Federer v. Nadal: The King of Clay
The epic final we’ve all been waiting for is almost upon us…it’s almost guaranteed to be a historic event: Roger Federer, the Swiss genius, going up against Rafael Nadal, the King of Clay.
To get you prepared for battle, enjoy this awesome video.
June 9, 2008 at 12:01 am
Hi, i watched the roland garros final yesterday and i could not belive that roger didn’t manage to find a solution to nadal’s game. i thought roger was trying to play like rafa – long rallies from the baseline – instead of playing his attacking game -coming to the net more, finishing the points earlier with volleys or with those amazing short angled shots. he seemd to do that for a short time during the second set, when he had his comeback, but then he sort of got sucked into nadal’s gruelling rallies again and of course, he got crushed. i think roger will never beat nadal on clay if he tries to play like a spaniard (top spin and all that), it’s just not his game, no matter how many jose hiugueras’s he hires. he should play his attacking game even if it’s clay, try to disrupt the rythm, and NOT get into baseline rallies. not with rafa. at least that’s what i think. what do you think?
the second thing: i read roger’s press conference after the game and i didn’t understand the following passage. could you please tell me your thoughts on it?
“I mean, I’ve always said it three years ago already: He (nadal) plays like two forehands from the baseline, you know, because he has an open stance on both sides. I can’t do that, so I lose a meter or two here and there from the baseline. So he’s got a huge advantage in this aspect, you know.
I don’t know how he grew up doing that, you know, but it’s definitely ‑‑ I think that’s very difficult, and maybe he’s got the great advantage as well that in his normal life he’s right handed by nature and not a lefty. ”
thanks a lot, i love your blog, just discovered it, and i think it’s very interesting. love the “contra tennis” idea. i understand now why i love nalbandian’s game so much and what exactly it is that makes it so special. i couldn’t put my finger on it before
June 25, 2008 at 9:33 am
Where did the video go? It said it is no longer available. I did see the one you posted on Youtube of the 15 second video of the impossible Federer cross court shot. Good one.
July 6, 2008 at 4:14 am
One month later….
Same scenario…. only not on clay, but on grass…
Wimbledon, Roger’s home…
July 6, 2008 at 11:53 pm
Deborah….
that doesnt help…
February 16, 2009 at 5:18 pm
So wtf happend with youtube?
February 16, 2009 at 5:18 pm
i mean.. you just disappeared