Posted in Uncategorized on June 6, 2008 by federerfundamentals
Rafael Nadal is headed to the French Open final for the fourth consecutive year, and it seems like he’s only getting stronger. 2008 has been a watershed year in that he’s not only beating players on clay–he’s PULVERIZING them. Here’s some of what he’s done in this go around:
2008:
+ Improved lifetime record at Roland Garros to 27-0.
+ 18 consecutive sets won, and 34 of 35 sets won dating back to 2007.
+ 10 of the 18 sets (55.5%) won by either bagel (ceding zero games) or breadstick (ceding one).
+ 37 games lost in six matches against 110 games won — a 74.8 game-winning percentage: roughly the equivalent of winning sets on average with a 6-2 score.
+ 25 games lost going into the semis — the fewest ever dropped up until that point in French Open history.
+ A total of 11 games lost in 9 sets against three high-quality clay court opponents (Nieminen, Verdasco, and Almagro).
+ Two “Nadal Specials” delivered to Bellucci (first round) and Devilder (second): 5, 3, and 1 in the first, and 4, 0, and 1 in the second, respectively.
(FYI: A “Nadal Special” is a match wherein the first set is relatively close, and the successive set scores become more and more lopsided as Nadal’s relentless defense and menacing presence cause the opponent to more or less capitulate.)
This group of four videos of Federer warming up before a match has been around for some time now, but it’s still one of the best examples of excellent, useable videography. You get a clear look at Federer’s strokes!!! Great stuff.
“It’s a spectacular winner…but watching it live, you can see that it’s also a winner that Federer started setting up four or even five shots earlier.” – David Foster Wallace, from the landmark article “Roger Federer as Religious Experience”
This is a video I posted over on the federermagic YouTube channel. A simple explanation of the point construction is as follows:
Shot #1: a cat-and-mouse running down the line defensive backhand slice.
Hit on the run in response to a cross-court backhand from slightly in the ad court by the opponent. Not a particularly easy shot to hit firmly enough to elicit the response Federer is looking for/preying upon. When Federer hits this shot, the shot is biting and staying low while simultaneously moving away from the opponent, who has already a fair amount of court to cover due to his previous position in the ad court. This causes the opponent to pare down his options and play a (seemingly) conservative shot by hitting a cross-court forehand on the run from below the level of the net. From the opponent’s perspective, as a percentage play this is the “right” shot, but just the opponent knows this, Federer does as well. Even as the opponent is in the middle of conceiving this shot, Federer is already sliding into the open court and imagining possible outcomes of this point. With a vague outline of what comes next in his head, Federer reaches the shot outside the tramlines and elects to hit…
Shot #2: a quick defense-to-offense transition by way of a running down-the-line forehand over the high part of the net from outside the doubles alley
Again, not the easiest shot to pull off for the typical weekend warrior, but with Federer you can see that there is no lack of command here, evident from the way he sweeps his racquet up and stops it with confidence. This particular shot is completely aggressive, as it hedges its bet on the fact that the opponent’s court position is so compromised that the opponent will not be able to take advantage of the fact that Federer is well off the court as he hits it. It is not likely to be an outright winner, however, because Federer takes it from so low relative to the net; since he must hit up on the ball and impart topspin, this is a far different shot than if he chose to flatten the shot out (this is a matter of choice largely governed by, as most educated tennis players know, the height and spin rate of the ball). The opponent is now completely on the defensive, and Federer looks to directly occupy the center of the court and move in, which he does by…
Shot #3: sneaking in by way of a wrong-footing delicate chip approach into the opponent’s backhand
Now here is a shot that would not be played by almost any other player on the planet. A two-handed player these days will almost always conceive this shot as a two-handed shovel. He may or may not even come in to the net behind it; instead, he may elect simply to keep hold of his slight positional advantage.
A quick word here regarding wrong-footing in relation to what you see Federer doing here. I call what happens here “gaining a tempo.” It is a phrase that I am borrowing from the game of chess, because it is appropriate in the context of how points are constructed and ultimately won or lost. Any time a player gains a positional advantage by taking away an opponent’s time and using that sliver of imbalance to gain or improve his position on the court, that is considered “gaining a tempo.” All players look to gain enough tempo before going for the winning shot; in fact, that is what often differentiates a “good” or “high-percentage” winner from a “lucky” or “low-percentage” winner.
In the context of what Federer does by slicing his approach, consider that as he is hitting this shot he transitions directly through it without a hitch toward the net. He knows that he must close the net off tightly enough to limit the possible passing angles. In hitting the shot behind his opponent, he forces the opponent to change directions from his original recovery path (toward the center of the court) and attempt a backhand passing shot. In the time it takes for the opponent to change direction, reorient himself to the ball, and attempt a passing shot, Federer has gained enough position to close off the net effectively: he has gained sufficient tempo to look to finish the point, which he does with…
Shot #4: an authoritative, acutely angled high backhand, over-the-shoulder semi-overhead winner
This is a shot that is all about execution. Again, the opponent hits the “right” shot considering his dire circumstances, but Federer is all over it. The timing is impeccable, but this shot is merely mechanical in light of the thoughtful articulation of the overall point. As a player you want to always put yourself in a position where your winning shot is mechanical; if you are constantly having to create winners for yourself, it does not mean you are a great player. At best it means you have talent, but talent for shots rarely, if ever, overcomes the fact that tennis is a game highly attuned to the law of averages. If you are pulling shots out of nowhere on a fairly consistent basis it means two things: 1) your opponent is housing you, and 2) you are likely going to be the loser.
So there you have it. A four-shot breakdown of a beautifully constructed point by the Swiss master. Again, in the words of D.F. Wallace, who says it far better than I can hope:
“Everything after that first down-the-line slice was designed by the Swiss to maneuver and lull and then disrupt [his opponent's] rhythm and balance and open up that last, unimaginable angle.”
Posted in Uncategorized on May 12, 2008 by federerfundamentals
Contrary to popular opinion, Roger Federer is slightly more vocal and expressive than people assume. For instance, in this fun pair of clips, Federer shows you how to berate yourself in two distinct languages:
First, his native German:
And then in French:
Note at 00:16 of this second clip the flash of light? That’s Roger’s blinging Rolex. Careful not to get blinded…
Roger Federer seen here at the Estoril Open practicing his forehand returns from the deuce court. Note the extreme extension and paradoxically, the lack of tension given the explosiveness of the return. Federer’s game is in part epitomized by his apparent ability to create explosive movements out of simple, lithe gestures, and this ability is fundamentally rooted in his flawless technique and stroke production.
A quick note to those who are trying to draw tactical conclusions from this clip, however: this is a high-risk maneuver and is best used selectively as a surprise play when attempting to wrest control from an opponent on serve. Taking the ball early and on the rise off the service return is very, very difficult and even Federer typically chooses to take a conservative approach to the return. The take-home point is that this is one tool among many.
And of course, even if you don’t draw any conclusions from this, it’s still beautiful to watch.
A high-quality version of this clip can be found by clicking here.
