Title: Ferreira & Stich dismiss Federer
Wise_Analyst - June 6, 2007 10:04 AM (GMT)
Tennis legends Wayne Ferreira and Michael Stich have brushed aside Roger Federer's chances of winning the French Open. Ferreira even went so far as to predict a Wimbledon victory for Nadal before Federer wins Roland Garros:
| QUOTE |
| "I think Nadal will win on the grass at Wimbledon before Roger wins the French Open. He came close to winning Wimbledon last year and he wasn't far from beating Roger. Until Rafa either falls over, gets injured or quits, Roger is not going to win the French Open. He has become too negative on clay. He doesn't serve and volley enough. He needs to come in more against these guys. He's taken a step back rather than a step forward, whereas Rafael has improved his game more." |
Stich was in full agreement with the South African and revealed:
| QUOTE |
| "I think Rafa will win Wimbledon before Roger wins the French because he is improving his game so intensively on other surfaces," Stich said. "Roger needs the weather to be hot to win the French, and he needs to play his own game. He needs to improve his clay-court game still." |
So there we have it: unless Federer starts serve volleying more, he can never overcome Nadal at the French.
http://www.sportsmediainc.com/tennisweek/i...2&bannerregion= yorkshire - June 6, 2007 10:53 AM (GMT)
"Legends" who have only won one grand slam between them. Don't think Fed will be losing much sleep over these comments.
Gav - June 6, 2007 11:03 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (yorkshire @ Jun 6 2007, 11:53 AM) |
| "Legends" who have only won one grand slam between them. Don't think Fed will be losing much sleep over these comments. |
Agreed. Stich caught Becker and Edberg dozing at Wimbledon in 1991 and Ferraira isn't exactly a legend. Why bother listening to their babble?
They may have a point about Nadal winning at Wimbledon someday, but Federer is closer to Nadal on clay than Nadal is to Federer on grass at present.
Dark_Necrofear - June 6, 2007 11:19 AM (GMT)
Also if you read the debate carefully Wise_Anal Stich was for Federer and Ferreira was for Nadal.
You being a WUM again!
Dark_Necrofear - June 6, 2007 11:24 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| but Federer is closer to Nadal on clay than Nadal is to Federer on grass at present |
This couldnt be more true even if you tried GAV evident in the fact that Federer has bagelled Nadal on both grass and clay!
Wise_Analyst - June 6, 2007 12:01 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear @ Jun 6 2007, 12:19 PM) |
| Also if you read the debate carefully Wise_Anal Stich was for Federer and Ferreira was for Nadal. |
Nope, looks like you need to read it more carefully. Stich reiterated the exact sentiments of what Ferreira said. If you listen to the Podcast, the only thing they don't agree on is Stich's shoes.
Stich won Wimbledon and reached the RG final, just like Federer, so he's in an excellent position to issue a verdict on his chances. It's time for Federer to adopt a less negative gameplan and take it to Nadal. Last year we saw Nadal adapt his game for the grass courts and look how quickly that paid off.
SaraLess - June 6, 2007 12:11 PM (GMT)
This is a circular tennis argument: clay court season arrives - Rafa is the tennis messiah ready to win everything everywhere...clay court season ends, and the same pundits start wondering if his career is over!!
Again, I wouldn't read too much into the words of Stich and Ferreira, no disrespect to them, but I wouldn't have thought they were Federers idols.
And...didn't Federer mix things up with some great s&v play yesterday?!
Dark_Necrofear - June 6, 2007 12:11 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Stich won Wimbledon and reached the RG final, just like Federer, so he's in an excellent position to issue a verdict on his chances. Last year we saw Nadal adapt his game for the grass courts and look how quickly that paid off. |
Yes he won Wimbledon...Once and got mauled in the French Open final.That doesnt quite exactly make him a tennis Demi God of knowledge.I suppose Pat Cash should also be taken into account but we all know the crap that comes out of his mouth,but hey coz he won Wimbledon,that by your logic makes his opinion one of high regard.OH WAIT he didnt make the French Open Final so by your logic he has 50% worth tennis knowledge!
| QUOTE |
| time for Federer to adopt a less negative |
I think we saw that at Hamburg!
Gav - June 6, 2007 12:25 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Dark_Necrofear @ Jun 6 2007, 01:11 PM) |
| Yes he won Wimbledon...Once and got mauled in the French Open final.That doesnt quite exactly make him a tennis Demi God of knowledge.I suppose Pat Cash should also be taken into account but we all know the crap that comes out of his mouth,but hey coz he won Wimbledon,that by your logic makes his opinion one of high regard.OH WAIT he didnt make the French Open Final so by your logic he has 50% worth tennis knowledge! |
Cash was runner up in two Aussie Opens so must be a guru compared to Stich...
Dark_Necrofear - June 6, 2007 01:22 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE |
| Cash was runner up in two Aussie Opens so must be a guru compared to Stich... |
You missing The "great" doctors point.Because Stich made the FRENCH OPEN final he is a guru on Federer coz Federer made the final once and is a Wimbledon winner.This is the maths that the doctor put before us.
Winning Wimbledon and a French Open Final gives you a higher ranked opinion!
:doh:
SuperBRAT - June 6, 2007 03:41 PM (GMT)
Well all I can say is roflmao
Despite dislking his game, i will say that Nadal has improved more on grass than I expected. But he did have a realtively easy draw last year so I remain to be convinced as to just how good his grass court prowess is.
Tenez - June 6, 2007 04:14 PM (GMT)
What surprises me is Stich's comment about Fed needing the weather to be hot to win the French. In fact we all know now that it is the opposite.
And Nadal is not going to win the French as long as Federer, Djoko, Berdych, Ancic and others are around. I don't believe one improves much on clay. You have the game or you don't basically. Nadal had just about the right game to lose in the first round and just about a better game than Baghdatis who was his toughest , but certainly not grass specialist opponent, last year.
I also believe that without a gusty wind (I live in Wimbledon and saw it) , Federer would have performed an easy 3 setter like he had in all his previous rounds.
Tenez - June 6, 2007 04:52 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Tenez @ Jun 6 2007, 05:14 PM) |
What surprises me is Stich's comment about Fed needing the weather to be hot to win the French. In fact we all know now that it is the opposite.
And Nadal is not going to win Wimbledon as long as Federer, Djoko, Berdych, Ancic and others are around. I don't believe one improves much on clay. You have the game or you don't basically. Nadal had just about the right game to lose in the first round and just about a better game than Baghdatis who was his toughest , but certainly not grass specialist opponent, last year.
I also believe that without a gusty wind (I live in Wimbledon and saw it) , Federer would have performed an easy 3 setter like he had in all his previous rounds. |
Of course should have read Wimbledon..and not the French in the second paragraph. Corrected here.