Post: #26

Well, I was right on Federer ( /thread-56871...pid1343442 ): his tired body won't let him win anything else. His career is now all but over, even though, clever and passionate with marketing as always, he is pretending that he will come back, like, in 2017 (for sponsor reasons and possible deals)...

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2016/07/26...-year.html

"Roger Federer is sitting out the rest of this season, including the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and U.S. Open, to protect his surgically repaired left knee.

Federer wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday that he needs "more extensive rehabilitation following my knee surgery earlier this year."

"The doctors advised that if I want to play on the ATP World Tour injury free for another few years, as I intend to do, I must give both my knee and body the proper time to fully recover," Federer said.

The owner of a record 17 Grand Slams titles turns 35 on Aug. 8, so the reference to "another few years" might give his fans increased hope of seeing Federer continue to wield a racket for quite some time."

Post: #27

What Going Strong wrote above me seemed to be the consensus at the time, few would of disagreed with the view that Federer winning another Grand Slam was very, very unlikely and that physically, his body was starting to let him down.

However, after his long break, he has come back and won his 18th Grand Slam, The Australian Open, won a few tournaments between then and Wimbledon, where he now is on the verge of reaching the Semi-Finals.

What do you guys think the difference has been for him this season compared to last?

Post: #28

He still had some fuel left in the old tank, he just had to take some time off to recharge his batteries. He really thrashed Milos today.

Post: #29

(07-12-2017 08:23 AM)Poker Wrote:  What Going Strong wrote above me seemed to be the consensus at the time, few would of disagreed with the view that Federer winning another Grand Slam was very, very unlikely and that physically, his body was starting to let him down.

However, after his long break, he has come back and won his 18th Grand Slam, The Australian Open, won a few tournaments between then and Wimbledon, where he now is on the verge of reaching the Semi-Finals.

What do you guys think the difference has been for him this season compared to last?

What aging athletes at the ends of their careers often say is that they feel they can still be the best in the world on any given night, just not every night. With team sports you either have to bring it every night or call it a day, in tennis you can pick and choose your battles, which is what Federer is doing.

Post: #30

Tennis pros are living proof that the human body is adapting, fast, and for the better (for wealthy enough people, at least, because poor people often have a wrecked health)... I mean, it is quite incredible to think that, 20 years ago, tennis players were old and broken at 31 y.o. (only exception being Jimbo "the outsider" Connors). But now, look at Gilles Muller, gigantic Karlovic, Murray's mum's Deliciano Lopez, the Dominican ex-ballboy Estrella Burgos, and of course The Revenant Federer himself: getting better and better, well into their thirties... and Nestor in doubles, still a top player at forty... Nowadays, tennis pros plan for a 20-year long career, from 18 to 38 (last 2 years in doubles, possibly).

Post: #31

It genuinely astounds me when I see guys like Federer maintaining their ability 35+.

Same in football with Ibrahimovic, Zanetti and Buffon. Just feel an immense respect for these men. Rafa did the same this year at the French (I REALLY wanted him and Roger in the Wimbledon final one more time).

I need to read these guys biographies. Their longevity is mindblowing.

Post: #32

Would be a joy to see the old man lift Wimby trophy one more time.

Post: #33

I' hope Roger takes this. What an amazing career.

On another note, Murray comes up short again. I've said it before, he's overrated. There shouldn't be a mention of the big four. It's only the big three. If anything I would take Stan the man over Murray.

Post: #34

Murray has won Wimbledon twice and came into this as #1, he deserves to be there, he might have been hampered by injury this time around. Warwinka has yet to make a Wimbledon final 4.

Post: #35

Meanwhile Murray is more concerned with one-upping reporters about their correct use of pronouns.
Idiot.
Hard to respect a player who engages in such trivial nonsense.

Post: #36

Amazing from Fed. Guy is overcome with emotion and weeping at his 19th major.

The competition and will to win from this guy is incredible.

Post: #37

Almost 36 years old, this Swiss, and he wins Wimbledon without breaking a sweat, not even losing a set (in spite of a very, very tough draw: lefty M.Zverev, baby-Federer Dimitrov, powerhouse Raonic, hard-hitting Berdych and grass-king Cilic) en route to the title (and one month ago, he couldn't even beat half-retired Tommy Haas!)...

Wonderful, so wonderful that it is borderline abnormal... I'm thinking miracle of... science, here. Magical needles at play?? maybe a short stay in the mysterious institution, near Valencia, that "cured" Francesca S and David F, and pumped pro cyclists full of blood for a decade?

But no, surely his secret is just, getting rid of gluten and phoning Edberg or Annacone about his volley... Great Roger, how could we doubt him. Like, the way he found new strengths when broken by Nadal in the 5th set of their Aussie final... at 35 years of age, under a blazing sun: totally legit.

Post: #38

Doping improves your reaction time and the follow-through on your backhand?

Post: #39

GS: He came into this focused and well-rested, and benefited from having his two chief rivals Murray and Djoko out of it. None of the other guys are title material.

Part of the reason he managed to do it is that he was able to win all his games in a short time span, so his age was less of a factor.

Post: #40

(07-16-2017 11:26 AM)TooFineAPoint Wrote:  Doping improves your reaction time

Doping per se, maybe not, but, I don't know, I've heard strange things about cyclists and tennis pros, the quiet countryside of Valencia, and a funny medical process called autolog(ous) blood transfusion ... mere slander, no doubt: their secret is going gluten-free... and phoning Edberg, too.

Meanwhile, the great Jimbo almost died on court against Chang, couldn't finish the 5th set, had to be wheeled away on a stretcher... And Connors had a better health than the Swiss businessman... just saying. Granted, Connors didn't know about gluten-free food.

Post: #41

The thing is, Federer never had to play a 5th set, let alone a 4th... That's where the difference in stamina would have kicked in. He won all his games in straight sets, demolishing all his opponents with superior technique. He psyched out players like Raonic and Cilic, who played well below their usual levels after getting their hat handed to them early on. We actually never found out about how good Roger's stamina really was in those short wins, but his technique, experience and mental strength were absolutely stellar.

Also, this is a very centered guy, one of the most based, balanced all-time greats out there. He's very unusual that way. He's not the kind of obsessive demented type who will sell his soul for just another title in his massive trophy case, he's the last athlete you'd expect to cheat.

Respect!

Post: #42

(07-16-2017 05:39 PM)Going strong Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 11:26 AM)TooFineAPoint Wrote:  Doping improves your reaction time

Doping per se, maybe not, but, I don't know, I've heard strange things about cyclists and tennis pros, the quiet countryside of Valencia, and a funny medical process called autolog(ous) blood transfusion ... mere slander, no doubt: their secret is going gluten-free... and phoning Edberg, too.

Meanwhile, the great Jimbo almost died on court against Chang, couldn't finish the 5th set, had to be wheeled away on a stretcher... And Connors had a better health than the Swiss businessman... just saying. Granted, Connors didn't know about gluten-free food.

Your references are referring to Fed, Nadal, and Djokovic. So I guess you think everyone is doping then, or are you trying to be funny? I'm not really following the point.

Connors may have less lung capacity or a smaller heart or something than Fed, and they certainly didn't have the training procedures or work ethic or healthy living like players of today.

Jimmy's autobiography is filled with tales of junk food and orgies. Fed, on the other hand, may have a few Lindt chocolates every now and again.

Post: #43

(07-16-2017 11:02 PM)TooFineAPoint Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 05:39 PM)Going strong Wrote:  

(07-16-2017 11:26 AM)TooFineAPoint Wrote:  Doping improves your reaction time

Doping per se, maybe not, but, I don't know, I've heard strange things about cyclists and tennis pros, the quiet countryside of Valencia, and a funny medical process called autolog(ous) blood transfusion ... mere slander, no doubt: their secret is going gluten-free... and phoning Edberg, too.

Meanwhile, the great Jimbo almost died on court against Chang, couldn't finish the 5th set, had to be wheeled away on a stretcher... And Connors had a better health than the Swiss businessman... just saying. Granted, Connors didn't know about gluten-free food.

Your references are referring to Fed, Nadal, and Djokovic. So I guess you think everyone is doping then, or are you trying to be funny? I'm not really following the point.

Connors may have less lung capacity or a smaller heart or something than Fed, and they certainly didn't have the training procedures or work ethic or healthy living like players of today.

Jimmy's autobiography is filled with tales of junk food and orgies. Fed, on the other hand, may have a few Lindt chocolates every now and again.

Serbian Conservative role-model Djokovic ( /thread-50448.html ) quite certainly does not cheat. Because if he did, he would be hounded and crushed by the extremely-PC, SJW organization called, the ATP.

The Swiss always-PC businessman (and even, sadly, Raf, whom I nevertheless appreciate) on the other hand, like the Serena crips-dancing beast, are protected by the ATP (or its horror femnazi sister, WTA). They can do whatever they want (especially Serena), as was revealed by... Russian hackers during the Olympic Games: they got "medical exemption" and have "asthma"

Don't think for an instant that politics have not infiltrated tennis. Have a look at the ATP website, favored players and sponsors, for example.

"Fed, on the other hand, may have a few Lindt chocolates every now and again", sure, and a bit of his own blood, maybe?
All this reminds me of the way David F or Alex C would get stronger and stronger after 4 hours of play at RG... I don't buy it. Once again: check what is, autolog blood transfusion. Granted, there's no proof, either way.

Post: #44

The carefully groomed, PC Swiss is still unbeatable it seems, even the... strangely resilient (and Valencia resident, it tells all) Ferrer couldn't outlast Federer this night in Montreal.

But anyway, real news is, the unstoppable rise of ethnic Russian players!

A. Zverev, Khachanov, Rublev, Medvedev and now Shapovalov (who's destroyed Rafa tonight): almost all the nex-gen stars have Russian blood (well, except the bespectacled Korean player Cheung, and Coric, Pouille, Opelka)

Post: #45

Holy crap, Shapovalov won again, missed it. The crowd must have been rocking, they were totally behind him the previous round against del Potro. Youngest ever CDA open QFist at 18yo, the kid is a fearless slayer playing at home.


QF brackets:

WC Canada Denis Shapovalov
France Adrian Mannarino

4 Germany Alexander Zverev
South Africa Kevin Anderson

Netherlands Robin Haase
Argentina Diego Schwartzman

12 Spain Roberto Bautista Agut
2 Switzerland Roger Federer

Post: #46

Shapo put up a good fight against Zverev, going down 6-4 7-5 last night in the semi, which looks like more resistance than what Federer is putting up now in the final, Zverev has broken Roger
twice already in the first set, leading 6-3.

Post: #47

Zverev wins Rogers Cup 6-3 6-4. He's your future #1. Federer was off, not serving well, was put on his heels through the game. Nothing to do with performance enhancing drugs, he was technically outclassed and overpowered today.

It will be interesting to see if Roger can rebound at the US Open, right now Zverev looks like the favorite IMO.

Post: #48

(08-13-2017 04:28 PM)911 Wrote:  Zverev wins Rogers Cup 6-3 6-4. He's your future #1. Federer was off, not serving well, was put on his heels through the game. Nothing to do with performance enhancing drugs, he was technically outclassed and overpowered today.

It will be interesting to see if Roger can rebound at the US Open, right now Zverev looks like the favorite IMO.

Autolog blood transfusion is not a performance enhancing drug.

"To implement this form of doping, athletes collect and store several units of blood—their own or someone else s'—in the months prior to competition and then transfuse it back into themselves just prior to the event"

"Blood oxygenation enhancement is a type of doping that artificially increases an individual's hemoglobin concentration above normally occurring levels. Two common methods of blood doping are blood transfusion, or the transfer of blood into a person's vein, and stimulation of endogenous erythrocyte production. Both methods result in increased hemoglobin levels in the blood, which correlate to an increase in maximum oxygen uptake because the additional hemoglobin molecules can transport extra oxygen molecules throughout the body. The end result is improved athletic endurance and performance. "

Nothing related to Roger or David F, of course. Though both of them have reportedly been sighted in Valencia, city known for its discreet expertise in blood doping...