Vandenburg wrote:

---

indiana wrote:

---

In the grand scheme of things I do think Fed is a fair bit past his best ( and understandably so, great as he has done in the way he has kept going ) and has to an extent been getting away with murder with the relatively poor and inconsistent opposition.

If we get a few of the older top players back anything near to their best, while the younger players continue to progress, we might yet have a very interesting season.

No wonder Andy is so keen to get back.

---

  Sense at last! Federer recent slam wins are not a new period of form for him, but the opposition is complete......

When Andy and Novak were going head to head 2015-16, nobody at current could touch them. 

---

Im not a major fan of Federer either but a 17 winning streak at the start of the season (on top of his dominance last year / many many years) isnt sloppy. Hes not 18 any more but  he is still dominating the sport despite 2 losses (one in a final) . You cant compare his current form to people that arent playing. Its like comparing Sheeran to the Beatles, its who is the the most successful right now, not who is the best tennis player of all time at peak fitness. Fed will lose his world number one through choice (missing the clay season). Wether we like him or not he was the best mens tennis player Of 2018 until this point

-- Edited by Jiwan on Monday 26th of March 2018 12:16:39 AM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Monday 26th of March 2018 12:18:33 AM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Monday 26th of March 2018 12:28:01 AM

indiana wrote:

---

Nothing wrong to my mind in trying to compare different periods. I think you can or at least give opinions on them.

Not trying to diss Fed ( he has been magnificent as his best ) and he is doing so well to continue as he has ( indeed fairly dominate with Novak and Andy's travails and similar quality not emerging yet ) but I just honestly feel that the current opposition is in general relatively poor. Hopefully some from Zverev, Kyrgios, Chung etc ( great if Kyle too ) can form a new elite with a real narrative but for now a past his best Fed relatively cleans up.

Re the world #1 ranking, ironically having lost it while Rafa has been absent from Indian Wells and Miami, Fed is very likely to be back there after the clay season even if Rafa finds fitness and most certainly if he doesn't.

Points post Miami : Nadal 8770, Federer 8670

Clay season points earned in 2017 : Federer 0 ( took last year's clay season off too ), Nadal 4680 !

---

Im always respectful of your posts Indiana, i very rarely disagree with you.

not sure you can compare old and new periods? Most have no comparison as they have such extremes 

- technology, broadcasting, ability, professionalism, training, funding, equality, sponsorship, money , sanctions , ability etc etc 

i might be reading your texts wrongly but are you comparing feds successes / failures with lack of competition?  / Based on other people who arent fit/  may never be fit / may never be good enough to beat him? 

Yes, he isnt fed 2000, but he is still consistenly winning? sounds a ageist to me to be honest 

 

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by Jiwan on Monday 26th of March 2018 01:13:36 AM

-- Edited by Jiwan on Monday 26th of March 2018 01:49:58 AM

Jiwan wrote:

---

indiana wrote:

---

Nothing wrong to my mind in trying to compare different periods. I think you can or at least give opinions on them.

Not trying to diss Fed ( he has been magnificent as his best ) and he is doing so well to continue as he has ( indeed fairly dominate with Novak and Andy's travails and similar quality not emerging yet ) but I just honestly feel that the current opposition is in general relatively poor. Hopefully some from Zverev, Kyrgios, Chung etc ( great if Kyle too ) can form a new elite with a real narrative but for now a past his best Fed relatively cleans up.

Re the world #1 ranking, ironically having lost it while Rafa has been absent from Indian Wells and Miami, Fed is very likely to be back there after the clay season even if Rafa finds fitness and most certainly if he doesn't.

Points post Miami : Nadal 8770, Federer 8670

Clay season points earned in 2017 : Federer 0 ( took last year's clay season off too ), Nadal 4680 !

---

Im always respectful of your posts Indiana, i very rarely disagree with you.

not sure you can compare old and new periods? Most have no comparison as they have such extremes 

- technology, broadcasting, ability, professionalism, training, funding, equality, sponsorship, money , sanctions , ability etc etc 

i might be reading your texts wrongly but are you comparing feds successes / failures with lack of competition?  / Based on other people who arent fit/  may never be fit / may never be good enough to beat him? 

Yes, he isnt fed 2000, but he is still consistenly winning? sounds a ageist to me to be honest 

---

 

I hardly think that it's ageist to reflect on the passing of time in sport and suggest as I am that Federer is not as good as he was. And re different periods we are not talkng major differences between Fed of around 10 years ago say and now so other aspects such as training and professionalism are not nearly as relevant as trying to compare players from very different eras, which I would agree is very difficult. Nout wrong at all in saying he is old in tennis terms and understandably not as good.

However, the general opposition is not as good as it was with the rest of the top 4 in fairly full swing plus Wawrinka when in the mood. So we have a less good Fed generally dominating a less good opposition. And good luck to him, it's for that opposition to raise their game, and it's still great work by Fed.

I hope Del Potro can sustain things, one or two of the big 4 can get back on track to some extent, but most of all, c'mon you young ones.

Yes, interesting Christ to imagine how Fed of today would do put back a few years in with the rest of the big 4 as they were then. Would he do as well as he did then? I would think probably not. But clearly we can't know so it is just interesting to consider.

And I hope Jiwan that the above answers your questions as to where I am coming from.

the addict wrote:

---

Draw looking interesting, particularly in the top half, chance for someone to make their mark.
But the scheduling is crazy. Berdych v Tiafoe is the third match on Grandstand, with the winner to play Anderson in the fifth match ?

---

 Berdych and Tiafoe got stopped by darkness last night at 5-4 in 3rd set, so are pretty close to completing. So even if it goes the distance, there are probably only 20-30 mins to play. I guess they will let them do that, have a break and then go again. Might even help them as the winner will be in the zone and maybe off the mark quicker than Anderson when they play the last 16 match up...

 

 

Looking at the draw that is left, it is interesting definitely. My predictions for what they are worth:

PCB to beat Verdasco
Berdych to get through Tiafoe and then Anderson (Berdych is 12-0 career on Anderson!)
Zverev to beat Kyrgios (much as I like NK)
Coric to beat Shapovalov
delpo to beat Krajinovic
Raonic to beat Chardy (6-0 career to Raonic)
Chung to beat Sousa
Cilic to beat Isner

Last 8

Carreno Busta to beat Berdych
Coric to beat Zverev
Delpo to beat Raonic
Cilic to beat Chung

Semis

Coric to beat PCB
Delpo to beat Cilic (10-2 up on career)

Final

Delpo to win but I think this could be a good week for Coric, and add to two back to back great weeks with IW as well

the addict wrote:

---

Ah, thanks. Doesn't show on the ATP app as unfinished - so that explains it.

---

 It is worth adding that it was apparently at 2.13am that it was stopped! So whether they will be fresh is another thing!  

indiana wrote:

---

You mean it hadn't been dark before 2.13 am    

---

 Ha! Yes, first report I quoted said darkness, which it would be at 2.13 am! ATP website says heavy rain stopped play (so presumably they were under lights!). 

Either way, it was late and wet and certainly dark!