Well, I doubt if any of the analysts will describe Stan's game as balletic. He's kinda chunky isn't he:)

Allez, Fed!

Send him home to the missus.

From the last thread -

Caroline -well, Roger was asked about it by Courier and he didn't seem to take out of turn. In that Eurosport interview he giggled at how angry Tommy was because Fed reflex blocked a very good body serve back into play and then hit a FH winner on the next shot.

Fed is no Roddick when it comes to cracking wise - though occasionally he gets off a good line, "Have you ever seen me play before?" from his Tommy presser was pretty good... but I think he is among the very easiest to amuse and make giggle. I bet he is wicked tickle averse.

And speaking of that presser, and bias and all...last night Typebad was perfectly happy to let me C&P lines from Roddick's presser but wouldn't let me post anything from Fed's presser. See! This conspiracy grows ever vaster!!!

Pfft. Tigress - been paying attention lately? Cilic has been playing poorly since LAST year's AO. It did not require minionism to lose badly to Rafa. He has been losing badly...including to people he should easily defeat...for quite some time now. Rafa was just 'NEXT!' Cilic's serve is stunningly bad for a man of his height.

Fed is really going to have to play much better tahn he has so far to beat Stan. Fed last two matches have been so-so. He is also 5 years old and will be the more tired of the two, mentally and physically. He will likely have less desire too. And imagine after that he (if he gets lucky) may have Bird to play. Ouch!

um careful big apple - Fed is the only one with a 'missus' at the moment.

Sherlock - what you asked about Stan and nerves. Interesting question. Against the top guys, OLD Stan would often play one, one and half, VERY good sets. And then under some pressure on his own serve, he would wobble and usually pretty much collapse. NEW Stan seems to do that much less. Though even in his last match with Fed, he stormed through the first set and then pretty much left the building. He did seem a little nervous closing out Andy...and Andy helped by being Andy...but I think that that mental part of his game is something that Lungren has really been working on with him. And if Fed is, whatever reasons, feeling sub Fed, it could well be a very long night. I don' think he necessarily needs TMF to beat even the New Stan...but he sure as hail better bring Fed and leave Fred and Ferd at home to mind the twins. (Though come to think of it, Fred and Ferd would probably mess that up too...let the twins finger paint on the hotel carpet and put random items down the toilet.)

5 years older.

5 years old in dog years.

the big apple - Fed is 5 year old?? Aw, but they are so cute at that age. lol.

Cl, that is true! True!

So...send him back to the "ex-missus"

Are Stan's divorce legalities already in place?

thebigapple- jeejee

Pete has this puppy (the match, not Wawrinka) sized up exactly right.

Wawrinka will strut his stuff, but fail to close the sale.

But it's going to be a pulse-pounding, stomach-churning rollercoaster ride of fear for Fed fans.

Federer, 6-7, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4.

Gulp.

2 is cute.

By 5, they need regular spankings/time outs. (if that is allowed in your culture)

BTW - there is a school of thought that says Stan actually carried Roger for part of their Gold Medal doubles win. i didn't see the match but some people felt they did what good doubles teams do - play especially well when their partner is going through a dicey patch. I think Stan volleyed way above his pay grade during that match.

You can't predict how a player A will do against opponent D based on how opponent D played against players B and C.

My Turn Open Tuesday Order of Play on Rod Laver Arena:

7 PM(Monday) : Petkovic vs Li
8:30 PM(Monday) : Wawrinka vs Federer - Wozniacki vs Schiavone
3:30 AM : Berdych vs Djokovic

"But it's going to be a pulse-pounding, stomach-churning rollercoaster ride of fear for Fed fans.

Federer, 6-7, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4."

I don't think I can survive another five setter. Haven't recovered from Simon yet. But then again, I survived FO 2009.

I hope there are no beatdowns in that match. Wouldn't like Fed to win in straight sets, and wouldn't like Stan to win in straight sets (the prob. is extremely low for that) either, especially because Stan is just hitting form.

Really?

Based on how Rafa Nadal (D)plays against Roger Federer (B)and Andy Murray (C), I am sure he would beat me (A) soundly in a tennis match.

I think Stan is only separated..not divorced.

Matt,

I agree with your prediction of the result, but I predict there'll be one set lopsided to Stan -- The Musty Ferd will show up for a bit, hand over a couple breaks, and Manislas (I like that nickname, btw) will have a 6-2/6-3 set to hang on his mantle.

If Stan does manage to close out Roger, the first thing Roger should do is commit to DC. Roger is not an idiot:) and might perhaps have noticed that Stan has problems closing. You wouldn't want to slog your guts out all the way to a DC final only for Stan to be not so much the Man. But if he can close out a really big match, well maybe he's ready for DC.

So hard to judge relative form until players face each other. Monfils was awful and Andy was even worse. I was actually shocked at how weak his groundstrokes looked compared to Stan's. Robredo on the other hand looked pretty good to me.

The problem with the Davis Cup for Roger and Stan are not the singles matches...but having to play five setters three days in a row. They don't have a doubles team, so either one might have to show up for doubles. And then it complicates the singles matches on the third day.

"So hard to judge relative form until players face each other. Monfils was awful and Andy was even worse. I was actually shocked at how weak his groundstrokes looked compared to Stan's."

Caroline: That's why I'm not frazzling about Roger's chances against Stan. I think Roger will win in either 3 or 4 sets.

"By 5, they need regular spankings/time outs. (if that is allowed in your culture)"

Why spankings? I dont get it. Why would anyone hit a 5 year old? How bad could they be to be slapped?

Wawrinka enjoyed some brief moments of "I-am-with-Fed-I-am-EEN-VEEN-CEE-BULL" tennis, particularly in the gold medal match, but Federer did the vast majority of the heavy lifting, especially against the Bryans in the semis.

Wawrinka's great achievement in the Beijing doubles was that he didn't flinch in money situations. The first-set tiebreak against the Bryans was the hill Fedrinka had to climb. Once that brotherly alpine summit was conquered, the rest was Swiss history.

For Fed fans,

Fed is going to go to Ethiopia next month.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/tennis/theres-only-one-roger-federer-20100129-n26k.html

Probably this is match as many featuring Rafa or Roger is a lot about the other player's frame of mind entering into the match. Does he want to beat Roger, does he believe he can do it in this context quarters of a Slam? Wanting the win and believing in it is the first step the second one is for STan to show his best tennis. While Roger may win matches when playing short of his best, the same does not apply for his opponents when facing him. I guess the Simon match was good practice for this match, Roger needs to attack the net when possible as Stan is solid from the back and likes to grind. Stan though has a better serve than Simon.

"Wawrinka's great achievement in the Beijing doubles was that he didn't flinch in money situations."

Matt - well then it makes it particularly interesting that he proceeded to spend the next 2 years on tour flinching a lot. (W/the exception of his 'honeymoon' win over Fed in Monte Carlo.) So sometimes...often perhaps...what happens at the Olympics stays in the Olympics. N. Massu, (sp?) anyone?

ladyjulia: That was from last year. :)

I don't know why, but I think Federer is going to demolish Stan .

Arun,

Oh shoot...I thought today was Jan 29th...i didn't pay attention to the year.

Sorry...for old news.

Does anyone know why it is so hard to find good youtube videos with the highlights of the matches of this year's Aussie Open. I wanted to watch some of Radwanska's match of yesterday for example but I did not find highlights of her match.

WHEW!

I've never heard anything but that Fed carried that doubles team to victory in the first few rounds, after which Stan woke up and they started that weird celebration where Fed would warm his hands over Stan because he was "on fire." Regardless, I think it'll either be a titanic battle or really, really anticlimactic.

And I'm definitely with everyone who never thought the Tall Croatian had a chance. Talk about not yet fulfilling your potential... as Pete said, it's an epidemic. That's why I always had so much respect for Courier as a champion. He used to say himself that he didn't have much talent but he was sure going to do everything he could to maximize it. I think he'll be a good DC captain.

Stan was on against Roddick, but everyone who beats Roddick has inflated stats, as Pat McEnroe suggested during the match. Roddick didn't play very well at all, and Stan looked pretty comfortable in the heat, even returning Roddick's heater serves.
Even if Stan plays at a similar level tonight, Federer is not Roddick, and Federer isn't going to continue slugging it out on the baseline if it's not working - he'll come to the net and do something about it.
Either way, Stan certainly has had a better backhand at the Open so far, we'll see if that continues. If Fed starts shanking backhands left and right, look out.
Fed in 3.

CL: Exactly my feelings. ;)

ladyjulia: No worries. :)

linex: Tennis Australia usually makes youtube to take down clips involving the current tournament. That's what happened last year. In a few months, they will be allowed to be uploaded.

Morning, all.

I think the premise of Pete's post is spot on - that for the foreseeable future it'll be very hard, at a psychic level, to discuss Federer without thinking of Nadal, and vice versa.

In terms of conventional wisdom, Nadal is roughly where Federer was in 2007, and Federer is where Nadal was at that time: in other words, Nadal is seen as being the dominant player, for whom losses come as a surprise, while Federer is seen as his main threat, but who's more likely to come up short. And, as Pete writes, the early round matches have reinforced this narrative.

Note that I described this as conventional wisdom, rather than my own views. I think what's going on is much more multifaceted, and shouldn't be shoehorned into conventional narratives - such as age-related decline, or hires a net-rusher, so attack at all costs.

Turning to today's match, I thought before R16 that Wawrinka would be a more dangerous opponent (if Federer got past Robredo) than Roddick would be. Wawrinka manhandled Federer in set 1 on a faster court in Stockholm, and was up a break in set 2. Both players were playing very close to the baseline. Federer wasn't playing badly; his opponent was playing superbly. You can, if you wish, follow my match call (and other TWers' thoughts) here:

http://blogs.tennis.com/tennisworld/2010/10/vacation-message/comments/page/6/#comments

It makes me giggle to recall that Federer got Wawrinka out of whatever zone he was in by hitting moonballs galore - but that's exactly what Tommy Robredo did two days ago to Federer. When your opponent is teeing off on everything in the strike zone, keep away from the strike zone....

Maybe the Stan Wawrinka that will show up today will be able to keep doing what he did to Roddick, but it was apparent that Andy saw the danger he was in, but couldn't get out of the trap:

Q. Last changeover you were in the chair shaking your head. What are you thinking at that time?

ANDY RODDICK: Matt touched on that. I was frustrated. Couldn't get the rallies to go my way. I was trying to stand up in the court and, you know, I just felt when I adjusted my positioning up in the court he was opening up the lines and making it a shorter line if that makes sense.

I didn't have the ability to run back. Conditions were colder, so slice wasn't really working. I wasn't able to get the ball to jump much, so a lot of the shots he hit were in his pocket and I was having a hard time getting it out of that zone.

http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/news/interviews/2011-01-23/201101241295788705276.html

I think Federer has a few more tools in his kit bag than Roddick, and he knows Wawrinka's game inside out. Plus, you don't get to 22 GS finals without understanding how to cool off a hot opponent. Big chance for Warinka to make a statement, of course, but I'd be surpeised if Federer didn't fancy his own chances.

Nam1, see the article below from the USA. How people define children and punishment varies widely.

Judge: Boy, 12, will be tried as adult in double homicide
HOMICIDE


March 29, 2010|By the CNN Wire Staff

Kenzie Houk was shot to death in her Wampum, Pennsylvania, home. She was 26 and pregnant.A judge in Pennsylvania has denied a request from a 12-year-old homicide suspect to have his case transferred to juvenile court.

Jordan Brown is facing adult charges in the February 2009 shooting death of his father's pregnant girlfriend, and a judge turned down a petition to have the case transferred from criminal to juvenile court.

Police have said the boy, then 11, shot Kenzie Marie Houk, who was eight months' pregnant, once at point-blank range in her farmhouse in western Pennsylvania.

Federer is not going to loose to anyone until the final...
Wawrinka himself knows he can not beat Roger in this tournament!!!

Well, THERE's a nice tangent.

Andrew - interesting and soothing analysis.

Here's one that may be a little less of each. When Fed gave his pre tourney interview, (I think it was in the context of bringing Annacone on board.), Roger said something along the lines of, and I paraphrase 'cause I am too lazy to go find the interview...' I am really happy with the way my team is working out. I know I am doing the right things for my game. No matter what happens at the AO, that won't change.' Or words to that effect.

NOT that I don't think Roger wants very badly to win here. Terribly. Ferociously. Hail, he may even cry if he doesn't. But sometime when I have seen Fed on court at this AO, its like he has the 40 mile stare. And not in a bad way, really. His lapses seem less triggered by trips to Mirkaland or Twinsville, than trips to a future where all the things that he and Annacone have been working on will click into place. (Of course he really only need look BACK to the WTF and Doha to see that.)

I hasten to add that this is PURELY a sense on my part, and since I am often full of NONsense, I am probably totally wrong and just seeing things.

And in any case, GO FED!! As Marina/BJK used to say, 'Stay in the NOW!'

Yes, that bothers me a bit as well. Fed seems detached.

What Pierre said at 1:06. :)

It's easy for me not to frazzle, but I think Rog will raise his game again today, and the WTF Fed will come out. And no, that's not "what the ****". :)

He knew he could coast a bit the last two matches, and he did. Rog in 3 sets, two of them very tight, maybe tiebreaks.

Night 8 Interviews.....I wish I could find a vid of Rafa's entire interview!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XevN-dO9eJ0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

thebigapple - yeah..that's a good word - 'detached.' Not disinterested, really, but 'detached.'

Sort of like, "hmmm... I wonder what will happen in I do this? Interesting! And THIS?"

But he may well find all sorts of attachment and focus in this later round. Roger really doesn't like playing he fellow Swissies...but, in the end, it rarely keeps him from beating them.

Federer has to be the most psycho-analysed player in the history of tennis.

So if as Andrew points out Roger tries to cool off Stan in the first stages of the match, it will be a matter of Stan believing in his game in the way he has been playing so far and in bringing his A game to the table for the rest of the match and see what happens. Tennis is a mind's game undoubtedly. And to win against Roger or Rafa you need to be relentless and play well from start to finish.

wilson75: Or Fed is the first big tennis star of the internet age.

"Federer has to be the most psycho-analysed player in the history of tennis."

Not surprising...why would one not psycho-analyze a player who reached 23 SF consecutively some time in his career?

And what deeps said...:-)

ladyjulia - No worries, I never tire of worship at the Fed altar. Besides, we may need it as comfort-read one of these days :)

CL - From the last thread @ 12:35pm: "It did not require minionism to lose badly to Rafa" - ok, with all due respect for your linguistic skills, I respectfully disagree. It should be minionhood, not minionism.

True, wilson75. We study every tiny tilt in his expressions, and it's not easy because his face basically stays in one position when he's on court.

I'm also always trying to analyze the shape of his head and its mysterious, almost regal-seeming grace and beauty. I know it sounds over the top (and anyway I'm a Roddick fan) but Fed does seem like a fabled figure from the past, like Michelangelo's David walking among us.

As good as Stan's match stats looked, Monfils mentally checked out after 1st set and Roddick was never a threat, sorry Roddick fans but it looked like Stan just knew he could casually chip back that serve and then wait for the right ball for the kill with the way Roddick was seemingly just pushing that ball around the other night. But even then Roddick had a couple of looks at breakpoint without doing anything too spectacular.

The thing to look out for Fed in this match are those weird mental lapses that probably wouldn't have mattered even if he had them back a few years ago but that are costing him now. Fed seems to be well aware of this so it will be interesting to see what he and his new coach (with the experience of working with the aging Pete Sampras) will do to remain focussed but aggressive at the same time over the course of a 5 setter.

I do think Fed is on as much of a mission as Stan, actually more than Stan in this tournament (being Rafa-Slam and all) and it's the 2nd week afterall so Fed fans should be hopeful he wins this one without the fuss of the Simon match.

But it ain't over til the fat lady sings... interesting matches coming up...

Good Morning Everyone,

Well we are now into the quarter final stage of the AO.

Great matches today in both the men and woman.

I have been watching Stan in this GS to me he has become more consistant in his ground stroking and yes that back hand has been on fire.Today he comes up against a player in Roger who I feel has to many weapons and vairety in his game.I expect a Roger win.

Recently Nadal's sweat generated quite a few comments, you know. And he only has 9.

Hope my wishful thinking of 17, won't remain in the unconscious of Federer.

Pete, well written article. Stan does not have those shanking bh shots like Fed. However, Fed have more weapons. Unless those BH of Stan will be zooming like guided missiles, Fed stands a better chance still.

deeps: That too.

Ladyjulia: Too many people, fans and media presume to know what Federer is thinking and feeling come up with ridiculous theories. Too much time is spent on this instead of enjoying the tennis.

have=has
shucks!

somebody should really start counting forced errors. because playing a speedster like Simon, Fed was never going to rack up the winners.
In general, "unforced errors" and "winners" are very bad indicators, anyway.
what should concern the Fedophiles is the way Stan's looked, and not what his stat sheet said.
and about Stan's BH being the best in the business: a few years ago in Oz someone said that about Youzhny, and Sire Jacket tore it apart.
Same thing said about Gasquet at Wimby a few years ago, and Fed put on a backhand clinic.

CL @ 1:56pm - I have had that sense for a while now for the same reason, but voiced them not for fear of being burnt at the stake. Fed's comments about this AO have usually ended with phrases like "lets see how it goes", "if I win great, if I don't someone else was better than me" and so on. Fed, when he is feeling motivated to win, typically has made that clear in the past, not in a chest-beating fashion, but with comments like "I like my chances to win here". None of that this AO. Ah well, maybe reading too much into too little...

TMFunk...LOL.

Kristy,

"I'm also always trying to analyze the shape of his head and its mysterious, almost regal-seeming grace and beauty. I know it sounds over the top (and anyway I'm a Roddick fan) but Fed does seem like a fabled figure from the past, like Michelangelo's David walking among us. "

LOL...that was funny :-)

hi there, AM! (paying my courtesy call)

Yes, all good matches and I'm def worried for Fed.

On a lighter note, anyone who checks the tennis.com fantasy tennis (which I highly recommend in the future, btw... it was much less time-consuming and has been more fun than the SP for me by far, what with it not being sudden death and all) may notice Maria's Next Top Models faring quite well on the men's fantasy AO side. 34/1100-some, and tied for 12th in the US still!

Despite picking Milos with my heart instead of Ferrer with my head. Picking Dolly and Stan in my 8 person team has helped tremendously.

TMFunk: I think you are reading too much into too little. BTW, if he had said "I like my chances to win" he would've been accused of being arrogant and smug.

Hi AM,

Hope everything is fine. Who do you pick in Nole vs Berdych? I pick Nole in 4. I think he will make Big Bird pay for not being able to move.

CL: re your 1:56pm - here's Paul Annacone from a nice NYT article by Christopher Clarey -

“I think it’s hard because you know when the bar is set so high people tend to get sensationalistic about what’s going on, and I think it’s my job to kind of help keep that perspective,” Annacone said. “Roger’s a great player, and he’s been playing well since August, and if he wins in Australia, great. And if he doesn’t, that’s fine. There’s nothing broken yet. He’s feeling good. His game is progressing. We’re working on themes and we kind of just have to keep looking at it that way, but it’s tough because you set a pretty high bar.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/sports/tennis/24annacone.html

I very much like the idea that Annacone, Luthi and Federer have identified themes to work on - maybe four or five groupings of ideas to be worked on over an 18 month period.

This team is uniquely equipped to take the long view. There's no sense retooling Federer's game around kamikaze-style net rushes if that approach is going to fall apart the first time Federer steps onto a clay court in 2011.

In the event Federer doesn't defend his AO title - and you'd be a mug, or a love is blind KAD, to think that the odds he would retain the title are greater than 50:50 - you have to expect that the media feeding frenzy will be insane. It will reinforce the conventional wisdom narrative that I wrote about above - to the power of three if Nadal does complete the Rafa Slam (FWIW, the chances of this are also, I think, below 50:50).

Instead, I've always wanted to see Federer have a plan in place to improve, and the results which show that the plan can succeed. Right now, I'm very hopeful.

deeps

Hi!

I think Nole will win against Tomas.Its also a night match *ducks*.I feel
like you Nole will expose Tomas's lack of movement.Nole has been playing well.

Lol, wilson.

I feel a pull to join this conversation as psycho-analyzing the Fed is my hobby, but don't have too much to add to what's been said. Agree he hasn't seemed exactly "on a mission" this AO and my hopes are not high. As long as he's mentally prepared for a loss and can still go on to have a great year, it's all good as far as I'm concerned. Just hope that's the case; the d--m "confidence" seems awfully easily frightened away these past few years.

To add to some frazzle, according to rf.com he only practiced about 20 minutes yesterday, at least in public. Energizer bunny he is not this tourney.

wilson75,

"Ladyjulia: Too many people, fans and media presume to know what Federer is thinking and feeling come up with ridiculous theories. Too much time is spent on this instead of enjoying the tennis."

Its just fun...after all, even the Fed has fun with it. After AO 2009, journos reflected lengthily on all those salty tears and the causes behind them...Fed read them...and then at the next tourney, got to say "You all got it wrong".

I mean, look at the amount of printed words spent on Nadal's sweats. Dude had flu 3 weeks ago if i am not mistaken. And normally, I would think sweating was good if one was under the weather...but one learns new things everyday while reading sports in the media.

So, its just conversation all in the end...we all like to speculate about tears, sweat or...blood (now that Dolgo is a legitimate threat to the top 10).

TeamNadal, here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWAkDAszxbo

He's such a flirt.
Was before, but just getting worse... or should I say better? :)

"BTW, if he had said "I like my chances to win" he would've been accused of being arrogant and smug." - Well, at least that would be consistent. I like predictability you know. :) In all seriousness, you are right, and he's probably taking a page out of Rafa's "1001 ways to lower expectations" guide for superstar tennis dummies.

wilson - fair enough...but where would TW be without arm chair psychologists? About 1,000 hits, per tourney, short, that's where.

TMFunk...I bow to your correct suffixism. And those are the kind of Fed comments I was referring too. OTH, he came into the '10 FO saying he was prepared to defend his championship and THAT didn't work out so well. Just have to wait and see.

Ro'ee - why you sound just like the great man himself. In his post Tommy presser Fed said the Wiiners/UFE stat didn't interest him much. For a variety of reasons. Not all of them 'denial.' lol. IIRC, he did say one stat that he thought was import was second serve returns.

This would be an exciting night...LI in straight sets; Fed in 4.

This was a good article, good observations..especially in the first half. Never though about it that way but it's true.

By the way - So happy that it's been 65 comments into a thread with Fed and Rafa mentioned in the article and no idiot has started a Fed-bash/Fedal war!

*tears welling in eyes*

hope this keeps up!

"and he's probably taking a page out of Rafa's "1001 ways to lower expectations" guide for superstar tennis dummies."

TMFunk,

I think you are quite right over there. The more i read his pressers and watch his interviews, the more he seems to do as above.

Ren's alter ego: 10 would be very lovely. he he he.

Haha, Yawning Melbournian.

The reason I think Fed will beat Stan is, the trend is for the hotshot challenger-out-of-nowhere has been to play brilliantly to a certain point and then go down in straight sets. Meltzer, Tomic, anyone?

It may not help Stan that his last match was with Roddick who plays much more passively and at a much slower rhythm than Fed.

Fred looks a little listless, hopefully TMF shows up.

Oops, sorry for mangled grammar.

CWATC: Roger wouldn't fly himself and his family all the way to Australia if he didn't want to win AO.

I have been a little annoyed at the succession of day matches Fed has had. It occurs to me, however, that these may be a concession to American television, since the day matches show up at easily viewable times, particularly on the West Coast.

The tide surges towards a semi-final of the Big Four, with 3 and 4 in noticeably better form than the 1 and 2. Interesting.

Hello TWibe,

I've caught up with all the matches now. I don't think that Fed fans should worry too much about Stan, 'cos he is not going to beat Roger anytime soon IMHO.

Of course he WANTS to win, wilson75.

As I've repeated like a broken record for weeks, I think he's mentally worn out.

Which doesn't mean he can't catch a second wind; next match would be a good time for it, it if comes :)

In speaking on one of the greatest and profound tragedies to strike in the 21Century, the hack tennis writer Matt Cronin said, "The world will never know how great she could have been."He was talking about Maria's injury and what a lost it was to the world. Right up there with 9-11. I can't remember the last time I read such objective journalism.

stan is going down in straight sets, this will be a slaughter with Fed's new tactics. Plus, Stan has a huge mental block against Federer.

Thank you Tuulia, I really appreciate it ;)

oh please. Andy Roddick has a small, small game, cause other than his serve, he's basically a batting-practice robot.

Andrew - thanks for that link.. yes, there seems to be a fair amount of 'big picture' viewing from the Fed camp. Tough on us instant gratification types, but if I can see as far as they see I also like what I see. ;-))

Every player is hot until they are not.

Bodo picked Sod to win and anyone would have said Sod is going to beat that new unproven kid from Ukraine.

Sod lost.

We can say that Djoko and Berdych are hot players right now. But by tomorrow morning one ain't gonna be hot.

I think people are so reflexive if Fed loses a set(s) and still wins it is just crazy.

As much as Stan knows about Fed, Fed knows about Stan.

A day match is not going to help Stan. The ball will fly and Rog is going to push the Stan forehand side. Yeah, Stan will get to the ball but so will Roger and Roger is much faster.

I expect to see alot of net rushing but both players are playing well enough to win. No easy predictions.

"The world will never know how great she could have been DESPITE BEING SUCH CLUMSY, POOR MOVER and A SHRIEKING ANNOYANCE ON THE COURT."

That is actually what he meant to say.

CWATC: I wouldn't know if Roger is mentally worn out and I'm not going to spend time wondering if he is.

also, Monfils is the Michael Vick of tennis - all flash but nothing there to consistently compete with the big boys. Wawrinka has reached the end of the road..

I'm kinda thinking that Fed has found a new, sort of zen state of calmness in the outcome of GS's. He must have now gotten used to the idea that he is now on the hunt to chase Rafa in the rankings, not the other way round and that's why his pressers reflect that new outlook, which I think is very positive and keeps fans hopeful that he will play for longer. Guessing good mental therapy from Paul Annacone who has seen it all in Pete S, plus a healthy dose of cutey kisses and hugs from the twins helps with that!

But that fire of wanting to win this AO burns like a house on fire inside, otherwise he for sure could not have gotten out of that Simon 5 setter alive who was playing lights out and had all the momentum going to the 5th set.

But the very fact that he's still training as hard as he can, with a new coach and trying to groove the new game plan speaks for itself - he wants this title bad and he's not going to just give it to anyone, someone has to rip it out from him.

Btw this Fed psycho analysing thread is rather fun :>

Hi, first time logging on.... Slowly dying! want both to win for different reasons, so I'm sitting back to enjoy the journey for as long as it lasts.

Welcome to TW Tennislover

Dude you seriously need to either take a break from writing or the hallucinogenics. Maybe you could read some Hemingway, realize you don't need all the extra fluff and just write.

Did Master Ace post the schedules of matches on ESPN, ET?

Tennislover - which 'both'? And welcome by the way.

Aw, wilson, now your just being persnickity. Not that there is anything wrong with that!! ;-))

I see wilson75 thinks I over-psychoanalyze which is fine :)

Really in this case it's not about any special ticket to the brain of Fed; just my gripe that most normal humans would be worn out w/ the schedule he's had the past few months.

His opening PC when asked about how his prep is going he muttered sth about "trying to rest."

Anyway, enough D&G from me for now; looking forward to tonite, should be an interesting match. And should Stan take it, I'll be cheering for him to go all the way -

That said, I'd rather not see the gloating Lundgren; "I've now coached two guys to take out Roger in AO" ha, ha, what a great coach am I.

TennisLover,

Hi and welcome !