Why did Federer lose to a freaking unseeded player in straight freaking sets?

This was an even more pathetic display by Federer than the one at the AO against Tipsy and Djokovic.

Did you notice how he was always stretched and jabbing at returns? That has to be due to severely curtailed movement. I don’t know how long and how badly the mono BS lasts, but if this was not mono. then he is done.

The combination of two factors could have resulted in this dismal display. Not enough match play coupled with a classic trap game. That Haas match was crucial for Federer to not only get some match play but to also transition from tomato cans to real contenders.

The easy run he had here could have eventually prov-en to be his undoing. From Almagro’s exit to Murray’s to Haas’s, it all kept piling on like a compound interest on a Principal amount.

If Federer does not come up with a reasonable and convincing reason for this demise, he, then by this match, has stamped his approval on the decline document. The only question that’s left to be answered is how abrupt and swift will be the free fall now. He cannot win a freaking title anymore, leave alone winning a Grand Slam. He cannot get to a final, forget about winning anything.

If it is just as it looks, the new era of tennis has already begun and the seed was sown right here last year by Canas. Now we know that loss and the series of subsequent losses and near misses were the beginning of an end.

With the complete destruction of an in-form Nadal in less than one and half hour, Djokovic has already taken over the reins unofficially. It’s just a matter of time that the No. 1 rank changes hands and rackets deservedly.

The loss to Djokovic and the way it went down has hit Nadal lke a ton of bricks. He was rendered virtually helpless despite the incredible momentum and determination he came into this match with. Djokovic’s elevator is moving up so fast Federer and Nadal may not even see it with they pass each other on the way down.

The immediate question that popped up in Federer’s mind right after this loss was No. 14. Will he be able to even match Sampras’s record, forget about beating it? This is clearly panic time for Federer. The run appears to be over for good.

This match made it official, and if still there are some who are holding out hope, Miami will more than answer their doubts.

Although Fish played well, he was made to look supernatural by miserable performance from Federer. It was similar to Nadal-Tsonga match at the AO.

This was an unseeded player for crying out loud. I don’t give a rat’s ass how great a run he was on. If you don’t believe it, just see how Fish will be made to look mundane and ordinary tomorrow by Djokovic like he did to Tsonga.

At one time, Federer first serve percentage was 47 freaking percent, and he was about to go down 0-4 in the first set by providing two break points to Fish. It was so close to being a bagel. If that’s not going down and probably out, I don’t know what is. He ended the match with 53 percent first serve percentage from his average of 75 percent for the tournament and had two freaking aces to seven from Fish. And look at this: Fish first serve percentage: 34 freaking percent.

Translation: Fish outplayed Federer in his own fort: In the rallies.

Federer vs Fish – IW stats.

Here’s what the two jokers have done here.

Four matches Fish has played so far alongwith the stats are under Fish’s name. Notice how he has spent more time on the court and lost sets as the competition has gotten tougher.

Fish, of course, has played one more match than Federer, so except the first serve percentage, rest of the numbers have to be looked at in that light.

Nevertheless, the numbers that may favor Fish is his ace count, if he is able to get any past Federer. Just over three hours of tomato can play may come to haunt Federer, if not here, maybe at the next match.

However, the huge number favoring Federer is the low first serve percentage from Fish. It will be practically impossible for Fish to catch up once Federer gets ahead in the rally on Fish’s second serves.

And if Fish cannot maintain or exceed the ace count he has had so far, he will lose his legs just fetching balls coming back from his second serves and beyond. That’s when more than twice the time he has spent on the court will start to become an issue.

But Federer has one problem that he is still battling: Lack of match play. He has played just ten matches, including three here in four freaking months. Fish can capitalize on it if he can steal the first set. Being a three setter, it then will come down to momentum and cashing it.

For Federer this is the classic trap game I have referred to many times earlier. He has to resist the temptation to look beyond this match to the finals against Djokovic or Nadal. Nalbandian’s absence is bound to play those games with his mind. Under the circumstances and it being a three setter, just a momentary lapse in focus and concentration can prove costly.

It’s Federer’s match to lose, and there is garden variety of reasons and legitimate excuses that are willing to support that outcome. But in Federer’s mind, he should have no alibi. It’s the trophy or nothing for him now.

Joker	Aces	Double faults	Ist serve pct.	Sets lost	Time on court.	Tie-breaks	Matches played
Federer	21	1	75	0	3:17	0	3
Fish	40	7	51	2	7:46	3	4
Nalbandian	23	4	55	1	2:45	2	4
Hewitt	13	1	52	1	2:28	1	3
Davydenko	0	1	48	0	1:15	0	2
Andreev	4	1	50	0	1:18	0	1

What some of the players have to say about Roger at Indian Wells. From Katie. Thanks.

Katie | 

Here’s what some of the players have to say about Roger at Indian Wells.

http://www.tennis.com/media/video/highlights.aspx?bctid=1463310854

Nadal interview. From Katie. Thanks.

Katie |An interview with:

RAFAEL NADAL

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You were very expressive at the end that match. Can you tell us how much beating James meant for you tonight?
RAFAEL NADAL: The thing is not beating James, no? The thing is being in semifinal and beating against two big players like Tsonga and Blake in quarterfinals. So for me it was very important two matches.
Because in the last months I didn’t have bad results. Semifinal in Australia, final in Chennai and semifinal in Shanghai and final in Bercy. So it wasn’t bad results. But the true is I feel like I didn’t win against the best players the world, no? So when I have two consecutive wins against these players, so that’s very important for me.

Q. At the same time, obviously the most important is getting through. But because you lost three times before to James, that must feel nice to know that you can win?
RAFAEL NADAL: Sure. I know he’s a very difficult player for me for play against him, no? Very aggressive player all the time.
I like to play a little bit more from the baseline, no? And he play so aggressive all the time and it’s very difficult for me. Sure, after three loses, it’s very important for me and I’m very happy for that beat against big player like James and difficult player for me, no?

Q. Can you talk about the end of the third set, especially the game where you broke him. You were very aggressive with the forehand and the return of serve.
RAFAEL NADAL: I fought all the time. If I have the chance with the second serve in that game, I going to play aggressive. I going to play the winner inside or outside, but I going to try to do the winner with the forehand, no?
Sometimes in the match is some moments you have to do what you feel, no? And at this moment I feel like I’m playing good, good tennis, very good tennis today. I feel very good the ball with the forehand. So I think if I have to win this match, I have to win with my forehand. Well, lucky for me the ball is on the line.

Q. Next match is Djokovic in the semifinal. You have a better score than Djokovic. Any thoughts on that? Are you assuming maybe…
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, probably I play against one of the well, the best player of the first part of the season, so well, this is an interesting match for me, going to be challenge for me play against him.
The same time, very happy for be in the semifinal. Anyway, right now I have very good tournament, the first Masters Series of the year in hard court for play the semifinal is very good result, and for sure I going to try my best for play against Djokovic on Saturday.
So going to be a very tough match, I know. I have to play like the last part of the match if I want it bin.

Q. If you can compare, if that’s possible, his game and Roger Federer’s game, aside from the double handed backhand and one handed backhand, what are the similarities and differences between the two styles of the game?
RAFAEL NADAL: I’m nobody for speak about that, but I think the style is so different, no? I think, I don’t know, what can I say? But I feel like Federer is more talented player, for sure. Both have very good forehand, both have good control with the backhand, and, well, good serve. Good serve for both, no?
Probably not big powerful serve, but always very good direction, 200, 210, 207 kilometers per hour. Perfect serve for his game, no?

Q. In the first set today, you were serving for the first set and you were down Love 40. Can you take us through what you did to turn it around and win that game?
RAFAEL NADAL: Well, first, he has one mistake in the return of Love 40 with backhand on second serve. Later I think I played two good points, no? I play one aggressive point. And later in the 30 40 I have a good serve on his forehand and I put one forehand to his backhand and he put the ball out like this.
So, well, the true is it was a very important game, no?

Q. What did you tell yourself going into the third set, because it looked like after the second set he had regained control and he was, like you say, very aggressive and dictating all the time.
RAFAEL NADAL: Yes, but I didn’t feel playing bad, so I am happy for play good. Try to go to the third set for try to play my best and enjoy the match and enjoy playing my game, because I’m playing fine. Be concentrate, so that’s it.
So just try to play my best tennis. I know if I play my best tennis, my thought was I have to win my serve, because I think I going to have one chance for the break, no? I going to have chances for break.
But I know his big returner, so going to be tough save my serve for all the set. I have some breakpoint in the first game I think.

Q. Can you talk about the hard courts here? Just seem to be very comfortable on these hard courts. How are these different from like other hard courts here in America?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think the different is the ball, no? The ball is getting more topspin here than probably in Australia. The Penn ball is a little bit more favorable for me than the Wilson, that’s for sure.
Well, for other reason I have more comfortable with the forehand, with the backhand, no? The ball getting more topspin and, well, my game is better like this.

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Have you taken a roadside bathroom break lately. Here’s why it may not be a good idea in the future.

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Jankovic anxious for work to start on US dream house. From cragger. Thanks.

cragger |

Jankovic anxious for work to start on US dream house
Posted : Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:48:01 GMT
Author : DPA

Indian Wells, California – Amid economic gloom and doom in the United States, Serb Jelena Jankovic has tipped property as the best investment for these troubled times. And the world number four is putting her own advice to good use by purchasing her second in the US located north of San Diego.

With around four million dollars in career prize money, the 23-year-old had a large wad to toy with. And with the weak state of the dollar, buying becomes even more of an incentive for a European.

“I have a house in Miami and I also bought a lot in San Diego,” Jankovic said. “It’s on a hill and just amazing. But it will take maybe a year and a half or two years to build a whole house.”

With two parents trained as economists, little is being left to chance in the project. Some of the amenities Jankovic is planning for her palace in a gated community: huge swimming pool, tennis court, sauna, cinema.

As of yet, the busy player has not seen the property. But the architect did visit the family at Indian Wells to go over the plans.

“It’s like a fairytale to me to listen to it,” said the excited Jankovic. “When I have time I will go and check it out.”

As for furnishing the mansion, that won’t be a problem for Jelena, who hates to shop for household items.

“I don’t have to deal with that. My mom, she loves going to those shops, and she drives me nuts,” Jankovic said. “She goes there like she’s in a museum and she just keeps looking at all those things.”

“She has really good time because she was a designer before when she was younger, so she has good taste for that,” Jankovic added. “So she’s really the expert and she’ll do all the job.”

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/193924,sidebar-jankovic-anxious-for-work-to-start-on-us-dream.html