Istanbul Open -ATP 250 - Apr. 27 to May 4

[Puppet Master]

Haven't seen any of this tournament but from reading people's comments it seems Roger somewhat abandoned his more aggressive play and started patiently rallying here on the baseline. Wondering why?!

Front, from what I have seen so far, anyone with a little bit of power prevents Roger from playing his attacking game and pins him at the back where he has looked totally uncomfortable. His groundies are short and not doing any damage. Lacks muscle that is needed on clay.

Clay? Just look back a few weeks ago, the IW final. Same thing happened.

 

[Murat B.]

Haven't seen any of this tournament but from reading people's comments it seems Roger somewhat abandoned his more aggressive play and started patiently rallying here on the baseline. Wondering why?!

Front, from what I have seen so far, anyone with a little bit of power prevents Roger from playing his attacking game and pins him at the back where he has looked totally uncomfortable. His groundies are short and not doing any damage. Lacks muscle that is needed on clay.

Clay? Just look back a few weeks ago, the IW final. Same thing happened.

I do not disagree. It is just that the problem is amplified on clay. Hards, he can still get away with it, except against the top guys. Clay, he is finding it hard to get away with it even against average guys.

 

[Puppet Master]

Front, from what I have seen so far, anyone with a little bit of power prevents Roger from playing his attacking game and pins him at the back where he has looked totally uncomfortable. His groundies are short and not doing any damage. Lacks muscle that is needed on clay.

Clay? Just look back a few weeks ago, the IW final. Same thing happened.

I do not disagree. It is just that the problem is amplified on clay. Hards, he can still get away with it, except against the top guys. Clay, he is finding it hard to get away with it even against average guys.

I just hope he realises this. There are people around him that are far better analysts than you and me probably, but he is just not doing anything about it at the moment. Or can anything be done at all?

 

[Murat B.]

Clay? Just look back a few weeks ago, the IW final. Same thing happened.

I do not disagree. It is just that the problem is amplified on clay. Hards, he can still get away with it, except against the top guys. Clay, he is finding it hard to get away with it even against average guys.

I just hope he realises this. There are people around him that are far better analysts than you and me probably, but he is just not doing anything about it at the moment. Or can anything be done at all?

Couple pages back I asked the same question. Can he get stronger at this point in his career? Is it helpful or hurtful to his longevity to do power training? Is it too late to add muscle? Should he do some "Rocky in Russia" kind of training? Will he hurt himself trying to get stronger?

I have no answers to these questions. I know Andre stepped up his training and got powerful with Reyes and his magic mountain but....:s

 

[Federberg]

I think you guys are worrying excessively. At this stage of his career he's just not effective on slower courts. As long as he maintains his rhythm for the grass swing I'm not too fussed, any wins on clay are just gravy to me. Indian Wells played slow this year, the thin air normally helps, but if the conditions aren't conducive Novak was always going to have the edge. If he can get into the second week at RG then anything can happen of course. I remember in 2011 the courts played fast and the balls were faster so he did well. Let's withhold judgement until we get a better sense of the conditions

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Fed has never played against Pablo Cuevas before. So, that adds an extra complication here.
Hope he can grind it out, just like he did against Daniel Gimeno Traveller.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

go roger..go go go.

 

[herios]

Grigor has been struggling of late! I thought anything could happen; esp; trying to defend his seeding behind his idol/mentor, "Roger Federer!"

Since when is Roger Grigor's mentor? As far as idol is concerned, people get carries away with the overdone "Baby Fed", which Grigor hates.
What Grigor thinks is actually the following:
" I am my own favorite player"
So take that tennis world!

Are you kidding? I modeled my game after certain players, sometimes borrowing whole strategies and appearance of their game, but no one player emulates another pro more than what Grigor does with Roger! It's almost obscene at times; some thinking more a parody of trying to make fun of The GOAT! If you crop off the head, you wouldn't know who was playing without "the graphics" telling you! They're even built similarly with spindly legs and hairy limbs! lol! :angel: :dodgy:

No I am not kidding. He stated "I am my own favourite player" and also in his official bio, Pete Sampras is listed as his childhood idol not Roger.
You may have your point of view, however the guy is opinionated and that cannot be negated.

 

[herios]

What happened to Dimitrov...anyone see? I guess I could check out Pavlik's video.

He met a better clay court player than he is at the moment.
This result was not unexpected IMO, Cuevas has had good results on clay in the recent months, while Grigor is not playing that great.

Cuevas actually has a good shot in taking the title, if Roger is not sharp.

 

[Murat B.]

No tv and no link. It blows...

 

[Murat B.]

Some link are coming on...good.

 

[Murat B.]

Roger breaks to go up 2-0.

 

[Murat B.]

Much sharper so far from Roger. I hope he can sustain it and win this thing.

 

[tented]

Roger up 4-1. I just started watching a few minutes ago, but it looks like he won't have a problem beating Cuevas.

 

[tented]

Ouch! Bad shank on his first set point, but gets it done on his second with a BH error by Cuevas.

 

[tented]

Murat, is this being broadcast on TV in Canada? In the US, I'm having to watch it online.

 

[Murat B.]

Cuevas having some issues with the right wrist. Hopefully he will be OK.

 

[Murat B.]

Roger wastes 2 BPs in the second. Cuevas does well to hold there.

 

[Murat B.]

3 more BPs for Roger...this time Roger wastes no time to attack and finishes the point at the net. This must feel so good for him after the two very tight matches he had to play.

 

[Murat B.]

Spoken too soon. Horrible loss of focus and Roger gives the break right back.