highlights it looked like the early round struggles he had last year. The one thing that stuck out to me was that Roger tends to struggle a bit with guys he hasn't played much. It's like he said about losing to Donskoy in Dubai last year - he just wasn't as familiar with Donskoy's patterns. I did see in the interview afterward that he said he's practiced with Struff a lot - but practice ain't a match. Still...you're right - if he bring his B game to a DelPo match he's probably going to lose. Guess he can always hope that Berdych takes out DelPo for him? Pffft. Sorry...but I don't really have much faith in Berdych these days...

 

[Busted]

I'm looking forward to the Dimitrov-Rublev match. I would think Grigor would win, but this has some upset potential - especially seeing Grigor's last result.

I'm going with Rublev....mainly because he has nothing to lose and will go for broke. Dimitrov does have something to lose and will probably play like he does.

 

[MartyB]

Roger's patchy play is a bit worrying. Struff was hitting heavy shots, but I felt Roger wasted so many breakpoints, something he can not afford to do if he ends up facing Del Potro in the quarterfinal. His serve mysteriously deserted him midway in the third set, and there were many shanks. I also think he was slicing the ball too much, in the hope that Struff misses. He does that with many tall players, but Struff was gobbling up many of those slices, producing beautiful screamers. Roger will have to step up if he want to reach the semifinal/final.

I'm not going to concede that Fed will lose to DelPo solely on this match due to his "patchy" play and overuse of sliced backhands. Just watched the highlights and he got through the match with what he needed to. He will be fine and I'm sure will be in very good form for DelPo.

 

[Horsa]

Really didn't know where to put this. Perhaps someone can move this to somewhere more appropriate? But this is an absolutely fascinating video which largely argues that athletes aren't really getting better, just that technology is aiding improved performance...

What do you think? Do you agree? Why?