Scuds Federer/Roddick

[Gander]

I dont think Federer has ever been tested in any grand slam finals to date. I'm sure a couple have gone to 5 sets but I dont recall a really trying final coming down to the last few points.

Another note on his chances of winning the French...he is much more of a complete player than Sampras or Macenroe were and they were given pretty good chances, yet neither did it. Roger is still very young and will likeley have at least 5 or 6 more chances to get it done. While the talent pool of clay specialists has increased, Roger is far too talented not to put himself in another position to have an excellent chance at it. I think he wins the French more than once.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Gander

He did not even threaten Nadal in the French Final

At the French, Federer won the 1st set 6-0. Sure he didnt threaten but he did give Nadal a run at least making him play 4 sets. You act like he got beat in straight sets 6-1 6-2 6-1 or something like that. I disagree totally that Nadal needs to be injured for Federer to have a shot against him on clay in the French. Hes improving every year on clay. Nadal will eventually lose on clay and theres no reason the most complete player we've ever seen cant dethrone him.

One thing Federer seldom gets credit for is his amazing serve. Hes got teriffic speed and angles on both 1st and 2nd. The reason nobody talks about it is because the other parts of his game our so dominating, unlike a guy like Roddick who only really has a huge serve, little else.

I think the guy hates to lose,and would have won the French already(if he could.)We have disagreed about this the last 2 years.I was right both times.You were wrong both times about this.You are gunna keep riding that dead horse.Federer has a brilliant mind.There is nothing more for this guy to learn.It is not like he is a slow learner.He is a brilliant guy.He is the best prepared player in the game.The most fit.I totally disagree that he just needs to study some more before he will win the French Open.On hard courts,guys simply can't keep up with the speed of this machine.On clay it is not nearly as much of an advantage.His huge advantage is neutralized.You have picked this guy to beat Nadal in the French Open the last 2 years.You were wrong.The simple reason you were wrong is that you fail to recognize that Federer was up against the best Clay player you will ever see.See,we have the best hard court player ever(Federer,)and we have the best clay court player ever(Nadal.)If you simply recognize that,you won't be wrong each year about the winner of the French.Federer will remain Nadal's clay court btch,and the opposite will remain true on hard courts.Nadal is a good deal younger than Roger.So,Nadal will actually get better on clay each year for the next 5 years(like Federer has continued to do on hard courts.)This is another thing you are not looking at.If anybody is gunna learn something new,it is the kid(not the 25 year old who has won 9 majors already.)If you really look at it objectively,you will see that Nadal beat him a little bit easier this year at the French(he was nervous and spotted Roger the 1st set,and still the greatest player in the world couldn't beat Nadal on Clay.)The semi final in the 2005 French was a closer ordeal.If anything,young Nadal will beat him a little easier each year there.I am tired of being right about that French,and not getting paid by you.Next year we put up serious funds on this French Open.So,take some money from that ice cream fund(over the next 9 months,)and save it for that bet.

[Gander]

Sounds good Scuds. And you were a little overconfident in that idiot's chances yesterday citing he had a 15-20% chance to beat the King. Where did you pull that number from? At the finals of a grand slam, a tournament in which he won the last 2 years in a row against a schlep like Roddick, whom he owned a 10-1 record against, now 11-1....a 15 to 20% chance? Are you out of your mind? I should have put up a grand to your $100 and collected from you. And you dont have to educate me on the different types of surfaces, I have played the sport at a pretty high level for 15 years.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

See,I think people get a little thrown by the fact that women often win the French,and another major in the same year.The men don't do it like that very much.How many of these French Open winners won another major the same year as they won the French?For that matter,how many of them won another major(other than the French)Period? Agassi got it done.He deserves a ton of credit for that.Agassi didn't have to contend with Nadal at the French in '99.Quite simply,this is a much,much different game than is required to win the other majors.It is not a minor adjustment that is needed.

1989 Michael Chang (USA)
1990 Andres Gomez (ECU)
1991 Jim Courier (USA)
1992 Jim Courier (USA)
1993 Sergi Bruguera (ESP)
1994 Sergi Bruguera (ESP)
1995 Thomas Muster (AUT)
1996 Yevgeny Kafelnikov (RUS)
1997 Gustavo Kuerten (BRA)
1998 Carlos Moya (ESP)
1999 Andre Agassi (USA)
2001 Gustavo Kuerten (BRA)
2002 Albert Costa (ESP)
2003 Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)
2004 Gaston Gaudio (ARG)
2005 Rafael Nadal (ESP)
2006 Rafael Nadal

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Roddick won the U.S. OPEN IN 2003.He had a slight chance if he served aces.He didn't.I would never have bet you about that.On hard courts,I will only bet Safin against Federer.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Gander

Sounds good Scuds. And you were a little overconfident in that idiot's chances yesterday citing he had a 15-20% chance to beat the King. Where did you pull that number from? At the finals of a grand slam, a tournament in which he won the last 2 years in a row against a schlep like Roddick, whom he owned a 10-1 record against, now 11-1....a 15 to 20% chance? Are you out of your mind? I should have put up a grand to your $100 and collected from you. And you dont have to educate me on the different types of surfaces, I have played the sport at a pretty high level for 15 years.

Your angry cuz you were dead wrong about the winner of the French for the last 2 years.Don't blame me.Your boy Federer is the one that can't beat Nadal there.

[Gander]

Federer is not even close to being my boy Scuds. I like watching him because of his talent but he is not my favorite player nor will he ever be, I actually enjoy watching Nadal as much if not more. I dont really have anyone to root hard for now that Agassi is done. I will pull for classy guys like Federer and Nadal any day of the week over Ahole Roddick.

I agree with everything you said about the French regarding how difficult it is to win it and another major in the same year. Agassi may not have had Nadal to deal with the year he won the French but there were plenty of pesky clay court specialists in the field that year and that achivement is one of great proportions. He also won a Wimbledon and couldnt volley worth a hill of beans.

We can agree to disagree about Federer winning the French and next year consider it a bet. I dont think Federer has anything to "learn" about the clay, he just simply needs to go out there and do everything right and hope Nadal is a little off. I dont think the chances of those 2 things happening are out of the realm of possibility. Hes going to have 5-6 more chances at it. He seldom loses to guys who arent ranked in the top 5.