 | Slideshow |
 | Record performances Take a look at players who have won and put themselves in the record books at the U.S. Open. NBCSports.com |
| Slideshow |
 | NBCSports.com |
When they played at Key Biscayne, Federer had 58 winners but also 51 unforced errors. Canas had only 19 winners — but in 219 points, he committed just 15 unforced errors.
“If you can be as solid as Willy off the baseline, and if you force Roger to hit winners off the baseline for three hours, obviously he’s going to miss some,” Key Biscayne semifinalist Ivan Ljubicic said. “Roger lost some matches against Nadal for that same reason last year.”
Players like Nadal and Canas are a rare breed, however, which makes their tactics against Federer difficult to duplicate. Roddick, for example, lacks the all-around shotmaking skills to extend rallies the way Canas did.
“It doesn’t really have much to do with me, to be honest,” Roddick said. “You watch the matches and take what you can from it, but I really don’t see what that match has to do with me.”
When Federer’s reign atop the game has been challenged in the past, he responded well. Nadal emerged as a threat last spring before Federer reasserted his superiority by winning Wimbledon, the U.S. Open and the Australian Open.
With a win in Paris, Federer would be halfway to the first men’s calendar-year Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.
“I’ve never said that he was invincible,” said Murray, the only player besides Nadal to beat Federer last year. “But he has been on such a great run that there was going to come a time when he didn’t play his best two tournaments in a row.
“I’m sure he’ll be fired up for the clay-court season now and go work hard on his game and be back better than ever.”
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
LowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM TENNIS |
 Tennis Section Front |
| Add Tennis headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links