2015 Wimbledon Championships…ATP 2000…London, Great Britain

[GeoffWilliams]

The worst back handing I've ever seen him do in a big match, or any non Nadal match. Fh too many ues. Too many missed first serves on big points, all signs of nerves and trying to do something he could not. He will never win another slam now. Age gets us all. Too bad he never hired me to work on that back hand, and lifting his hitting foot.

[don_budge]

2015 Wimbledon Men's Singles Champion…Novak Djokovic

I actually missed the match. Been on court all day with USPTA testing and Certification. Will catch the replay tonight. Figured Roger could not have repeat performance of the semifinal. Djokovic better than Murray to begin with. Djokovic, for all his boring style and neutralizing capabilities and lack of net skills, is a DAMN good player. He's really something special. The way he rebounds from a momentum swing, a break of serve or a loss of a set is something I've never seen before. 9.9% of plaers would be reeling after losing that 2nd set, Djokovic gets back to work and gets stronger. That's something we should all wish in our students. Adversity. Toughness. Having the confidence to get yourself back into it after a bad moment. Djokovic is many things, a weak and fragile player he is not.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA

I believe that is the official end of a day gone by. I was going to say the end of an era but I had to pinch my self and realize that the era was done some 35 years ago. I feel like the last kid to stop believing in Santa Claus…which I was by the way. Roger Federer made an admirable challenge for the crown once again but he was defeated by a younger, faster and stronger opponent. Maybe not necessarily a better tennis player…but Novak Djokovic is the champion.

This doesn't make Novak Djokovic a one dimensional player. Novak plays the defence superbly and he is always a threat to attack from the back court. The point is that he isn't a threat in the forecourt and this is a major flaw in the design. He lacks true confidence in the forecourt and at one point he let a ball bounce well inside the baseline that he could have easily volleyed. An accomplished volleyer will almost never do such a thing.

Yes klacr…Djokovic is all of that. The word that I have come up to describe him is resilient. Slippery too. He is never out of a given point until the ball has bounced twice. He is never out of a match until the last point has been scored. He is a lot of things…but a complete tennis player he is not.

Roger did well to nick that second set....against the run of play. His serve kept him in it. Djokovic would have steamrollered the third.

Still a long way to go...

Was it me or did was Roger moving a little slower than normal across the expanse? He could be getting tired...

He was moving a lot slower. It was hard to watch. He was working on his arm as well…there was a lot of misery in his face virtually the whole match. He didn't have the juice that he had against Murray. Late in the third set they posted that he had run at least 7% more than Djokovic at that point. He was feeling it. He has a lot of miles on him and Djokovic was in control and he was jerking Federer around the court at will. Roger desperately needed to take that first set…he was up a break too.

Roger didn't seem to have his legs under him at all. His serve, that was so perfect in the semis, was suddenly a bit more mediocre and Djokovic was tagging the returns. He had a look at many more second balls than Murray did. Djokovic for his part had total control of his service game. When ever he was in trouble he referred to the "Gonzalez Rules" and served himself out of trouble. He took great care of his service game. He was so in control it seemed that he almost handed Roger the second set…it was a gift.

In the end…it is the end of a story. A story that I was writing. I dreamed of a time when I was a boy and I had a love affair with the game of tennis. I joke a lot that it may have kept me out of jail…when my friends were getting in trouble I was in early because I had a match the next day. I had a dream that all was good in the world…even though the Vietnam war was at my doorstep calling my name to serve. Not to worry…I still had tennis.

Roger Federer represented all that I loved about tennis. He in his tennis whites. He looks like a tennis player. Well you know the story…I just told it to you in a round about way. It only took me 2,800 posts (2,796 to be exact)…along the way I touched on various other subjects. But Roger played the starring role because he was the last remaining link in the classic game that I grew up loving as a boy and young man. I just wanted to tell this story to all of the young people out there…just some food for thought. I didn't mean any harm.

Wimbledon is different now. It's hard to imagine that years ago the wear of the court was on the way to the net, whereas now it is behind the baseline. Oh well…things change. Though not necessarily for the better. Roger certainly had his difficulties making his way forwards…Djokovic was just too good. Too fast. Too resilient. But one thing left for me to think about…what if Roger had been able to bring Novak in more often. He didn't look very comfortable at the net or transitioning. In fact…he looked awful. I will never understand either why Roger didn't use the slice backhand more. Stefan Edberg should have given him instructions to use it at least 50% of the time. Novak rarely…and I mean almost never hurts Federer as a direct result of playing a slice backhand. But he hurts him routinely when his topspin drive falls in the middle of the court and Novak is pounding it into the corners. Just a thought. The quicker conditions never materialised…the ball was sitting up from the very beginning. One of the announcers mentioned it was a bit colder…on this particular day. The weather thwarted "The Man" as well as did Djokovic.

After Federer there won't be much concern about playing the net as the game stands now. The way that it has been engineered. I'm glad that he switched to a bigger racquet for his last couple of years…it enabled him to be competitive for a while longer. There aren't any players that will be able to do what Roger did on the tennis court. This sort of tennis is not being taught anymore. Some laugh at my teaching paradigm…"Bill Tilden is the book. Richard Gonzalez is the model with the Don Budge backhand. Harry Hopman is the coach and Roger Federer is the living proof." It doesn't bother me when others laugh. Or howl. People are people. The bar isn't that high generally speaking.

So the story goes…I am stepping out the door to go play golf. They are laughing at my golf equipment too…but they certainly can admire the swing.

The End

Respectfully yours…

don_budge

[johnyandell]

I don't usually butt into these threads. But I note the incredible graciousness of both players afterwards. Inspiring.

[klacr]

I actually missed the match. Been on court all day with USPTA testing and Certification. Will catch the replay tonight. Figured Roger could not have repeat performance of the semifinal. Djokovic better than Murray to begin with. Djokovic, for all his boring style and neutralizing capabilities and lack of net skills, is a DAMN good player. He's really something special. The way he rebounds from a momentum swing, a break of serve or a loss of a set is something I've never seen before. 99.9% of players would be reeling after losing that 2nd set, Djokovic gets back to work and gets stronger. That's something we should all wish in our students. Adversity. Toughness. Having the confidence to get yourself back into it after a bad moment. Djokovic is many things, a weak and fragile player he is not.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[stotty]

Federer just folded in the end and you cannot blame him. Djokovic is just so relentless, so good at the back of the court. As Klacr suggested it might, it came down to the points won on second serves. Federer lost over half the points behind his second serve.

[stotty]

Rain delay...good...I need break from the tension. Roger could do with the break too.

I am just amazed it's 1 set all....amazing Roger pulled that second set out of the bag.

[stotty]

Roger did well to nick that second set....against the run of play. His serve kept him in it. Djokovic would have steamrollered the third.

Still a long way to go...

Was it me or did was Roger moving a little slower than normal across the expanse? He could be getting tired...

[stotty]

6-6...incredible standard so far.

[don_budge]

The Slice Backhand…Roger Federer

For once I am looking at how Djokovic can combat Roger rather than the other way around. It's vital Djokovic finds good length today. The deeper he can keep that ball, the better. He needs to do the basics really well. Roger has to stop Djokovic doing just that...stop him settling into any rhythm.

I still think Roger wins if he can find that semi final form in the final...

Depth is a very important issue. Federer needs to use the slice backhand in order to vary his length and keep Djokovic off balance. It is going to be one of the most important "intangibles".

[stotty]

Length...

For once I am looking at how Djokovic can combat Roger rather than the other way around. It's vital Djokovic finds good length today. The deeper he can keep that ball, the better. He needs to do the basics really well. Roger has to stop Djokovic doing just that...stop him settling into any rhythm.

I still think Roger wins if he can find that semi final form in the final...

[don_budge]

The 2015 Wimbledon Men's Finals…Roger Federer vs. Novak Djokovic

On the upside the courts are bone dry and playing quick.

Earlier in this thread you said that Roger Federer would not be able to beat Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic in a row to take the title. Now after watching the surgical dissection of Andy in the semis and the further analysis of the Dubai match with Novak Djokovic earlier in the year that you must admit that it is possible.

If the conditions are as you say they are it is definitely in Roger's favor…theoretically. He still has to go out and do it and there isn't any reason why he won't. Maybe one…nerves. But that is the reason why these guys or should I say this guy prepares so thoroughly…to take the nerves out of play. Now it is all about confidence and Federer is a guy who doesn't generally lose his cool in situations like these. But everyone is human…so right now he is in the locker room dealing with his nervous energy. Keeping his balance and measuring his steps…right up to the coin toss.

I hope that you have at least read my analysis of the match in Dubai because it reads like a script now. Right down to his semifinal match in each tournament…at Dubai it was Coric and here it was Murray. Both had their asses handed to them…Federer style. I see this match to be a natural extension and a perfect derivative of the Dubai match. The courts are a little quicker and if you saw the highlight video you can see that it doesn't work in Djokovic's favor any more than it worked in Murray's favor.

If anything the conditions favor Federer even more because the venue is now lawn tennis…it's grass. Federer in some pre-tournament interview was talking about the footwork aspect of playing on grass and how different it is from other surfaces. The thing is…tennis is a game of energy and balance and the movement on lawn tennis is designed to take the player forwards as opposed to side to side. Djokovic is playing side to side and Federer is playing forwards. Advantage Federer.

The finals last year were there for the taking for Roger. But perhaps it was too early in his transition…from playing the modern backcourt game with his smaller racquet to his present more aggressive form with an equal sized racquet to his competition. He wasn't ready to take the bull by the horns and go forwards as much as he needed to. He had Djokovic if he had been ready…the footing was desperately slippery and Djokovic was like a fish out of water. But being the resilient one…he was able to eek it out. Plus it went five sets and the longer this thing goes on the more it may favor Djokovic.

This game is so mental…isn't it? It's so emotional and being able to control your emotions is a big part of it now. These two guys are the top of the game in this regard. Both have proven themselves under the duress of fire and it has be Djokovic who by the virtue of being younger has been able to use this to his advantage.

This is a huge match for both players. The pressure is tremendous and at this level of the game it is that very same pressure that enables these guys to slip into the NEXT gear and put it in over-drive. Federer used to be able to do this at will when he was younger…he would just zoom away from his opponents at a given time in any given match. Djokovic is the same now…he has been bageling the competition going away. It is only about who will be able to maintain the pressure on their opponent now. The conditions are fast and if Federer serves so well he is going to be able to put more pressure on Djokovic's serve. This is grass court tennis. Federer is looking to go forwards and to push Djokovic back on his heels…behind the baseline. If Djokovic starts retreating it may be a long afternoon for him. But it is so close…there is no point in making a prediction.

The conditions certainly give Roger a fighting chance and that is all that he needs and then he is aiming for the jugular. If he sinks his teeth…he isn't going to want to let go. Djokovic is a slippery guy…he won't concede until the last point is won. Just think…at this very moment both players are getting ready. They are summoning on their preparation…their collective preparation. Both are equally prepared and the scales are balanced…it is dead even. If Roger can somehow duplicate the form that he has come across he can do it. He is telling himself in the locker room that there is absolutely no reason why he cannot do it. Djokovic might just have a bit of doubt knowing what he knows. The match in Dubai poses a mental challenge. The quick courts. The pressure that Federer applied. The serve…the forwards surge. Federer might just be able to exploit the weakness in this matchup.

Now they get to play the game.

[stroke]

The oddsmakers have Djokovic as a very slight favorite at 7/9, Federer at 20/19. I have a feeling Djokovic is going to feel like he is swimming upstream in this one, Federer in full flight with an adoring crowd behind him. Djokovic is going to looking at his box a lot.

[don_budge]

Don't Stop Me Now…I Want to Break Free!!!

Great song choice.

Queen, David Bowie. Special stuff.

Here's one of my favorite performances not too far away from SW19 in London's Wembley Stadium
https://youtu.be/4-rkJmRiFug?list=RD4-rkJmRiFug

Freddy Mercury would have been a fan of Roger Federer's. Two geniuses just a bit different than everyone else in the same arena of their respective arts. Two geniuses who people will only truly realize their special qualities once gone. Freddy Mercury already is....Roger soon to be. But there is inspiration in their performances. They conjure up a magic about them that cannot be expressed in a quote or a simple soundbite. It is their total body of work and their freedom of style from the mundane and banal that exists around them.
They certainly 'break free' from the norm that exists today, but the mold that formed them was always classic.

https://youtu.be/o-Zo4AVL7AE

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

Thanks klacr!!! Beautiful post. By Jove…I think you get it. I'm on a roll…Roger's on a roll…Don't Stop Me Now!!! I'm having a good time...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM

…and I want to break free! In fact…I have broken free.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM8Ss28zjcE

[klacr]

Today's match is what the tennis world wants. It's what we want.
Djokovic vs. Federer.
Federer has to be great to beat Djokovic
Djokovic does not have to play his best to beat Federer.
I hope Federer has one last hurrah. This would be epic if he wins another Wimbledon title.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[klacr]

Under Pressure…Queen 1981

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuzmub5PXNQ

I love this song. I love this video. Under pressure. I have had the CD in my car for months on end…perhaps only listening to this song…over and over. Listen to the words. See the signs and know their meaning.

Andy Murray found himself under pressure Friday. But to his credit he didn't wilt. For once Andy was no shrinking violet. He stood up like a man…and took the full frontal force head on. He still had a few ticks. The howling monkey at times. The longing looks at the box…at Mama. He got too excited when he hit some good shots but he never got too down when he hit a bad one. These were few and far between. I have never seen Andy play better myself. It's no coincidence that he was a man about it…right down to the handshake. He competed from bell to bell…I'm proud of him and I hope that he grows up as a result of the things working in his life now. He recognized the moment and he played his part…which just happened to be second fiddle to "The Great" Roger Federer.

Roger Federer…it's sort of like klacr says. "Exciting tennis. Nuff' said". But I'm not wired like that. I'm telling a story. It's about tennis. It's about the death of tennis. Roger is "The Living Proof". He's almost done now. It's only one more match.

Friday was something of a special day. It's a long story. Aren't they all? My wife's son came over with his new girlfriend. A joyous occasion. They are having a baby! Ok…ok. It's coffee and cake. A celebration. That's great. I wish them well. But first things first…Roger Federer versus Andy Murray. As usual I made the right decision. I watched the match. I'm a realist.

It was all about pressure right from the beginning. Even in the coin toss Roger was putting on the pressure. The look. In warm up he didn't miss a ball. No nerves…only intent. This is what happens when time stands still in an athletes world…in Roger's mind. He was only into himself and what he was about to do…nothing else mattered. He was putting the pressure on his opponent that he was conjuring up in himself and he was going to maintain it right to the very end. Just like Bill Tilden wrote so many years ago. Nothing has changed…except the size of the racquet. The shoes too. It's not my imagination.

There were just the bare signs of nerves in the first game…but those quickly disappeared. Roger got up really quick with a couple of big serves but Andy showed that he was there to play. Afterall he had all of Britain there as his guest. It was his party and it was up to Roger to steal it from him. And he did. Murray had a break point in that first game…as it was it was his only break point. Imagine that. So early on and it was his only glimpse of getting ahead in the match. Roger snuffed his chance and proceeded with a vengeance.

Vengeance it was…remember the finals of the 2012 Olympic? The last time they had played at Wimbledon? Murray won 62, 61, 64. This was the hell to pay for that glitch. I remember writing about that "incident". Positive that Federer had thrown that match…it wasn't him. Go figure…that Roger and this Roger. The very same guy. One a passive patsy and the other a cold blooded assassin. I was in all likelihood "right again"…which of course doesn't matter on iota.

So that was 2012 and this is 2015. What a difference time can make. Three years on. Three trips around the sun by the earth…with us on it. By all rights Roger should be somewhere else. He has millions and millions in the bank and a couple of sets of twins. But here he is…one more time chasing the Wimbledon trophy…for the eighth time. The semifinal is going down in the history books. It was textbook from the first point to the very last. It was pressure being maintained on his opponent. The most extreme pressure. No let up. When he lost a point he was right back at it. Applying pressure. Pressure on top of pressure. Against an opponent that was hitting on all eight. He missed one shot all day…that he should have made. He brought Murray forwards with a rare drop shot and he missed a sitter of a forehand volley. Who knows…maybe he was indecisive between a drive and swinging volley. He missed one shot all day that he probably should have made. Nobody is perfect. He did that "under pressure".

When you see that draw sheet in the future you will remember that tennis match. The day when the tennis world was still. It was only Roger Federer and the sounds of silence. Measuring his steps. Calculating his breath. It happened just like I said it would…like I said it possibly would. Afterall…I am biased…to Roger Federer. Because he is my "Living Proof". He validates what I believe to be true about tennis. The truth…the whole truth and nothing but the truth...the living truth. He is three dots removed from Classic Tennis.

It's all about the racquet. Roger wouldn't have been there on Friday if he hadn't switched a year and a half ago. His serve would not have been so perfect. His backhand wouldn't have been landing so deep in the court with a flatter trajectory. His slice wouldn't have been so effective. The racquet made it all possible. It breathed life into "The Living Proof". Who knows how many more Slams he may have won if he had switched so many years ago. That's ok…that's how life is. It didn't take anything away from him. The man or the legend. It only adds to his mystique. Nobody will remember these things…except me. Maybe you.

Great song choice.

Queen, David Bowie. Special stuff.

Here's one of my favorite performances not too far away from SW19 in London's Wembley Stadium
https://youtu.be/4-rkJmRiFug?list=RD4-rkJmRiFug

Freddy Mercury would have been a fan of Roger Federer's. Two geniuses just a bit different than everyone else in the same arena of their respective arts. Two geniuses who people will only truly realize their special qualities once gone. Freddy Mercury already is....Roger soon to be. But their is inspiration in their performances. They conjure up a magic about them that cannot be expressed in a quote or a simple soundbite. It is their total body of work and their freedom of style from the mundane and banal that exists around them.
They certainly 'break free' from the norm that exists today, but the mold that formed them was always classic.
https://youtu.be/o-Zo4AVL7AE

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton