Potential Federer vs Nadal 2009 US Open Final

We’re one step close to a Roger Federer – Rafal Nadal US Open final. In the previous video, I discussed Nadal’s basic strategy vs. most right-handed players: break down their backhands with a heavily spun / angled lefty forehand. I also posed the question: what adjustment did Federer make in the 2009 Madrid final to cut down on Nadal’s ability to generate angles with his forehand?

In this video I answer that question. Many people were right on the mark: Federer hit down-the-line backhands very frequently, preventing Nadal from opening up the court on his forehand side.

Tagged as:

Come inside and play like you have an unfair advantage.
  • fightfan
    Even though this Fed-Nadal matchup never materlialized, I love this strategical analysis Will! It really helps give me insight into the game. I hope to apply some of it to my own games. Thanks!
  • samoht500
    after the 4th round i had the feeling that del potro is going for something big!
    he is so consistent in such a considered,calm way on such a high level and now he is in the final!
    i'm for federer but all good things must come to an end!
    on the other hand federer likes to play against big hitters and his advantage compared to nadal is that he hits the balls flat.
    if he can do it the right way by blocking the balls back from the baseline(one aspect of federers game that impresses me the most)i think del potro will have a hard time!
    another advantage of federer is that it's del potros first final,i think the first games of the match will be key!
    if del potro can start the locomotive though it will take all of federes experience and creativity to fight him off and that's the match i hope for!
    that's my prediction,but we will see in about an hour!:))
  • erwin
    Who knows... one can;t always be at his best. And if Fed wont be 100% then Potros forehand will cause him painnn
  • 1fortheroad
    Got a little ahead of yourself there with the Fed/Nadal prediction, eh? The reason that Roger beat Nadal in Madrid wasn't because of his backhand - although it worked well for him there - it was the variety of shots he brought to that game. He simply befuddled Nadal with spectactular serves, great BHs, drop shots, net approach work. Never let Nadal get into a rhythm. That was the key.
  • jackson
    lol i like how this is ur best synopsis video, and longest one too. but the match isnt even going to happen since nadal lost T-T
  • I was watching Federer annihilate Tommy Robredo on Arthur Ashe stadium and the thing that I noticed (when you watch the match in person you can se both players at all times) is that when Robredo got nervous or pumped up on key points Federer would play a drop shot or slow down the pace of the ball mid point or generally do something you wouldn't expect at those key moments in the match. Tennis is all about winning those key points. They easily determine the winner and Federer always had a few aces up his sleeve for just such occasions ;) I was actually able to predict one of his drop shots before the point started just by watching Robredo ;).
  • kanu
    I think for Del Porto to win against Fed, he should be in an forehand hitting match. Because if the ball comes to Fed's backhand, he could slice it around the court, keep it low, and Del Porto could have hard time picking the ball up. Just bring the heater and dont let the Australian Open curse affect you, Del Porto.

    But I will cheer for Fed :D.
  • Sean
    Alright so after this semifinal match Novak vs Roger one has to ask the question.. Is Federer human????
    Novak played an amazing match, probably one of the best ive ever seen him play and Federer just hung in and raised his game on crucial points to win them and manage to just cruise over his opponent.
    We have seen this from Federer numerous times. It looks like he's not playing hi best and then all of a sudden he's brilliant for a few minutes, wins the point to get on top of his opponent and then relax again and cruise till the next moment in the match when he actually needs to work hard again. He's like a super energy efficient machine.
    And that shot.... The absolutely insanely wicked between the legs winner just drives the point even further that the man posesses skills on the court that are outworldly. He can do no wrong and his only losses are losses to himself and never to his opponent because there is nobody that can come close to challenging him.
  • Fayssal Oudbib
    man this Federer is sick : his level of play is just beyond reach, they should put a restriction on this kind of talent lol...
  • jackson
    yea hes like a counter puncher of skills. if someone amps up thier skill level and shots, he takes it and amps it back at them x2
  • Mallen Baker
    So Rafa's key weapon, that heavy topspin that bounces up high on opponents, is very effectively nullified by the giant Del Potro. Does Federer retain the edge against the Argentinian because of his versatility in shot selection, and his movement around the court? We shall see, but I hope so!
  • Fayssal Oudbib
    Don't think that Del Potro is too much trouble for Federer : he eats guys like him for breakfast ! All his game is made in a way that does'nt threaten Federer's in no way, seems like Nadal is the only one to be able to do so.
    Anyway we will see, hope the best for dady Federer.
  • Hey Mallen. I think you're right -- Federer's ball penetrates the court much more than Rafa's. I'm going w/Federer in 4.
  • Mike
    Who other than Federer could have hit that between the legs shot for a winner? He is about as perfect as a human player can get I think.
  • luis
    no no federer - nadal no no del potro is finalist, thats break all your predictons ajaja don´t worry maybe happens
  • Guess not going happen...
    Del Potro just sent nadal to spain...
  • Haha. Del Potro played great. Very impressive win.
  • Mr Quebec
    He played a very nice game, but could we bet it would have been lesser of a walk in the park if Nadal was in shape. I was looking at the Spaniard, thinking about how he can play like this. The guy can barely hit the ball and he had no power left to push Del Potro. The 20 y.o. kid is pretty impressive and he has the key elements to push any player to play better tennis, to force hsi opponents to wi nthe points.

    All my congratulations to this man, but facts stays that he didn't face the real Nadal, that he didn't face a superior player. It's not his fault and I don't put in doubt his ability to win, nor do I try to take down his performance. I am just stating that what ever we feel like now, this isn't a valuable reference to get an idea of how the guy will do against the Champion.

    We're still talking about the same guy who just struck one of the most powerful passing shot from between his legs, the same guy who consistantly take defensive situations to get an opening, the same guy who is the only who can say he's got 15 of them. It will be way harder than facing an half Nadal, especially if Federer starts well. He got Djocovic out with 19% on his first ball in the first set... What can you do against a guy who wins 65% of his second balls?

    But we saw a Del Potro who could bring something, who could make a show. He's dangerous, but to which point? The outcome and the actual game could make a great basis for further explanations or quiz. Be sure to watch it carefully.

    Nice job around here and you got 1/2 finalists plus your second star left injured and defeated at the semi. Not bad "playing forecast".
  • Mike
    Even if he plays like that against federer, he is going to have a tough time winning.
  • Fayssal Oudbib
    I am a nadal fan and really proud of him to win 6 games, that's like winning a full set lol...
    I think it was pretty much like the nadal soderling thing no ? Nadal plays short because the opponent is agressive enought, right ? Which means what : if nadal plays someone agressif enough he coudn't possibly win ? man it's sad...
    But he broke federer few times lol, that counts for something :p
  • steve
    why not use hawkeye for footfaults......hmmm?
  • don't want to be the one to tell you this but you got another wrong finalist on the womens side, Serena was disqualified when she faced Clijsters for racquet abuse and something about a footfault when it was 6-4 6-5 (Serena serving 15-30).
  • btw the score ended 6-4 7-5 Clijsters
  • Heh it happens. I don't think anyone predicted Clijsters would play the way she did. I'm very happy for her though -- class act and great athlete.

    Federer can still bail me out on the men's side.
  • Mallen Baker
    I'm very much looking forward to the Del Potro / Nadal match to see how it goes - and hoping for that Fed / Rafa final.

    At least we can probably assume that neither Rafa nor Del Potro will gift the game to their opponent in exchange for the opportunity to offer to shove a tennis ball down the throat of a line judge. Utterly bizarre.
  • Fayssal Oudbib
    the question would be -for me- : how would Nadal prevent Federer from executing this strategy ?
  • Not sure if nadal is in shape to beat federer.
    He still have problems with his body (knees, abdomen)
  • hopefully this match will be as tight and long as the Australian open was but not very late though, if the match would for example start at 19:00 in NY it will start at 23:00.
    :)
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