Federer vs Karlovic.
Posted by tennisplanet on April 27, 2009
Facing Karlovic in the opening round may be both good and bad for Federer.
Good because a match against Karlovic doesn’t really prepare you for the later rounds since it’s impossible to find any rhythm. So getting that match out of the way right at the beginning instead of disrupting your game if you meet him in the quarters etc. should bode well.
Bad because if Federer is not on and the sets go to that crap-shoot called tie breaks, Karlovic has a very real shot at pulling off the upset. Add the boost in confidence Karlovic must have received after Federer’s loss to Wawrinka, the marriage, the ‘dismal’ hard court season, the racket smashing – and this could be the trickiest opening round match.
Federer needs a statement match early to reverse the ill effects of a lot of BS. Watch for Federer’s forehand early to see any tell tale signs of an early exit.
Federer has got to be overly conscious of his forehand, given what’s happened against Djokovic and Wawrinka at Miami and Monte Carlo respectively. Hope the consciousness is just enough to reverse the trend.
But if it’s anything beyond that, memories of Sharapova’s first serve percentage may start to flash.
It’s like a basketball player who has a poor shooting stretch and then starts to ‘aim’ his shots to rediscover his touch. Not happening.
Just a few months ago, the line up Federer has at Rome today would have been just routine stuff. But now it looks like one huge boulder one after another:
Karlovic
Stepanek.
Simon.
Djokovic.
Nadal.
It’s doesn’t help that everyone of them has defeated Federer in the past what ten months?
That drop Federer had against Wawrinka at Monte Carlo from the semis and finals to the second round may be artificially induced considering the circumstances from marriage to last minute decision etc. but the surface must have had something to do with it too.
If you are reaching the semis and the finals on your favorite surface under ‘normal’ circumstances, it’s logical to expect a drop on clay when conditions have changed considerably both from within and from outside.
Did Wawrinka break that dam or was it just an aberration? At this point the answer is not as clear as it was a few months ago. Only Federer’s racket can provide a clue.
Federer reached the quarters last year and with the race tightening in a hurry just losing the points should be enough motivation to keep moving up.
Federer needs to fight to not go down any further in many respects and to show the world and himself what he is really made of.
shiv said
why r u people talking about Federer and his problems all the time. everybody knows he is struggling for form(which may or may not return).Tennis has never been so competetive.fed is looking down the barrel.but if he wins a major this year(say wimbledon)it would be a shame for nadal, murray &co.so its normal to see fed struggle cos he thinks that there is nothing more to learn in the game
Sol said
“tennis has never been so competetive”
really? seems to me like Nadal has won 3 of the last 4 tournaments played. And will probably win Rome. He faces no challenge on clay and I’m sorry to say this, but IMO that’s even more boring than when Roger was winning everything cause at least then we had the beautiful tennis. I know I’m gonna get virtual ass-kicking for that comment but that’s how I feel. I’ve never been so bored watching tennis, especially since clay season began.
Jenny said
Did you ever watch Coria, Sol? Very artistic on clay, he really could have been a true rival to Rafa imo, but everything went wrong for him unfortunately. I love clay, but the Cilic/Cipolla match yesterday nearly sent me into a stupor.
Sol said
Jenny, I can’t reply to you (no reply button).
But yes, I’ve watched Coria’s best matches on youtube and i agree he would’ve been competition for Nadal. too bad he’s retiring. I don’t have a problem with clay, I love the sliding and all, but unfortunately, although I find Nadal endearing, I don’t like his tennis. And since he’s been winning everything on clay and some others on HC, I find tennis to be very boring right now. Where’s all that competition everyone was talking about? the young and strong new field that supposedly didn’t exist during Fed’s dominating years?
karlovic? said
on clay?
Claire said
Please let Federer start to play like he did at the match against Canas – after Canas beat Federer 2 times in a roll. Didn’t Federer come out with that “fire” in his eyes for that match?
Bento said
What the hell is Wawrinka doing?
Federer is going down, TP, no way around it. His chess moves are not clicking anymore.
Sarah said
I hope Roger can do well in this tournament. He said he wanted to make it to the semifinals. I think that how far he got last year too. So it’s a good goal.
Good luck, Roger.
Claire said
I hope Federer’s serve is on or I think Federer will be in some serious trouble! Hate to say it but I’m not feeling good about this match. I don’t think I will be able to watch – hopefully I will watch after the fact and see Federer win!