What Federer was 'asked' to execute was far far far far beyond his current ability and the blame for it should squarely fall on Annacone. Once that strain took hold rest of the game fell apart like a card of packs or something like that. Heck, you can reasonably argue - and win - that the stuff was beyond even for the years when he was at the height of his powers.
To attempt to engage Nadal's backhand at EVERY exchange threw everything off - from forehand to backhand to net game to backhand volley to you name it. While it's a noble cause and an effective one, you need far more juice than Federer carries today to even come close specially when you DON'T fare too well on returning the high ball to where it came from - in the first place. But that original strategy at least allowed the rest of the game to stay intact delivering 10 wins in 30 matches. This current plan would have won NONE - at ANY time.
And that was just ONE part of the two-piece suit. The other was to engage your own forehand at EVERY freaking opportunity. Add the two and you have to be surprised Federer won points forget games - on his serve - leave alone on Nadal's. That thinking pushed the 'regular' forehand into the 'starving' stage thereby forcing the need to hit an outright winner 'outlandish'. Nadal's famous defence didn't help to push that state beyond ALL frontiers known to produce a win.
Federer missed routine forehands because of a combination of above. He HAD to pull the trigger because of conditions he created HIMSELF. AND Nadal didn't produce some 'out of world' form. He did'nt need to as someone was busy self-destructing - on his own. If Federer had resorted to his regular strategy, he may have still lost but it would DEFINITELY have been FAR closer. So he took a gamble and lost. Problem? This was a gamble without even taking into account the fact that NO ONE had ever won at the casino in question - EVER. Not a penny. Second piece of the puzzle was non-existent and that was KNOWN to everybody except two clowns called Annacone and Federer.
32 unforced errors to 8 from Nadal cannot be explained any other way. Want more? How about 58% first serve percentage. 19, yes, 19 rushes to the net to 5 from Nadal. Nadal won four of them. Federer? 9. And it wasn't a coincidence that Federer rushed to the net at nearly EVERY break point - and lost. It was a product of complete lack of plan B.
Nadal, however, was lucky he was not facing Djokovic. Djokovic, even at current state, would have thrashed what Nadal produced against Federer. Heck, even Federer would have cut it close if.........
Nadal certainly has improved since his first tournament after the 7-month break BUT whether he can STILL beat Djokovic is up in the air. That match up / mental dominance coupled with nearly NO 'resistance' to gauge progress adds real layer(s) of uncertainty notwithstanding the five-set format in play at the next outing.
Like I have barked before, Nadal facing Djokovic just once in four (Indian Wells, Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome) 'expected' encounters WILL favor Djokovic MORE than Nadal. When you are the aggressor, the onus shift on the aggressee to alter the status quo. Without attempts to change, the incumbent stays put - pretty. No matter what you do elsewhere and against ANYBODY else, it doesn't impact the established dynamic - sufficiently.
Translation: If Djokovic faces Nadal - at ANY round - at Roland Garros, you can bet for AT LEAST a guaranteed thriller, if not a Djokovic win. Nadal is NOT getting a pass he has received from everyone else since his return. Of the ONLY two losses Nadal has so far one of them is to Djokovic - and NOT coincidentally it's ONLY one in straight sets. You cannot shake that based solely on the run Nadal has had. It's like comparing oranges to trucks or airplanes. There's NO connection. Add the history between the two and ............
As far as Federer is concerned, having lost six matches this season in six attempts with ONE 'lame' final berth over tomato cans, cannot bode well for the point-loaded territory he will be treading soon. Could he not even make the year-end top ten - forget the WTF? It's possible. Forget that, how about winning a title ANYWHERE - just for fun?
The physical maturity has finally lost the race with the mental one - a combination that was largely responsible for the spurt late last season. The economical style of play may have finally hit the diminishing returns post - after 15 years as pro.
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