2017 Indian Wells round of 16 Fed vs Rafa

[stroke]

To me, this is the poster child of Fed greatness. At his absolute best, he destroyed Nadal. No one else could ever that.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FVQ5mAVX7UBhJwjL6

[jimlosaltos]

To me, this is the poster child of Fed greatness. At his absolute best, he destroyed Nadal. No one else could ever that.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FVQ5mAVX7UBhJwjL6

I recall. It was one way traffic.

Took Fed a year, I believe, to fully adjust to the larger RF97 and then he was able to step in and take balls on the rise with his backhand DTL or cross court at will.

Awesome.

[jimlosaltos]

To me, this is the poster child of Fed greatness. At his absolute best, he destroyed Nadal. No one else could ever that.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FVQ5mAVX7UBhJwjL6

Here are highlights of IW and Miami that year via TennisTV on YT

[jimlosaltos]

How confident was Fed in his backhand on that Indian Wells-Miami cycle?

You have to watch this closely or you might miss it.
Fed hits a backhand swinging volley - from the baseline vs RBA at 13:45 min in the vid. Queued to start on RBA's serve for that point. Hits a return and an inside-in forehand, then just casually steps inside the baseline and hits a swing-volley approach from barely inside the baseline.

I saw part of this purple patch in Indian Wells and was amazed at how, sitting right behind Fed on one baseline, i could see him, waiting for his opponent's to swing, taking rapid stutter steps, getting ready to pounce inside the baseline and charge forward. Jittery, almost nervous steps ready to lunge. Stopping. Another one. Another. Least sign and he'd go.

If the vid doesn't start with RBA getting up, then serving, forward to 13:45.

https://youtu.be/0sxCKtjXpCw?si=j0hxhM8ypNVBKXqR&t=825

Here's impact:

filedata/fetch?id=103595&d=1709753475&type=thumb

[stroke]

That was something, a swinging one handed backhand volley from just inside the court. It is mesmerizing watching him take balls so early off both sides. I don't ever remember seeing anyone else take on the ball half volley topspin one handed backhand over and over again.

[jimlosaltos]

That was something, a swinging one handed backhand volley from just inside the court. It is mesmerizing watching him take balls so early off both sides. I don't ever remember seeing anyone else take on the ball half volley topspin one handed backhand over and over again.

And, Fed was 35 years old then.

Slower than Peak Fed of 2004-2008

[stroke]

And, Fed was 35 years old then.

Slower than Peak Fed of 2004-2008

He was not peak physically, but with his larger racquet and experience, I think he was maybe at his very best.

[jimlosaltos]

He was not peak physically, but with his larger racquet and experience, I think he was maybe at his very best.

It's fun to imagine. Perhaps with AI someone will generate a simulation where we can see Peak Fed play Wise Fed. The whirling dervish of Serve +! vs varsity and a bigger backhand. Think I'd pick the kid.

[doctorhl]

That was something, a swinging one handed backhand volley from just inside the court. It is mesmerizing watching him take balls so early off both sides. I don't ever remember seeing anyone else take on the ball half volley topspin one handed backhand over and over again.

O
Unbelievable! His switch to the bigger racket gave him just enough sweetspot to time that shot. My timing would require a sweetspot in the Weed II to hit that shot(remember that racket? -- - was it 110 or 120 square inches?).

[jimlosaltos]

A Double L does it

filedata/fetch?id=103657&d=1710214951&type=thumb

[jimlosaltos]

Key breaker

https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/1767386686319972483?t=3tW9rFV5BawdT229TL3rCA&s=19

[stotty]

Novak has now spent exactly 8 years at number one...outrageous.

[stroke]

Novak has now spent exactly 8 years at number one...outrageous.

It is absolutely outrageous.

[jimlosaltos]

Sorry I posted this in the wrong thread, trying to select the thread on my mobile where the TPN forum type is microscopic.