Federer v. Roddick Wimbledon Finals

For those who had the priveledge to see any or all of this match, we saw what is certainly one of the top 3 matches of all time, at least. I personally think it was better than last years Nadal v. Federer, but that is a matter of opinion.

One could go on and on about this, but I thought that I might comment on the lessons we mere mortal tennis players might learn from the match.

The core of the lessons are found in the last games of the 5th set, from about 11-11 or so.

Prior to that it was such high level tennis as for us only to marvel. I would comment that Roddick has clearly worked on his fitness (something we all could do) and how he was more careful to compose himself after errors or Federer brilliance better than I had ever seen him do before.

I was especially impressed when Roddick lead 4-1 in the 2nd set tie-breaker and Federer hit those incredible shots and takes the tie-break. This must have been a blow to Andy and frankly I thought Federer would cruise from there.

Andy recomposed like I have never seen him before and kept the match competitive right to the end. Before I think that would have cracked poor Andy and Federer would have won in 4 routine sets after that.

Now to 11-11.

Up to that point both had been serving at an incredibly effective rate. Neither had really pressed the other on the other's serve. Roddick had made perhaps a bit more of a dent in Federer's serve than Federer had in Roddick's, but really neither had really been pushed all that much.

So, what changed? What gave Federer the win?

As I was watching I feared that one of them would hit a rare double fault and that would shake them; a sad thing in a match of such spledor.

But I was wrong.

Next I thought that Federer would, at some point, catch a couple of Roddick's bullet serves square and steal a game. But wrong again.

What ended up happening was that Roddick's first serve percentage dipped slightly. That was the first little crack. Suddenly Fed was getting some 15-30's on Andy's serve and, if memory serves had a couple of deuces in the games just prior to the penultimate game.

In comparision, Federer's 1st serve percentage stayed high. He would win his game quickly, while Andy suddenly found himself a game down and fighting harder to hold serve, simply because Roger was getting some good looks at 2nd serves all of a sudden.


So there is lesson number one: One must maintain or acheive a high first serve percentage in close matches especially at crunch-time.

Lesson number two came in the form of the importance of winners v. unforced errors.

I also suspected that if Federer was going to win, he would have to pull off some of those "only Federer could make that shot!!" shots. Wrong for the third time.

That match was decided and finally match point decided on Roddick unforced errors. If you saw match point you will remember Roddick framing a routine forehand 6-8 feet (or better) long. He had made at least one other unforced error in match game (and I think 2 unforced) and had a couple of others in the preceding games that lead to the increasing pressure on him.

Finally, the most interesting statistic was that of the value of power v. accuracy.

Here is Roddick. Steady 130+mph serves=24 aces. Federer down in the 120's=50 aces.


Federer's serve, while only average power-wise was developed to be pin point accurate.

Yet again accuracy prevails over power.

So there we have it. The lessons we mortals can learn and utilize from a great
match;

-High percentages of first serves are crucial, especially at crunch-time;

-Matches are won and lost on unforced errors;

-Accuracy and consistency usually prevail over power.

Were the reasons for Federer's win above unusual? No. This formula is exactly the same that I have seen prevail in the thousands of matches I have watched in my life in tennis.

Learn these lessons and continue to build your games with these philosophies and you will be role-modelling the greatest of all time.

Everyone would love to hear "takes" on the match. PLEASE post them!!