Australian Open - Experts: Federer got tactics wrong

Eurosport - Mon, 02 Feb 10:16:00 2009

Eurosport analysts Michael Stich and Greg Rusedski believe that Roger Federer got his tactics wrong against world number one Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final.

Rafael Nadal consoles Roger Federer beating him in the 2009 Australian Open final - 0

Federer slumped to his fifth straight defeat to Nadal as the Spaniard triumphed 7-5 3-6 7-6 3-6 6-2 on the Rod Laver Arena.

And former world number two Stich believes that Federer needs to change his tactics if he is to stand any chance of reversing his losing trend against Nadal.

"I think it is just a matter of changing the pace," Stich told Eurosport. "Roger always plays at the pace Rafa likes.

"His serve was not as good today so it didn't give him as many free points. Roger hasn't got his tactics right for probably the last 10 meetings now.

"(He needs to) look at the video tape at some stage and figure it out because if you lose you might as well change things.

"(You need to) play the drop shot, make him move forward and sideways and that's what I don't get about Roger's play, he keeps playing the kind of tennis Rafa loves.

"It was pure will, mental toughness and physical toughness (from Nadal). Rafa has so much will and strength that he deserved to win today."

Former British number one Greg Rusedski also believes that Federer needed to mix up his play more in order to beat Nadal, highlighting the serve and volley tactic in particular.

"It was unbelievable," Rusedski said. "At the start it looked like Federer was going to be in control. But he never got the tactic completely right.

"I wish he would have come in a bit more and taken it to Nadal. Federer should have serve and volleyed earlier on because Nadal was standing so far back (to receive). If he had mixed it up more, serve and volleyed a bit more, Nadal would have had to try something different.

"I don't think (Federer) served as well as he would have liked. I wish there could have been more variety in his tactics but Federer just doesn't seem confident to take that kind of play out against Nadal."

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Pippa Davis / Eurosport

Comment 143 - 162 of 202

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  1. It's comical to see the so called "experts" falling over themselves to explain why Federer lost. They seem truly incapable of understanding the simple fact that Nadal has beaten him consistently over a long period of time and, whatever tactics Federer attempts, Nadal always seems to be one step ahead. These people are only making fools of themselves by rushing to Federer's defence every time he gets slapped by Nadal. Why don't they just see what is glaringly apparent to anyone who has a modicum of intelligence - Nadal is simply the better player and the very worthy winner.

    From Hot Red Clay, on Mon 2 Feb 12:50PM

  2. Federer Federer got tactics wrong``

    NO

    NADAL won with great tactics

    From Radmila, on Mon 2 Feb 12:17PM

  3. Federa served well. This world is you loose some, you win some.. period

    From Augustine A, on Mon 2 Feb 12:13PM

  4. Federa is not what he is 2 years ago. Just like the Williams sisters, when they dominated the sports. Nadal is a humble individual but Federa is selfish and only thinks about winning at the costs of others. 15 times he has beaten Roddick. why the emotions for useless trophies

    From Augustine A, on Mon 2 Feb 12:10PM

  5. Who are these so called experts. there is nothing like that. The comments from Gregs & Michael is not expert opinion but guess work. Greg predicted two final wins and all went wrong. How then can you believe in one expert imagination. These are immature calculation and won't serve any purpose other than lining their pockets in this era of credit crunch. Comgrats to Nadal for humility and dedication..

    From Augustine A, on Mon 2 Feb 12:08PM

  6. MAY GREG RUSEDSKI SHUT UP FOR GOOD THAT GUY S SO USELESS....pfff Jess X

    From Jeremy, on Mon 2 Feb 11:56AM

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    From , on Mon 2 Feb 11:54AM

  8. he didnt get his tactics wrong, he had every chance of winning until that embarrassing 5th set, congrats to rafa i think he is awesome but he didnt so much win the title as federer gave it to him. the 5th set is the worst i have ever seen roger play and it was difficult to watch. rafa is a worthy number one and with his athletic ability and consistency there is every foreseeable chance he will beat sampras' record before federer!

    From JohnW, on Mon 2 Feb 11:52AM

  9. psyhologic Federer is down !!!pls roger a coach!!!!
    come on roger!!

    From Bratu, on Mon 2 Feb 11:49AM

  10. psyhologic Federer is down !!!pls roger a coach!!!!
    come on roger!!

    From Bratu, on Mon 2 Feb 11:49AM

  11. psyhologic Federer is down !!!pls roger a coach!!!!
    come on roger!!

    From Bratu, on Mon 2 Feb 11:46AM

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    From Summy L, on Mon 2 Feb 11:30AM

  13. I agree with the experts, Roger needs to change his game-plan if he's to beat Nadal. The Spaniard is very agressive on court and finds every corner & line, whilst Roger seems to return his back hands mid-court which allows Nadal to find a winner. Should Roger change his style to serve & volley/drop shots then he may have a chance, but Nadal well do the same and I sense the youngster is perhaps a better all round player.
    That said, finals between them are fantastic so don't do antthing guys to spoil the tennis, we don't want boring Pete Sampras to return, do we!

    From rees.marshall, on Mon 2 Feb 11:26AM

  14. east or west reoger is the best
    Tilakdealwis

    From tilak, on Mon 2 Feb 11:13AM

  15. absolutely right ender 75 excellently articulated.

    From ralph, on Mon 2 Feb 11:11AM

  16. Federer is great, but now Nadal is greater still. I doubt that Roger will ever recapture the top seed while Nadal is still around. Nadal beats him on every surface save hard court like in Flushing Meadows.
    I'm a Frederer fan but you have to admit that he's in 2nd place now and for a while still...

    From Marc L, on Mon 2 Feb 10:59AM

  17. Having seen the best of Laver, Sampras etc I would have to say that Federer is the best stroke maker the tennis world has ever seen. Laver probably the greatest competitor followed by Nadal. Federer is not the player he was 3 years ago, still great but that confidence of free flowing strokes amd ace serves under pressure happen less often. Not surprising there are'nt many majors won by guys over 26.I would like to see him get a good coach to help with tactics and particularly against Nadal where he makes it look too difficult. Murray I fear will prove too strong for Nadal on hardcourts particularly, so getting close to Federers record is very unlikely.

    From nick.weaver, on Mon 2 Feb 10:41AM

  18. Federer is one of the greatest players to grace the sport but just like he denied Roddick the Wimbledon twice, I think- he should also accept the fact that Nadal is better. What I love about Nadal is his humility and the fact that he doesn't underestimate his opponent. He also works hard at improving his game. WANNA BEAT NADAL: PLEASE DON'T DO A FIVE SETTER.

    From weaponofseduction, on Mon 2 Feb 10:28AM

  19. I think federer fans need to accept Nadal is equally as good as him, These are two of the greatest players to have walked the earth, so lets just enjoy this. Federer is a great player and so is Nadal. Its unfair to say one is greater than the other. I would dearly llike to see federer claim another few grand slams but it is not an automatic right for him he has to fight for that.

    From Ender75, on Mon 2 Feb 10:21AM

  20. im a federer fan but can u guys give Nadal some credit what does this man have to do, i think federer fans need to accept Nadal is a class player, he is number 1 and he is only 22 and will probbaly surpass federer in grand slams, Federer is unlucky to some degree to have met Nadal at this point in time, These are two of the greatest tennis players to have walked the earth i think they are probably equal so it is unfair to say one is greater than the other.

    From Ender75, on Mon 2 Feb 10:17AM
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