Thoughts on the Federer loss?

Question

I think all of you or most of you thought that Federer would win against Blake in his quarterfinal match, and some of you even indicated that it would be a "pushover" for Federer, given that he's beaten Blake eight times before. I said Blake has a chance to win, but even I wasn't expecting a straight set win (albeit a very close straight set win). Well it didn't turn out great for Federer, and Blake was absolutely at the top of his game. He serve was solid, his forehand was rocking, and his return game constantly put Federer under pressure (he was just laying wood on those second serves). As an American, I was of course rooting for Blake and was absolutely inspired by his play throughout the entire match. Thoughts on the match, and its implications on Fed's career?

By the way, did anyone notice that Federer was a little on the edge today? He told that guy in the crowd to take his seat, but he was behind Federer (why would that bother him?). Also, in the Federer service game to send it to the tiebreak, he did not raise his hand after one of his volleys trickled over the net. It seems that Federer is not himself anymore, both game-wise and character-wise.

Answer 1

Wish, I knew, but I can't work out a way for Australians to see Olympics tennis - I'm assuming no-one who has seen it yet is from Oz? All our Olympics broadcasters seem to have bizarrely assumed we'd rather watch people riding horses around a field, or playing table-tennis.

bah!  :-(

Answer 2

I have answered similar questions regarding this issue..

i first want to say i for one believed in blakes chances of defeating federer...

i know blake had a good chance to set the stage for revenge especially after losing 8 straight times to fed..

and what a place to do it at the olympics where fed has his final chance at an olympic gold

blake did good, he sealed federers fate yesterday with his solid servering and big return game....

federer has also lost to players of lower calibre so i really liked blakes chances of doing the deed.... blake did well.

i hope blake keeps going.. . he deserves a pick a good break.. if he plays consistent that is..

Answer 3

fed is pissed!  

Answer 4

federer losing to blake is like blake beating phelps at swimming! absolutely pathetic beyond ridiculous belief! i have no words! its the most god awful thing that could happen, federer losing to blake! shame on federer, shame on u roger federer! ur a disgrace to ur country and to the fans that wanted a fedrerer v nadal final! this is utterly shameful and disgraceful! im going to puke! YUCK!

i am stunned beyond this planet! its sick, it trully is sick! blake is not a tennis player, the guy only whacks it as hard as he can, even i can do that! hockey players can to that! golfers can do that! this seals the deal that federer is NOT the greatest ever even though i want him to be! but this ends that discussion!

Answer 5

I wonder if Fed will even get past the 2nd round at the US Open.

Answer 6

Well i have to admit im completely shocked by this loss. I never imagined Blake beating Roger and knocking him out the Olympics. Federer wanted that Gold medal, he said in previous interviews how important this is for him saying its better than a grandslam!!! I really thought Roger would have played his heart out to beat every single guy at this Olympics especially after losses at Cincy and Toronto. I actually dont no what to say, i didnt get to see the match i was very tired and went to bed lol How did Roger perform? Was Blake just playing fanatastic tennis throughout the match or was it Federer practically giving James free points by making loads of errors ? Congratulations to James Blake his first win over Federer after 8 encounters. I cant believe the scoreline either 6-4 ?:O!!! The second set appears to be much closer obviously what was the score in the tiebreak?!  

Answer 7

agreed. i'm a fed fan who's seen enough of him losing this year, very dissapointing.

his 8-0 record really doesn't get my attention, he lost to stepanek who never beat him, and lost to roddick.

yes he was on egde, do you remember when he shouted  'NEIN!!'  from the top of his lungs,  when he screwed up the point?

Answer 8

I am so happy for Blake. He deserved the win! Maybe Roger is acting more inconsiderate because he is losing so much lately. I really hope Blake can win the gold as well as one of the Williams Sisters ( I am American.) James decided to miss the pilot pen for the olympics and he oviously made a wise decision since he has made it this far. If James reaches the finals against Nadal it will be a tough match since Nadal is at the top of his game. I hope James can take it all the way.

Answer 9

i am both happy and disappointed.

happy that Nadal won't have to face him in the final (assuming he gets there of course!) because he is always such a big threat.

but i am also sad that i won't see a federer nadal final because they're always so exciting!

Answer 10

It was only fair that Blake won today. He had just 1 bad service game and Fed had several. Even some of the ones in which Blake didn't break, he either had break points or pushed Fed to deuce.

Regarding fed asking the guy in the crowd to take his seat, it was because Blake was agitated by him. He was sitting on the stairs and Blake I guess wanted him to take a seat at an appropriate place. Since Fed was serving he was trying to quicken it by getting the guy to move quickly... fair enough!

He most definitely did raise his hand as he was ready to serve for the next point. Infact he said something also to acknowledge that he got lucky on the point.

Answer 11

Gosh I just got up and heard this awful news. But am I surprise by this result? No! I was reading everyone's comments yesterday about this match being a pushover, but I just wasn't feeling that way myself. Blake is a very good player and even though he has only taken one set off from Federer in their past eight matches, I just had a feeling that Roger was not going to win this one. Roger has not been playing as well as he normally does and against a top quality player such as Blake, I knew this would either be a tougher than normal match for Roger or an outright loss.

Congrats to Blake. He deserved this win against Roger and now let's hope he can turn this win into Olympic Gold!!! Given what Blake has been through in both his personal and professional life, I believe no other player deserves to have that Olympic Gold medal hanging around their neck, other than Blake.

As for Roger' being a little on edge these days. I have notice this as well all year long. It must be frustrating for him to lose to players that he knows he normally easily beats. It reminds me a lot of what happened to Graf when she came back in 1998/1999. The usually stoic Graf, who went about her game almost business like on the court, and who rarely cracked a smile before, during or after a match, was always on edge during those final months of her career. At times I remember she being all out angry at the lines people for bad calls. Before, these things would not even faze her and she would be ready for the next point long before her opponent was.

Like Graf, it is just something that Roger is going to have to get used to from this moment on in his career. He is getting older and the rest of the field is catching up big time. These losses unfortunately will be happening more frequently. It's the nature of what happens to every great player at some point in their career.

If he comes across a bit arrogant at times, it's probably due to the pressure he now feels to win every time. Before this loss to Blake, his year has not been as bad as most people are saying. Any other player would kill to have the year that Roger has had thus far. But because he is "Roger Federer" obviously the bar is raised a little higher and we expect to see him win every time. It's frustrating because he knows that he have not having the best season but at the same it has not been all that bad as well. And every time someone mentions his poor season I am sure it feels like a slap in the face.

Answer 12

don't be cruel to the man, he has been going through the most difficult times in his career and maybe himself doesn't know what to do.

James Blake played very well and he deserves to win....maybe Roger needs a very good coach to take him out of this ordeal and strengthen his mental factor and kill off his weakness points in his game.

I am sure he is gutted but this is what a sport all about....He used to beat his opponents so many times and maybe now it's their turn to do the same.

sometimes you can't change the fate, maybe he needs to improve his passing shots and his first service which caused him the match today.

Be with your star in good times and bad ones, this is how sincere and true fans are.

I am very angry and sad but I know it's out of his hand and he tried his best to win but sometimes when you find your opponent plays like a monster you can't do anything.

Good luck for your Roger in the upcoming matches and he needs our prayers in his worst ever year.

I am sure once he wins a big title he will restore his self-confidence and he will come back strong like before.