Tag Archives: Federer
A Seductive Metonymy
Nadal d. Djokovic, 7/5 6/2 When the draw for the ATP World Tour Finals was released last week, and we shyly confessed our relief that the Big Four were evenly split between the two groups, there was immediate anticipation of … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Against All Odds
Federer d. Ferrer, 6/1 6/4 There’s an especially tiresome variety of Roger Federer fan who finds it impossible to reconcile their unshakeable faith in his greatness with an overwhelming dread that he’ll blow it every time he steps on the … Continue reading
Luck of the Draw: World Tour Finals
Group A: Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick. Group B: Roger Federer, Robin Soderling, Andy Murray, David Ferrer. The draw for next week’s World Tour Finals is out. Both groups seem pretty even, with Group B perhaps slightly … Continue reading
Merely the Best
Federer d. Djokovic, 6/4 3/6 6/1 There are many ways to analyse a tennis match, most of them wrong. One of the best, clear in hindsight but typically missed as it occurs, is the Change of Momentum. A desperate winner … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
The Curious Case of Robin Soderling
Robin Soderling has now qualified for the ATP World Tour Finals – the unfortunately acronymed WTF – for the second year in a row. He is the world No.5, and his name is invariably in the mix when the big … Continue reading
Great Matches You’ve Probably Never Heard Of #2
Tennis Masters Cup 2003 Round Robin Federer d. Agassi 6-7, 6-3, 7-6 Roger Federer arrived Houston in November 2003 as a relatively modest world No.3, weary after a middling indoor season, and publicly irritated with the tournament itself. He would … Continue reading
Filed under Great Matches
If Stockholm Open Final, 25 October 2010
Federer d. Mayer 6/4 6/3 When Roger Federer blew three break points in Florian Mayer’s opening service game in the final of the If Stockholm Open last night, you could be excused for heaving a great here-we-go-again sigh. Much has … Continue reading
Shanghai Masters 1000 Final, 17 October 2010
Murray d. Federer 6/3 6/2 It is tempting to say that when Roger Federer dropped serve from 40-15 in the opening game of the match the writing was on the wall. Equally, when he failed to convert on two break-back … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Shanghai Masters 1000 Quarterfinals, 15 October 2010
Well, it was men’s quarterfinal day, and three of the Big Four were in action, as was the man who’d vanquished the fourth the night before. Djokovic d. Garcia-Lopez 6/2 6/3 It looks on paper like an easy win for … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour
Shanghai Masters 1000, 13 October 2010
Enter the Big Four The tournament proper got underway today, with the top 8 seeds in action following their first round bye. This included the four best tennis players on the planet. Nadal d. Wawrinka 6/4 6/4 Steady (though not … Continue reading
Filed under ATP Tour