US Open Series - men

MisterAnarchy

juvenal wrote: »

Fed was awesome, and has sent a big message to the doubters.

Was there really any doubt ?;)
His win tonight reminded me of another of my favourites winning against the odds to silence the doubters in 2002 ,Pistol Pete.

Sea Devils

Looks like it was a game too far for Murray. But credit to him for beating Nadal in the semi final

shortys94

Wow Murray really got a forehand to the face, pure awesomeness, I really do hope Federer wins the forthcoming majors to regain number 1, he really does look to be in tip top shape.

token56

juvenal wrote: »

I'm going to go out on a big limb and say Fed will win the AO, RG and Wimbledon in 2009 - thus defining himself as the undisputed greatest player ever to grace a court.*

He may then bring tennis to a level never seen before by anyone apart from possibly Laver by also winning his sixth consecutive US Open, but he may let that slip after a twenty-second consecutive GS semi-final appearance for Nadal to win his first hard court GS title.*

*All idle thoughts which may/may not come to fruition

Sorry but cant see him winning RG next year, I agree about AO and even Wimbledon but I feel his only chance of winning the french open is if Nadal gets injured.

cooker3

It was great seeing the Federer of old back. I hope with a proper off season that 2009 he can really start producing the form of old. No better sportsman to watch imo then Federer at his best.

Mikel

It certainly sets next season up nicely, I hope Fed and Nadal both stay fit.

elmolesto

Mikel wrote: »

I hope Fed and Nadal both stay fit.

So do I:)

Sea Devils

The game hinged on the second set. Murray had the momentum after breaking back and had three break points. Federer hit a ball long but it wasnt called and Murray wasnt brave enough to use a challenge at the right time. Federer saved and went on to win the set.

We could have seen a very different match if that game had gone to Murray because he was hitting his form there.

Still Federer stepped it up. Big time.

juvenal

token56 wrote: »

Sorry but cant see him winning RG next year, I agree about AO and even Wimbledon but I feel his only chance of winning the french open is if Nadal gets injured.

Indeed it's an outside chance, but I think that he (Fed) will do whatever he can to improve enough on clay to win in RG.

There's no doubting that Nadal is on his own when it comes to clay, but at some point, perhaps not for another couple of years, he has to get beaten in Paris. It may probably be by another clay-court specialist and not Fed, but it will happen. It's also possible that Nadal changing his game ever so slightly to improve on grass and hard court may affect his clay game. Not likely based on his past performances on clay, but still possible.

If anything Fed is a #2 on clay, based on the fact he's reached the previous three finals in Paris. It will be an interesting season, and hopefully everyone can remain fully fit and in form to see what could be one of the greatest seasons in tennis history!

juvenal

Sea Devils wrote: »

The game hinged on the second set. Murray had the momentum after breaking back and had three break points. Federer hit a ball long but it wasnt called and Murray wasnt brave enough to use a challenge at the right time. Federer saved and went on to win the set.

We could have seen a very different match if that game had gone to Murray because he was hitting his form there.

Still Federer stepped it up. Big time.

I was surprised that Murray didn't challenge, as was he not up 15-40 at that point? Even if he lost, he still would have had another chance to break at 30-40.

It may have sent the match to four sets, as Murray played very well in the second, but I don't think it would've affected the end result.

Mikel

juvenal wrote: »

Indeed it's an outside chance, but I think that he (Fed) will do whatever he can to improve enough on clay to win in RG.

There's no doubting that Nadal is on his own when it comes to clay, but at some point, perhaps not for another couple of years, he has to get beaten in Paris. It may probably be by another clay-court specialist and not Fed, but it will happen. It's also possible that Nadal changing his game ever so slightly to improve on grass and hard court may affect his clay game. Not likely based on his past performances on clay, but still possible.

If anything Fed is a #2 on clay, based on the fact he's reached the previous three finals in Paris. It will be an interesting season, and hopefully everyone can remain fully fit and in form to see what could be one of the greatest seasons in tennis history!

Also Nadal could always have a bad day, he's not infallible.

davyjose

juvenal wrote: »

I'm going to go out on a big limb and say Fed will win the AO, RG and Wimbledon in 2009

This simply won't happen. Congrats to fed and his victory - well deserved, but it's a new generation now, I'm afraid. Nadal will win at RG every year non-stop, barring injury, and he'll take a hard courter too in 2009.

Whatever you say about Fed doing what it takes to be the best, you can multiply that by 10 for Rafa. He has improved remarkably in 2008. The guy had no right to dominate the Summer the way he did. And he won the 3 tournament Fed wanted most: The French, Wimbledon, and the Gold in Beijing.

MisterAnarchy

davyjose wrote: »

This simply won't happen. Congrats to fed and his victory - well deserved, but it's a new generation now, I'm afraid. Nadal will win at RG every year non-stop, barring injury, and he'll take a hard courter too in 2009.

Whatever you say about Fed doing what it takes to be the best, you can multiply that by 10 for Rafa. He has improved remarkably in 2008. The guy had no right to dominate the Summer the way he did. And he won the 3 tournament Fed wanted most: The French, Wimbledon, and the Gold in Beijing.

Federer is the better player in nearly every aspect.
Better serve,volley,and forehand .
Nadal is a pretty one dimensional player,very good at what he does but limited.
Federer has a mental issue with playing Nadal ,primarily not taking break points and rushing shots.
He needs a good coach ,one who will help him devise a strategy to beat Nadal.
Next year will be very interesting.

Mikel

davyjose wrote:

This simply won't happen. Congrats to fed and his victory - well deserved, but it's a new generation now, I'm afraid. Nadal will win at RG every year non-stop, barring injury, and he'll take a hard courter too in 2009.

Whatever you say about Fed doing what it takes to be the best, you can multiply that by 10 for Rafa. He has improved remarkably in 2008. The guy had no right to dominate the Summer the way he did. And he won the 3 tournament Fed wanted most: The French, Wimbledon, and the Gold in Beijing.

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

Federer is the better player in nearly every aspect.
Better serve,volley,and forehand .
Nadal is a pretty one dimensional player,very good at what he does but limited.
Federer has a mental issue with playing Nadal ,primarily not taking break points and rushing shots.
He needs a good coach ,one who will help him devise a strategy to beat Nadal.
Next year will be very interesting.

I actually disagree with you both!
This season will be difficult to repeat for Nadal, and there's always someone coming through the ranks, who knows who could be a threat in a couple of years.
Nadal's game relies so much on intensity hunger and motivation. He may go through periods when this wanes.
He's also bound to suffer a bad patch at some point, he's only human.

I don't think you can call Nadal one dimensional either, he's not Hewitt or Chang, and he has got scope to improve, esp his serve.
I agree that Feds problem with nadal is mental, and who could blame him?
I don't know if he needs someone to help him devise a plan, I'm sure he knows just how to beat him.
I'm not even sure he needs a coach as such, just someone to bounce things off, maybe he already has that.
The interesting thing is that the ball is in his court, he knows where nadal hurts him and what he has to put right.
After being so dominant it will be interesting to see how he reacts next season, although I suspect we already know!

I hope Murray improves and stays in contention, his game is so different it makes things very interesting

CaramelBear

I was rather sorry to see Federer struggling in the quarter- & semi-finals.
He is still the only player [that I've witnessed] who has such class and technique.

He won. That I did not doubt. Sad that it was his first Grand Slam of '08, when the year was almost at its end.

I will always cheer Fed on. Even when he comes close to retiring.