How many of you feel Federer's game lack inspiration these days?

Question

i feel Roger's game had changed since he realized he bears the historical burdon on him - he is breaking all kinds of records.

you can argue he's game becomes more matuare, but i remember he made those dazzling shots and the imposible placements that makes your hair stand up and disblieve in 2004, 2005 and 2006. now he become somewhate predictable.

perhaps this is the why he suffers 8 defeats so far this year because he becomes predictable?

what do you think?

Answer 1

See, the fed express steams by because of lack of quality players.I think maybe the only real game he has played ever would be the game in which he beat Sampras in 5 sets(the first time he won a grand slam)....After that ,there really has been no good players around...not Federer's fault...Hair stood up...?Maybe its because of the stupid game that Federer plays ,not recognizing that actually another man is standing on the other end.

Many a time I have felt that Federer plays as if he was a machine...

Answer 2

he needs to kick his game up a notch.

Answer 3

he is tired of being no. 1

Answer 4

You may be right, but we could be saying the same about Nadal in five years time - I think that happens with all the great players!!!  The rawness and passion has gone, and as you say, he's done so much, it's now about breaking records.  I have a feeling that if he wins Wimbledon this year, he may retire after the US Open - then again, he may want one more chance at the French, however, unless Nadal is out through injury, I think he'd be wasting his time.

Answer 5

Agreed.  That's why records are hard to break!  

It's always a matter of time before people can read your shots.  He takes so many forehands sooooo late and you can almost tell where they're going!

He never inspired me much, as I'm a lefty and he has no passion, but I'm not knocking him - he's still the best player there ever was.

Answer 6

He is bored and unmotivated. He no longer wants to work hard. And it's sad. But it's even sadder the denial in which his die hard fanatics live day in day out. Sad.

Answer 7

I don't necessarily think his game lacks inspiration. He is just going through a tough season thus far, however to paraphrase a line from him, "if making the semifinals at the Australian Open and getting to the finals once again at the French Open, means that I am having a bad season, then I will take it".

Anyway I will say that I am getting pretty annoyed at watching him just simply block the return of serve and not putting anything on it. If you watch some of his matches this year, it almost seems like he is just putting the ball back in play, rather than trying to be aggressive and putting the ball away or out of reach from his opponent so that he can close out the rally and win the point. That's the only frustrating part of his game for me this year and also it is the part of his game that I would say isn't as great as it was in the years you mentioned.

As for his game lacking inspiration... I won't go that far. Apart from what I just talked about and the fact that he seems a bit slower on the court this season, I would say that his game hasn't changed that much from previous years. Probably its a mental problem. He knows he has not been as physically fit as he would have liked this year, which may have contributed to some of the losses he has had, and with these recent unexpected losses, he isn't playing with too much confidence.

But at the same time... I just think we need to lay off on the guy a little. He is still ranked number one, and making the semifinals at the Australian Open and the finals at the French Open, where he could have easily lost in the early rounds, given his recent losses, I would say that the guy is still doing well. Besides every top player goes through a phase like this in the middle of their career. Now is the time for Roger to put the losses behind him and concentrate on winning majors.

Answer 8

He's probably bored, Raf is the only one who's a serious challenge to him, he needs 4 or 5 players to start making him play!

Answer 9

Maybe you don't see his shots imposible because you are so used to them for about 5 years, or maybe you are right, sometimes I feel that he comes to the match and he just want to win as fast as he can in whatever way.