The Clay Court Season

[Hs0022]

Djokovic would be an even greater nemesis.

Ended up not beating him at a major after 2012 Wimbledon.

Had match points on him in 2019 Wimbledon.

Djoker was solid on both wings, armed with a two handed backhand and return. By the time Fed switched to a larger frame and made changes to the bh he was past his peak. One handed backhand was the most solid for Wawrinka vs the top guys.
Against everyone else other than Nadal Fed was so good on clay that it’s crazy. Djoker started winning much later on clay after changing up his gluten free diet or whatever the media posted about his turnaround from quitting matches to winning them.

 

[Hs0022]

Seeing Alcaraz suffer physical setbacks so early in his career it’s simply crazy how solid and consistent Nadal was in his clay career, staying on top with the long rallies and day in day out of the rigorous and back to back clay season events leading up to FO. Nadal was simply a beast and totally on a different level from what we have seen in the past and present.

 

[nuraman00]

Djoker was solid on both wings, armed with a two handed backhand and return. By the time Fed switched to a larger frame and made changes to the bh he was past his peak. One handed backhand was the most solid for Wawrinka vs the top guys.
Against everyone else other than Nadal Fed was so good on clay that it’s crazy. Djoker started winning much later on clay after changing up his gluten free diet or whatever the media posted about his turnaround from quitting matches to winning them.

Didn't FED switch in 2014? He still had a few more good peak years from 2014 - 2018, maybe 2019. But other than a win against Djokovic in Cincinnati in 2015, couldn't beat him at big events. ATP Finals round robin doesn't do much for me, since it wasn't an elimination round.

 

[nuraman00]

Seeing Alcaraz suffer physical setbacks so early in his career it’s simply crazy how solid and consistent Nadal was in his clay career, staying on top with the long rallies and day in day out of the rigorous and back to back clay season events leading up to FO. Nadal was simply a beast and totally on a different level from what we have seen in the past and present.

I wish I had paid more attention back then, at Nadal's young age. To appreciate what he was doing, with those long streaks.

I didn't start regularly watching the Masters 1000s until 2009. That was for all Masters, not just clay. Because I think 2009 is when I got Tennis Channel. Maybe I had it in 2007 and 2008, but I don't think I watched it as much then.

 

[nuraman00]

One handed backhand was the most solid for Wawrinka vs the top guys.

He had such a good combination of power and placement.

Thiem was good too, but more on the power side, he didn't have the placement like Wawrinka.

I also liked FED's one handed backhand in the 2000s, it was also good on all surfaces.

 

[Hs0022]

He had such a good combination of power and placement.

Thiem was good too, but more on the power side, he didn't have the placement like Wawrinka.

I also liked FED's one handed backhand in the 2000s, it was also good on all surfaces.

Problem why Fed’s one handed bh broke down against Nadal on clay was the high bounce with heavy top spin and he had lot of misfires due to the racquet head being smaller and its harder to find the sweet spot. Also he was not taking the ball on the rise and basically trying to put the ball in play due to his non aggressive grip. This is my theory at least.

 

[nuraman00]

Problem why Fed’s one handed bh broke down against Nadal on clay was the high bounce with heavy top spin and he had lot of misfires due to the racquet head being smaller and its harder to find the sweet spot. Also he was not taking the ball on the rise and basically trying to put the ball in play due to his non aggressive grip. This is my theory at least.

He also struggled against Nadal on hard courts. Nadal had a 8 - 2 lead on outdoor hard courts at one point.

FED finished 7 - 8, although the last one is a walkover.

I also don't know if outdoor hard courts should be separated or not.

Technically walkovers don't count as losses or wins, so I guess it's 6 - 8.

 

[nuraman00]

I wish FED could have used his backhand more against Djokovic.