What a comeback from Federer. Answer this please, ok?

Question

The first set in MonteCarlo, he played like #1 in the world. In the second he lost 6-3, and in the third he was losing 5-1 and won in a tie-break. This spanish guy didn't have 1 match point against Federer. Everybody who hates Federer, shut up because Federer won. He is not going to lose his #1 ranking this year. I saw the match live on my t.v.

Answer 1

It reminded me of the Wimby final, and Roger still has something left in him as he proved today. He has a lot of those tough tests coming his way and I am just glad he passed the first one. It was not easy to come back from 5-1, but kudos to Roger and this must be a big encouragement for him. Sometimes, a little bit of luck can change a lot of things, if the person on the other end is TMF. I hope this comeback proves good for him and helps him get back on track. Go Rogi !

Answer 2

Two weeks ago in Miami, the 'presumed next No. 1' Novak Djokovic actually LOST in the first round to a qualifier and tour rookie No. 122 Kevin Anderson on the Serb's best surface.

Federer did not lose today. When push came to shove, he turned on his turbo engines and won the match. So why the double standard? Why was Djokovic not taken to task for actually losing to a qualifier and rookie?

Nor was Federer playing some rookie qualifier with no big wins in his experience. The 'Spanish guy' is clay court specialist Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo. He may be ranked No. 137 but he is no pushover on clay. Hidalgo was ranked as high as No. 50 in 2006, when he had wins on clay over David Ferrer, 2004 French Open champ Gaston Gaudio, 2004 French Open runner up Guillermo Coria (twice), Nicolas Almagro, Marat Safin, Fernando Verdasco and Paul Henri-Mathieu. He even beat James Blake on hardcourt.

Those of us who have watched Federer over the last five years have seen him do it many times -- he sometimes loses concentration but when his back is against a wall, he flips a switch and lifts his game to win. Remember how Federer thrashed Nadal 6-0 in the final set at Hamburg last year after dropping the first set?

With players like Federer and Nadal, it is never over until it is over. They have the heart and mind of a true champion.  If it was Djokovic, he probably would have retired claiming to have an injury and then brazenly insinuated that he could have won the match, like he did against Nadal in the 2006 French Open QF (see link).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/5...

In any case, it was a typical Monte Carlo start for Federer: he struggled in his first match in the last two years as well (against No. 101 Andreas Seppi in 2007 and No. 67 Djokovic in 2006). Both times he then blitzed in straight sets the field full of claycourters (such as David Ferrer, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alberto Martin) to enter the final. E.g., in 2006, Federer recovered from a two-hour three-setter first match to thrash Alberto Martin 6-0, 6-1 the next day.

As well, this year Federer is learning and applying new things from his new coach in the middle of tournaments. Without a new coach, Federer would have probably romped through the field in Portugal and the early rounds of Monte Carlo (like he did in the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Miami). It is an inevitable part of the learning process that--in trying to put into practice Higueras' advice--Federer will be thrown off his rhythm a bit in Monte Carlo and appear to be struggling, as he was in Estoril. It will take a few weeks before the learning process with a new coach stabilizes. So Federer's apparent struggles now are a good thing for the French Open. In addition, the three-setter match today gave Federer a lot of practice on the clay of the Monte Carlo center court against a clay specialist.

Finally:

- Djokovic lost in the first round in Miami to a rookie and qualifier.

- Nalbandian lost in the first round in Miami 1-6, 4-6.

- Monfils was beaten by Federer in the first round in Miami 6-3, 6-4.

Yet, there will be someone claiming that Federer will lose to them in Monte Carlo. Go figure.

Please read my following answers (see links) to three other questions on why Federer is likely to remain dominant and the No. 1 this year as well as on why he will occasionally appear to be struggling in Monte Carlo, as he did in Estoril.

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

Answer 3

I hate bursting bubbles but let's be realistic here. Ramirez Hidalgo is ranked #137 and he's only won 1 pro match all year long. This is not a guy that should be 5-1 up against any top 10 player. Certainly not against the #1 player in the world.

Fed won the Estoril final playing only 1 set so he can't claim to be tired. And he can't claim he didn't have proper preparation since he won the title.  

The hard truth is Fed's game isn't what it used to be. Struggling with a challenger level guy isn't a sign that he's regaining his form, it's proof that he is losing it. Sorry.

Answer 4

hei...he has beaten 137 rank.....its really embarrasing as the headline suggested if he loose....lets see how far he can go...and then we can say his back in his form...

Answer 5

So what is your question? You didn't ask a question, you are just here to brag and tell people to shut up.

He lost a set to a qualifier? World No.1 huh? Let's see how Federer does with other experienced players.

Answer 6

This spanish guy also had a big Q next to his name. He was a qualifier for God's sake. Yes great come back from Roger. But to get himself in that position, my god. That is proof that he has lost it. He won't be able to make such a come back against a more experienced player.

Next up for the Fed man - Monfils, Nalbandian, Djokovic, Nadal. Anyone of those guys is likely to knock out Federer's lights. Let the die hard Fed fans shut up when that happens.

Answer 7

thats why he is till ranked no. 1

Answer 8

i think he's regaining his form, he'll be invincible again...

Answer 9

federer is magical but nadal deserves to have at least a little time at number one because if federer weren't around he would be winning everything. over the last 3 years nadal has won 107 matches on clay and only lost 3

Answer 10

What a game! Being a big Fed fan myself, I was gutted at 5-1. But i can't believe he got back and thrased the Spanish guy on tiebreak! .. Maybe when the Spaniard done that little trick through his legs to really rub in  pissed off Federer which made him come back!

I'm also annoyed too at how people are saying Federer is going to lose his #1 ranking. He had Mono which can make you weak for months! (look how long it lasted for Mario Ancic)

Sooner or later, I think Federer will be back to himself completly, although it may take a while. He's only 26 years old, not 30 or something...

Answer 11

that's why he's #1